Clear Lake will be crowded with bass fishermen this weekend, most of whom will be competing in the America”s Vanity Cup team tournament. There also will be dozens of fishermen out on the lake doing some recreational fishing and prefishing for the upcoming Holder Ford-Mercury Team Tournament scheduled for March 17-18.
The Vanity Cup tournament take places out of Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa and the weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
The good news is that spring-like weather has turned on the fishing. In fact, the action could be wide open by Saturday afternoon as daytime temperatures are expected to reach 80 degrees. The bass are moving into the tules and along the shorelines in preparation for spawning.
Without a doubt the hottest lure on the lake continues to be a 6-inch plastic worm rigged on a shaky head jig. A good example was on Tuesday when I fished a short stretch of tules near Lakeside County Park. Using only a shaky head with a Maverick 6-inch worm in the oxblood blue color, I caught and released a dozen bass within a period of three hours. The fish ranged in size from 3 to 4 1/2 pounds.
Most of the fishermen are using a shaky head jig made by Reaction Innovations in the 3/16- or 1/4-ounce size. The jig has a small spring where the head of the worm is screwed into it. The hook is then inserted into the worm to make it weedless. Rigged this way the tail of the worm floats up. When a bass bites the worm, it normally inhales it, which makes setting the hook easy. This is one technique that even a novice fisherman can master with little difficulty.
Since the bass are now moving into the tules, the trick is to cast the jig back in the little pockets and allow it to sink. Just shake the tip of the rod slightly, which gives the worm movement. The jig can also be cast tight to the dock pilings and along the seawalls.
Maverick also has come out with with a new 8-inch plastic worm for the shaky head jig. This larger worm should be dynamite for the larger fish. The shaky head jigs can be purchased at all the local tackle shops and the new Maverick 8-inch worm can be purchased at the Tackle It tackle shop in Lakeport.
In addition to the shaky head, a good number of bass are also being caught on jerkbaits and swimbaits.
There have been reports of a massive die-off of shad in the Clearlake Oaks arm, especially in the Keys. This is normal for this time of the year. The reason the shad are dying is because of changing water temperatures. Threadfin shad are a very fragile fish and any rapid change in water temperature causes die-offs.
The warming water also has improved the crappie fishing. The best action has been at daylight in areas such as Kono Tayee, Shag Rock and the docks at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa.
Trout and bass are being caught at Upper Blue Lake. The best trout action has been for trollers working the middle of the lake with Needlefish and Kastmasters. Bass action has been good for fishermen using the drop-shotting technique and working along Highway 20.
Trout fishing has picked up at Indian Valley Reservoir with limits being common for the few anglers out on the lake. A few kokanee also are being caught. The bass fishing should be excellent but no one is fishing for them.
Lake Pillsbury will be stocked with trout during the week of March 19. This will be the first stocking of the year. The lake is about 70 percent full.
Salmon action off Fort Bragg is still rated slow and most of the party boats are averaging only about two or three fish per trip.
