Cooler weather has cooled off the fishing a bit and brought the lake temperature down to the low 50s again. Minnow anglers are still having plenty of success, but we’re back to working hard for fewer fish on the artificial lures for bass. Cats have slowed somewhat. Crappie are starting to show up with some regularity in a few key spots around the south end.

For the bass, some of the usual tricks are working … dark-colored jigs, Senkos, Texas or Carolina rigged worms, or a slow moving spinner bait.

Anglers are finding fish in 6 to 15 feet of water. “Deeper water close to the shore line” is a phrase that’s been repeated often this week. Until the fair weather returns, slow down and fish methodically. Minnow anglers, like I mentioned above, are finding 2- to 4-pound fish plentiful. Bigger fish are coming from deeper water.

Paul Turmaine, one of my favorite local fisherman, blew the double digit ceiling out of the water this week with a stunning 12-pound, 4-ounce cow of a fish. This girl was so full of eggs she was spilling them during the brief (but required for a fish this size) photo opportunity. She was quickly released to swim on and spawn. Paul’s bait of choice was a Bob’s Lucky Jumbo J.

The catfish bite slowed way down this week with several anglers reporting in that they blanked. We’ll keep you posted of changes …

The crappie are biting again. Not in such ridiculous numbers as we’ve seen the past couple of years, but in respectable numbers worthy of a floating basket. Live minnows are the key as the bite hasn’t been happening on jigs. The two locations getting discussed this week are the Keys in Clearlake Oaks and the very south end of the Redbud Arm. Both locations are best accessed by boat.

That’s the report for this week. I hope you’ll come by and visit us as we head into April – our anniversary month – and take advantage of specials throughout the store as we celebrate our third anniversary with a month-long sale.

Bob Rider owns Lakeshore Bait & Tackle in Clearlake. Visit his Web site at www.994fish.com or call him at 994-FISH (3474).

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