Memorial Day weekend signals the start of the summer season for campers and fishermen. With the poor economy and the rising price of gas, a lot of fishermen and campers will be staying closer to home. The good news is that you don”t have to drive 200 miles to camp and fish when there are a number of campgrounds practically in our own backyard, plus there are a number of lakes in the county offering excellent fishing.
This is one of many instan-ces where living in Lake County is a definite advantage. Within a short drive are a number of lakes and camping spots where one can get away from the crowds, enjoy a good day fishing and not have to take a loan out to fill up the motor home or truck.
For those who plan on staying home, the bass and catfish action at Clear Lake is rated as good. In fact, Clear Lake is one of the few lakes in Northern California that has plenty of water. The other advantage is that there are plenty of boat ramps and they are all free, so you don”t have to pay a launching fee as at most of the other lakes.
For those without a boat, the fishing has been good from shore for both bass and catfish. Lakeside County Park, Library Park in Lakeport, Redbud Park in Clearlake and the Lucerne Park all offer good shore fishing.
Even if you”re not a fisherman, the lake offers some tremendous sightseeing opportunities. There are pelicans, osprey and even a few bald eagles.
The local county and state parks offer just about everything from fishing to hiking and bird watching. One of my favorite parks is Highland Springs County Park, located on Highland Springs Road just south of Lakeport. The small lake offers excellent fishing and you can have a picnic at the park.
Clear Lake State Park has several excellent hiking trails and an excellent day use area. It is one of the better state parks in Northern California.
Lake Berryessa certainly will see a lot of people this weekend, but as long as you don”t plan on camping there it shouldn”t matter. The trout and bass fishing has been excellent and it”s a great day trip.
Upper Blue Lake is loaded with trout and bass, plus there are several private campgrounds where you can relax and enjoy the sun. Who knows?
You may even catch the tagged trout that”s worth $1,000.
Lake Pillsbury is one of my favorite places to fish and camp, but you should get a campsite by Friday morning. The Memorial Day weekend traditionally draws hundreds of people to the lake and most of the campgrounds are taken early. If you don”t want to camp, it”s only an hour drive from Lakeport, so pack a lunch and make a day trip out of it. The lake is scheduled to be stocked with trout this week and the bass fishing has been nothing short of awesome.
There is also a herd of elk at the lake as well as deer, wild turkeys and eagles. It”s a great place to just camp and relax.
If you just want to camp and hike then spend the weekend at the isolated Bear Creek Campground in the Mendocino National Forest. The campground has a stream running through it and it”s a short drive to the Summit Springs trailhead for the Snow Mountain Wilderness Area. The trail will take you to the summit of Snow Mountain, where you can see the Sacramento Valley and even Mount Shasta. Take the Bear Creek Road off the Elk Mountain Road out of Upper Lake.
If you”re really bored, then you can wander down to the Fifth Street ramp in Lakeport or Redbud Park in Clearlake and watch the tourists attempt to launch their boats. The experience will make you appreciate living in Lake County.
The one disadvantage of living in Lake County is that all your relatives and long forgotten friends often think your home is their vacation spot. So expect visitors.
