The Holder Ford-Mercury team bass tournament gets under way Saturday morning on Clear Lake and the experts are predicting it could be a repeat of last weekend”s Vanity Cup tournament, during which Mark Crutcher and Greg McCosker of Lakeport weighed in 74.2 pounds for 10 fish to set a new lake record.
The overall average weight per fish in the Vanity Cup tournament was an astounding 4.3 pounds, which could be another lake record. Crutcher said he and McCosker were culling 7-pound bass on Sunday, when they brought 40.2 pounds to the scales, including three bass weighing more than 8 pounds apiece. Crutcher also said he and McCosker caught more than 80 bass during the two-day event.
The top lures in the tournament were swimbaits and jerkbaits worked along the edges of the tules in the north end. Other fishermen in the tournament were successful using plastic worms rigged on the shaky head jig.
The problem with the shaky heads is locating tackle shops that carry them. Tony Smith of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport says the jig is so popular he has a hard time keeping them in stock.
The Holder Ford Tournament is expected to draw about 140 teams. The weigh-in both Saturday and Sunday starts at 3 p.m. at the Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina in Lakeport. Fishermen can sign up for the tournament as late as 6 p.m. today at Holder Ford, 2575 S. Main St., in Lakeport. Only cash or a money order will be accepted. The entry fee is $100 per team and there are two $50 options.
The payback is 100 percent of the entry and option fees. Cash prizes will be paid back to the top 20 percent of the field, plus three daily big-fish awards. If there are 100 teams in the tournament, the winning team will receive at least $3,000 and that doesn”t include option prizes.
The fishermen also will enjoy a barbecue on Saturday evening hosted by Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina.
In addition to the record catches during the Vanity Cup, plenty of other action was taking place on the lake. Popular guide and tournament fisherman Bob Myskey of Nice and Russ Standbury of Santa Rosa, both entered in the tournament, were headed for Nice from Rodman Slough at full speed of nearly 70 mph when Myskey”s boat threw the outboard motor”s lower unit.
When the lower unit came loose from the motor, the boat went into a hard left turn, which sent both Myskey and Standbury hard into the water. In fact, the force of the impact ripped Standbury”s shoes off his feet.
Myskey said he went underwater and quickly activated his inflatable life vest, which shot him to the surface. Standbury was wearing a life vest that is supposed to automatically inflate when a person is in the water, however his vest only partially inflated.
Luckily another boater happened upon the scene, pulled the men out of the water, transported them back to their boat, and towed them in. Myskey and Standbury ended up with only bruises and sore muscles.
The accident proves once again that life vests should always be worn when riding in a boat. It also raises concerns about the popular vests that are supposed to automatically inflate when a fisherman is thrown into the water.
Crappie action good
In addition to the outstanding bass fishing, the warm weather has improved the crappie action. Good numbers of crappie are being caught near the docks at the Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa and at Kono Tayee. Crappie haven”t yet been caught in any numbers off the docks at Library Park in Lakeport, but that could happen at any time.
Trout action remains good at Indian Valley Reservoir, where most of the fishermen are catching between five and 10 fish per day. A few kokanee also are being caught.
The trout action at Upper Blue Lake is rated fair. Trollers are getting most of the fish. Bass fishing continues to improve.
