Bass fishermen are experiencing the typical winter pattern during which fish are tightly schooled and very lethargic. The good news is there is very little fishing pressure and most of the fishermen have huge sections of the lake to themselves.
The more successful fishermen are either drifting live jumbo minnows or casting swimbaits rigged on the latest fad, the Alabama Rig. A few fishermen are having success using live nightcrawlers. They are rigging them the same as a plastic worm using a 1/0 large gap hook and rigging them weedless. A 1/8-ounce worm weight is attached about six inches up the line from the bait and the entire rig is retrieved super slow. In fact, some of the fishermen are just allowing the worm to sit on he bottom. Actually, nightcrawlers have been an excellent winter bait for bass for many years. Jigs are also an excellent lure in cold water but have to be retrieved very slowly.
The water temperatures have been as low as 41 degrees in the morning and only rising to 48 degrees by late afternoon. Patience is the key to success during these cold winter months. The one thing all the fishermen agree on is that you have to keep on the move until you locate fish.
The cold weather has slowed the catfish action as well. There is an occasional catfish being caught by guides using live jumbo minnows. The action should improve as we go into the late winter months. There is no crappie action whatsoever. There were plenty of juvenile crappie seen in the shallow water last fall and most of the those should survive the winter. By next summer many of the them will be large enough to keep.
Upper Blue Lake hasn”t been stocked with trout for a couple of weeks and the fishing has slowed to a standstill. Actually, the cold weather has kept the fishermen off this lake. A few trout are being caught by trollers who are using a Needlefish and trolling near the Narrows. The bank action has been nil. The lake should be stocked again right after New Year”s Day. Bass fishing has been fair for fishermen drop-shotting a plastic worm close to shore.
Last-minute Christmas shoppers should consider buying the hottest rig on the lake this year. It”s the Alabama Rig and it”s available at all the local tackle shops. The cost ranges from a low of $15 to $25 and they make great stocking stuffers. I guarantee that all the bass fishermen will have at least a couple of them in their tackle boxes by next spring. Since most fishermen attach a swimbait to the Alabama Rig they would also make a great gift. Two of most popular swimbaits are the Trash Fish, which sells for $15 for two, and BassTrix, which costs $10 for a pack of five.
Starting on New Year”s Day all boats will be required to have the 2012 quagga mussel sticker. All the local tackle shops have the 2012 stickers in stock. Lake County resident boaters need only bring in proof that their boat is registered in Lake County. The fee for the sticker is $10 and is good for the entire year.
The Christmas holidays always draw a few sightseers to the Mendocino National Forest. Whereas the forest is a beautiful place it can be dangerous during the winter months. A few weeks ago a hiker got lost before being rescued near Elk Mountain. Don”t go up in the mountains without leaving a detailed plan on where you are going and when you plan on returning. Leave the information with a close friend or relative. Also carry some food and plenty of warm clothing. It”s easy to get stuck on the remote backroads and if no one knows where you are it can be fatal. Every winter people have to be rescued from the mountains.
