April 4, 2002 The warm weather has brought the water temperature up to the mid 60's so the bass are already into their spawning cycle. Some are staging while others are already on the beds. Clear Lake is really living up to its name with visibility at more than 9 feet in most areas. Brad Stevens of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport 707-262-1233 says the extremely clear water is making for tough fishing. The bass can see the fishermen as well as the fishermen can see the bass. Throwing purple worms, crankbaits and Speed Traps at spawning fish is accounting for 3 to 4 fish per person. The fish are weighing anywhere from 2 to 6 pounds apiece. Anglers using live jumbo minnows are catching 5 to 6 fish for a day's effort. Cary of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake also reports tough fishing due to the very clear water. Throwing plastic worms and grubs as well as Brush Hogs inside tules and shallow brushy areas is producing only 2 or 3 fish per boat. Those using jumbo minnows are doing a little better with catches of 5 or 6 fish being common. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level has risen slightly and is at 6.90 feet on the Rumsey Gauge, 7.56 is considered full pool. Attention serious bass fishermen! For detailed "Clear Lake Bass Fishing Reports" Click Here (ncbf.com)   April 11, 2002 The cooler weather has dropped the water temperature back to the high 50's to lower 60's. There are some bass on their spawning beds but a lot of them are still cruising. Brad Stevens of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport 707-262-1233 says knowledgeable bassers are catching 4 or 5 fish per day throwing 8 inch Optimum and BassTrix swimbaits in the Clear Lake Hitch colors to both cruising and bedding fish. The trick is to stay way back and make long casts so as not to spook the fish in the exceptionally clear water. Anglers using live jumbo minnows are catching anywhere from 5 to 10 fish per outing. Most of the fish are weighing from 3 to 5 pounds with quite a few 6 to 7 pounders being caught as well. Brad Farrin of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake suggests throwing white 5 inch grubs and purple lizards or brush hogs around tules and docks in 3 to 4 feet of water for bedding fish. Flipping Senkos and other plastic worms, especially in the bubble gum color in the tules has been very productive as well. Brad says most of the fish are weighing 3 to 5 pounds with a few going over 7 pounds.   Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level has stabilized at 6.90 feet on the Rumsey Gauge, 7.56 is considered full pool.   April 18, 2002 The cold and windy weather has caused the water temperature to drop from the mid 60's down to the mid 50's therefore the bass are staying off their spawning beds and cruising just outside the tules. Brad Farrin of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake reports very tough fishing with artificials. Most bassers are happy to boat one or two fish for a day's effort. Anglers using live jumbo minnows are catching most of the fish. Catching and releasing a dozen or more bass per day has been common. Bass guide, Bob Thein says his client caught and released 18 bass on Tuesday weighing from 4 to 8 pounds with minnows. They were fishing from Rocky Point to Lakeport near the tules in 4 to 6 feet of water. Brad Stevens of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport 707-262-1233 confirms the extremely tough fishing with artificials, he adds that the few fish that are being caught with lures are falling for Senkos. Live jumbo minnows are accounting for a lot of big bass in the 5 to 8 pound range and one monster that pulled the scale down to the 12 pound mark. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level has dropped slightly and is at 6.83 feet on the Rumsey Gauge, 7.56 is considered full pool.   April 25, 2002 Clear Lake will be alive with bass boats for the next three days as the Citgo BassMasters Western Open Tournament starts today and ends Saturday afternoon. The weigh in is at 3:00pm every day at Redbud Park in Clearlake. Brad Farrin of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake reports easy limits of bass throwing chartreuse or white grubs and watermelon tube baits at spawning fish inside the tules and under shallow water docks. The fish are running from 3 to 8 pounds with a lot of 7 to 8 pounders in the mix. Anglers using live jumbo minnows outside of the tules and docks are catching 8 to 10 fish per day but they're a little smaller fish going from 2½ to 5 pounds. Brad Stevens of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport 707-262-1233 reports tough fishing for most bass anglers in the north end of the lake. They are managing one or two fish per day throwing Senkos under docks and inside tules. Fishing with live jumbo minnows is producing 5 to 7 fish per day. Most of the fish are in the 3 to 5 pound class. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level is holding steady at 6.83 feet on the Rumsey Gauge, 7.56 is considered full pool.