Big fish reigned supreme at Clear Lake this past week. Not only did a bass tournament this past weekend produce some huge fish, but there were also large crappie and catfish caught by recreational anglers.
The WON BASS team tournament held on Saturday showed just how big the bass at Clear Lake can grow. The team of Bob Simard and Alan Welch of Central Valley checked in with a five-fish limit that weighed an incredible 38.04 pounds.
That”s nearly an 8-pound average per fish. They anchored their winning total with a 13.31-pound bass.
Crankbaits continue to be the lure of choice for most of the fishermen. One of the better areas has been the docks north of Lakeport. The south end of the lake is also producing decent numbers of bass.
Angler”s Choice is holding a team tournament on Saturday. According to tournament director Tim Cooke, the tournament will be a special event that is not part of the normal circuit. The entry fee is $175 per, team which includes big fish. There will also be a $25 option for the top five finishers.
Cooke said sign-ups will be accepted at the Clear Lake Outdoors tackle shop, located on South Main Street in Lakeport, from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturday morning. The tournament will take place out of Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina and the weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. Call 262-5852 for more information.
Cooke also said the regular Angler”s Choice team tournament circuit for Clear Lake begins Dec. 3.
Huge crappie and catfish continue to be caught on the lake. Ron Henry of Clearlake Oaks brought in a 30-pound, 11-ounce catfish earlier in the week. There also was a 3-pound, 14-ounce crappie caught near Kono Tayee.
Trout action at Upper Blue Lake is rated as fair. The lake was stocked last week and won”t be stocked again until next month. Bass fishing has been good for fishermen drop-shotting a plastic worm.
Junior pheasant hunt
Approximately 40 junior hunters take to the field at Highland Springs on Saturday morning for the annual Lake County Junior Pheasant Hunt. This is the 15th year the hunt has been held and it”s gaining in popularity every year.
The hunt is part of Department of Fish and Game”s Heritage Game Bird Program and involves DFG sponsoring junior hunts throughout the state.
There will be two hunts on Saturday. The first one starts at 8 a.m. and the second gets under way at 1 p.m. Assisting in the hunt will be members of Lake County Rod and Gun Club and the Konocti Rod and Gun Club.
Members of those two clubs and other volunteers will furnish trained hunting dogs so that each youngster has the opportunity to hunt with a dog. Junior hunters will be able to shoot a round of trap prior to the hunt courtesy of the Lake County Rod and Gun Club.
At noon, the hunters and volunteers will enjoy a free barbecue courtesy of the Konocti Rod and Gun Club.
All the junior hunters already have passed a hunter safety course and in the 15 years the event has taken there has never been an accident. In fact, the youngsters often show more care in handling firearms than the adults.
According to DFG spokesman Allan Buckmann, there are still plenty of openings and hunters just need to show up on Saturday and they will get to hunt. They must have a current junior hunting license and be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Buckmann asks that hunters who haven”t pre-registered see him at the sign-up booth at the trap range. They also can call Buckmann at (707) 738-3204.
Anyone who has a bird dog and wants to volunteer needs to show up at the hunting area on Saturday morning. The DFG is also looking for people who own ATVs to help with planting the birds before the hunts.
To get to the hunting area, take Highland Springs Road off Highway 29 south of Lakeport and proceed to Highland Springs Park. The hunt takes place next to the firing range.
