CatfishED.com

March 6, 2003

     Well folks, we have not been able to get any catfish reports again this week. I even phoned several RV parks and motels on the lake but no one has heard of anyone targeting catfish lately. I think the hot bass fishing is causing even the most dedicated catfishermen to target bass instead.

     We should try a little catfishing myself but I just don't have the time right now. I'm still seeing a few vehicles parked along Rodman Slough but I have no idea how they're doing or if they are targeting catfish. Like I said in last week's report, if I were going to give it a try I would fish Rodman Slough using nightcrawlers and minnows. The best time would likely be from dusk to around midnight.

     Hopefully the nicer weather we've been having will bring out a few serious catfish anglers and they will get into some good action very soon.

March 13, 2003

     The action is still very slow with the exception of a few pan sized catfish being taken in various spots.

     Ross England of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707)-262-1233 reports a few 2 to 4 lb catfish being caught off the docks at Edgewater Resort (707)-279-0208 with nightcrawlers and cut baits.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says they're catching a few small cats in the Clearlake Oaks Keys with nightcrawlers but it's still a waiting game.

     Rodman Slough is still kicking out a few catfish but it's a very long wait between bites. Some anglers are catching a couple of cats for a day's or night's effort while others are blanking.

     For those of you interested in crappie, they're catching quite a few at Rocky Point and Rodman Slough with live minnows and red & white crappie jigs.

March 20, 2003

     The catfishing is still in a deep slump but the recent rains have improved it a little. Muddy water runoff from the rains is causing the cats to go on the bite in some areas.

     Vic Fung of Clearlake Oaks has been catching a few brown bullheads in the 2 lb class off his dock in the Keys using shad as bait and has lost a couple of really large cats that broke his 30 lb test line.

     There have been a few nice size channel catfish and some nice stringers of brown bullheads being caught in Rodman Slough. The top baits have been mini crawlers and gobs of garden worms. The slough has muddied up from the recent rains which has caused the cats to start feeding.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says they are catching an occasional 8 to 10 lb catfish around Rattlesnake Island with jumbo minnows and mackerel. There are quite a few small cats in the 1 to 2 lb range being caught in the Clearlake Oaks Keys with minnows and mini crawlers. Bob adds that the crappie fishing in the Keys has broken wide open. Some anglers are limiting out on crappie going from ½ to 1½ lbs. Medium size live minnows and red & white crappie jigs are accounting for most of the action.

March 27, 2003

     The catfish action is improving in the south end of the lake but it's still slow in the north end.

     Ken Brown from Fair Oaks had a fairly successful trip last weekend. He caught 3 cats weighing 7, 10 and 11 lbs while fishing at Henderson Point on Friday evening. On Saturday afternoon he caught a 18.2 lb'er and a 19.5 lb'er at Anderson Island. He hooked three other big cats that broke off near the boat. All cats were caught on frozen shad and were released back into the lake to be caught again. The fact that Ken managed to catch some good fish illustrates what I've been saying all along, the catfish are cooperating in the south end of the lake if people want to target them.

     There has been very little catfishing activity in the north end of the lake. They're still catching an occasional fish at the mouth of Rodman Slough with nightcrawlers and mackerel. My wife caught an 8 pound channel cat off the Library Park Pier with a maple flavored doughball on Monday.