For weeks now, I've been writing about big bass being caught out of Clear Lake. Last week the good folks from the ESPN Bassmasters Elite series were on the lake to prove it out during the Golden State Shootout. They weren't disappointed. Skeet Reese smashed the former record of 115 pounds 15 ounces with a four-day (20 bass) weight of 117 pounds 6 ounces. Skeet's performance was then bested by Steve Kennedy when he weighed in with a total weight of 122 pounds 14 ounces.?? Astounding!?? The good news is this: Clear Lake bass are on the bite.

Bass anglers are reporting success using a myriad of artificial lures ??? soft plastics, spinner baits, jigs, and swim baits. Top catches ??? both by number and size of fish ??? are coming on jumbo minnows. The top locations??? Shallow water tules and docks all around the lake. Here's the catch: I'm either hearing that the bass bite is red hot ??? OR ??? that an angler didn't see a fish all day. When you sort out the details you find that the folks not catching fish simply aren't fishing the right water at the right time of day. It seems that the early morning hours are yielding the biggest bass with smaller bass moving in to 2 feet and larger bass moving out to 6 feet as the day wears on. To simplify this further, if you're not actively catching fish where you're at, move!

Crappie are behaving much like the bass. They are being found below shallow water docks in such places as The Keys (Clearlake Oaks), the private docks at the south end of the city of Clearlake along Old Hwy. 53, and up in the sloughs at Clear Lake State Park. The crappie bite is best for boaters. Shore anglers are having a more difficult time finding public access to the prime areas.?? Two notable exceptions are Konocti Harbor Resort where anglers are catching a mix of crappie, bass, & bluegill and Indian Beach Resort in Glenhaven where they're catching some nice crappie in the evening hours off their docks.?? All reports have live minnows as the only effective means of consistently catching crappie as we're leading into the spawn.

Catfish reports are trickling in. For the most part, the big cats aren't showing yet. Anglers have tried drifting key areas like bass alley and Jago Bay with limited success. Anchoring in the mouth of Cache Creek or down in that neck of the woods has been good for cats to about 8 pounds. Water temps this past week have been ranging from 59 to 62 degrees at the lower end of the lake.

The opening weekend of the spring turkey season was a hit with most of the hunters we spoke with. The spring season runs through May 6. Stop by our shop with your bird for a quick photo or bring us a picture for our wall. While you're here, check out our growing selection of rifles, shotguns, handguns, and ammunition. (We're now a licensed gun dealer!) We also have hunting licenses, stamps, & tags if you're just getting your season started.

-Bob Rider, Owner
Lakeshore Bait & Tackle
14913-D Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake, CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961 fax
www.994Fish.com