The outdoors crowd has a wide array of opportunities this weekend. Bass and catfish action at Clear Lake is shifting into high gear and the deer season opens Saturday morning.
The fishermen are still having to contend with algae blooms at Clear Lake but conditions are improving. The algae blooms have been sporadic. Some areas have thick algae and in others the water is clear. The algae is also constantly changing. For example, at Library Park in Lakeport the algae is pretty much gone early in the mornings and just before dark but thick during midday. From all the indications the lake will be pretty much clear of algae by the first of September. That”s what happened last year.
As for the bass fishing, the more successful fishermen are constantly on the move until they locate fish. Most of the local fishing guides report their clients are catching from eight to 10 bass per day. Jigs, Senkos and plastic worms remain the hot lures although some anglers are having success casting crankbaits. The other good news is schools of silverside minnows are starting to appear. I fished near Rocky Point (north of Lakeport) Wednesday and found several large schools of silversides. I was casting a jerkbait and when I gave it a hard pull the silversides would scatter. These minnows are one of the top food fish for the young bass. What is surprising is the lack of topwater action. With a few exceptions the topwater action has slowed to a halt. The bass still haven”t moved below the weed mats but that could change as we move into late summer.
The two-day Future Pro bass tournament takes place Saturday and Sunday. The tournament operates out of Redbud Park in Clearlake and is expected to draw approximately 150 boats. This is one of the few tournament circuits that”s still drawing a lot of boats, one reason being the entry fee is only $90 per team. The weigh-in starts at noon at the park.
One of the more popular tournaments to be held on the lake is the Bob”s Marine Stratos-Champion Boat Owners tournament, which is scheduled for Sept. 10-11. All the boats in the tournament are required to be either a Stratos, Champion or Javelin. The tournament drew 90 boats last year and more are expected this year.
Catfish action has been wide open on the lake. In fact, Ken Taddie of Indian Beach Resort in Glenhaven said the fishing has been red-hot off the resort”s docks. Even the bass fishermen report catching catfish on crankbaits. Cut mackerel, nightcrawlers and live crawdads have been the hot baits. Crappie action remains very poor with only an occasional fish being caught.
No local waters were stocked with trout this past week. Apparently the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has forgotten about Upper Blue Lake as they haven”t stocked the lake in nearly two months. The good news is both Upper and Lower Blue Lakes have been producing excellent bass fishing. Bass are also being caught at Indian Valley Reservoir. The trio of Gary Hill, Dave Brabec of Kelseyville and Greg Bunting of Fairfield fished the lake on Tuesday and caught a number of smaller bass. Brabec caught the big fish of the trip when he reeled in a 6-pound-plus largemouth. They said most of their fish were caught on jigs.
Deer hunters open the A-Zone season on Saturday morning (bear season also opens on Saturday). Overall the hunting conditions should be good as the daytime temperatures are only forecast to be in the high 80s. The deer opener in Lake County usually means 100-degree-plus temperatures. The Mendocino National Forest and the Cache Creek Wildlife Area should draw most of the hunters. Hunters are reminded to have their hunting license and deer tags in their possession and to make sure their guns are unloaded when they are in a vehicle, and that includes the quad ATVs. The game wardens will be out in force checking hunters.
