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Written by: Lake County News Reports

Published: 05 April 2008

Created: 05 April 2008

Last Updated: 05 April 2008

Howdy, anglers! If you’re like me, this fair weather has me just itchin’ to get back on the water and wet a line. Seventy-degree days and cool nights have got the bass biting well, the crappie are back and so are the cats. So, to put it in condensed form – the fishing’s good, come to Clear Lake.

For the bass, live bait anglers are still having the most success. The run on Jumbo Minnows hasn’t eased up – we’re still putting almost 3,000 jumbos through the tank each week here in our shop alone.

The good news there is that we’ve reached a threshold where we are maintaining a constant supply without running out each week. So if you need one dozen or 10 dozen, we’ve got plenty for you. Fish your minnow along steep areas where the water depth drops quickly from the shoreline. Position your boat in 15-ish feet of water and cast in toward the bank for best results.

Those folks working artificial baits for bass are still toughing it out a bit. (Those cool nights aren’t helping…) We’re hearing about four and five inch swim baits – like Maverick’s hand poured “BH Minnow” – working at the north end along the Kelseyville and Lakeport shorelines. Spinner baits and Senkos are the other key lures for the week. The swim bait bite is on the very leading edge of the “swim bait season” and should take off well just about as soon as the night time temps warm up. Actually, the overall bite is teetering on the brink of going just nuts when the warmer weather arrives.

OK crappie fishermen – THEY’RE BACK! Many reports of a strong crappie bite are coming in from several areas around the south and mid sections of the lake. Minnows are the mainstay, but we’re beginning to hear a bit about a bite on darker-colored mini-jigs. Panfish Assassin’s Gold Pepper Shiner immediately comes to mind for a good color selection with this type of bite.

The hottest (and most crowded) section of the lake is over in the Clearlake Oaks Keys. Other locations with honorable mentions this week included Kono Tayee Point, Anderson Marsh, and a few spots down here around the south end. The ideal water depth is 5 to 8 feet around submerged brush, tules, rocks and docks. Konocti Harbor Resort and The Four Poles – both of which have done well in the past – are both still without much action.

The catfish are back on the bite after a week or two of a slower bite. Jumbo minnows, mackerel and anchovies are tops. Drifting bait has been effective when the winds are light enough to contend with. Shoreline anglers are also doing okay. There’s no real secrets here… Just average fishing with the usual stuff.

The biggest buzz around Lake County these days is all the hullabaloo over the quagga and zebra Mussels. The official county Web site can be found at www.co.lake.ca.us and should have information available as it develops.

Beginning April 8 (that’s this coming Tuesday) all boats coming into the county must undergo a brief inspection and certification process. All of the tackle shops and a few of the resorts in the county will be offering the inspections.

The mussels pose a substantial threat to our lake and fishery here and there is a concerted effort under way to prevent an infestation that could potentially devastate our resource. Our staff and volunteers will undergo training on Monday and will be better prepared to answer your questions at that time. Please check the county site or call for program details.

Once we’ve been fully brought up to speed on the ins and outs of the program we’ll develop an information page at www.994Fish.com with a condensed, straight-to-the-point, answer-your-questions and get-you-on-the-water approach.

 

And lastly, local hunters have done well during this spring turkey season. We’ve seen birds to just over 20 pounds come in this week with many birds being taken on public lands. Cache Creek, Knoxville and Upper Lake areas have all given up nice toms. We’ve got pictures for you on our Braggin’ Pics page. The turkey population this year seem to be good and strong and the hunting should continue to be good throughout the season.

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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Details

Written by: Lake County News Reports

Published: 28 March 2008

Created: 28 March 2008

Last Updated: 28 March 2008

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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Details

Written by: Lake County News Reports

Published: 14 March 2008

Created: 14 March 2008

Last Updated: 14 March 2008

Wind and occasional light rain are in the forecast for the next few days. While the conditions have made it tough for fishermen, the fish seem to be only somewhat affected by the weather change. (Remember last week was warm and sunny with just a slight breeze.) The water temperature is right at 55 degrees.

Bass anglers fishing live jumbo minnows are catching plenty of fish. One angler reported on Friday morning that he caught nearly 30 fish yesterday (Thursday) on minnows. He said that while the fishing was good it was difficult to position his boat precisely where he wanted it due to the wind.

We’re selling between 1,500 and 2,000 jumbo minnows each week as this bite has simply been great. The weather change has set the artificial bite back a bit. This will probably last for a few days as conditions are not supposed to improve until Monday. It may take a few days back in the warm, sunny weather to get the artificial bite back on the move again.

We’ve had no change in the crappie report now for a few weeks. Nothing new to report here … A tough bite with a few fish being reported over in the Clearlake Keys. Lousy as it is, that’s the crappie report. Keep me in the loop if you get onto some fish …

We have had a noticeable change in the catfish bite. Cats are now being taken by fishing live baits suspended in 8 to 10 feet of water. This signals that the cats have started their spring feeding pattern. We’re also getting word that they are taking live and cut baits fished right on the bottom at similar depths. The cats have been the most consistently cooperative fish species this year and conditions are improving. Bring on the Catfish Derby!

We’re just a few weeks away from our annual NRA Dinner and Auction. This is a fundraising event that brings money back into our community for youth and women’s shooting education, grants for our local ranges and public safety agencies, and firearms safety programs. The guns, custom knives, and exclusive artwork available at the dinner are simply stunning.

We’ll be enjoying a prime rib dinner with all the trimmings, too. Dinner tickets are available here at Lakeshore Bait and Tackle. The firearms for the dinner are arriving every few days and some will be on display here at the shop to be previewed before the April 19 dinner. Dinner tickets are $50. Sponsorship opportunities also are available.

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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