Clear Lake boaters are going to have their boats inspected this weekend. It”s all part of the Department of Fish and Game”s plan to stop the quagga and zebra mussel from spreading to Clear Lake.
The reason the DFG picked this weekend is because of the Vanity Cup bass tournament scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. According to DFG fishery biologist Jay Rowan, many of the fishermen entered in the tournament are bringing their boats from mussel-infested areas such as Southern and Central California. However, all boats passing through the inspection station will be inspected regardless of where they are from.
The actual inspection will be conducted at various launch ramps around the lake, including the ramp at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, which is serving as headquarters for the tournament. The inspections started Thursday and continue through Sunday.
Rowan said boat owners will be asked a couple of questions and their boats will be inspected. He said clean and dry is what the DFG is looking for. That means no water weeds, fish scales or standing water in the bilges or livewells.
If a boat fails the visual inspection the DFG will work with the boater to come up with a satisfactory decontamination solution. The DFG will not be doing any decontamination itself.
“We want this to be a cooperative effort between the DFG and boaters and not only as a preventive measure but educational as well,” Rowan said.
There is a fear that because Clear Lake is so popular with West Coast bass fishermen that the mussels will get into the lake sooner or later. That would be disastrous for the fishery as well as the water pumps supplying water to local residents.
Clear Lake will be a busy place this weekend. Most of the fishermen will be competing in the America”s Vanity Cup team tournament, which is expected to draw about 100 boats. There also will be dozens of fishermen out on the lake doing some recreational fishing, plus there will be fishermen prefishing for the upcoming Holder Ford-Mercury team tournament scheduled for March 15.
This is the second year the Vanity Cup has been held at Clear Lake. The tournament drew 77 teams last year and the team of Mark Crutcher and Greg McCosker of Lakeport won the event and the $20,000 first prize. They will be competing again this year. The weigh-ins at Konocti Harbor begin at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The tournament should produce some heavy weights. The summer-like weather has turned on the fishing. In fact, the action could be wide open by Sunday afternoon as daytime temperatures are expected to reach 70 degrees. The bass are moving into the tules and along the shorelines in preparation for spawning.
Drop-shotting a plastic worm has been one of the more effective methods of catching bass. Most of the successful fishermen are working the edges of the tules, with the State Park being one of the better areas. Jigs and Brush Hogs also have been effective as have live minnows.
Since the bass are now moving into the tules, the trick is to cast the jig or Brush Hog back into the little pockets and allow it to sink. Just shake the tip of the rod slightly, which gives the lure a slight movement. The lure also can be cast tight to the dock pilings and along the seawalls.
In addition to drop-shotting and jigs, a good number of bass are also being caught on jerkbaits and swimbaits.
A few crappie are starting to show up in the channels and sloughs, but it”s still nothing to get excited about. Catfish action is also improving.
No local lakes were stocked with trout this week. A few trout are being caught out of Upper Blue Lake. At Indian Valley Reservoir, the gate on the road to the dam is locked, so the south ramp and campgrounds are closed. There is no word on when it will reopen.
