Clear Lake bass fishermen are finding that it”s either live jumbo minnows or the Alabama Rig that”s catching fish and even these aren”t a guarantee of success. Overall the fishing continues to stay in the typical winter pattern, which means fishermen need to take it slow and have a lot of patience.
What is surprising are the number of bass being caught on swimbaits rigged on the Alabama Rig. In fact, most of the fishermen are using this type of setup exclusively. The fishermen are also concentrating in the deeper water in the south end of the lake. Earlier this week a fisherman reported catching 20 bass, topped by a couple of 6-pounders while casting the Alabama Rig near Monitor Point and at Dollar Island. He said when he retrieved the Rig there would be two or three bass following it right up to the boat. Fishermen are reminded that legally only three lures with hooks can be attached to the Alabama Rig. All other lures must be hookless.
A number of fishermen are wondering which brand of the Alabama Rig they should buy. There are dozens on the market and new types are being manufactured daily. A lot of fishermen prefer the three-branch rig over the five-branch setup. In fact, some fishermen, including myself, are making their own. I like the two-branch rig and made mine for less than a dollar each. I used a striped bass trolling spreader and modified it by attaching two swivels with clasps. The wire in the spreaders is the same type that is used in making spinnerbaits. Instead of attaching the expensive swimbaits you can use Flukes or curly-tailed grubs. In fact, you can even use small crankbaits. In other words, let your imagination guide you.
As expected the fishermen using live minnows are having the most success. An average day using minnows should produce 10-15 bass. The best action has been in the deeper water in the south end of the lake. Areas such as Konocti Bay, Jago Point and the rockpiles around Rattlesnake Island have been fair to good for the minnow dunkers. Bass are also being caught along the Nice-Lucerne shoreline. In the Lakeport area, the best action has been in the deeper water off Rocky Point and the rock ledge near the Pit Stop. The action at Rodman Slough has slowed considerably. One problem in the Lakeport area is the dropping lake level. At the outer edges of some of the docks there is less than 2 feet of water and very few fish.
The catfish action continues to be slow but a few are being caught by persistent anglers. Shag Rock and Henderson Point are giving up a few catfish for those using jumbo minnows or nightcrawlers. Rodman Slough has been dead. Tom Wheeler of Gut Bucket Guide Service guided Doug Kulick of Reno on Wednesday and they caught a pair of 10-pounders off Shag Rock using cut bait.
There was a report of a few nice-sized crappie being caught off the docks in Nice but overall it has been slow. There is no bluegill action to speak of.
Trout fishermen are still waiting for the Department of Fish and Game to stock Upper Blue Lake. That won”t happen until after the New Year. Bass fishing has been ranging from fair to good with very little pressure.
There have been reports of a few striped bass being caught at Lake Mendocino. Jumbo minnows have been the top bait. Bass action, both largemouth and smallmouth, has been good with practically no fishing pressure.
The recent county requirement that all resident boat owners must take and pass a written test before being issued a quagga mussel sticker hasn”t set too well with many boaters. Actually the 12-question test is pretty much a no-brainer and the best part is you can take it as many times as you need. In other words, no one should leave the screening station without a sticker. The purpose of the test is not to deny anyone a sticker but to make boaters aware of the danger of mussels getting into the lake.
