With the exception of a brief cool-down that brought some high winds to our lake, the weather and fishing have been phenomenal here on Clear Lake. Other local waters are also reported to be doing well, too.?? Here's the scoop?Ķ

Bassin' with artificials has been great. Senkos, Brush Hogs, and top water lures (like Persuader's new Baby Duck) have all been productive. Popper type lures have been doing great as well.?? For live bait ??? I heard the funniest bite report this week.?? Danny and Helen traveled from the Sacramento area to fish Clear Lake for a few days. Well, they reported that the fishing was "Just too easy." They complained (with a good measure of humor) that they caught fish every time they cast with their jumbo minnows. So much so that they stowed the trolling motor in favor of an anchor and just fished in place for a couple of hours.

I'm hearing that the crappie bite isn't half bad if you fish at first light of the day or during the evening hours. Crappie anglers have reporting catching fish from 1 to 3 pounds on crappie jigs and medium sized minnows. They are fishing docks all over the south end of the lake.?? The bluegill are staging another appearance. Folks are catching them using wax & meal worms.

The catfish bite is reasonably good. Mackerel or nightcrawlers are the top selling baits this week. They're also the baits that we're hearing are doing the best at enticing the whiskerfish to bite.?? With the weather (and wind) calming as we move into the weekend, conditions should be right for drifting up some BIG cats!

We have some good news coming out of Lake Berryessa for you kokanee anglers. Doug Crandall of GetRDone Fishing reports that his clients are catching limits between 40 & 60 feet off the big island while trolling Rocky Mountain's Assassin lures. The kokes have been ranging in size from 14.5 to 16 inches.

In other sporting news, I'd like to invite you gun enthusiasts to drop by and see some of the spectacular firearms that the Friends of the NRA has sent for the up coming benefit dinner (July 7).?? At the top of my favorites list is a very special Weatherby Vanguard chambered in 270 WSM and equipped with a Leupold VX-II scope. This is the "Sponsor Drawing" gun that will be given away at the dinner. Other dinner guns that I've got on display are a stunning Marlin 30-30 lever action rifle with a gray laminate stock and custom engraving, a Benelli Nova shotgun in Advantage Timber camo ??? very cool, a Savage 17HMR with the unique thumbhole stock, and an interesting Kimber rifle chambered in 338 Federal. Oh, and have you seen the S&W 460 XVR Magnum? What a beast of a revolver!?? Drop by and see some of these fine guns and pick up your dinner tickets while you're here.?? Lastly, we're giving away a Kimber Custom II 45 ACP pistol. Raffle tickets for this pistol are $10/each, 3 for $20, or 10 for $50. You don't have to be present at the dinner to win. I've got this gun on display (and tickets for sale) here also?Ķ?? Drop by and check it out.

-Bob Rider, Owner ??