Weather changes – cool last week to hot this week and shorter days (the sun’s going down earlier and rising later) have things mixed up a bit this week. Stay tuned for more on that …

But first, I want to mention our CatFest event happening Saturday afternoon/evening. Come join us at the shop around 4 p.m. as we get our rigs and bait ready and have some fun telling tall tales. We’ll hit the water shortly after the store closes at 5 p.m. We’ll have a fun raffle for CatFest participants before we go. We’ll fish until about 11 p.m. (or later for some). The idea here is to fish as a group (a flotilla of boats, if you will) and have fun.

With that said, let’s talk bass. Bass anglers have been somewhat frustrated this week by the changing conditions. Some have found it difficult to locate fish while others have done well. Look for the fish to settle into a pattern for the next few days as the weather approaches the century mark and holds. Try tying on Husky Jerk and X-Rap baits fished in the 12 to 20 foot range. Look for stained water mid-morning for best results. Also try the top water bite for the first few hours of the day. Finally, don’t be shy about digging deep with a jig or Carolina rig once you’re into the heat of the day. The water temps are running in the mid-70s.

Most of the crappie fishermen are looking forward to the cooler weather of late fall for the crappie bite to make another surge. For now those anglers fishing minnows over at Konocti are having some measure of success. Jig anglers have reported a lesser bite on the artificial lures.

Catfish are being found in deeper water areas all around the south end here. Monitor Island and Pirate’s Cove are the first two to come to mind. Areas around Rattlesnake Island in the Oaks arm are producing. A mixed bag of bait from mackerel (our favorite) to minnows to nightcrawlers or chicken livers should do the trick.

Notable Catch: Roy Balzer of Clearlake has had a good time fishing the Sacramento River lately. He nailed a big salmon that tipped the scales at 45 pounds – dressed out. Roy stopped by the shop on his way back into town for a quick photo opportunity with his catch-o-the-day. Way to go, Roy!

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}