Consistently cool weather is taking the lake temperature cooler and cooler. The live-bait bite for bass and catfish is quite good. Crappie are being caught only in modest numbers. The reports are much the same as last week, so here's what we've got ...

 

Bass anglers fishing live bait are having a ball. Most have reported that the bite is slow throughout most of the morning and early afternoon hours with the tail end of the afternoon accounting for most of the fish caught.

Jumbo minnows really made a splash this past week, with over 1,200 fish passing through our tank! The hatchery was caught a bit off guard by the surge in demand. We've upped our order yet again and will repeat the increases until we find that magic number. (Last year's high was close to 2,000 minnows/week at its fall peak.)

For the folks tempting bass with lures, we're still hearing about lipless cranks, top hook and keel weighted swim baits, jigs, and drop shotting. The artificials bite has been a bit less exhilarating that the live minnow bite. Deep water and rock piles continues as a pattern for fall bass angling.

 

Crappie anglers – now calling daily for updates – are finding some success on nice size, albeit not great numbers, of slabs. No Name Reef, Rocky Point, Jones Bay and Jago Bay have all been mentioned to us in the store this week. With Konocti Harbor Resort now closed we're recommending anglers try many of the other fantastic resorts around the lake. Your best bet for crappie will be by boat for now.

 

Catfishermen are enjoying plenty of action on jumbo minnows. Deep water rock piles are working well for cats also. Mackerel, shad and anchovies are also working well. Shore anglers are catching fish from deeper standing docks all around the south end of the lake.

 

In event news, there are just a few weeks left to get in on the Lake Friends of NRA's three gun raffle. We're giving away a Kimber .45 pistol, a S&W M&P15 rifle, and a Remington 870 12 GA Tactical shotgun on December 12. Tickets are $20 each. Buy a whole sheet of TEN tickets for $200 and you'll receive a special ticket to get in on a drawing for a Front Sight Training Certificate.

Tickets are available at Lakeshore Bait & Tackle and other locations around Lake County. Call 707-994-3474 for more information.

 

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