LAKE COUNTY >> Some businesses in the county may be suffering as Clear Lake”s low water level takes its toll. But others have found a way to use the statewide drought to their advantage, considering Clear Lake”s levels are proving to be far more accommodating to recreational activities than other bodies of water in Northern California.
Multiple fishing tournaments throughout the state have been canceled as boating activities are either placed off limits or canceled, for instance. In Lake County however, the few open boat ramps are allowing for four tournaments to take place within the next month. That”s a significantly good thing for businesses as the many out-of-area fishermen and women will roll into the county up to three weeks in advance to test out the best fishing spots, all the while spending money at hotels and restaurants, according to Chamber of Commerce CEO Melissa Fulton.
Although there has been a slight dip in the number of fishing tournaments scheduled on Clear Lake this year, it isn”t because of the drought, Terry Knight said. And a dry winter could mean more tournaments will be taking place on Clear Lake next year as they”re canceled at other lakes, according to U.S. Angler”s Choice Director Bill Hutchenson.
Fulton said the Chamber of Commerce and the county have been working to spread the message that Clear Lake still has “plenty” of water relative to other lakes and reservoirs. Fulton said surrounding reservoirs such as Shasta Lake, Lake Oroville and Lake Mead are looking “horrendous,” with little to no water to speak of.
Lake Oroville is sitting at 31 percent of its typical capacity, the Shasta Reservoir is at 26 percent, Folsom is at 36 percent and Lake Mendocino dropped to 27 percent, according to the California Data Exchange Center. Before and after images of those lakes showing huge plateaus of exposed land make Clear Lake look relatively healthy as it dips nearly a half a foot on the Rumsey Gauge.
“As far as Northern California goes, we”re a lake that still has water and we”ve been getting that word out,” Fulton said. “The perception, thanks to outside media”s portrayal of the issues, of high amounts of algae and weeds in Clear Lake has kept people away, however.”
The Chamber of Commerce website”s home page is kept updated with Clear Lake”s open ramps.
Bob Myskey, a fishing guide who runs the business Bassin” With Bob, also said the mere perception of the drought has kept people away.
“There”s still a lot of water out there (in Clear Lake) to fish in,” Myskey said. “But the perception has been that this lake is as bad as the other lakes in the area.”
Otherwise, he said his business hasn”t been significantly affected by the drought. The low lake levels this summer have caused the water to get hotter and more weeds to grow, providing more places for fish to hide in, so the fish haven”t been biting as much. He”s had to turn down some business because the successes have been slower to claim.
“On the good side of things, there”s literally millions of small bass from 3 to 7 inches long, so that will be good for fisherman down the road,” Myskey said.
For Disney”s Water Sports Boat Rentals, a Lakeport spot that is dependent on the lake to make profits, it”s primarily been business as usual, according to Owner Roy Disney.
“We were really prepared for a tough year and didn”t know if the boat ramps would hold up through the season, but they have,” Disney said.
Meanwhile, The Lodge at Blue Lakes has been receiving an increase of business as Clear Lake”s conditions are encouraging visitors to spend their vacations in clearer waters, Manager Tiffany Cowan said.
Bait and tackle shops are giving mixed reviews on the year.
Clealake Bait & Tackle employee Mark Hale said he gets a lot of calls from people wondering about the lake”s situation, but for the most part, the business hasn”t suffered considerably.
“As long as ramps are launch-able, recreational boaters are still going to go out,” Hale said.
Owner Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks, on the other hand, said the drought has definitely hurt his business this year. Just Wednesday morning he had people from Eureka come in to his shop who had made arrangement to stay for a week but said they were thinking of canceling their plans because of the lake”s condition.
“We get three to eight calls a day from people wondering how the lake is looking,” Higgins said. “I try to put a good spin on it, but I tell them the drought has effected the fishing and boating activities.
“With the smell of the algae and most of the ramps being closed, its not a great environment right now,” Higgins added. “There”s nothing we can do about it though. Until we get some rain and get the water level up, we”re going to be hurting.”
Fulton said the hospitality industry was also suffering this year due to lower reservations, but she wasn”t sure if the decline could be specifically attributed to the drought.
