How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Recreation
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
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).
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
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).
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
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).
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The bass are biting well on minnows in the morning hours while it is still rather chilly out. Once the sun has made its appearance, the bass are taking a variety of artificials. The noon hour seems to be about the time the bite picks up for jigs, plastics, spinner baits, jerk baits and swim baits. By mid-afternoon anglers are catching bass readily.
One key rig this week – the mighty Senko rigged weightless either whacky or Texas. Position your boat in 10 to 15 feet of water and cast to the bank. Be thorough! We’re not talking so much about a strong reaction bite so you need to move slower than you would other times of the year.
Spend the day on the lake and you’ll likely be in the 20- to 30-fish range with some fish to 7 or 8 pounds and many, many clones in the 2- to 3-pound class. And, good news for shore anglers, the bass are in at Redbud and Highlands Parks here in town.
The crappie … That report hasn’t changed since last week. Still hearing of a few honorable mentions, but we have seen evidence of a strong bite anywhere on the lake. Perhaps we’ll see them for a warm water bite this year …
The cats are still doing their thing … Mackerel, nightcrawlers and most of the other good stinky stuff should work. Shoreline anglers have been doing pretty well here along the City of Clearlake this week. Nothing tricky here. Just soak some good bait and wait for a bite.
Wow, the response for our first Hunter Safety class here in Clearlake was great. (Actually, it was a little overwhelming!) With nearly 40 people in the class, we had to cut it off for this go around. We’ve set dates for another class to be held May 5, 7, and 10 at the Clearlake Fire Headquarters on Olympic Drive. Come to the store to sign up. Fee is just $10. We’ll be limiting the seats in this next class to a more manageable 25 to 30 people so sign up early. Dads or moms who are licensed hunters may accompany a youth through the class. Look for more details, including times, on our “Events and Classes” page at www.994Fish.com.
Seats and sponsorships are still available for the Lake Friends of the NRA Dinner and Auction being held on April 19. Dinner tickets are $50. Sponsorship opportunities start at $375. The guns for this event have started to come in to the store now. WOW! They’ve got some beautiful stuff this year. Stop by the shop and see for yourself as we have some of them on display.
And while you’re here, get your prime rib dinner tickets while we still have seats available. This year’s event is being held at the Middletown Lions Club. I hope you’ll come out to support this great cause.
Bob Rider owns Lakeshore Bait & Tackle in Clearlake. Visit his Web site at www.994fish.com or call him at 994-FISH (3474).
{mos_sb_discuss:2}