• Clear Lake

It’s cold up there at sun-up, but Tuesday the bass bite was red hot.

My partner and I fished with pro guide Bob Myskey (349-4460) for five hours.

Here’s the count: 28 largemouth bass, all legal size.

I caught the top fish, which weighed 8.5 pounds.

Toss live jumbo minnows around shallow humps and rocky points.

Leave your bobbers home and pay attention to your line — the bite is light.

Leave your bail open and hold you line with your finger. On the pick up, let the fish peel some line off of your finger — about five feet.

Then just close the bail and lift your rod tip smartly; keep it bent as a shock absorber when the fish runs hard. That big fish motored away, then ran under the boat and away again before we could get her to the net.

Without the rod flex, she just might have broken the six-pound test leader.

Water temperature was 46 to 48 degrees; that bodes well for continued good bass action at Clear Lake. It’s under 40 that turns off the fish.

• Napa River

Even with the higher and muddier flows, stripers are still on the chew. It’s a winter bite, so it has slowed down. Live and cut bait are best right now.

I’m hearing good reports about the sturgeon bite in the south river and over in front of Port Sonoma. Both ghost and grass shrimp are working.

On the bite, let the fish swim away for a few yards. During this time, he/she is turning the bait and actually biting it.

Also, in turning away from the pull, the fish brings the bait and hook over to the corner of the mouth. That’s the perfect hook-up.

• California Delta

With water temperatures in the mid-40s and favorable tides, sturgeon fishing in Montezuma slough has been red hot. Call the king of the sturgeon hunters, captain Barry Canevaro (916-777-6498), to book a trip.

• Lake Berryessa

The lake is kind of grumpy this week — no catfish, no crappie, few bass.

Best bet is to find some clear water and pull your favorite trout lure behind a flasher.

• Bodega Bay

The report from Wil’s Bait & Tackle on Tuesday was that they are presently booking giant squid trips.

Crabs have been slow — check in to see when they pick up. Sign up for whale watching now; plan for a shark trip starting Feb. 1.

Make reservations at 875-2323.

• Conn Dam/Lake Hennessey

For some reason that I have not been able to fathom, the regular semi-monthly cold weather plant of trout here has been stopped.

I’ll try to get a reason and possible solution for you as soon as possible.