The Fish Sniffer

(Clearlake) If you want to hook largemouth bass on Clear Lake this time of year, your best bet is to fish with live jumbo minnows.

“The minnow bite is wonderful,” reported Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle. “Anglers are hooking fish in the 3 to 5 pound range while fishing at 6 to 20 feet deep in the Red Bud area and other rocky areas. I wouldn’t fish south of the Narrows now.”

“We sold over 1200 minnows over the New Year’s Day weekend and the people we talked to were happy about all of the fish they’re catching,” he noted.

Channel catfish action is going strong. “One local reported the best success on nighcrawlers,” he stated. “The fish are weighing up to 18 pounds, but most go 8 to 10 pounds.”

Higgins hasn’t heard any reports of crappie or bluegill success lately.

"When bass fishing at Clearlake, you never know what will hit that shiner," said Don Paganelli of Paganelli's Bass Fishing Experience. "Lee Ward  fished Clear Lake last weekend for 3 days and caught  some nice bass along with a catfish that he said would go about 20 to 24 lbs. and one other that was 12 pounds. He was using 8 pound test line and just split shotting the jumbo minnows."

"He told me the bite was slow due to the drop in temperature (45 degrees with air temperature around 29 in the morning) and fast rising water," stated Paganelli.