With the first winter storms arriving, the bass fishing at Clear Lake is settling into a typical winter pattern. The water temperatures have dipped down into the low 60-degree range in the mornings and they are only rising to the mid-60s by late afternoon.
Without question the best action has been for the fishermen who are using live jumbo minnows. For example, just about all the guides have switched to minnows and their clients are doing very well. A few of the fishermen have been rigging the minnows drop-shot style and fishing the deeper water. Gary Hill of Kelseyville caught an 11-pounder earlier this week while using jumbo minnows and fishing near Henderson Point. There also reports of a 12-pounder being caught. Hill said he caught some nice catfish as well.
Rocky Point has been producing decent numbers of bass as have the docks in the Nice-Lucerne area and at Kono Tayee. The state park is also holding a fair number of fish. Fishermen at the docks near Library Park in Lakeport are also catching bass.
The deeper water in the south end is where a lot of the fishermen have been concentrating their efforts. Here, along with live minnows, deep-running crankbaits and jigs have been the top lures. With most of the tournaments done for the next few weeks fishing pressure has been very light, especially on weekdays.
Whereas the minnow fishermen are doing very well, those using artificial lures are struggling and most are happy to catch five to eight fish for an entire day on the lake. Lipless crankbaits retrieved yo-yo style have been effective and a few fishermen are having success casting deep-running crankbaits and white spinnerbaits. Tube baits rigged drop-shot style are also taking some nice bass.
The bass continue to be tightly schooled and the trick to success is to keep on the move until you locate active fish. One problem continues to be the massive amount of bait fish in the lake. Earlier this week I watched a large bass suspended beneath a dock at Library Park and small bass and other minnows would swim right in front of his nose and he just ignored them.
The excellent catfish action continues to surprise nearly everyone. In fact, just about all the guides report their clients have been catching from three to eight catfish per day while they are fishing for bass. Jumbo minnows as well as cut mackerel have been the top baits. Shag Rock, Horseshoe Bend, the State Park and Lakeside County Park are also producing good numbers of catfish.
The crappie action remains very slow and doesn”t look like it will improve anytime soon. It”s the old story of the crappie population going through cycles. The good news is that there are good numbers of juvenile crappie being seen. One surprise has been the number of large bluegill being caught. Fishermen at Lakeside County Park and at Library Park report catching good numbers of bluegill off the docks using red worms
Upper Blue Lake was stocked last week and the trout fishing has been good and many fishermen are catching limits. Both trollers and bank fishermen are scoring on trout ranging is size from 10-14 inches. Bass fishing has been fair for the few fishermen after them.
The annual Highland Springs Junior Pheasant Hunt takes place Saturday morning. Only pre-registered junior hunters are allowed to hunt and there will be no walk-ons. According to the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), only 11 junior hunters have signed up so far. One problem was a lack of publicity. I didn”t receive a press releases from the DFG and there was very little information put out about the hunt.
The Konocti Rod and Gun Club is providing a lunch for the junior hunters and the Lake County Rod and Gun Club will host a trap shoot for the young hunters.
