Cooler weather and strong winds have greeted anglers at the launch ramp this week. Daytime highs have been in the 80s and water temps in the upper 70s. The winds have made it tough to get out in smaller boats, but will serve to stir up the lake adding much needed oxygen and breaking up the algae.
The fishing has toughened up a bit … Looks a lot like we’re going to settle into a fall pattern right on queue as the kids head back to school and summer wanes.
The bass have made a move for deeper water. Deep running crank baits, jigs and Carolina rigs have been the top methods of tying into some nice bass. Anglers are running in 16 to 25 feet of water and looking for submerged structure. Live bait fishermen are doing moderately well with minnows fished with a split shot two to three feet up the line. Let the minnow run where it wants without a bobber.
Crappie anglers are reporting that it has become more difficult to locate the schools. Some folks have continued to have success in the Luebow Point and Jago Bay areas as well as over at Konocti Harbor Resort. The action at Four Poles seems to have dropped off substantially. For the very best action you must be on the water at daybreak. Minnows are strongly favored over crappie jigs. Panfish Assassins in a few of the key colors (crystal shad, chartreuse shad and gold pepper shiner) are still selling as well.
Anglers seeking catfish are likely the happiest folks on the lake. Catfish continue to be caught from 2 to 20 pounds (and bigger) all over the southern end of the lake. From Pirates Cove down to Indian Island and right on into the residential areas of Cache Creek anglers have reported good success on mackerel. Clams, nightcrawlers and anchovies are all runners up in the top bait category.
And now for something special … A camera phone picture of some nice trout caught in the North Fork of Cache Creek tells the story well. Customer Anthony and a friend fished the eddies near Spring Valley for a little over an hour to catch four trout to 20 inches. Anthony used nightcrawlers with several split shot above to drift the bait into the calmer waters. He added that the current is still very strong as they continue to flow water out of Indian Valley Reservoir.
Bob Rider owns Lakeshore Bait & Tackle in Clearlake. Visit his Web site at www.994fish.com or call him at 994-FISH (3474).
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