The bass tournaments return to Clear Lake this weekend when American Bass Association (ABA) hosts a team tournament Sunday. The tournament is expected to draw more than 40 boats and will go out of Konocti Vista Casino. The weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. Most of the fishermen are predicting it will take from 25-30 pounds to win it.
The tournament fishermen should find ideal conditions and the bass should be biting. The forecast has temperatures climbing into the high 70s, which means bass will be starting to stage for spawning. The lake level is nearing 4.5 feet on the Rumsey Gauge, which should provide excellent conditions around the docks. The other good news is the water is already clearing from the recent storms. Prior to the last storm, the bass fishing in the north end of the lake was excellent and it should be again this weekend.
The trick to success is to keep moving as the bass are schooled up. Shaky head jigs, the A Rig, LV500 and jerk baits all should produce fish. Another technique that should produce fish is the Carolina Rig. Years ago, long before swim baits and A Rigs, one of the most successful methods of catching bass on Clear Lake was using the Carolina Rig. It’s a 6-inch plastic worm or Brush Hog rigged weedless with a quarter-ounce weight attached about 18 inches up the line from the hook. The rig is cast and retrieved slowly so that it bumps the bottom. Last week an old-time bass fisherman, John Caulfield, and his partner used this method to catch more than a dozen bass, several between 4-6 pounds.
George Hill and Phil Copas won the Clear Lake Bassmasters club tournament Saturday with a five-fish limit weighing 20.08 pounds. Their big fish weighed 7.05 pounds. Also on Saturday, Scott Strugnell of Kelseyville fished out of the Lakeside County Park and caught a total of 14 bass, including a 8.43-pounder. He said all the fish were caught on the A Rig.
For non-tournament fishermen, live jumbo minnows are a good bet. Not only will you catch bass but large catfish as well.
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce tournament scheduled for Feb. 28-March 1 has 26 teams entered to date. The entry fee is $200 and includes the daily big-fish option. Last year’s tournament drew 131 boats. Fishermen can sign up at the chamber office, located at 875 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport. Call 263-5092 for information. Entry forms are available from the local tackle shops.
Catfish action is still very good and is expected to improve as the water warms up. The Narrows, Shag Rock, Monitor Point and Henderson Point are loaded with baitfish, which should attract the catfish.
Trout action has slowed a little at Upper Blue Lake but is still worth a try. Trollers working the middle of the lake are having the most success. The last time the lake was stocked was more than a month ago and it‘s still not on the Department of Fish and Wildlife‘s trout planting list.
The steelhead action on the Russian River was rated as fair prior to the recent storms, but the river has been blown out and it will take at least a week for it to clear enough for any action.
A reminder to tune into to KPFZ’s Pub Talk (88.1 FM on the dial) at 8 p.m. Monday. The guest, Ed Groves, was part of the research team that discovered the vents in Mount Konocti. Groves lives near Soda Bay and has studied the mountain extensively. I will be joining Groves and we will talk about the history of Clear Lake as well. Listeners can call in to ask questions at 263-3435.
