Bitter cold weather continues to stymie the bass fishermen at Clear Lake. The water temperature has been hovering around 42 degrees in the mornings and only rising to 46 degrees by the afternoons. Even the fishing guides who use live jumbo minnows report the fishing has slowed considerably.
Actually, the slowdown in fishing is typical for this time of the year. Normally January and February are the slowest times of the year for bass fishing on Clear Lake. A few fishermen have been catching from six to eight fish per day, but most are settling for only a few and a number of fishermen aren”t catching a single fish.
Lipless crankbaits and jigs continue to be the top lures. The more successful fishermen are using lipless crankbait and have been fishing them yo-yo style. This means casting the lure and letting it flutter to the bottom. The lure is then jerked up and down, which causes the lure to flash and resemble a crippled shad. For those casting a jig, the lure must be retrieved super slow. A few bass are also being caught on plastic worms rigged on a shaky head jig.
American Bass (ABA) will hold its first team tournament of the year on Sunday. The weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at the Skylark Shores Motel in Lakeport. Fishermen can sign up for the tournament on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning prior to the blast-off at the Tackle It tackle shop located next to the Skylark Motel.
Licensed fishing guides are required to maintain a running log of their clients and the number of fish they catch. This is one tool the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) uses to monitor the fishery.
Two of the more active guides on Clear Lake are Ross England and Richard Pounds.
Last year Pounds guided 178 days. During these guided trips his clients caught 3,026 bass. His clients averaged 17 bass per trip. Of the bass that weighed 5 pounds or more, the breakdown was 5-pounders (81), 6-pounders (31), 7-pounders (21), 8-pounders (2), 9-pounders (7), and 10-pounders (6).
England”s record was equally impressive. His clients caught 158 bass that weighed 4 pounds, 84 that weighed 5 pounds, 29 that weighed 6 pounds, 16 that weighed 7 pounds, 11 that weighed 8 pounds, six that weighed 9 pounds, four that weighed 10 pounds and one that weighed 11 pounds.
The vast majority of Pounds” and England”s clients were novice fishermen, which means they have a pretty impressive record for their clients.
The Clear Lake Bassmasters bass club is looking for new members. According to club spokesman John Graham, the club is seeking boaters and non-boaters, especially non-boaters. The next club meeting is Tuesday beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Manning”s Pizza, 5285 State St., in Kelseyville. Graham said you don”t have to be an experienced fisherman to join the club.
“We are looking for novice fishermen as well as experienced anglers. In fact, our members will be glad to show anyone how to fish for bass,” Graham said.
The club holds 10 tournaments a year and they consist of both team and individual events. The dues are $40 per year and the tournament fees are only $20 per tournament.
The club has been in existence for 35 years and has been involved in a number of community projects, including creating fish habitat, building docks at public ramps, planting tules and taking kids fishing. The club also operates the bass release barge that is used by many of the tournament organizations that visit the lake. The barge has aerated fish tanks to keep the bass alive so that they can be released safely back into the lake.
For more information on the club and its activities call Graham at 263-7277.
It”s not only the bass fishing that has been slow. Crappie action has been practically non-existent, and just about everyone has given up on the catfish. An occasional crappie is being caught in the deeper water in the south end of the lake, but it”s hardly worth battling the cold weather to catch a few fish.
Here is one final warning to have your 2009 fishing license. The game wardens have been out on the lake checking anglers. Recently a fisherman was cited at Lake Berryessa for using two rods and not having the required second rod stamp. It cost him $208 in fine money.
