Clear Lake bass fishermen are hoping the warm weather will finally move the bass into the shallows and improve the fishing. In fact, some of the bass are finally starting to spawn. This year the spawn is several weeks later than normal because of the cold and unsettled weather last month. The bass will probably be spawning well into the summer months.
Most of the local fishing guides report their clients are catching from 15-20 bass per day, with live jumbo minnows taking most of the fish. The water temperature has been as low as 54 degrees in the mornings and rising to only 65 degrees by late afternoon. A few fishermen are finally getting to sight fish for some bass. That technique should continue to improve as the water warms up and the bass lock on the spawning beds.
Sight fishing for bass during the spring months is probably the most popular and productive method of fishing, especially for tournament fishermen. However, many recreational fishermen aren”t familiar with this type of fishing. Clear Lake is a sight fisherman”s dream because it”s so shallow you can normally see the bass on the spawning beds. Most fishermen use polarized sunglasses, which allows them to see the fish. A fisherman slowly cruises the shoreline with his electric trolling motor and looks for small pockets in the tules. Bass spawning beds can be identified by a small opening about the size of a dinner plate. When a fisherman spots the bed he will look closely to see if a bass is on it. Normally it”s the male that”s guarding the nest.
The favorite lure for bed fishing is either a white or chartreuse tube bait or curly-tailed grub rigged on a darthead hook. The reason for the colors is that you can see the lure even if the water is slightly cloudy. The fisherman then casts the lure right on the bed and allows it to sit there. The male bass will usually approach the lure, stare at it for a few moments and then pick up it to remove it from the nest. When a fisherman sees the lure disappear from view he sets the hook.
Another technique is to tease the fish into striking the lure. The fisherman will make cast after cast and drag the lure past the nose of the bass. Sometimes it takes 15 minutes to an hour to anger the bass enough for it to strike the lure.
Usually the larger bass are the females and they will often stage near the nest. The technique used to catch these larger bass is to stay back and cast a lure to the suspended fish. Often it will take repeated casts to entice the fish into biting.
The Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven annual catfish derby starts a week from today and fishermen are already out looking for catfish. The derby is expected to draw more than 400 fishermen. The good news is action has improved and if the water temperature climbs to 70 degrees or higher the fishing should be good for the derby.
The trout action at Upper Blue Lake has slowed and one reason could be that many of the trout were caught during the recent fishing derby. Bass fishing has been steady with drop-shotting being the most productive method.
Bass fishing has been decent for the few fishermen out at Lake Pillsbury. The water is exceptionally clear and some of the more successful fishermen are seeing the bass cruising in the shallows and casting a plastic worm to them. The lake still isn”t on the approved stocking list for trout.
Trout action on the East Branch of the Russian River should be good for the weekend. The stream was supposed to be stocked this week.
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will issue four elk tags (two bulls and two cows) for the Lake Pillsbury elk herd. The tags will be issued during a special drawing in June. This is the first time the DFG has allowed hunting for the Lake Pillsbury elk herd, which numbers about 60 animals. There also will be an elk hunt allowed in Mendocino County, but on private land. Cache Creek will have its regular elk season and the DFG will issue four permits.
