As I write this, the weather outside is just beautiful. It was a calm and sunny 45 degrees this morning. It is good to have the sun shining, but more importantly it is good to have it CALM. This last week was plagued with high winds and temperatures all over the chart. We've had warm and windy. We've had cold and windy. We've had sunny and windy. We've had overcast and windy. Mostly, you guessed this was coming, it has been windy. Tough conditions for the angler as most boats were unable to launch ??? period. As for the fishing, it is hard to say with few folks actually on the water, but "tough" would probably sum it up well. The water temperature is right around 57 degrees but should reach into the low 60's as we warm up again. We're supposed to be in the mid to upper 70's through the weekend and into next week. Nighttime temperatures are supposed to settle in the 45-49 range. The forecasted winds are noticeably calmer than last weeks with some gusts into the 10-12 MPH range but overall just breezy at 4 ??? 6 MPH. We'll see. I like the idea of consistent day and night temps for a few days?Ķ That might just do the trick and get things moving again.

The bass are hungry, but staging for the most part. Warming weather should switch ???em on pretty good. It might take a couple of days of stable weather to make the switch, but it should be happening soon. Until that happens it'll be mostly minnows and finesse rigs. Once they kick into gear, I think we'll see them hammering swim baits, spinner baits, jigs, and creature baits. I'll keep you posted?Ķ

Crappie are still showing in modest numbers. Fish live bait or white jigs in shallow water. Most of our crappie fishermen have been getting bit in the 5 to 10 foot depth. The cooler weather has drawn the crappie out some from there, but they should be moving back in as well. The backs of coves, sloughs, and tule beds have been getting the most attention for a few weeks running.

Let's talk catfish?Ķ The guys just don't seem to care what the weather is doing. We've weighed whiskerfish in the teens and twenties this week. Lots of fish in the 8 ??? 10 pound class have been reported as well. Gary & Jason (with his son Jason) sport these two great fish of 24+ and 17 + pounds. Mackerel, shad, and live minnows are ruling the roost this week. (Okay, every week it seems.) Cache Creek has been the top producing area for my customers.

There's a lot of excitement beginning to build over the annual Catfish Derby coming up in a couple of weeks. Drop by and pick up your applications. Stock up on your bait needs early, too. We'll be running extended hours for the derby and posting regular weight updates in the store during the event.

And lastly, we've got another Hunter Safety class beginning on Monday, May 5th at 6pm. Sign up here in the shop for the class. We still have a few open so don't miss this great opportunity. Cost is only $10 per person. The class is being held at the Clearlake Fire Department HQ on Olympic Drive (across from the Safeway plaza). The class is open to youth (approximately age 9 and up) and adults. Licensed adult hunters are welcome to attend with their enrolled children. Hope to see you there!