After several weeks of inactivity the bass fishing at Clear Lake has experienced a definite turnaround. The few anglers out on the lake this past week enjoyed some excellent action. One fisherman reported catching 25 bass one day and 30 the next. His best five weighed nearly 30 pounds. Other fishermen report similar action. Another fisherman said he caught an 11-pounder and another had two that weighed more than 8 pounds each.
The hot lure continues to be the LV500 lipless crankbait in the ghost minnow pattern. Close behind is a jerk bait. The LV500 is retrieved with a slow yo-yo style. When casting a jerk bait make long pauses during the retrieve. A few bass are being caught on Alabama Rigs. Live jumbo minnows also have been effective. Both the north and south ends of the lake have been producing good numbers of fish. The trick is to keep moving as there are baitfish everywhere. The fishermen report working long stretches of shoreline and catching nothing and then all of sudden they catch fish after fish in a small area.
Catfish action remains very good for the few anglers after them. Jumbo minnows as well as cut mackerel and nightcrawlers have been the top baits. The most successful fishermen are fishing at night. The best action has been in the Clearlake Oaks arm and at Henderson Point.
There are no major bass tournaments scheduled on the lake until January. The annual Clear Lake Team Bass Tournament is scheduled for Feb 28-March 1. The entry fee is $200 and includes the big-fish option. The tournament is co-sponsored by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and Konocti Vista Casino. Entry forms are mailed in early December.
The crappie action remains slow and doesn”t look like it will improve soon. A year ago the fishing was good in a few areas but the numbers just aren”t there this year. It”s the old story of the crappie population going through cycles. The good news is there are good number of juvenile crappie being seen.
All the baitfish in the lake are attracting hordes of water birds. One species suddenly showing up around the lake are the eared grebes. Earlier this week a fishermen said he counted more than 100 in one flock along the Nice-Lucerne shoreline. The grebes were feeding on silverside minnows. These are the small, gray-colored grebes. The number of white pelicans is also increasing because of the millions of small fish. One fishermaen estimated there were at least 1,500 white pelicans on the lake. An adult pelican consumes up to 4 pounds of baitfish a day.
Trout action has been good at Upper Blue Lake with a few trout being caught weighing as much as 3 pounds. Trollers are having the best luck although bank fishermen are catching trout using Power Bait or nightcrawlers. Bass fishing has been good for the few anglers out after them. The East Branch of the Russian River closes to trout fishing for the year Saturday.
With the cool weather arriving it would be an ideal time to take a hike up to the summit of Mount Konocti. To reach the trailhead take Konocti Road out of Kelseyville and go to the parking lot. The hike is on a gravel road and it”s about three miles to Wright”s Peak. It”s a moderate grade and if you take your time you can complete the hike in about two hours. The good news is that coming back is all downhill. The view from the summit is spectacular. Take along a lunch, water and a camera. I have been to the summit several times and I”m always in awe of the view.
