While the recent series of storms have kept the fishermen off Clear Lake, the weather was good and the fishing even better on Saturday and Sunday.
The best action is still in the clearer water in the south end of the lake and the top lure has been a shaky head jig fished slowly over the rocks. Fishermen split-shotting a baby brush hog along the outer edges of the docks are also catching fish. Lipless crankbaits also have been producing. The bass have been holding at a depth of 15-25 feet.
The surprising thing is the lack of action on swimbaits. Normally this is the time of the year the swimbaits are the top fish catcher, but not this year.
The water clarity in the north end of the lake is good but the action has been slow. That should improve as the water warms up. The water temperature at Library Park in Lakeport was 46 degrees at noon. Last weekend it did rise to 50 degrees late in the afternoon.
ABA will hold a team tournament on Sunday and it goes out of the Skylark Shores Motel in Lakeport. The weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. Fishermen can sign up for the tournament just prior to blast-off on Sunday morning at the Tackle It tackle shop, which is located on Main Street next to the Skylark Shores Motel.
Sign-ups for the Holder Ford-Mercury Team Bass Tournament stand at 38 boats as of Wednesday. The popular tournament is scheduled for March 14-15. The entry fee is $100 per team with two $50 options. Entry forms are available at local tackle shops or by calling (707) 263-5603.
A few catfish are starting to show up. Horseshoe Bend has been kicking out a few catfish as has Shag Rock. The Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven annual catfish derby is scheduled for May 15-17.
There is still no crappie action to speak of. There have been fishermen out looking for them but they have been coming up empty for the most part.
The spring wild turkey season doesn”t open until March 28 but hunters who want to hunt Lake Mendocino or Lake Sonoma have to submit their application for permits by March 1.
There will be a series of two junior and two general hunts at Lake Mendocino. The junior hunts are March 28-29 and April 18-19. The general hunt dates are April 4 and April 11. Entrance to the hunting area is by boat only. Only five hunters are selected for each hunt date.
Hunters should apply for a permit using a standard postcard. Be sure to include your name, mailing address, telephone number, hunting license number, boat registration number (CF) or a description of the boat. Also include your desired hunt date. Two people can apply on one postcard. Only one postcard per person is accepted.
Mail it to Lake Mendocino Spring Turkey Hunt, P.O. Box 602, Willits, CA 95490. The application must be received no later than March 1. For more information call (707) 456-0329.
The Lake Sonoma general hunt is a two-day affair and the dates are April 25-26. There also will be junior hunts on March 28-29 and April 18-19.
Send a postcard with your name, address telephone number, hunting license number and desired hunt date to DFG, Lake Sonoma Spring Turkey Hunt, P.O. Box 47, Yountville, CA 94599. Applications must be received no later than March 1. Call (707) 944-5537 for more information.
Permit applications for the special hunts can be downloaded off the Internet. Just go to www.dfg.ca.gov and click on hunting.
Permits won”t be required on opening weekend at Cache Creek this year, so it will be open for everyone.
Just about everyone knows the DFG is running on empty when it comes to funding projects. Now Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to tap the DFG for $30 million. It will be called a “loan” and will be paid back by 2013. The $30 million makes up about a one-third of all the money the DFG takes in from the sale of fishing and hunting licenses.
