Bob here, from Lakeshore Bait & Tackle in Clearlake, checking in with an early report this week.

The weather has cooled and the wind has persisted through the last few days. The coming week looks to be more of the same.

The bass bite on Clear Lake is reasonably good, when the lake is fishable. We’re seeing some crappie in shoreline areas, and the catfish are busy about eating well. Here are the details.

The bass bite has fluctuated almost as much as the weather has. In fact, it would easily be said that the bite has followed the weather right up and down now for a couple weeks.

When the weather is warm and the wind slows down the bite is rather good. On the flip side, when the wind has howled or the temperature has dipped quickly, the bite drops off substantially.

We’ve had anglers out throughout and the results are simply varied depending on what the environment is doing. Mostly, for those catching fish, the pattern hasn’t changed much. We’re still talking about shallow water with nearby access to deeper water. Now, we’re not talking so much about drop-offs and ledges, but moreover staging areas as these fish are getting ready to spawn. Jumbo minnows are working well.

We’re stocking a couple thousand jumbos a week now. I keep edging our orders higher and higher so as to not run out from week to week. So I’ll say this … we’ve got your minnows! Spinner baits, shallow cranks, and crawdad imitators are our top sellers this week. Also moving well are the finesse worms from Maverick and Roboworm. And lastly, one of regulars was night fishing this week and banging big bass on black & blue jigs. Gotta love that night fishing!

For the crappie, the word has it that there are crappie being caught around the lake in shallow water. The numbers aren’t significant, but some nice fish are being taken. Live minnows and small jigs have both been key in the reports. No particular color patterns have emerged for the artificials.

Catfish are cooperative in good numbers and sizes all around the south end of the lake. Jumbo minnows and mackerel have been the top baits. Sure am looking forward to the Catfish Derby coming up in May!

Hope you have a fun and productive weekend on Clear Lake. Please come by and share your catch with us so we can grab a picture or two for our brag board.

Bob Rider is owner of Lakeshore Bait & Tackle, 14913-D Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-FISH (3474). Visit the store online at www.994Fish.com.