April 4, 2002 The continued warm weather has improved the catfish action slightly but it's still far from what it should be for this time of year. Cary of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake 707-995-9668 reports a few big channel cats weighing from 15 to 17 pounds being caught at Bass Alley with chicken livers and shrimp (prawns). Most catfish anglers working the Bass Alley area are catching one or two of these monsters for a day's effort. One lucky angler fished Bass Alley for only two hours and caught 4 cats for a total weight of over 60 pounds using mackerel as bait. There are also a few big cats coming from the mouth of Cache Creek with chicken livers and mackerel. There is still no reported catfish action in the north end of the lake with the exception of an occasional big channel cat coming out of Rodman Slough with nightcrawlers or clams. I really believe the catfish action in the north end of the lake will break open any day now. The water temperature has risen to the mid 60's and the lake level is perfect.   April 11, 2002 The catfishing is improving steadily, especially in the south end of the lake. Brad Farrin of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake 707-995-9668 reports Cache Creek is giving up some big channel catfish. One angler caught 3 cats weighing from 10 to 17 pounds using nightcrawlers and jumbo minnows in the creek. Drifting with minnows and mackerel in the Bass Alley area and on the drop-off near Red Bud Pier is producing 2 to 4 fish per trip weighing anywhere from 10 to 22 pounds. One lucky angler weighed in 20 and 22 pounders on the same day. There are a few channel catfish in the 5 to 10 pound class being caught in the Clearlake Oaks Keys with anchovies and minnows. It's not a hot bite yet but persistent anglers are managing a couple of fish for a day's effort. Ed Ott of Ed's Market in Nice 707-274-8029 says they are catching quite a few channel cats weighing from 8 to 10 pounds in Rodman Slough with frozen shad and nightcrawlers. Ed adds that they are still catching some big crappie in the slough with live minnows and red and white crappie jigs.   April 18, 2002 Due to the very cold and windy weather that we've been having since Sunday night, the catfishing has not improved very much. Brad Farrin of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake 707-995-9668 reports fair catfish action in and at the mouth of Cache Creek. Most anglers are catching 3 or 4 fish per day and the majority of fish are running from 10 to 20 pounds apiece. Mackerel and nightcrawlers have been accounting for most of the fish. There have been a few nice cats taken off docks in the Clearlake Area including off the Red Bud Pier. The strong winds have made fishing the Bass Alley Area next to impossible. We're still waiting for a decent warm spell to wake up the catfish in the north end of the lake. There are still a few big channel catfish being caught in Rodman Slough with shad and nightcrawlers. A bass fisherman accidentally caught one about 8 pounds with a spinner bait while fishing in the slough.   April 25, 2002 The majority of catfish action is still occurring in the south end of the lake. Brad Farrin of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake 707-995-9668 reports knowledgeable fishermen are catching 3 to 4 fish per day in Cache Creek with chicken liver and clams. The Bass Alley area is producing a few nice fish using live jumbo minnows. Most of the fish are running from 10 to 14 pounds but there are a few larger ones including a 27 pounder caught on a jumbo minnow on the break at Bass Alley. Everett (Catmanw), a very knowlegeable catfisherman from San Jose, fished the south end last Friday, Saturday and Sunday and caught 8 cats ranging in size from 7 to 14 pounds with all but the one 7 pounder weighing over 10 pounds apiece. He caught his fish at Bass Alley and in Cache Creek with jumbo minnows, clams, mackerel and shrimp. For the whole story click here. There are still very few catfish anglers trying the north end of the lake. There are a few shore fishermen catching an occasional big channel cat in Rodman Slough with nightcrawlers and clams.