May 5 2000 The warm weather has really gotten the catfish going. The south end of the lake is giving up some real trophy sized fish. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) reports lots of heavy stringers of channel catfish. Three anglers brought in 9 cats that weighed a total of 155 pounds including a 25 pound monster all caught with cutbait near the mouth of the Clearlake Oaks Keys. A 26 pound 11 ounce and a 16 pound 11 ouncer were caught in the Keys with red worms. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports excellent drifting action at night with large or jumbo minnows from Leubow Point to the mouth of Cache Creek. One pair of anglers had a 22 and 24 pounder plus several smaller cats for their effort. In Cache Creek fishermen are averaging a couple of fish each from 10 to 15 pounds using mackerel, crawlers and fresh clams. In the north end of the lake the fish are moving into the tules to feed on crawdads and bluegills. Fishing with a slip-bobber with the bait about a foot above the bottom near tules is producing decent catches of 8 to 12 pound channel cats. The top baits are live crawdads, shrimp and nightcrawlers. The Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Family Catfish Derby is less than a month away. It is being held on June 2nd, 3rd and 4th. They are giving away over $10,000.00 in cash and prizes including a new 14 foot boat, motor and trailer. May 12 2000 The cold, rainy and windy weather we have had all week has really put a damper on the fishing. The south end of the lake is still giving up some big cats in the more sheltered areas. The weather is supposed to improve a little which should help improve the fishing. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports anglers anchoring on the sheltered side of Monitor Island are catching 3 to 5 channel catfish ranging from 10 to over 20 pounds using live jumbo minnows. Just in from the mouth of Cache Creek has been producing a few nice fish using cut baits such as mackerel and anchovies. The wind and cold has kept most catfishermen off the north end of the lake. A few persistent anglers are still catching decent stringers of brown bullheads in Rodman Slough with red worms and mini crawlers.   May 19 2000 I know this is starting to sound like a broken record but since the weather continued to be unsettled until Wednesday the catfishing still hasn't shown a lot of improvement. The latest weather report predicts warm and dry conditions through next Tuesday. This should really get the catfish going. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) gave me an almost carbon copy of last weeks report. Drifting in front of Monitor Island and anchoring behind it when the wind is blowing is producing 2 to 3 channel catfish per angler running from around 10 to 15 pounds apiece using live jumbo minnows. Anglers in Cache Creek near the mouth are taking an occasional channel cat in the 10 to 12 pound class with anchovies or cut mackerel. Further up the creek, there are a lot of small cats being caught with nightcrawlers and clams. Tom Rae of Sunset Fishing Resort & Lodge in Clearlake (707-994-6642) says the big cats are just starting to move in to the area. He predicts good fishing by this weekend with the arrival of good weather. In the north end of the lake the mouth of Rodman Slough is giving up a few channel cats to 15 pounds using crawdads and nightcrawlers at night. There are a few cats coming off of docks in the Nice/Lucerne area with clams and crawlers also at night. With the predicted hot weather coming up the fish will move back into shallow water and should fall for crawdads and shrimp fished just off the bottom with a bobber around the tules. The Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Family Catfish Derby is only TWO weeks away. It is being held on June 2nd, 3rd and 4th. They are giving away over $10,000.00 in cash and prizes including a new 14 foot boat, motor and trailer. For more information call: TOLL FREE 1(888)CL-DERBY (From 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. P.S.T.) In Lake County Call 998-1006   May 26 2000 The big news is a 32 pound channel catfish caught just north of Lakeport on Wednesday evening. Most catfish anglers are concentrating on the south end of the lake pre-fishing the upcoming derby. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) reports improving action for channel cats at Rattlesnake Island, the mouth of the Keys and in the Keys with live crawdads and mackerel being the top baits. The fish are running around 10 to 12 pounds with an occasional monster to 24 pounds. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) says anglers are averaging 3 fish per person drift fishing Bass Alley with crawdads, frozen minnows and nightcrawlers. Most fish are running from 6 to 15 pounds. The north end of the lake is still lacking serious catfishermen. The one exception is David Simmons of Lakeport. Dave subdued a 32 pound channel catfish just north of Lakeport with a nightcrawler on Wednesday evening. He had to get into the water to untangle the monster after he wrapped the line around a bouy. Dave released the fish right after taking a photo. The lake record is 34 pounds 4 ounces so Dave really came close. Thanks goes to Jeannette Owen of Lakeport Tackle (707-263-8862}for this big cat report. The Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Family Catfish Derby is only ONE week away. It is being held on June 2nd, 3rd and 4th. They are giving away over $10,000.00 in cash and prizes including a new 14 foot boat, motor and trailer. For more information call: TOLL FREE 1(888)CL-DERBY (From 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. P.S.T.) In Lake County Call 998-1006 Back to Year 2000 Catfish Reports