The winter fishing on Clear Lake is wonderful for those who are willing to use live bait and enjoy having their rod bend with plump healthy bass at the other end of the line. Crappie anglers are starting to take interest again. Catfish anglers have dreams of tying into the now new lake record catfish that was released and swims the depths of Clear Lake.
We start the sporting report – and the new year – with our Crappie Challenge, news of a hunter safety class, and Clear Lake Ducks Unlimited chapter and banquet information.
Bassers are still finding a wonderful, yet surprising, bite in shallow water. The key to our unusual shallow water bite is finding skinny water near that ever so important drop off to deep water. Live bait rules the roost this time of year.
A tournament angler friend mentioned to me just Thursday that I should have warned him about the fishing. I should have told him that it takes minnows to get bit. While he did manage a few nice fish on artificial offerings they were few and far between. I gave him some of my best trained jumbo minnows (because most tournament guys will never admit to buying them) in hopes that he would make the most out of his trip to Clear Lake from San Diego.
Crappie action looks like it is picking up. Reports are still isolated, but those that are out looking for them are finding a few. Last week we introduced our “Crappie Challenge – Find the fish, Win a Rod!” Our challenge continues. We'll offer your choice of Shimano Convergence or Clarus rod to the first angler (or team of anglers) that brings in a limit of 25 Clear Lake crappie between now and the end of January. That's right ... Find the fish, win a rod! Watch our Web site at www.994Fish.com for pictures to appear or come to Clear Lake and take the challenge!
Catfishing remains slow. However, there are nice fishing being caught and our lake record fish caught just a couple of weeks ago is out there taunting anglers to try their hand. Jumbo minnows are top dog this time of year for cats, too.
The Clear Lake Ducks Unlimited chapter is gearing up for our Feb. 20 banquet. Merchandise – that's prints, sculptures, knives, guns and more – has been chosen and ordered. The banquet reservations have been made. Dinner and raffle tickets are on sale. There's still much to be done and we would love to have you get involved in our nation's leading waterfowl conservation organization. The group will meet here in our store, Lakeshore Bait & Tackle in Clearlake, on Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. Come join your Clear Lake DU chapter and be a part of something fabulous in 2010.
We are offering a Hunter Safety class in February. The five session class will take place at the Brick Hall in Lower Lake. The class runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (Feb. 16, 17, 23 and 24) and Saturday, Feb. 27. The weekday classes run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the Saturday class runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pre-registration for the class is required. Register at the gun counter at Lakeshore Bait & Tackle. Call 707.994.FISH (3474) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Bob Rider is owner of Lakeshore Bait & Tackle, 14913 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-FISH (3474). Visit the store online at www.994Fish.com .