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Friday, December 28th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 46

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: This report will certainly be better than the last one, especially i I had not lost a huge bass yesterday 'cause I didn't check the tip o my jig hook ater snagging on a rock. It was good to be back at Clear Lake ater three weeks amd more postponed trips because o the weather and lousy ishing than I can remember. I had a really nice client and a skillul isheerman, but green in the sport o winter bass ishing. We used jig 90% o the time, trying or big bites. He missed a bass near Rattlesnake Island and later had a good bass pick up his jig without him knowing it and swim towards him. He inally set the hook but it was too late. I think I igured out a good pattern when I stuck a big ish around 8:30 AM. She was ar o the edge o a rockpile - a good winter pattern. She was beautiul and ull o ight, and really nailed my Rodstrainer jig. She weighed in at 8 lbs 2 oz. Daytime Rules! We ished several other areas south o the narrows without a bite. Finally, in the cove near Sea Breeze, a 4-13 took my Weapon jig with #180 Yamamoto single tail grub. The next bass I owe to my client! I was teaching him about bass stu all day and was explaining something to him while I kept working my jig urther and urther out into deep water - not paying much attention to it. When it went THUNK - I payed attention! That one was 7 lbs 1 oz! So, 6 bites - 3 in the boat or around 20 lbs, and one lost monster! I was really pleased to see how excited my client was to see his irst really big bass - I wish he had caught one, but he sat how it was done and his day will come!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Just ished jig very slowly in rocky dropos.

Tuesday, December 25th, 2001

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: WISHING ALL MY FELLOW ANGLERS AND FAMILIES OF MERRY CHRISTMAS
    City: earth usa

Monday, December 10th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 50

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: All I got to say is that it take a real man to make a report like this! Many have complimented me or telling it like it is - the good with the bad. I am PROUD to report that in my past two night trips - one last Friday and one about a week ago, we got three bites on each trip. I will have to say that one o them was a huge bass! Please don't ask i we landed any (we didn't). The best excuse I can come up with is that winter hit quick and hard. Very rapid drop in water temp. Yes, I think that will work! People are trying to make me eel better be saying the bite was slow everywhere last weekend. Seriously, I made a comment on my last report about the current state o Clear Lake, and nothing I can see has changed that - in act I am even more convinced that it is in trouble. I was surprised by the number o people who emailed me about that - all agreeing. I have never smelled the skunk in late all or over 10 years at night, and the last two trips stunk! Places all over the lake that hold ish this time o year are either without many bass, or they just have an extended case o lockjaw. Last November (2000) I guided in 25 to 28 degree nights and was getting 15 to 25 hookups. The only thing that is dierent now is that Clear Lake looks like Amador when you turn your meter on - bait ish everywhere and sometimes 15 eet thick - all over the lake. There may be heavy eeding in the daylight hours, making the night slow. Conditions were perect Friday night - but no bass activity anywhere at any time. Stay tuned!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: We are getting our bites on Weapon jigs, and one on a brush hog. I I had a tip, I would give it to you! Somebody mentioned that no one has posted or the last month. Well, don't orget, it has been a bit dangerous out their during these constant storms. And there is probably not much to report - even the minnow ishermen are struggling a bit.

Saturday, December 8th, 2001

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: went to clear lake sat ishing slow. tryed senko rip baits jigs spiners with littel luck.caught three small ish on three dirent baits, the only goodthing was weather
    City: Yuba City

Tuesday, November 20th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 57

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I just read the previous report by the Blue Ranger man, and thought I would say "ditto"! I guided Thursday thru Sunday (night trips), and ound the ishing very slow or some reason, probably all the rontal activity. But ishing was still too slow. Thursday night was warmer, and we got 5 or 20 1/4 lbs, mostly on jigs. Friday night the ront passed through, with wind and cold everywhere. We only caught two - a 4 1/2 and a 5 1/2. On Saturday, (same client) he wanted to try minnows, so he bought 2 doz and we started about 3 pm. He did get a 4 1/4 and a 9 pound catish! I lost a big one. Since I don't enjoy live bait much, I switched back to jigs beore dark and got a 5 3/4. Ater dark it was dead. We ished a couple o spots near the narrows and inally the Weapon jig did its thing - client did the "grunt' sound and set into a dandy - 8-5!! Hallelujah!! And this ish was early - 9 pm. I thought "good - it will pick up"! Never got another bite, and we quit at midnight. By the way, in 15 years o guiding Clear Lake at night, this was the wettest night (without rain) I have ever seen. The og was all over the north end by 10 pm. Amazing - I have NEVER seen that ever. My carpet even elt like it had rained. Fog usually doesn't starting orming until 1 am at the earliest. I have ound cold, moist air to provide very slow ishing at night. Sunday night was just the opposite - warm and dry. I thought this was it! And that is the way it started - client got a 4-5 right away on a Weapon jig. I was again ishing deep water and stuck a 7 1/2, and we got another 3 something - all by 8:30! Yes, this was the night!!!! Well, we never caught another bass, though clients missed 3. One guy did stick a nice one or a second or two. I still can't igure out why it was so slow. I do have some ideas that I may share at another time. I must admit, sometimes I really worry that the tournament pressure, weed control, live bait ishing, and sight ishing - all this happening year-round now, is really taking a toll on the ishery. But o course, I must be wrong.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I don't think I have much constructive to say ater the past ew trips. I do agree with the previous report that colder water will help the ishing - even or artiicial baits. My clients ished very well, but the bass just wern't in the mood.

Sunday, November 11th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 59

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I will try to make this report brie, since I was long-winded in the previous one (couldn't help it!). It was a strange eeling to start guiding Friday night ater the huge night on Tuesday - what do we do or an encore? I would like to point out something interesting about this trip compared to the Tues trip. I irst learned about big ish trips in the late '70's, while ishing the dredger ponds outside o Marysville, near my home. When I would stick a lot o big bass, the small ones were no where to be seen. I have ound this to be true on lakes too. Friday night we mostly used the same Weapon jig setup as Tues night, and this time had tons o tailbiters, ripping o the Yamamoto grub. Though we caught 4 big bass Friday night - 5-7, 6-0, 7-0. and 7-7, plus a 3 1/2, we mostly had small ish bites and even landed a ew 8 inchers. Tuesday night, however, I think we had only ONE tailbiter. Though we caught 3 rom 1 1/2 to 2 3/4 lbs., every other bite was a big one. I ind this a conirmation o the idea that i you stick a big one, others may ollow, and you need to be prepared. Fish you big ish baits. The lip side is - i you are on a rockpile or area that is ull o dinks - leave! There are probably not any big bass around at that time. Anyway, ater the son (another ather-son team) caught the irst big bass - the 7 pounder, I challenged them to help us land a 30 lb limit - they thought that was a great idea! He caught another, the 5-7 and dad came up with a beautiul 6 pounder. I added the 7-7 and the dink o course, a 3 1/2. Funny, I have caught the smallest bass in the last 6 trips I think. Somebody has to do it!! Well, we were at 29 1/2 pounds and dad hooks the one that would put us over the top - a big bass, but he lost it. I don't think he even turned it. We caught each bass in a dierent rocky area in the south end. We all had a lot o un, and the weather was great. Not so Saturday night. I started earlier that I planned with a client - thank goodness. We started a 4:30 pm, and at 5 pm he caught a 4 1/4 pounder on a black/red Norman crankbait, same as previous report, on windlower point. It started to rain, and hard, ater dark. Ater 6 hours o that, we called it a night. He did catch a 2 1/2 pounder on a worm, and I got my only bass, a 3 pounder, just beore we quit. This is the irst rainy night I have every ished at Clear Lake where the bass didn't turn on some. It was a warm rain and ishing should have been great. Saturday is the night I would have thought we would have caught the big limit, not on a very cold Tuesday night. Ah, the great puzzle o bass ishing!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: While the ish wern't nearly as active Friday night, the Weapon jig continued to produce quality bass, which I would expect as the water SLOWLY cools. I inally saw 59 degree water about midnight Sat. The bass are in transition over much o the lake, so i you don't get bit, move! They are probably somewhere else. Look or some big bass to move to deeper water now. It isn't necessary to ish minnows unless you eel you have to - or want to. The bass will hit artiicials very well until the water gets to about 48 degrees. We have a long way to go!

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Tough day yesterday. Five o us were out there and struggled. 5 ish total or all o us. Big one(5.4) came on black/red Norman crank and the rest came on rip baits. Everyplace I went to throw my jig, I was blown o. Southern wind would not lay down. Tried all the spots. The pipeline, lamplighter, Jago, Fraser, Konocti, Bass alley, and who knows where else I was. I did get into one awsome catish bite on jigs though. So that kind o made up or the shitty day. I caught about 9 or 10 catish in about 25 to 30 eet o water on black/red jigs. A coulple o them were about 15lbs. Good way to check and see i your line and tackle are working good. I was doing circles in the boat trying to keep up with them. I swear by Berkeley Big Game(20lb). Great line or the money. The area I got the catish was a rocky bank and point south o Fraser Point and in between Jago and Fraser. I don't know what it's called. I'll have to look at the map.
    City: Petaluma

    Tips: I wind lays down, jig bite is on somewhere. Think rock and rocky points. Cranking and ripping will work also. Quit the mickeymousing and get out there and do it. You're gonna get wet. So what. Even though the bite was not on, we still had a un day. It's like playing ootball in the mud. Its your chance to be a kid again and tell some good stories. Every ishing trip has a good story in it. Buy a SOSPENDER liejacket and wear it at all times. It's real simple and increases your chances o staying alive out there. Especially with this wind, rain, and waves, you gotta be on your toes. Accidents can happen and will happen. As the case with Mr. Crenshaw. Be smart. Saety irst. Fish second.

Thursday, November 8th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Well, I think I am writing the ishing report o a lietime, at least or me. I had to wait a day to calm down a bit, so I could write in good English. I took two wonderul people - a ather and 20+ (I think) year old son to Clear Lake Tuesday night. I knew it would be the coldest night o the all so ar, and even tried calling them to postpone the trip. Luckly I didn't reach them. We started about 5:15 at the south end, dad and I ishing Weapon Jigs and the son a Dead Ringer worm. We didn't get a bite and at dark I suggested they eat their sandwich since it was ALWAYS slow right ater dark. We decided to ish a bit more and soon I elt a slight tap and set the hook. So much or eating as one o them netted an 8 1/2 pounder! Very strange or 15 minutes ater dark. Dad soon got a 2 1/2 on his Weapon jig and I knew this was going to be a dierent night. We did hit a lull, but about 10 pm things started to happen. I landed an 8-3 and dad got a 4-0 and lost one between 5 and 6 pounds. I put the younger man on a jig, and the rest o the evening we all ished the same bait - a 1/4 oz black/chartreuse Rattlin' Weapon jig (Dezyner Baits) with a 5 inch #159 Yamamoto grub - with Smelly Jelly. We ished all over the lake, usually catching one bass in each spot. The only dead areas with no bites were Henderson Point area and Frazier Point area. It was almost like a previous report I did - we would catch one and say "Let's move!). At about 1 am we took photos o the 4 largest so ar - 4 bass or 35 1/2 pounds, including my 9-4 and dad's 9-3. We released those, and then tried to increase the size o our already huge limit. Concentrating on rocky areas, we continued to catch a ew more big ish, but not many. I was very concerned that the son had not caught any, though he was having a ball and had a great attitude! We stopped at one more spot, now about 2:30 in the morning, hoping the junior man could catch one. But this was dad's night - irst cast he sticks a 7-2, next cast a 5-8. I was just sitting there, keeping the boat straight in the wind that just wouldn't quit. Ater about ive minitues I picked up my Loomis rod to see i I could catch "one or the road". My jig hit the rock and I twitched it once. All I remember ater that was holding on and was sure very soon that I had a catish. The power o this ish was amazing! This ish even shook it's head like a catish. When the mouth came out o the water, there were NO whiskers. When the son netted it, he yelled "This is a ten or sure", since we thought some o the others might have been, but they hadn't beeed (ished?) up enough yet. Well, he was right - it was 11-2 and possibly the most beautiul Clear Lake bass I have ever caught - thick, at, and all that stu, but not a mark on her, and every in razor sharp, including the bottom o the tail. She looked like she was 3 years old! Where are these ish in the summer? What a way to end the trip! I though it was unny that the son mentioned, laughing, that we would have to cull a 7-9 to increased our limit. With the 11, we did just that! Our combined limit was 46 1/4 lbs - 8-3, 8-8, 9-3, 9-4, and 11-2, my best limit ever. Dad's individual limit was 33-6, including a 9-3, 7-9 and 7-2, and mine was 42-10, or a total o 76 pounds - 10 bass. We had 14 total bass, with 11 caught on jigs and 3 smaller ones on Power worms. You know, one would think we would be making a lot o noise out there with this kind o event, but we were really kind o quite - really in awe o what was happening. We would look at these big bass, one ater another, in amazement. We did laugh a lot though!!!! I was really suprised and concerned that the son didn't boat a ish. I've seen this happen beore, but it is still hard on a guide. He did loose a ew. Dad says that his son usually beats him at Berryessa, so I guess this was payback time! The next trip we take, it will probably be the opposite. Anyway, we all will remember this experience the rest o our lives. As the og set in while we went back out to release the 11, it almost seemed like a dream, a mirage that actually happened!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I just have to tell you readers how pleased I am that I switched my night ishing line to 30" test Fireline (Flame green, which works in the black light). I have yet to break o a ish in the past year and a hal that I have been using it, and it handles the rocks just ine. The reason I mention this is that just prior to catching the 11-2, I had ripped my jig o rocks three times and had not planned to ish anymore. Otherwise, I would have retied. I even had to bend the jig hook back. I got a trememdous hook set on that big bass and a great ight. I'm not sure mono line could have withstood that treatment! We were dragging our jigs slowly and swimming them in some areas, just ticking the tops o the rocks. I cautioned the son not to lit his jig so high - that could be the reason he didn't get as many bites. I was ishing my jig oten in deeper water, 20 to 35 eet, staying out o my clients way. That is where two o the biggest bass came rom - deep water. No suprise, I guess.

Sunday, October 28th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 63

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Ater ishing with clients on Sat with slow ishing and steady 15 to 20 mph winds all day, I was a little worried about what my night trip would bring. And I didn't want to ish in the rain!! I was most interested in what a touch o instant winter would do or the night bite. When I met my clients, I was relieved to see that they were eager and dressed or bear!! We didn't catch anything during the last hour o dark, but started ater dark with the smallest bass o the trip, about 1-14. Sombody had to catch the dink, so I did - on a giant Hoo-daddy. About 10 min later one o the guys sets on a good ish which turned out to be 4-13 - on a Dead Ringer. I was happy, 'cause I wasn't sure my attitude could handle much more wind!! Finally it laid down about 11 pm, and the ishing got better. I truly had one o the greatest hits I have EVER had on a worm - this time on a 10" black Power Worm - my avorite! It was a worthy ish to nearly jerk the rod out o my hand - all 7 pounds 11 ounces o her. She was at and mean! Fall is here!!? I caught her in a weed patch that has been good the past month on the east side o the south end. Next, we move to the narrows area and the same client gets two clones in back to back casts - 3 1/4 lbs each, also on the Dead Ringer. As we hit the last spot, one o my special rockpiles, I land one and we loose two others. Finally, the client that hadn't even had a bite, sets the hook on a 4-7. I told him to leave the worm and hook as they were or a nice photo. What does he do? - drops it in the water again (accidentally, he said). So I net it or the second time. Actually, I just think he wanted to ight it a little longer!! He immediately made up or his slow night, sticking another 4 pounder. I am really glad we had this happy ending, because one o them had lost a really big ish in the cove near Sea Breeze. One o my daytime clients lost a big ish there too. We wound up with 8 total, with a ive ish limit at 24 1/2 lbs. Again, the best bite seemed to be ater midnight and a little winter didn't seem to bother them at all.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Still waiting or the larger ish to show up. Easing o tournament pressure and colder weather should help. Many o our bites Sat night were strong hits - a sure sign that the eed bag is just around the corner!

Sunday, October 21st, 2001

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I just got my butt kicked in one o the biggest tourneys I ished this year. DOH!!On Saturday I went to the narrows and ished Dollar Island and Anderson Island. First crack outta the hat, my livewell pump goes kaput and I have to ill the well by hand and add a couple bubblers or aeration. As it turned out, I never would need them. Jigs, C-rig, lippin', cranks...nada.On Sunday I went to Lucerne and ound lots o ish and caught 15 rippin a Lucky Crat. Only 1 was legal size and that was caught lippin' a senko.Clear Lake just kills me sometimes. I love that lake!
    City: Cotati

    Tips: Don't do what I did. LOL

Saturday, October 20th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 68

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Since I had two night trips at the same time as the W.O.N. Tri-State tournament, I thought it would be un or my clients (boyriend-girlriend olks each night) to see i we could beat the winning weight. The night ishing wasn't great and the clients were learning. I thought that was a un challenge! Well, we came close - winning the irst trip with a 29-3 limit, but ell short Friday night (see report rom gentleman rom Tracy) with 4 bass or 13 1/4 lbs. I guess that would have put us around 5th place or the two trips. It was no accident that the bite was slow Fri night. Friday and Saturday both were warm, cloudy days. Thursday night was warm and on schedule, the carp became active around midnight and so did the bass! Friday night saw clear skies and it was much cooler - the carp never really became active, nor did the bass. I love watching the carp-bass thing at night. Normally when the carp play - the bass bite!! Thursday night we ished early evening at Shag and Henderson without so much as a bite. We went south and I caught a 2 1/2 pounder at 9:30 PM. About 11:30 we heard the irst carp roll, and at 11:45 the gentleman client sets up on a real good one, using a junebug Dead Ringer 8" worm. This time I have a net and it was a little easier to get his 8 pounder in the boat! This was by ar his biggest bass and his excitement was un to watch. It was very satisying to me, since he had only caught one bass in a previous trip. What a way or him to start. In the next 3 hours we caught 7 more or our previously mentioned 29-3 limit. He added another good ish, a 5-14, and I inally got a great ish to slam a Weapon jig - it was 7-1!! His girlriend ended the evening with her only bass o the trip - a nice 3 pounder. All bass were caught on the dead ringers, 10" Power worms, one on a jig, and a 4 pounder on a Frenzy crankbait. We were ishing rocky areas and points. They were supposed to leave the next day, but were excited enough to ish another day - I hope they had some luck! The Friday night trip was already reported, but I will mention that I caught my two bass on a Ho-Daddy, a brush hog type bait one o my clients told me about. A 3 and a 4 something slammed that bait! As mentioned in his report, his girlriend lost two good bass that would have given us a nice limit, but the second bass was the irst one she ever hooked on a worm. That is always exciting. I told her a little more power in the hookset, and she will be on her way! I had a day trip last Tuesday, and we did manage to get 4 in the boat or about 12 1/2 lbs, with one o the clients getting a nice 5-11 on a #194 Senko - lipping in weed pockets. The other client got a nice 3 1/2 on a jig. I got a 2 1/2 on a white rog and missed the one that would have given us a decent limit. I think it was around 4+. We caught all o our ish ater 1 PM.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: It is hard to tell i the night ishing is also eeling the pressure o way-too-much tournament ishing. One would think that night ishing would be better, but it doesn't seem to work that way. I have ound that when certain rockpiles are pounded day ater day, the bass simply move and don't return at night. I have really noticed unusual mobility o bass in the last three weeks - they don't seem to stay in an area very long. Probably has something to do with the ood chain too. They certainly havn't started schooling yet. Cooler weather is bound to help - at least it will get them to stay in one spot longer!!!

Friday, October 12th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Had a day trip Wed, showing a client around the south end o the lake. We got one or two on crankbaits in the morning up to 3 lbs. We ished some with not much success, but the highlight o the trip was him missing a big rog ish and about 10 minutes late busting 50 lb Power Pro line on a bass. What a monster. He was sick and I wasn't eeling too well mysel!! Since he is a tournament guy, I will keep the location secret! It was a beautiul day, but the weather wasn't too nice or my night trip, which I started ater a short nap. The wind started howling just as we started ishing about 6pm. We took a dinner break at Konocti Resort and then back at the wind. We hid at Frazier or awhile with no luck. I really think the bass population has been thinned out there considerably - they are constantly removed rom the area, but I never seen anyone put them back there. I tried to get a release boat captain to release some there last year, but I don't know i he ever did. Ater ive hours with no ish, I got desperate and headed to Shag Rock and Henderson and see i I could hold the boat. I had some success with my new 520, trying to put my client in the perect position. I threw a Big Dipper Magic Worm (6") whenever I could get a cast in, since I had to throw backwards. At midnight, I saw my 30 lb test Fireline move and set the hook. It never slowed down and I yelled "get the net" as I towed the ish out to deep water, trying to keep rom crashing my new Ranger into the rocks - pushed by 2 to 3 oot swells. He said it would be hard to get the net since it had already blown overboard earlier. I thought there was simply no way we'd get this one, since he wasn't too keen on lipping a large bass with a hook at night. Can't say that I blame him! Glad he did it though, since it turned out to be an 8 lb 11 oz beauty! I would have preerred him to catch it, but we were just happy to have one in the boat! He had never seen one that big. Released her, and caught another 3 pounder on a black Terminator spinnerbait. Went to another less windy spot, and soon heard the magic words "I got one"!! I jumped or the net - Oops! Another lip job!!! He did have one - his personal best at 4 1/2 lbs. I had him using a junebug Dead Ringer worm. We got two more beore we quit, and wound up with 5 or 22-2 pounds in a two hour period. That was a happy ending or sure! A exciting boat ride back - what a boat!!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I'm sure the rough water brought that big emale up to eed, and just made a lucky cast. Many clients and beginning anglers would have never known that ish was on - I barely saw the line movement in that rough water. Always watch you line very careully or a twitch or a slight irregular movement. I never elt a "bite", and I'm sure that ish did hit, but the conditions made it impossible to eel the bite. As the water cools, I am starting to use short, compact baits like the Power hog, brush hog, and zipper type worms or my night ishing. I still use 10" Power worms thru November.

Sunday, October 7th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 69

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: My trip Saturday night was similar to the Lone Angler's, except my clients missed most o their bites. I think they set several times when the bass blew out the bait - it was a bit windy and I don't think they elt the pickups. They were very happy to get out on Clear Lake, since I had to send them home twice during the summer because the lake was to dangerous because o high winds. We did land 7, and they did get some quality bass - one ellow matching his personal best o 4 lbs, along with another just under 4 lbs, and the other client with his personal best, a beautiul 5-1. He was very happy to hook that one, ater missing about 7 in a row. He caught it on a black/red baby brush hog - the second or third trip in a row where the small brush hog has produced the biggest ish o the trip. Interesting! He also caught that ish in the area called the "bear", a place I havn't night ished in quite a while. That made it exciting! I should add that our 5 best were a shade over 20 lbs. I did some ishing, but not too seriously since controlling the boat or them in the wind is my main job. I only managed 3 up to 3 1/2 lbs - they wern't too interested in a jig or a crankbait, which is what I was trying. Most o our ish were shallow too. There has been a major ish movement in the past ew days - areas that were ull o bass last week (at least at night) were empty last night. Carp were gone too. I'll try to igure it out this week. I will have to add that our bass were very at, and more healthy looking than normal. Are the bass down south eating better?!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Brush hogs, especially the smaller ones, and Power Hogs are good night baits right now at night. They were good last all and winter too. Soon the jig will rule - I hope!!!

Saturday, October 6th, 2001

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    Water Temp: n/a

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Preishing or the Sonoma County Belly Boat Bass Club Invitational on Oct 20-21. Tough ishing or the most part but right at dawn, while ishing towards the south part o the lake (in my kickboat) had a nice 3-4lber blowup on my buzz right next to shore. 5 minutes later had one about 6+ lbs blowup right next to my boat! Just slapped at the thing but got to see the entire ish - whew! Another 5 min later I inally got one! Slammed the buzz about 10 eet rom the boat in about 20t o water! Played the ish, came to the surace a couple o times and ended up being about an 8lber!For the rest o the day talked to guys ishing the 100% (I think) and most guys were only catching a ew small ones. I didn't get a bite ater the morning. Ouch!
    City: San Francisco

    Tips: Pray the crankbait, ripbait, and jig bite turn on!

Friday, October 5th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 74-77

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: The daytime ishing at Clear Lake Tues, Wed, and Thurs, was as slow as I have ever seen in the early all. I really don't eel bad, since everyone seems to be experiencing the same thing. Lots o long aces. I know what tournament pressure does to the lake every all, but this was brutal. I always try to igure out why these things happen, and it may be (just my theory) that the combination o 100 degree days, no wind, and dying weeds have created a lack o oxygen, causing the bass to be lethargic. I noticed that the dinks were active on Tues, but even they wern't biting much on Wed and Thurs. - the hottest days. The cooler weather that will hit this weekend should help the bite - I think! Ater a one keeper bass day on Tues, I took some other clients on a brie 4 hour trip to some good night spots at night. We wern't even trying to ish real hard, but the bass were practically jumping in the boat. What was most interesting is that is was quite breezy at night, and I think that helped. I think we landed 9, including several 4 and 5 pounders. Spinnerbaits were good. I though it was amazing that I came back to the point that was so good at night - this time at irst light on Wed, and the bass were gone - not a bite. Wed night I took my Thurs client out or two hours or his irst night ishing experience. It wasn't red hot, but we got 4, including his 5 pounder. Most olks I talked to agreed that you had to get your ish by 8 am, or it was over. Again, cooler weather should help that problem! This too shall pass!!!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: The Yamamoto salt and pepper grub works well in the all during the day. It will catch a lot o dinks, but it will catch quality bass as well. I use it on a 1/8 oz darthead. It works great around docks. The Terminator night spinnerbait and various crankbaits are working well at night, along with brush hog and Power Hog type plastic baits.

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2001

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Great day on the water in my book. Strated o lauching at Konocti and ishing point right outside the lunch area. Got one keeper on a weightless super luke, and about 8 other dinkers on a yo-zuri pin's minnow. Let to head or rock wall on south side o Konocti bay. Landed 4 crank ish - all dinks, 3 magic worm ish - all dinks. Around noon, we decided to switch to live minnows. I know it's not the most honorable way, but it really payed o. My partner landed a 3 pounder, then I landed a 5 pounder. My partner then hooked into a 5 pounder.Ran out o minnows so we swtiched to topwater. Bite was hot on smaller ish all aternoon. Picked up about 20 or so more dinks, and one 3 pounder on Rebel Pop-R and Rapala Skitter Pop. Picked up more minnows and started at it again. Right o the bat I land another 3 pounder. And 5 minutes later, I pick up a beautiul 6.5 pounder, my best ish to date. About a hal hour later, my partner hooks into a monster! Over ten pounds!! Only its a catish:) We thought we had a big one on there or a bit. 12 pound cat can eel like a big bass when you dont see him or 10 minutes! ALl ish today were caught on 6 pound test, which made landing these pretty ish a blast. Look or dropos in 15-20 eet o water with vertical structure such as dock pillars or trees. Also ind rocky walls and crank em all day, it should produce well. All in all, we got 54 bass in the boat, biggest 5 bass going 21 pounds. This lake makes my home lake (Berryessa) look bad!! Good luck guys!
    City: Vacaville

Saturday, September 29th, 2001

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Bitewas really tough.. ished our club championship. only had two keepers.. 9.8 lbs.. inished third.. only took 14+ or our ish to win . some were sunked.. caught on ish at about 8am on a brush hog thew other on a 7 inch red shad worm. went back to same dock about 1 and caught the other ish . in between only about our dinks. some in club said they caught several dinks. looks like thew lake had a good spawn .. we caught our ish o dock south o monitor island.. not much wind. thats the lowest i'm seenthe lake in several years . some o our good spots were short o water winner o our club caught all ish cranking beore 9am . we tried everything and nothing worked or us..
    City: SUNNYVALE

Tuesday, September 25th, 2001

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Hey Steve, here is a couple o tips you shoul try next time your at Clear Lake. [1] Cast a Senko,any color will do.[2] Leave your wie at home. This seem to work or me.
    City: newark

Thursday, September 20th, 2001

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I came up on 9/16/01 or a week o ishing and un at beautiul clear lake. I struggled through the morning on 9/16 and decided to check out the weigh in or the Stratos tournament. I spoke with several o the competitors and they gave me all kinds o useul inormation. I continued to struggle and only catch small ish until Wednesday when I decided to go to Mendocino or the day. That was un. I got several good ish on a white buzzbait. Returned to Clear Lake on Thursday, went out about 1:30 pm. ished the mats with the rog, threw a buzzbait and spinnerbait. Cranked around docks and rocks, nothing. About 6 pm. Caught one o my biggest ish ever on a dark green / red lake Proessional series snag proo rog 11.3 lbs. Talk about un, thank you lord or 65lb Powerpro. It was the only "keeper" size ish caught that day. On Friday(last day ished) I started about around the Konocti marina throwing a 1/4 oz white Duh buzzbait and stroked the nice ish or about 2 hours. I had 7 ish that morning on the buzzbait with the smallest weighing 5.00lbs and the largest at 7.95lbs on my cull'm right. I lost the buzzbait on the 8th ish about a 9 pounder that hit the lure as I was liting rom the water. Scared the bejesus out o me and broke my 17lb P-line. I caught three other ish that day on the rog with the smallest about 5lbs with the largest at 8.40lbs. This was the inest day that I have ever had on the water or big ish, I had to leave the water at 1 p.m. Best 5 ish 35.9 lbs. (wish I would have been ishing or money) You can guarantee that I'll be back or more!!!
    City: Lakeside

    Tips: I don't know, as I was only able to get on them one day. However, I ound the rog ish in the nasty green scum in shallow water (Had to use a push pole to get to them). Most everyone I talked to told me to ish the smaller mats outside in about 8 - 9 eet o water, never got a ish out there (3 days). All my rog ish came rom large (huge) thick mats. The buzzbait ish were holding on any wood cover in 1 - 2 eet o water.

Sunday, September 16th, 2001

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Mr. Steve do not give up on Clear Lake, unless you do not want to ish the best ishery in Cali, or the western states.Clear Lake holds huge numbers o huge bass. I was the same way until I ished the lake at least 20 times. Now I at least put one 5lber in the boat per trip and there are alot better isherman then me out there. Good luck and "GOD BLESS AMERICA".
    City: santa rosa