The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will stock Upper Blue Lake with trout this week. It”s the first stocking by the DFG in more than eight months. The next scheduled stocking is Sept. 21.
Fishermen can either fish from the docks at the Narrows Resort or Pine Acres Resort for a small fee. Boats also can be launched from both resorts. Fishermen can also fish from shore free of charge along Highway 20.
For those who prefer to fish from shore, nightcrawlers or salmon eggs are the best baits. Attach a small hook about four inches up the line from a small sinker and thread the nightcrawler on the hook. Salmon eggs can be attached to the hooks by using several eggs. Power Bait also works very well. Prop up your pole and sit back and wait for the trout to bite.
The best bet for boaters is to troll the middle of the lake using either a downrigger with a flasher rigged ahead of a red-black Kastmaster or Cripplure. Because of recent hot weather the trout will be holding at a depth of 20-30 feet and you need the downrigger to get your lure down to the fish. Lead core line can be used for those who don”t have a downrigger.
Bass fishing at Clear Lake is holding steady and most of the fishermen are catching between five and 15 fish per day. The topwater action has slacked off a bit because the weed mats are disappearing. However, if you can locate a weed mat that”s in 5-8 feet of water, there is an excellent chance a bass is holding beneath it. Cast a plastic frog or Horny Toad to the mat and expect a blowup.
A number of fishermen are casting crankbaits beneath the docks and over the rockpiles and catching bass that are averaging 2-4 pounds. Senkos and drop-shotting also has been effective. The best action has been in the deeper water in the south end of the lake. However, a few fishermen are finding success in the north end by working a plastic worm beneath the docks or fishing offshore at the weed mats. The trick is to keep moving until you locate active fish. Another method of locating bass is to look for the silverside minnows and the grebes that are feeding on them. Usually there will be bass nearby.
Catfish action remains very good throughout the south end of the lake. The more successful fishermen have been drifting cut bait in the deeper water. Areas such as Rattlesnake Island, Horseshoe Bend and Jago Bay all have been producing good numbers of catfish.
Yolo County has been taking water from the lake this past week. It”s the final allotment of water for the year and Yolo should be done drawing by this weekend. Yolo”s draws have had only a minor impact on the lake level.
It may not have much water left, but Indian Valley Reservoir is providing excellent bass fishing for the few anglers visiting the lake. Several local fishermen have been using float tubes or kayaks and working the area along the dam. They report catching 10-20 bass per outing and that includes both largemouths and smallmouths. Jigs and spinnerbaits have been the top lures. As a bonus, the catfish action has been outstanding.
Observing wildlife always has its rewards and there is always the unexpected. Recently a wild hen turkey with young poults paid a visit to my backyard. The poults were scratching in the dirt for food and didn”t see the neighbor”s cat stalking them. Just before the cat could pounce on a poult the old hen saw the cat and charged it. Feathers flew everywhere as the hen beat at the cat with its wings. The cat let out a scream and charged out of the yard. The old mother hen calmly gathered her brood and went about her business. This is the first time I have ever seen a hen turkey defend it young.
