LAKE COUNTY >> Finding people in Lake County that took advantage of Free Fishing Day on Saturday proved as elusive as he big one that got away.
A survey of a dozen people fishing in Clearlake Oaks and Clearlake found most of them were from out of the county and all had one-year fishing licenses. Only one person knew it was one of the state”s two free fishing days each year. The other day this year was July 5.
“I saw on the Internet that today you could fish without a license,” said Edward Black, of Clearlake, as he cast a line from one of Redbud Park”s fishing docks.”It”s a good opportunity for kids and for people who can”t afford a license.”
He said he isn”t sure if the free fishing day is a good idea for Clear Lake. “There”s not many people around here who fish anymore.”
Black has lived in Clearlake for 20 years and has an annual license. He said he believes the three-year drought California is in is having a negative effect on fishermen, with fewer out-of-towners coming to Clear Lake the past few years.
“This is the lowest I”ve ever seen the lake,” he added, shaking his head as he stared out at the mucky water.
Some of the fishermen and women who talked with the Record-Bee on Saturday said they catch and release their fish rather than keep them.
One of those who practices catch and release, John Mullen, 80, of San Jose, said his motive is selfish as well as environmentally friendly.
“Catching the fish is the fun part,” he said. “Cleaning them isn”t.”
He said the most useful quality in fishing is “patience.”
Mullen is an avid fisherman and said he visits friends in Lake County every month and always goes fishing. “I”m usually here three or four days and am up every morning at five. This time of year the fishing is real good.”
He estimates that he will have caught 300 to 400 pounds of fish during his long weekend at the M & M Campgrounds off Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks.
“My father was a fisherman and he taught me to fish when I was real young and I”ve been fishing ever since,” Black added. “I love fishing.”
Black, who was after catfish, carp, bass and bluegill, was unaware that Saturday was a free fishing day in the state.
An early afternoon check with a park ranger at Clear Lake State Park found only a few campers and no one fishing. Similar checks at Soda Bay and Buckingham found no one fishing along the shore.
Free Fishing Days are sponsored each year by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which manages most of the state”s lakes, rivers, creeks, and other watersheds, including Clear Lake, Blue Lakes, Cache Creek and Kelsey Creek in Lake County.
Others fishing at the M & M Campgrounds were Chris Black with Jenny Ryan and her 9-year-old daughter, Lia Ryan. They arrived at the campground Friday evening and went fishing that night and Saturday morning.
“So far, we haven”t caught anything,” Chris Black said.”We”re trying for bass and catfish.”
The family trio was not aware it was a free fishing day and had never heard of the state program. All three have annual licenses.
An employee at Clearlake Bait & Tackle on Lakeshore Boulevard in Clearlake said business was slow Saturday. He was aware of the state”s free fishing day but hadn”t heard any customers mention it.
Besides Clear Lake, fishing opportunities abound throughout Lake County”s other major bodies of water, according to www.lakecounty.com. The cold, clear waters of Blue Lakes features rainbow trout, catfish, bluegill and bass; Lake Pillsbury has bass, sunfish and rainbow trout; Highland Springs Reservoir has catfish, bass, crappie and bluegill; Indian Valley Reservoir has trout, bass, catfish, kokanee and crappie; and the North Fork of Cache Creek has rainbow trout.
On Sept. 5, the Internet site www.fishhound.com reported, “Three day weekend didn”t bring much angling pressure. Bass bite isn”t easy to earn. Weather has warmed and there is a bit of an algae bloom. There are a lot of bait fish in the lake so fish are well fed. Rico poppers and LV 500s are popular top water lures. Catfish bite is strong at the Rodman Slough Bridge and the Lakeside County Park. Use mackerel or anchovies.”
