It will be a full agenda for outdoorsmen this weekend. Pheasant and wild turkey season opens Saturday, waterfowl season is in full swing, and the fishermen will be out on Clear Lake going after bass, crappie and catfish.
Pheasant hunters can expect a so-so season opener as just about all the action will be in the Sacramento Valley. The hatch this spring was rated only fair. Lake County holds few wild pheasants.
The best bet for pheasant hunters are the waterfowl refuges. All the refuges currently open to duck hunting also will be open for pheasant hunting on the waterfowl shoot days (Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays). The No shortage of activities this weekend
By Terry Knight — Record-Bee outdoors columnist
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, located near Marysville, is open every day for pheasant hunting during the first nine days of the season. With the exception of the opening weekend, no reservations are required. The cost to hunt is $14.75 per day.
Turkey hunters also open their fall season on Saturday. The season runs for two weeks and closes on Nov. 26. The limit is one bird of either sex for the entire season.
The turkey hunters should have little trouble bagging a bird for the Thanksgiving Day table. Turkeys are everywhere around the county. In fact, they”re becoming pests in many areas.
Two of the best areas on public land to hunt turkey are the Cache Creek Wildlife Area and the Mendocino National Forest. Both areas hold a good number of wild turkeys.
The hunting hours for are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. In addition to a hunting license, hunters must have an Upland Game stamp.
Duck hunters are still hoping for some bad weather to get the birds moving.
Most of the refuges in the Sacramento Valley are averaging less than two birds per hunter. The average ranged from 1.5 to 2 birds per hunter on the refuges Wednesday.
Bass fishing on Clear Lake is still rated only fair. Most of the local guides are reporting their clients are averaging from 10-15 fish per day. Most of the fish were weighing 3 pounds or less. Crankbaits continue to be the best lure followed by plastic worms or jigs.
The north end of the lake is finally providing fair fishing and the water color is beginning to improve. At the south end, some of the best action has been in the Redbud Arm near Luebow Point and The water around Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa is also kicking out a few fish.
It took 42.1 pounds to win the two-day Future Pro Tour Classic held over the weekend. The two biggest bass weighed 11.03 and 10.93 pounds, respectively.
WON BASS will hold a team tournament Saturday out of Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. The weigh-in begins at 3 p.m.
The good news on the fishing scene is the crappie action. The cooling weather has improved the fishing and some huge fish have been caught, including a 3-pound, 14-ounce monster taken by Linda Joaquin of Hawaii. She caught the crappie on a chartreuse crappie jig near Shag Rock and was guided by Bob Myskey.
Kono Tayee and Shag Rock have been kicking out good numbers of crappie but it takes patience. The crappie fishing also has been very good at Indian Beach Resort. In the south end of the lake, crappie are being caught at Four Poles, which is located near Bill”s Boat Works. There”s no action to speak of at Konocti Harbor.
Upper Blue Lake was scheduled to be stocked with trout this week. The cooling water has the trout feeding near the surface and both bank fishermen and trollers were catching fish this week.
No reports are coming out of Indian Valley Reservoir. The lake was scheduled to be stocked with adult Eagle Lake-strain trout, however, the Department of Fish and Game isn”t answering its phone so it”s impossible to confirm if the lake has been stocked.
