January 7 2000 The cold weather and lack of action not to mention water temperatures in the low 40s, is keeping most catfishermen off the lake. There are a few small catfish being caught fishing from the shoreline in the north end of the lake. Library Park in Lakeport has been giving up a few 1 to 3 pound fish using nightcrawlers. Unfortunately the situation will not change much until we get enough rain to get the creeks and drainage ditches running into the lake. It will probably take at least 4 or 5 inches of rain to accomplish this since the ground is so dry from lack of rain. Since there is so little else to report on catfishing I am including this reminder about the annual Clearlake Oaks / Glenhaven Family Catfish Derby. It will be held on June 2nd, 3rd and 4th. This is the biggest catfish derby in the west, usually drawing at least 400 participants. There is $8000 in cash and prizes and the grand prize is a new boat, motor and trailer. For more info call Bob Higgins at Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clear Lake Oaks 707-998-1006 or Toll Free 1-888-CL-DERBY.   January 14 2000 There are still very few catfishermen on the lake due to the cold and wet weather. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports one angler has been catching a lot of quality channel catfish ranging in size from 12 to over 20 pounds fishing from shore in the Pirates Cove area with cut bait. No other bait shops have any catfish reports since they are not seeing any catfishermen. If anyone is willing to brave the cold and wet weather for a few hours there is decent fishing available especially in the south end of the lake where the water is fairly deep right up to the shoreline. Find a beach or dock where the water is at least 8 or 10 feet deep and use cut bait or nightcrawlers and you should get a few decent fish. If you don't get any action in an hour or so, move to another likely looking spot. Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed   January 21 2000 The catfishing has picked up a little due to the rain we had the past week. Most of the action is in the south end of the lake. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) reports fair action in the Rattlesnake Island area. One angler caught 3 channel cats weighing 9, 14 and 18 pounds in 2 hours while drifting frozen shad near Rattlesnake Island. Bob says that quite a few bass anglers are catching large catfish while drifting for bass with live crawdads. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports there are still quite a few nice channel cats being caught in the Pirates Cove area off the docks with cut baits such as mackerel and shad. I haven't seen or heard of any catfishermen in the north end of the lake but I am sure there are a few cooperative cats out there if someone wants to give it a try. I suggest finding a spot with at least 10 feet of water within casting distance of shore and using cut baits and or nightcrawlers. A good area to try is the open shoreline at the west end of Lucerne just east of Barnes Yard. Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed January 28 2000 The catfishing isn't anything to brag about. There are very few fishemen trying for cats. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports a few nice channel cats being taken at the mouth of Kelsey Creek. The successful anglers are using nightcrawlers and gobs of garden worms. Al suggests fishing anywhere that has runoff going into the lake and using either nightcrawlers or garden worms. The runoff creates a natural chum line with the worms and insects that flow into the lake with it. Terry Knight of the Lake County Record Bee reports there was a 16 pound channel cat taken by a bass angler at Little Rocky Point with a spinnerbait ( I bet he thought he had hooked a mega bass). Another spot on the north end of the lake that's worth trying is Rodman Slough. I haven't received any reports from there but it's always a good bet once the rain gets the water moving. Crawlers and garden worms would be the best bait choice there as well. Hopefully we will get a lot more rain soon so that the lake level will rise as well as the catfish appetites. Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed Back to Year 2000 Catfish Reports