Good day fisherman. Rather than try to write a fishing report I asked www.lakeconews.com if I could just submit reports from the tackle stores around the lake.

These people have their finger on the pulse of fishing. Not only do they fish, they receive good reports from fisherman who have been out on the water while they are busy working.

While I thoroughly enjoy fishing, to be honest I'm not that great at it and my health has been keeping me off the water as of late. That condition should soon improve and I'll be joining the Vampire Armada – those fishermen and women who stalk big bass at night.

Here is my first fishing report assembly of many hopefully, to help you be successful on the water.

North End Report

Dave Brabec, Clearlake Outdoors, Lakeport; 707-262-5852

With all the warm days and not much wind the algae bloom has been bad in some areas and usually the bloom is worse in the afternoon than in mornings.

There has been a decent topwater bite with Ricos, Buzz Baits and frogs all working. Fish the frogs slow.

There are fish being caught on a variety of soft plastics. Senkos, drop shot, tubes all will work. This is the time of year to fish jigs as the fish are keying on crawfish.

During the day when the bite gets tough go into the thick weeds and weed mats with a punch rig with a beaver or d-bomb.

There are still swim bait fish being caught and one of the most effective in the weeds is the trash fish.

Ted Elliott, E Ticket Tackle, Lakeport; telephone 707-262-1233

The current fishing pattern here at Clear Lake is there is a descent topwater bite from roughly dawn to between 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. Techniques used during this time period are frogs, Skitter pops, Hula poppers, Bubble walkers, Ricos and Spooks. The best color is white or bone.

Fish these baits along the tules and weed mats with a very slow retrieve pausing over any openings in the cover.

After roughly 9 a.m. the bite slows down to a standard finesse pattern, with drop shot and wacky rigged Gary Yamamoto Senko being the norm. Fish these techniques under the docks, piers and boat-lifts that are scattered around the perimeter of Clear Lake.

The key here is to throw the bait under the structures that are the closest to the water as the sunlight doesn't penetrate from the side and so little to no weed growth underneath. Also keep moving until fish are located and then concentrate on this area for awhile as the bass are holding in small groups.

Both the weeds and the algae are growing profusely around the lake. Depending on weather conditions and the counties efforts to harvest the weeds, there might be weeds or algae in an area one day and not the next.  

Around 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. the topwater bite appears to pick up again and last until around dark. The same techniques that worked early in the day also work during this time period.

A check of what the bass are currently eating shows crawdads and prickly sculpins as the top prey species being consumed, so baits mimicking these food sources are top producers currently.

Trout report

Dave Brabec, Clearlake Outdoors

Blue Lakes

I have been fishing Blue Lakes and the Russian River more than Clear Lake. It’s kind of a nice change. Blue Lakes was last planted on July 2: http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants/Default.aspx?county=Lake .

The key to catching them is to get there early. The fish are up in the water column early and soon as the sun comes up they go deeper. You can catch them trolling shallow with small chart or Firetiger Crankbaits and start fishing deeper as the day goes on. The Downrigger trollers catch fish during the day.

You can also catch the trout with bait. Night crawlers just off the bottom or free line weightless if there is no wind.

Power eggs in pink, red or hatchery nuggets will also work. Make sure your hook is small enough so that the bait floats up off the bottom. The narrows is a good place to start.

I haven't been fishing for the bass up there  but you can catch them on 4-5 " senkos or drop shot worms. I think lower blue lake is a better bass fishery or they are easier to catch with the stained water.

Russian River East Branch

Last planted also on July 2 and is scheduled to plant week of July 22.

I went there on Thursday on July 12, and had a nice limit of 12- to 14-inch rainbows by 7:30 a.m. I caught some on lures and some on power eggs. Most of the fish had pink meat and are great eating.

Catfish and Crappie: Clear Lake

Ted Elliott, E Ticket Tackle, Lakeport

There is a pretty substantial catfish bite happening right now. In fact they catfish are being caught incidentally while bass fishing.

Top baits for catfish are mackerel, crawdads, chicken livers, night crawlers, minnows and commercially prepared baits.

There is a small crappie, bluegill bite but nothing significant.