We’ve had a dry week, but rain is in the forecast. Daytime highs have been in the 40s to low 50s. The water temps are still dropping, but ever so slightly. Look for low to mid 40s for surface temps around the lake.
What you really want to know is this …
Bass have cooled off a bit. The hot bite of just two or three weeks ago is now a more typical winter bite. So, from 15 to 20 fish per day you can expect half a dozen or so. Folks are still catching big fat fish, just fewer of them for their efforts.
Minnows, jigs and swim baits are the most talked about big fish baits this week. Lots of folks are switching over to a finesse presentation – drop shotting or shaky heading soft plastics. Deeper water and rocks still dominate the scene for locations.
Crappie anglers were enjoying a bite that has improved nicely at Konocti Harbor Resort this week. A single – but dreadfully honest – report from Thursday indicated that the sudden drop in temperature and looming rains have knocked the bite back off again. This pattern of on again/off again will likely continue until we get into a more consistently cold and drizzly weather pattern.
Kono Tayee is still getting a lot of attention and is reported to be packed with boaters/anglers most every day. There’s still no action being reported at the Four Poles. Minnows and mini-jigs are going about 50-50 here. The Nitro brand Crappie Gems are the hot ticket for most folks casting and catching.
There hasn’t been much movement on the catfish front … Guess most folks are taking advantage of the good crappie bite.
There will be no fishing report for the first week of January as I’ll be attending a trade show in Las Vegas. Our next regular report will appear on Jan. 10.
All of us here at Lakeshore Bait & Tackle would like to extend a humble thanks to so many of you that have made 2007 a fun and prosperous year for us. Our hope is that 2008 will bring you good health, happiness and many big fish.
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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