Here’s a look at the latest local angling action:

Clear Lake

Big catch, big fish. Our guide, Bob Myskey (349-4460), led Cal Knickerbocker and me to a perfect day on the water Monday.

We boated and released 27 largemouth bass with a top of 6 pounds and five catfish topping out at 15 pounds.

All this and we were still off the lake by about 2:30 p.m.

The secret is live jumbo minnows for bait. We drop-shotted them in 25 to 28 feet of water for most of our catch. A few came from 18 feet.

Bob rigs his live bait drop-shot to suspend the minnow 15 inches up from the weight. This gives the bass a good chance to see the bait. Even with a distance cast, the minnow is still above the bottom and visible.

The bite was ferocious. This usually means that there are a bunch of fish schooling and the aggressive ones feel the need to hit hard — before one of their cousins does. I had a 4-pound beauty on with a 6-pounder right on his back, trying to take the bait away.

This is the best winter-time big fish action you’ll find close to home.

While nothing is guaranteed, a look back at our 2008 winter success shows a solid pattern. In just five winter trips last year, my partners and I caught and released a total of 165 largemouth bass from November to March.

Cal caught the biggest five that weighed 10 pounds, 8.6, 7,4, 7.4 and 6.8.

Sure it gets cold up there early, but we’ve learned to dress for it and reap the benefits. Call Bob to book an exciting fishing trip just up the road.

It’s a great chance to take your kids for a day of trophy fishing.

I brought my grandson Jack, and we had a ball.

Bob is good with youngsters and has them casting and catching real soon.

Napa River

Chad Hole at Sweeney’s Sports (255-5544) had some good information for us this week.

First, the river is still producing a nice quantity of stripers — plenty of keepers 18 to 22 inches, with enough hogs to keep you interested.

Find some live bait like mudsuckers or bullheads for the hottest action.

Pull Broken Back Rebels in the deeper sections; toss bigger clouser patterns on your fly whip.

No sturgeon reports yet. Probably need some rain runoff to push bugs down the river.

Lake Berryessa

Chad marks the turnover at Berryessa with the coming of Halloween.

An early indicator is finding bait balls on and near the surface.

We always had fun and were successful just drifting by these bait balls mooching a worm and salmon egg combo for plenty of nice fat trout.

Word is that bass hunters are targeting those same spots with success.

Stop in and ask Chad for some specific set-ups for both trout and bass.

I’ll bet you can catch both on the same rig from time to time.

Baja Tuna

Jonathan Roldan, who runs Tailhunter International in La Paz, told us that the yellowfin tuna bite is wide open.

He sent a proof positive photo of a panga with two anglers hooked up — and the captain holding off another tuna on a rod until his clients boated theirs. Jonathan said the time is right and the prices were never better.

You can look at some attractive specials on his Web site, www.tailhunter-international.com.

Around The Bay

Need some upcoming larger tides to keep the striper bite active.

Some cooler water will help as well.

Overall, the striper bite all around the bay and Delta has been excellent.

It varies by day and tide.

The small tides are not favorable, so plan your trips with the tide action plotted.

We’re going out of Antioch this week (after my deadline) to try a larger mid-day incoming tide.

We’ll be using artificials like cranks and Rattletraps — and a pencil popper on the surface if there is cloud cover. I’ll report next Friday.

There have been plenty of sturgeon sightings in the Delta — one report of “hundreds.”

Not much action yet; we need some rain.