Conditions should be perfect for bass fishing on Clear Lake this weekend. Temperatures are forecast to be in the high 70s or even 80 degrees and the bass are definitely moving into the shallows in preparation for spawning. The other good news is the lake is in perfect condition and there are even some weeds starting to poke through to the surface.
Bass are being caught at both ends of the lake and one of the better areas has been Rodman Slough. That’s where the winning team in last weekend’s Future Pro Team Classic caught most of the its fish. The fishermen said they worked the edges of the tules with lipless crankbaits and caught more than 40 bass.
Another area producing a good number of fish is the shoreline between Rocky Point and Little Rocky Point in the north end of the lake. According to Guide Bob Myskey, the Nice-Lucerne shoreline is loaded with bass. The shore along the Clear Lake State Park is also holding a lot of fish. Here bank fishermen have been successful casting Brush Hogs or jigs. Henderson Point and Shag Rock are two other good areas.
The trick to success is to keep moving until you locate active bass. The bass are moving in and out of the shallow water. In the late afternoon they can be found shallow and early in the mornings they are in the deeper water.
A few fishermen are having a lot of success casting the “A” rig. They are retrieving the lure super slow so that it bumps the bottom. The LV500 also has been very successful. The trick is to retrieve it yo-yo style. Most of the time the bass grab the lure when it is resting on the bottom or when snagged on a piece of grass. Just give the lure a sharp jerk to free it. That’s when the bass will strike.
Bass are also being caught off the shore. Earlier this week a pair of anglers were casting plastic worms off the dock at Lakeside County Park and catching small bass. Others are walking along the shoreline at the Clear Lake State Park and catching some nice-sized bass. The docks at Library Park in Lakeport also have been giving up some nice-sized bass.
With the exception of some club tournaments, there are no major bass tournaments scheduled on the lake this weekend so the recreational fishermen should have the lake pretty much to themselves.
Lake Mendocino is literally on fire for bass fishermen. Fishermen are having little trouble bagging a limit and many are catching 20-40 fish per day. The catch includes both largemouth and smallmouth bass. The Clear Lake Bassmasters held a club tournament on the lake Saturday and the winning team was Scott Strugnell and Frank Craffey with a five-fish limit weighing 13.88 pounds. The tournament drew seven boats and all weighed in limits. Just about every type of lure was effective and they ranged from jerk baits, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits to plastic worms and jigs. The lake level is holding at 97 percent and the conditions are perfect.
Trout action should be excellent this weekend as Upper Blue Lake was stocked with trout this week. The lake should producea lot of trout for both boaters and bank fishermen. Bass fishing should also be good as the bass are moving to the shallow water. The best way to catch the bass is by drop-shotting a plastic worm along the shoreline.
The spring wild turkey season opens in two weeks (March 28) and hunters should be taking advantage of this nice weather to locate a hunting spot. The toms are already strutting and chasing hens. Often a property owner will allow you to hunt on their land if you approach them properly. Be polite and even offer to help them do some work around their place. A nice thing to do is give the property owner a gift certificate from a local restaurant after he allows you to hunt on his land. It’s a way to show your appreciation and often results in an invitation to return and hunt.
