Not only is Clear Lake at its lowest level in years but the water clarity is unbelievable. In many areas you can see the bottom at a depth of 6-8 feet. The low lake level and extreme water clarity will have a profound effect on the fishermen. It will also result in an explosion of aquatic weeds by midsummer.
The big problem is the low water. Much of the north end of the lake is extremely shallow and it”s gin clear. For example, most of the docks in the Lakeport area have less than 2 feet of water at the outer edges and you can see even small rocks on the bottom in 6 feet of water. The result is that the bass are extremely spooky.
The big question for the fishermen is what will happen when the bass move into the shallows to spawn? At the edges of the tules there isn”t enough water for the fish to spawn and the lake level will be even lower by April and May, which are the prime spawning months. Regardless of how low the lake level gets, it actually won”t hurt the fish with the exception of the hitch. The hitch need to make their annual run up the creeks but that won”t happen as the creeks are pretty much dry. As for the bass, they will spawn but in different areas. Many of the bass could spawn as far as a half-mile offshore.
Even if there are several major storms it still won”t be enough to raise the lake level more than a couple of inches. From all indications Yolo County won”t be able draw any water this year, but even if we get some late winter or spring storms, normal evaporation will take 2-3 feet off the surface. When you add in lakeside residents drawing water for lawns and gardens, the lake level could very well be a minus-1 foot or more on the Rumsey Gauge by September. The lake level has been lower than zero only 10 times in the past 140 years. The last time it reached zero was in 1977 when the lake was hit a minus-3.39 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. The lowest lake level was back in 1920 when it dropped to a minus-3.5 feet on the Rumsey Gauge.
Just about anyone who is familiar with the lake is predicting that there will be more aquatic weeds this summer than anytime in recent history. In fact, the weed beds will probably extend out into the middle of the lake in many areas. That happened last year and that was with a full lake. Most of the lakeside residents are expecting a weed explosion, which will limit the boating from their docks.
The low and clear water does offer the opportunity to actually see what is on the bottom. On Monday I checked out the north end and found tires by the hundreds in some areas where I didn”t know there were any before. In one area I found a mound of old tires that were several hundred yards offshore and it was at least three feet high, which is perfect habitat for bass. I also noticed tree trunks and other wood structures on the bottom, along with an abandoned refrigerator, several shopping carts and hundreds of empty bottles and cans.
What was surprising were the number of swimbaits I could see sitting on the bottom. In one area near Long Tule Point I counted at least 10 swimbaits that fishermen had broken off on the rocks. I even found an old casting rod and reel.
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce bass tournament sign-ups will continue at the chamber office in Lakeport through Friday. According to chamber director Melissa Fulton, starting on Saturday fishermen will be able to sign up in person at the Clear Lake Outdoors tackle shop located at 96 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport. Fulton said the deadline for entering the tournament is 3 p.m. on March 16.
