This could be the best weekend of the year for bass fishermen at Clear Lake. The temperatures are forecast to reach 80 degrees — which will elevate the water temperature to more than 60 degrees — and that should trigger the long overdue spawn.
Fishermen have reported seeing a few of the smaller male bass on the spawning beds.
Drop-shotting a plastic worm in the shallows should produce good numbers of fish. Another lure that has been very good has been the shaky head jig rigged with what is called a “Trick” worm. This can be a deadly combination for spawning fish. Spinnerbaits as well as jigs also have been very effective.
One of the better areas has been in the Clearlake Oaks Keys where fishermen report catching 10-20 fish per day. The tule shoreline at Lakeside County Park is also producing good numbers of bass. In fact, bass are being caught off the docks at the county park. Corinthian Bay has been good as has the state park. Rodman Slough has been effective for those flipping jigs in the flooded brush and trees.
Most of the local fishing guides say the best fishing for their clients continues to be with jumbo minnows. The guides report their clients have been having little trouble catching 15-25 fish per day.
American Bass (ABA) is holding a team tournament on Sunday. The weigh-in takes place at the Skylark Shores Motel in Lakeport starting at 3 p.m. Fishermen can sign up for the tournament prior to blast-off at the Tackle It tackle shop, located next to the Skylark Motel.
Reports coming out of the south end of the lake indicate the catfish are starting to bite. Some of the catfish being caught have been huge, weighing in the 15- to 20-pound class. This could be a good indicator on what the fishing will be like during the upcoming Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Catfish Derby scheduled for May 15-17.
Crappie action is still a little slow but improving. One fisherman reported catching 10 large crappie near Shag Rock. He said that he was using live minnows.
Lake Pillsbury will be stocked with trout this week. I visited the lake on Monday and it is in beautiful condition. The lake is at 85 percent of capacity and the boat ramp at Fuller Grove is open. The county road into the lake from Potter Valley is in excellent condition. This would be a great weekend getaway and you can fish for trout or bass. As a bonus you will see elk grazing along the shoreline.
If you have a small car-top boat or a float tube, then Indian Valley Reservoir is definitely worth a try. Bass and catfish are there in large numbers and some of the best action is near the dam. There have been no reports of any trout being caught. The best part is that you will have the lake to yourself.
Several people have reported seeing dead coots on the Rodman Slough bridge and want to know what”s killing them.
Three weeks ago I counted 11 dead coots on the bridge and last week a person reported seeing at least 15 dead coots. Apparently passing cars are killing the coots. One explanation could be that since coots fly mostly at night, they are flying from the lake to the slough and are just barely clearing the bridge, and cars are striking some.
Turkey hunters are reminded of the upcoming National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) fundraising dinner on April 25 at Robinson Rancheria in Nice. In addition to the dinner there will be a raffle and other activities. The banquet starts at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $65 for adults, $35 for those 17 years and younger, and $350 for a sponsor membership. The fees include a membership in the NWTF. Call 994-5891 or 994-0637 to purchase tickets.
