Beautiful conditions this morning – good air quality (no smoke), cooler temps (well below 100+), and lower gas prices conspired to give me the feeling that things are looking good around Clear Lake. Lots of fishermen and boats wheeling into town gave me the feeling that things are looking good on Clear Lake. And, indeed they are. Here are the details …

The early morning bass bite is really quite good. Hit the water just before or right at sun up (4:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.) and you’re going to catch a lot of fish. Senkos, spinner baits and frogs were all mentioned Thursday morning by anglers coming off the water.

The down side? The bite drops off hard around 8 or 9 in the morning. Switch to minnows for a continued bite throughout the rest of the day. Fish from 12 to 25 feet of water. Look for that “feature” that’s holding fish and you’re going to do OK. By feature, most are looking for drop-offs, ledges, shelves, etc. Oh, and when the bite slows down – SO SHOULD YOU. I’ve heard over and over this week from guys that were catching fish about guys they know blowing right around them and complaining that they’re not catching fish. There’s a clue in that …

Crappie and bluegill are still being caught, although sporadically at best. This report hasn’t changed in weeks – the schools are widely scattered and holding fairly deep. Fish areas around spots that commonly held crappie last year and you’ll likely find enough for the table. Minnows are your best bet.

The catfish action still continues to be good and hot. Shrimp, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, livers, minnows and night crawlers will do the trick. Fish from the shore, anchor up, or drift your boat and you’ll find good luck throughout the evening and nighttime hours. The daytime hours have seen a slower bite overall. Shoreline locations around Clearlake/Clearlake Park have produced well for bank-bound anglers. Jago Bay and Indian Island have done well for boaters.

In event news, our next CatFest event – coming up on Aug. 23 – looks to be our best ever. A barbecue, Our Very Own All Original Fishing Games with cool tackle prizes, and fun fishing all warped, um, I mean wrapped up into one night. It’s gonna be FUN! Call or come by the shop for details or to sign up.

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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