It”s hard to believe it but the bass fishing at Clear Lake continues to improve. As one angler put it, “Just throw anything out in the tules and a bass will grab it.”
Topwater action has been very good just at daylight and the last 30 minutes before dark. The top lures have been Skitterpops, Zara Spooks and buzzbaits. Both the north and south ends of the lake have been producing a tremendous amount of fish and the good news is that many are weighing between 5-7 pounds. One area that has been rated very good is Henderson Point, located just outside of Soda Bay.
For those who haven”t used one, a buzzbait is one of the most exciting topwater lures available. It”s nothing more than a modified spinnerbait with blades that have been bent so that the lure rides on the surface when retrieved. The lure is cast to back in an opening in the tules or under a dock and retrieved just fast enough to bring the lure to the surface.
When retrieved correctly, it makes a gurgling sound. Often a fisherman will attach a small curly-tailed grub as a trailer. When a bass hits the lure it literally explodes and the fish will normally hook itself. It”s one of the favorite lures of the tournament fishermen. The good news is that the lure costs less than $7.
Plastic worms also have been effective. Drop-shotting a Maverick oxblood-blue worm tight to the dock pilings or back in the tules has been producing a lot of bass between 1-2 pounds.
Catfish action has been very good in the south end of the lake in Cache Creek. The catfish are ranging in size from less than a pound to well over 15 pounds. A few catfish also are being caught in the vicinity of Horseshoe Bend and just south of Rattlesnake Island. Cut bait, nightcrawlers and shad all have been effective.
Crappie action has been a hit-and-miss affair. Some of the fishermen are catching up to 20 fish per day and others are happy to get 10. The docks at Library Park have been kicking out a few crappie.
George Bates of Tackle It in Lakeport reported that some huge crappie were being caught off Rocky Point.
The Clear Lake Bassmasters, in conjunction with the Lake County Chapter of Big Brothers and Sisters, held its annual Take a Kid Fishing Day on Saturday. According to club member Ron Sneed, the kids caught bass, crappie and catfish. The fishing day was followed by a barbecue at Lakeside County Park.
Upper Blue Lakes was scheduled to be stocked with trout this weekend. Trollers working a Needlefish or Cripplure at depths of 20 to 30 feet have been experiencing the most success. A few trout also are being caught off the docks at Pine Acres Resort and the Narrows Resort. The East Branch of the Russian River also was scheduled to be stocked this week.
At Indian Valley Reservoir, the hot weather has forced the kokanee and trout deep. Most of the kokanee are holding at 30 to 50 feet and are schooled near the dam. Trout action has been slow although a few are being caught at mid-lake.
Bass fishing has been very good at just about any location. The trick is to go deep after 9 a.m. and that means drop-shotting a plastic worm at 25- or even 30-foot depths. There has been some decent topwater action late in the evening. The road into the lake is very dusty.
Ocean salmon season off Fort Bragg has been closed all week but reopens on Saturday. The fishing has been excellent for kings to 30 pounds. In fact, last week most of the party boats had limits all around within a couple of hours. A trip on a party boats costs about $100 per person. Call the Noyo Fishing Center at (707) 964-3000 for more information.
As expected the Zone A deer archery season got off to a slow start. I didn”t hear of a single buck being taken but several hunters who hunted the Mendocino National Forest near the Deer Valley Campground reported seeing a few bucks. The hot weather and the noisy and dry conditions made the hunting tough.
