July 7 2000 Cool and breezy weather has made it a little tougher but the fishing is still rated fair to good for most anglers. Some of the fish have finished spawning and moved to deeper water but there are still a lot of fish around shallow rocks and submerged tires. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) says most of his customers are doing well drift fishing from Bass Alley to White Rock with minnows and crawdads. Pete Lygren at Glenhaven Beach Campground and Marina (707-998-3406) reports good action at Rattlesnake Island with nightcrawlers fished under a bobber around submerged rocks in 5 to 8 feet of water. There are still a lot of catfish spawning in the north end of the lake especially in the Nice/Lucerne area. Fishing nightcrawlers and live crawdads just above the bottom with a slip bobber is still the most productive method. When the water is clear enough to see the fish, tossing a plastic worm just ahead of them has been accounting for a lot of fish as well.   July 14 2000 While there are still some catfish spawning in the shallows especially in the north end of the lake most of the fish have moved to deeper water. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) says the catfishing is excellent all the way from Cache Creek to Shag Rock. Most of the fish are running from 10 to 20 pounds. In Cache Creek clams and mackerel are the top bait. Drifting with jumbo or extra large minnows between Bass Alley and White Rock is still producing good numbers of fish. Anchoring and fishing with minnows at Monitor Island, Frazer Point and Shag Rock has been productive as well. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) reports quite a few 10 to 12 pound channel cats falling for clams in the Clearlake Oaks Keys. There are still quite a few catfish spawning around submerged rocks and tires in the north end of the lake. Nightcrawlers, crawdads and shrimp fished under a slip bobber or with just a small splitshot are accounting for most of the fish. Fishing off the ends of docks in 15 to 20 feet of water with clams and nightcrawlers at night and in the early morning is starting to produce some good fish.   July 21 2000 Afternoon breezes have slowed down the catfishing in the south end of the lake but the north end is still producing some good fish in the shallows. The Nice/Lucerne area and Lakeport to the State Park are the productive areas in the north end of the lake. There are still a lot of channel cats spawning in rocky areas in 5 to 10 feet of water. Nightcrawlers, live crawdads and shrimp are the top baits. Fishing with a bobber set with the bait just above bottom or just a baited hook on the end of your line with a small split shot are the best methods. Moving the bait a few inches every few minutes will produce more strikes. Pete Lygren at Glenhaven Beach Campground and Marina in Glenhaven (707-998-3406) reports good catfishing with nightcrawlers around Rattlesnake Island especially in the rocky areas. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) says the winds have been keeping most anglers off the main lake especially in the afternoon and evening but the fishing is still good in Cache Creek with clams and mackerel. They are catching good numbers of small cats as well as 2 or 3 per boat in the 10 to 15 pound range.   July 28 2000 The catfishing this week is almost a carbon copy of last week. The afternoon winds are still hampering efforts in the south end of the lake. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports most of the hot action is in Cache Creek especially way up near the dam. Fresh clams and live minnows are the most productive baits. A couple of lucky anglers caught over 20 channel cats from 5 to 15 pounds night fishing near the dam with minnows and clams. There are a few cats still being taken drift fishing at Bass Alley, White Rock etc. but the brisk winds have made it a tough proposition. Pete Lygren of Glenhaven Beach Campground and Marina (707-998-3406) says it's about the same as last week. Most of his customers are catching their fish with nightcrawlers at Rattlesnake Island and Horseshoe Bend when the wind lays down enough to get out. The north end of the lake is still giving up some good fish around rocks and submerged tires. Quite a few cats are showing up around shallow weed beds as well. I caught and released a 19 pound 15 ounce channel cat yesterday morning with a doughball fished on the edge of a weed bed from the Lucerne shoreline. Back to Year 2000 Catfish Reports