where are the catfish?

[snagger]

Not many reports,is there no fish or no fishermen.With the derby inching near im jacked up.In the years past I have used this board to get a rough idea of whats going on before I go.Is there any shad this year or to early to tell? I don't think it would work better than what I use, but what does the regs. in california say about game fish parts for bait?I have bits and pieces of steelhead in the freezer I saved for crab bait and was thinking of bringing some down to try when I go.I would guess it's a no go.

[catfished]

I believe the persistent cold weather, rain and snow up here has discouraged the would be pre derby catfish anglers.

No confirmed reports of shad so far this year but a few unconfirmed by bass fishermen.

I'm 99% sure that no game fish are allowed for bait in Clear Lake. I'm 100% sure that carp are not allowed as bait alive or as cut bait so it would stand to reason that game fish would also be prohibited. Since we're talking about California with all our ridiculous rules and complicated exceptions to those rules, you would need to hire a staff of lawyers to study the regulations for a few years and even then you couldn't be sure. Sorry for the rant, I just get so disgusted with our unnecessarily complicated regs. I'm pretty sure you can't use any parts of a game fish for bait here but check the CA DFG regs and see if they spell it out.

Keep checking in, as soon as we get some decent weather, I imagine we'll get a few catfish reports on here.

[derbingel]

Here are the current bait fish regulations for inland waters and Clear Lake.

Article 3. Bait Regulations for Inland Waters

4.00. Bait-General.

Legally acquired and possessed invertebrates, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians (except salamanders), fish eggs and treated and processed foods may be used for bait, except:
(a) No species specified as endangered, threatened, candidate, fully-protected, or otherwise protected under state and federal law may be used as bait.
(b) No salamander may be used as bait. See section 5.05 for other amphibians that may be used as bait.
(c) See Section 5.35 for restrictions on crayfish;
(d) See Section 7.50(b)(74) for restriction on bait collecting in Hat Creek;
(e) No trout may be maintained or possessed in a live condition in any container on or attached to any boat;
(f) Except for restrictions listed under special regulations, dead ocean fish may be used as bait statewide. This section supersedes the provisions of sections 4.10, 4.15, 4.20, 4.25 and 4.30.

4.25. Bait Fish Use in the North Central District.

Except as provided below, live or dead fin fish shall not be used or possessed for use as bait in the North Central District:
(a) Golden shiner, fathead minnow, red shiner, mosquitofish, longjaw mudsucker and staghorn sculpin may be used in Napa and Sonoma counties, in Marin County except for Stafford Lake, in Lake County except for the Eel River and its tributaries, and in Lake Mendocino (Mendocino Co.).
(b) Live threadfin shad, Mississippi silverside and lamprey may be used only at the location where taken.

[snagger]

Well thanks for the information.I never knew carp were off limits as bait.I dont see the pikeminnow on that list?am I missing somthing.

[Greg_Cornish]

What am I missing?  I don't see carp on that list.

[catfished]

What am I missing?  I don't see carp on that list.

If you don't see it on the list of permitted baits, it's prohibited, that goes for sacramento pike and a bunch of others..  I was told this by two different wardens.

[1mr.whiskers]

Well thanks for the information.I never knew carp were off limits as bait.I dont see the pikeminnow on that list?am I missing somthing.

I went out last friday night off the indian res.out of M&M camp ground and caught 14 cats over 15lbs the largest was 22lbs use cut shad 2 to a hook cut in halves the cats are very active now and I hear a lot of them are spawning in the Keyes.