By Dave Faries
dfaries@record-bee.com @beedavefaries on Twitter
Scott Strugnell was born and raised by Clear Lake. He learned to fish watching and listening to the veteran anglers on the docks near Kelseyville. Of course, his professional life took Strugnell in a different direction, as he studied and took up work as a fiberoptics network engineer. But eight years ago, after fishing the lake for most of his life, he joined the Clearlake Bassmasters. He now serves as president of the organization and this weekend is helping with the release boat at the Future Pro Team Classic bass tournament.
1. Is this really the nation’s best bass lake?
It’s rated in the top five every year. Of course, here in the west we think of it as the best. But it can be challenging.
2. What got you into fishing?
Growing up that close to the county park. But I didn’t get into tournament fishing until I joined the Bassmasters.
3. How difficult is it to win one of these events?
It’s extremely hard. For a tournament like this you have to catch 30 pounds a day to win. The biggest catch I had on the stringer weighed 28 pounds — and I got 14th place for that. That’s the kind of fishing that can happen in this lake.
4. Don’t the fish wise up after they’ve been caught a few times?
I think they probably do. We were just talking about that. I guess some are greedy. They just don’t quit eating. But the real big ones get very smart. They know to stay away from people.
5. What’s the biggest one you caught?
It was 9.86. I caught it on an osprey swim bait.
6. No one uses worms anymore?
A guy could win a lot of money using dropshot worms. But in certain times of the year a bass wants something to react to. A worm just sits there.
7. Fishing looks easy. How difficult is it?
The physical part of it is easy. The mental part is tough. You have to know when to move, when to change baits, when to change colors, when to find different water — there’s a little of everything.
8. But do you need a $40,000 boat?
No, you don’t. A good reliable boat of any type you can do well out of. But a bass boat is built perfectly for bass fishing.
9. Everyone throws fish back. Don’t you want to keep the big ones?
Pictures last forever. Yeah, sometimes you think ‘I’d like to keep that one,’ but I’d much rather see my kids catch them, other people catch them.
10. Is this the loneliest sport?
No. We always have someone to go with. It’s great for families. For me, it’s not lonely at all — and with bass fishing you’re always busy, always casting. It’s the best. I get to fish with my daughters. I love it.
