Clear Lake will be a busy place again this weekend as two bass tournaments are scheduled. The Angler”s Choice Tournament of Champions (TOC), which is expected to draw more than 100 boats, opens today and closes Saturday. On Sunday, a WON BASS team tournament is expected to draw approximately 50 boats.
Headquarters for the Angler”s Choice tournament is Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina outside of Lakeport, and the WON BASS tournament operates out of Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. The weigh-in for both tournaments starts at 3 p.m.
Overall the bass fishing has slowed a bit although there are still plenty of smaller fish being caught. The results from the American Bass TOC held last weekend were a good example. That tournament drew 182 boats and the winning weight was just 27.49 pounds. Only three fish caught weighed more than 8 pounds. The big fish of the tournament was 9.5 pounds and was caught by Lakeport angler Mark Crutcher.
Most of the bass pros reported catching the larger fish on swimbaits such as the River 2 Sea and the Basstrix. Crutcher said he caught his big fish on a River 2 Sea Bottom Walking Shad swimbait.
One problem facing fishermen is the abundance of minnows and baitfish in the water. Most of these minnows are either threadfin shad or silverside minnows. In some areas they are so thick that all a bass has to do is open its mouth and he has an instant meal. In fact, there was a shad die-off earlier this week in the Clearlake Oaks Keys.
Though much of the north end of the lake has less than 2 feet of water, there are bass being caught. Some of the more successful fishermen are using live minnows or nightcrawlers. The top areas in the north end are Little Rocky Point, the docks at Library Park in Lakeport, and Long Tule Point. In the south end the rockpiles continue to produce most of the bass.
A number of fishermen have been asking where they can obtain trolling motor parts. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks now carries a limited supply of trolling motor parts for Minn Kota and MotorGuide trolling motors. He also stocks the trolling motors.
Catfish action continues to improve for fishermen drift fishing with cut bait or nightcrawlers, and bass fishermen report catching fair numbers of catfish on crankbaits while seeking out bass.
Crappie action has slowed although a few fishermen have been catching from five to 10 fish per day near Indian Beach Resort in Glenhaven and at Shag Rock. The action should improve as the water cools.
Upper Blue Lake will be stocked with trout this week. I fished the lake for bass Wednesday and didn”t get a single bite. The water is exceptionally clear and I could see down clearly to a depth of more than 20 feet. There was only one other boat with two fishermen on the lake and they didn”t catch any fish either.
The lake level at Indian Valley Reservoir is holding steady at 100 feet below normal. Small boats can still be launched at the ramp at the dam, but be careful. A four-wheel drive vehicle is advised. Smallmouth bass fishing is still rated very good off the rockpiles near the dam. There is no kokanee or trout action. Normally the Department of Fish and Game stocks the lake with Eagle Lake-strain trout in November, but that may be delayed this year because of the low water level.
The Lake County Rod and Gun Club will hold its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot at its trap range on Sunday. Shoot hours are 9 a.m. until dark. The shoot is open to the public and frozen turkeys will be awarded to the top gunners. The fee is $4 per shoot with no limit on the number of shoots a person can enter.
According to club spokesman Dan Stahlman, the trap shooters will be divided into groups matching their skill level at trap shooting.
“We don”t want the novices competing with the experts and we want to make it an even playing field for all shooters. There will be three categories — amateur, intermediate and advanced. This should give everyone a good chance at bringing home a frozen turkey,” Stahlman said.
The club is located on Highland Springs Road next to the county park. Lunch and refreshments will be served. To reach the club, take Highland Springs Road south of Lakeport on Highway 29. Go past the airport and enter Highland Springs Park. The club”s range is on the road to the left after you enter the park.
