After an absence of many years, West Coast Bass returns to Clear Lake this weekend. The two-day pro/am tournament features a new Harley motorcycle for the pro winner. There are also cash awards. The weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Skylark Shores Motel in Lakeport.
Weather will be the major factor in the success of the bass fishermen in the tournament. If it”s warm, the fishing should break wide open. That”s what happened last week, but a cold front passed through the county earlier this week and the fishing turned tough. Angler”s Choice held a team tournament on Saturday and several teams weighed in 30 pounds or more. The bite toughened up Sunday during the National Bass West team event and the winning weight was 23.4 pounds.
Overall the bass fishing is still rated good although the water temperature has been dropping. Whereas last week the water temperature was as high as 56 degrees, this week it has been holding steady at 50 degrees.
The bass are moving into the tules and along the shoreline in preparation for spawning. Jigs or plastic worms rigged on a shaky head continue to be the top lures. There have been some bass taken on swimbaits. Since the bass are now moving into the tules, the trick is to cast the jig back in the little pockets and allow it to sink. Just shake the tip of the rod slightly, which gives the jig movement. The jig also can be cast tight to the dock pilings and along the seawalls.
Drop-shotting a plastic worm also has been one of the more effective methods of catching bass. Most of the successful fishermen are working the edges of the tules, with the State Park being one of the better areas. As expected live jumbo minnows are the No. 1 bass-catcher. In fact, most of the local fishing guides are using only live minnows.
The Holder Ford-Mercury team tournament is scheduled for March 13-14. More than 50 teams have signed up to date. Fishermen can enter the tournament as late as 5 p.m. on March 12 at the Holder dealership at 2575 S. Main St. in Lakeport. Call (707) 263-5603 for more information.
Catfish action continues to improve as the lake level rises. The best action has been in the south end near Cache Creek and Rattlesnake Island. The problem has been more a lack of fishermen than fish. Whereas Clear Lake used to be one of the more popular catfish lakes in the state, the number of fishermen has dropped dramatically in recent years.
Several people have asked where they can fish for both bass and catfish from shore. The public docks at Library Park in Lakeport, Lakeside County Park, Redbud Park in Clearlake as well as the docks at the boat ramp in Lucerne all offer very good fishing opportunities.
Good news is coming out of Indian Valley Reservoir. The lake level is still down about 100 feet from the full mark but boats can be launched. The bass fishing should be excellent for both smallmouth and largemouth bass. Boaters are reminded they must have a Lake County quagga mussel sticker on their boats or they will be cited.
Upper Blue Lake is scheduled to be stocked with trout this week. The lake should produce decent trout action for trollers working the middle of the lake. Bass fishing remains fair but very few fishermen have been out after them.
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is sponsoring spring hunts for wild turkeys at Lake Mendocino. The hunts take place March 27, April 10 and April 15. The dates for the junior hunts are March 20-21, April 3-4 and April 17-18. Only five hunters will be drawn per hunt date. Shotguns or air rifles firing pellets powered by compressed air (0.20 caliber minimum) may be used to take turkeys. Boat-in and walk-in access is permitted; no vehicle or horse-in hunting is allowed. The deadline to apply for the hunts is March 8. For more information, contact the USACE Park Office at (707) 462-7581 or at http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/mendocino/hunting.htm.
