I’ve essentially got three things to say this week … Live bait, live bait, live bait.

All of our key game fish species in Clear Lake are responding well to our lively minnows. Deep water is also the name of the game all around. Our weather for the coming weekend looks splendid. I just love writing the fall report when we finally settle into our seasonal pattern. Here it is …

Bass folks are still trying the usual tackle tricks to get fish to bite artificial lures. This time of year, however, these fish have feeding on the mind and are simply looking for a good tasty meal.

Enter the JUMBO MINNOWS. And by JUMBO, I mean we’ve got some of the biggest healthiest baitfish we’ve seen in a good long time. Most successful bass anglers are dangling live bait over some kind of feature – be it a rock, rock pile, rise, hump, or whatever – in water that stands 25 to 30 feet deep. Drop 'em down on a split shot rig, a drop shot rig, or a slip float rig.

Now, I should mention that a few anglers are finding a few nice fish in shallower water, too. You’ll have to try your luck on this as the reports are widely scattered with regard to where, on what and how many.

The biggest news, save maybe for the size of our JUMBO minnows this week, is the crappie bite. They’re at it again. It’s November and the crappie typically turn on in November. This year is no different.

We’ve got slab fishermen out daily now reporting good catches from some of the popular spots. We’ve talked about 'em now for a while – Kono Tayee, Shag Rock, Konocti, Jones and Jago Bay. Still nothing from the coveted Four Poles, but that’ll be coming along soon to I suspect. We’re not getting enough feedback yet to have a pattern on artificial lures, but the minnow bite is doing well. We’ve tripled our normal stock of medium minnows to keep you in the bait and on the fish!

Cats ... What can I say? Drift one of these HUGE JUMBO minnows down through any number of fishing holes, and you’re going to catch catfish. They LOVE minnows this time of year. The bigger, the better. Water from twelve feet deep to thirty feet deep and everywhere in between has kicked out some fine catfish lately.

Come enjoy the great weather this weekend and fish one of North America’s finest lakes. See you soon!

Bob Rider is owner of Lakeshore Bait and Tackle, 14913-D Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, telephone 707.994.FISH (3474). Visit him online at www.994Fish.com.

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