Summer-like weather has turned on the bass fishing at Clear Lake. With daytime temperatures reaching into the 70s, the bass are biting in both the north and south ends of the lake.
The results of the recent FLW-Outdoors megabuck tournament are a good indication of just how good the bass fishing has been. Most of the fishermen, and that includes both the pros and amateurs, caught limits during the four-day tournament. What was impressive was the size of some of the bass. The tournament produced a 13-pounder and three fish in the 11-pound class, plus numerous 8- and 9-pounders.
The winner — Tim Klinger of Nevada — checked in with a four-day weight of 89 pounds, 12 ounces. He was in 164th place with only 11 pounds after the first day, but he edged up the leader board each of the final three days and finally captured the tournament on the final day. In fact, on Saturday, the final day of the tournament, he weighed in 32 pounds, 8 ounces, which was a new FLW record for the final day of a tournament.
Klinger said that he caught his fish using a shad-colored Osprey swimbait and a shad-chartreuse Baitsmith swimbait near Rattlesnake Island.
Second-place finisher Andre Moore of Alabama weighed in 86 pounds, 13 ounces and collected $48,841.
He cast deep-running crankbaits over the rockpiles.
The final day of the tournament was reserved for the 10 top fishermen and they caught a total 50 bass for a grand total of 191 pounds, an average of 3.82 pounds per fish.
Without a doubt the top lure in the tournament was a swimbait retrieved slowly. In fact, in all the recent bass tournaments, swimbaits have been the top producer. A swimbait is a soft, plastic lure resembling a large minnow. Lipless crankbaits also are catching good numbers of bass. The lipless crankbait should be retrieved fast
Threadfin shad continue to show up in massive schools all around the lake, especially in the north end. Not only are the shad scattered all along the Nice-Lucerne shoreline, bit they are appearing near Lakeside County Park and in the Lakeport area. The resurgence of the shad is good news for the bass, which need to put on some weight for the winter months. The problem for the fishermen is there are so many shad the bass bite has slowed because the fish are stuffing themselves on the live baitfish.
Despite the low water in the north end of the lake there are bass being caught. Some of the bass are being caught in water as shallow as a foot.
For those who don”t have a boat, the bass fishing has been good off the docks at Library Park in Lakeport and at Lakeside County Park. The top bait has been nightcrawlers.
The lake won”t get much of a rest from the fishermen. American Bass will hold it Tournament of Champions (TOC) Saturday. The tournament will operate out of Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina and will draw approximately 125 boats. The following week there is a two-day Angler”s Choice TOC on Nov. 9-10, which is expected to draw up to 150 boats.
Catfish action is rated fair to good. Catfish are being caught along the Nice-Lucerne shoreline and near Shag Rock. Crappie are still being caught at the Indian Beach Resort in Glenhaven.
No local waters were stocked with trout this past week. Upper Blue Lake will be stocked next week. There are a few trout being caught at Upper Blue Lake. Overall the action has been slow there.
The warm weather has slowed the duck hunting in the Sacramento Valley to a crawl. Most of the refuges are averaging less than two birds per hunter.
A number of people have expressed concern about popular fishing guide Ross England, who recently suffered a minor heart attack while escorting the Fox Sports Network camera crew during the FLW tournament. The Kelseyville resident is now home and recuperating. He said he is doing fine and expects to be back on the water soon. England and his wife, Debbie, want to thank all the people who telephoned him and sent him get-well cards.
