Memorial Day weekend signals the start of the summer season for campers and fishermen.
This year, with gas prices hitting $3.30 per gallon, a lot of fishermen and campers will be staying closer to home. You don”t have drive 200 miles to camp and fish when there are a number of campgrounds practically in your own backyard, plus there are a number of lakes right here in Lake County that offer excellent fishing.
This is one of many instances where living in Lake County is a definite advantage. Within a short drive are a number of lakes and camping spots where one can get away from the crowds, enjoy a good day of fishing and not have to take out a loan out to fill up the motorhome or truck.
For those who plan on staying home, the bass and catfish action at Clear Lake is improving. Even if you”re not a fisherman, the lake offers some tremendous sightseeing opportunities. The grebes are nesting and there are pelicans, osprey and even a few bald eagles to be seen soaring overhead.
The local county and state parks offer just about everything from fishing, to hiking, to bird watching. One of my favorite parks is Highland Springs County Park, located on Highland Springs Road just south of Lakeport. The small lake offers excellent fishing, plus you can have a picnic at the park.
Clear Lake State Park has several excellent hiking trails and an excellent day use area.
A good bet for the long weekend would be Indian Valley Reservoir. Recently the fishing has been excellent and since there is a 10 mph speed limit on the entire lake, you don”t have to worry about speed boats. You can camp at the dam for a small fee or even camp free at the north end of the lake.
Lake Berryessa will certainly see a lot of people this weekend, but as long as you don”t plan on camping there, it shouldn”t have an impact. The trout and bass fishing has been excellent and it”s a great day trip.
Upper Blue Lake is loaded with trout and bass, plus there are several private campgrounds where you can relax and enjoy the sun.
If you plan on spending the weekend at Lake Pillsbury, you should get a campsite by Friday morning. The Memorial Day weekend traditionally draws hundreds of people to the lake and most of the campgrounds are taken early.
If you don”t want to camp, it”s only an hour”s drive from Lakeport. Pack a lunch and make day trip out of it. The lake is scheduled to be stocked with trout this week and the bass fishing has been nothing short of awesome. There is also a herd of elk at the lake along with deer, wild turkeys and eagles.
It”s a great place to just camp and relax.
If you just want to camp and hike, then spend the weekend at the isolated Bear Creek Campground in the Mendocino National Forest. The campground has a stream running through it and it”s a short drive to the Summit Springs trailhead, an entrance to the Snow Mountain Wilderness Area. The trail will take you to the summit of Snow Mountain where you can see the Sacramento Valley and even Mount Shasta.
Take the Bear Creek Road off the Elk Mountain Road out of Upper Lake.
A trip to the coast and Fort Bragg won”t burn a lot of gas and you can enjoy salmon fishing out of a party boat or just wander around town and shop.
If you”re really bored, then you can wander down to the Fifth Street Ramp in Lakeport or Redbud Park in Clearlake and watch the tourists try and launch their boats. The experience will make you appreciate living in Lake County.
The one disadvantage of living in Lake County is that with the skyrocketing gas prices expected this summer you can expect relatives and friends whom you haven”t seen in years to suddenly show up for the weekend.
