Cooler temperatures have driven the lake temperature down into the upper 40s. Bass fishing remains quite good on live bait. Lots of folks are catching their share of crappie. The weather forecast is calling for rain or snow at the tail end of the coming weekend.

Yep, it’s winter fishing conditions on Clear Lake. Come join us!

Bass anglers are reporting excellent catches from as little as 4 feet of water to as deep as 50. The trick? Live jumbo minnows. In our store, we went through over 1,000 jumbos last week, evidence of a strong bass bite. It isn’t unusual to go through three, four, five dozen or more minnows for a few hours of fishing right now.

There are a couple of key methods being employed by anglers fishing a variety of depths. One method is to use a split-shot weight a few feet above your hook. Nose hook the minnow and let it roam. Use a slightly larger weight to target deeper areas – docks and rock piles mostly. Use a lighter weight to target rocky shallow areas or shallow standing docks.

An alternate method is to employ a slip float, set your depth and target suspended fish. For those of you who prefer to use artificials, lipless crank baits fished vertically, spoons or some deep running cranks are worth trying.

Drop shotting also is a good choice of techniques. They’re fishing deep water at the south end and shallow water at the north. Shaky heading a baby brush hog or slow rolling a spinner bait on the bottom have both been effective in skinny water.

Crappie hunters are catching fish at Kono Tayee with some regularity. Shag Rock is getting some mention and Jones Bay is seeing some action. However, shore anglers at Konocti have been frustrated with a lackluster bite in that location. I’m looking for this incoming weather system (rain and snow next week – maybe) to have a positive effect on the crappie bite.

There’s not much to report on the catfish bite – it may be slowing down as the cooler weather and cooler water takes hold for the winter. It seems that most anglers are paying attention to the bass and crappie action at this point.

There’s just one week left to get in on the Christmas in Clearlake drawing. We’re giving away $1,000 in Chamber Bucks to be used at any of the participating businesses here in Clearlake. Shop local merchants displaying the Christmas in Clearlake signs and be sure to get your entry slips with each purchase. From furniture to books to bait and guns, there are many businesses all over town taking part. The drawing will be held on the evening of Dec. 20. Maybe you’ll be the winner!

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

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