Clear Lake will see an increase in bass fishermen starting this weekend, which kicks off the busy month of March. On Saturday, WON BASS holds a team tournament out of Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. The weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. WON BASS is also holding a Future Pro Team tournament on Sunday at Konocti Harbor.
In addition to the WON BASS tournaments, there will be dozens of other anglers prefishing for several upcoming events. America Vanity Cup holds a two-day team event beginning March 10 and the following weekend (March 17-18), the popular two-day Holder Ford-Mercury (formally known as the Northlake Ford) team tournament.
Rounding out the month of March is an ABA team tournament March 25 and the huge Bassmasters Elite Series, which begins March 29. The four-day tournament features the top professional fishermen in the world and will be televised on ESPN. The tournament operates out of downtown Lakeport.
Despite the recent blast of winter weather, the fishing should improve for the weekend. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60s and the water should also begin to warm up. The bass should also start to stage for their annual spawning season, which starts in late March.
March is also the time of the year when the fishermen break out the swimbaits. The swimbait is a large and soft plastic lure resembling a minnow. The most popular swimbait is the 6-inch Mission in the hitch pattern. Swimbaits cost from $10 all the way up to $75 each. They range in size from 6-12 inches and are known big-fish catchers.
Swimbaits are not popular with everyone but they are a proven big-fish catcher. The major problem is that it takes a strong arm to cast one all day and it”s more of a tournament lure, one in which fishermen are looking for only five or six bites per day. There are even special heavy-duty rods manufactured for just these giant lures. The lure is retrieved with a constant reeling action and when a bass grabs it, it will just about jerk the rod out of the fisherman”s hand.
Most of the recreational fishermen find that it”s just too much work to cast the heavy lure for hours on end.
Jerkbaits cast tight to the tules also have been effective as have jigs and shaky head jigs. The good news is the rising lake level. As of Thursday, the lake level was 5.7 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. That means it came up more than a foot in the past 10 days. However, it”s still lower than normal.
Some of the better areas have been north of Lakeport, the tules near Lakeside County Park, and the Nice-Lucerne shoreline. In the south end of the lake, Konocti Harbor has been kicking out a few bass as has Jago Bay.
Crappie action is still pretty slow although the action has been good at times near the docks at Konocti Harbor. Only guests of the resort can fish off the docks, but boaters can fish anywhere.
Bluegill action has been nothing short of phenomenal. Just about every dock has a large school of bluegill holding beneath it and all you have to do is drop down a hook with a mealworm on it and the bluegill grab it instantly.
Catfish are still pretty much a no-show. In fact, there have been very few fishermen even trying for catfish. The action should pick up as the water warms.
Trout action at Upper Blue Lake has been slow, mostly due to the bad weather. The lake is scheduled to be stocked next week. Bass fishing continues to improve.
At Indian Valley Reservoir, the recent storms have muddied up the water. The good news is that this lake clears fast and should be fishable by early next week. The trout fishing was very good prior to the storms.
A number of fishermen have asked how they can contact the store at the lake for the latest update on conditions. There is only an emergency telephone at the store and it”s not available for fishing updates.
The spring wild turkey season is a month away it opens March 31. Hunters who plan on hunting the Cache Creek Wildlife area on the opening weekend have to apply for a permit. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) issues 40 permits for March 31 and 40 for April 1. Only those who hold a valid permit will be allowed to hunt the opening weekend. Starting on April 2, the entire area is open for hunting with no permits required.
The hunting area includes the Payne Ranch, which butts up to the wildlife area.
To apply for a permit send in a standard postcard with your name, address, hunting license number, telephone number and desired hunt date to Department of Fish and Game, 1701 Nimbus Road, Suite A, Rancho Cordova CA 95670. The application must reach the DFG office no later than 5 p.m. on March 7. Up to four hunters can apply on one application. For more information call (916) 358-2839.
