Lake County will be a busy place this weekend with the Zone A deer season getting under way on Saturday, with the trout biting at Upper Blue Lake and the East Branch of the Russian River, and with the bass fishing at Clear Lake slowly improving.
As is common on the opening weekend of the Zone A deer season, the temperature is expected to be in the 90-degree-plus range and only the hardiest of hunters will be able to hunt all day. Most of the hunters will call it quits by noon.
Actually, most of the deer will be bedded down in a deep canyon within a couple of hours after daylight. Because of the dry conditions this year, the deer will be concentrated near the available springs and water holes. For deer hunters, water is the gift of life. Most experienced hunters carry at least two canteens of water. This is especially helpful if you have to pack out a buck in this heat.
The Mendocino National Forest from Upper Lake to Lake Pillsbury should draw most of the hunters. The Cache Creek Wildlife Area is another popular hunting area.
Typically the game wardens and forest rangers validate from 10-15 deer tags from the national forest on the opening weekend. A successful hunter must fill out the deer tag and have it validated.
There is an extreme fire danger in the national forest and there are fire restrictions in place. Campfires or the use of portable stoves and gas lamps are only permitted in designated campgrounds. Smoking is only permitted in a campground or in a vehicle.
Hunters should tell someone where they plan to hunt and when they plan to return. That should include the description and license number of your vehicle. In fact, I recommend writing the information down on a piece of paper and leaving it with your spouse or a close friend. This simple little act could save your life.
Bass fishermen at Clear Lake are finding improved conditions. The water clarity has improved in the south end of the lake and fishermen are catching fish. Guide Bob Myskey said that his clients caught nine bass Wednesday using topwater lures and live crawdads. He said the south end of the lake provided the best action. Myskey also said he is seeing good numbers of small bass and some silverside minnows.
Gary Hill of Kelseyville reported he has been catching both bass and some huge bluegill at mid-lake using either live crawdads or nightcrawlers. He said the water clarity is good. Another area that has been kicking out fair numbers of bass has been the rockpiles off Rocky Point. The fishing pressure has been practically nil.
Clear Lake will be a busy place for the bass tournament circuits in 2013. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has issued 33 permits for major tournaments next year. Dozens of bass club permits have been issued as well. One new tournament circuit that has Clear Lake on its schedule is Outdoor Heritage. Well-known bass fisherman and tackle manufacturer Gary Dobyns owns the circuit. Outdoor Heritage has both a pro/am circuit and a team circuit. The date for the pro/am at Clear Lake is May 31 and the entry fee is $1,200 for pros and $400 for amateurs. The team event is June 29 and has an entry fee of $250 per team.
Catfish action at Clear Lake remains very good for the few fishermen out after them. The best areas have been near Rattlesnake Island, Shag Rock and Horseshoe Bend. Live crawdads have been the top bait followed by cut mackerel.
Trout action at Upper Blue Lake remains good despite the fact that the lake hasn”t been stocked in more than three weeks. Trollers are taking most of the fish. Trout are also being caught in the East Brach of the Russian River.
Guide Terry Manthey made a trip to Indian Valley Reservoir earlier this week and while he didn”t fish he did see a number of trout breaking the surface of the water. He said he spotted only one fisherman.
on the lake. The road going into the lake was freshly graded and in excellent shape.
