Bass fishing on Clear Lake is fair but slowly improving. The good news is there are very few fishermen. The parking lots at the boat ramps in Lakeport and Clearlake Oaks show only a few boat trailers and you can spend an entire day on the lake without seeing many boaters. While this is bad news for the local tackle shops that could use the business, it”s great for the recreational fishermen.
Some of the better areas have been the State Park, Henderson Point, Soda Bay, Rattlesnake Island and the Boat Works near Redbud Park. Mike Rothstein of Kelseyville fished the lake Sunday and managed to boat eight quality bass and a large catfish. He said the only lure he used was a LV500 lipless crankbait and many of the bass grabbed the lure while it was resting on the bottom. He fishes the lure yo-yo style and he can cover a lot of water in a short time and find active fish using this style. Rothstein said he also snagged a couple of threadfin shad.
Deep-running crankbaits also have been effective, especially in the deeper water in the south end of the lake. This lure will dive down to 15-20 feet. Jigs have been effective when they are retrieved super slow. Drop-shotting a plastic worm has been working on the smaller bass. Of course, if you really water to catch a lot of bass, then using live jumbo minnows is the way to go. All the tackle shops carry the minnows and as the water cools down they can be deadly, especially on the larger bass.
Department of Fish and Wildlife (DWF) personnel have been out on the lake electro-shocking fish and they report getting a lot of quality bass. They have been pumping the stomachs of the bass and say they are full of silverside minnows. They also have been getting small crappie and bluegill.
Catfish action continues to be very good. Fishermen who are using live jumbo minnows have been catching from five to 10 catfish per day. Just about every location is holding catfish. Some of the better areas are the State Park, Shag Rock, Henderson Point, the water intake near Redbud Park and the docks in Nice and Lucerne. A few catfish are being caught from the docks at Lakeside County Park and at Library Park in Lakeport.
There is still very little crappie action. A few crappie are being caught from the docks at Indian Beach Resort and at the Boat Works. Some large bluegill are being caught at Shag Rock.
All the baitfish in the lake are attracting water birds. One species that has suddenly showed up at the lake are the eared grebes. Earlier this week I counted more than 200 in one flock near Library Park in Lakeport. These are the small gray-colored grebes. The number of white pelicans are also increasing because of the millions of small fish. An estimated 500 pelicans are now at the lake. Many of them can be observed near the Clear Lake State Park. An adult pelican consumes up to 4 pounds of baitfish in a day. There are also a good number of white egrets.
Upper Blue Lake was stocked with trout last week and the action has been rated good for boaters and fair for bank fishermen. Trollers are having the best luck although bank fishermen have been catching a few trout using Power Bait or nightcrawlers. Bass fishing has been good for the few anglers out after them.
Trout fishing on the East Branch of the Russian River has been good. It is doubtful the stream will be stocked again this year because it closes on Nov. 15.
The annual Highland Springs Junior Pheasant Hunt takes place Saturday morning. According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), the hunter quota this year is 16 junior hunters. The hunt starts at 8 a.m. and the Konocti Rod and Gun Club is providing a lunch for the junior hunters. In addition, the Lake County Rod and Gun Club is hosting a trap shoot for the young hunters. Volunteers are needed to assist in planting birds and helping the DFW personnel. Pheasants are planted just prior to the hunt and only a small portion will be harvested by the young hunters. Normally the adults participate in a clean-up hunt Sunday in the same area that the junior hunters hold their hunt. A permit to hunt the area is required.
