Bass fishing at Clear Lake is rated from fair to good. Most of the fishermen report catching from five to eight fish for a day’s effort. A lot of smaller bass are now starting to show up. These 2-pounders are males staging near the spawning areas. The larger females should start moving into the shallows by the weekend.
There are some large bass being caught. Several fishermen reported catching double-digit bass last week, the largest weighing 12 pounds. The action has been centered in the north end of the lake in the Rocky Point area and off the Nice-Lucerne shoreline. In the south end of the lake the rockpiles near Rattlesnake Island are giving up decent numbers of fish. The Redbud Arm is also producing. The shallow water at the Clear Lake State Park has a lot of bass cruising the shallows. Gary Hill of Kelseyville says he has been seeing bass in the shallows all along the state park.
Most of the successful fishermen are using the drop-shot technique or a shaky head to catch their fish and are working the edges of the tules. LV500 lipless crankbaits also have been very effective. This lure has become so popular that some of the local tackle shops have sold out. For those who want to gamble on catching a big fish, then casting a swimbait is the way to go. Swimbaits are not all that popular with the recreational fisherman because it takes dozens of casts to catch a single fish. The pros like the swimbaits because they are only looking for a few bites and a big fish.
One method that is nearly always successful is to drop-shot a live nightcrawler. This is a great technique if you’re taking a youngster fishing. Not only will you catch bass but catfish and bluegill as well.
Best Bass Tournament (BBT) is holding a tournament Saturday out of Redbud Park in Clearlake. The weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. and the tournament is expected to draw about 90 boats.
The good news is that some large crappie are finally starting to show up. Kono Tayee and Shag Rock have been producing decent numbers of crappie. The docks at Library Park in Lakeport are also giving up some large crappie. No bluegill in significant numbers have been seen. Catfish action remains very good throughout the lake and live minnows remain the top bait.
Upper Blue Lake is worth a try this weekend. The lake was stocked with trout last week and the bass are moving into the shallows. Trolling a Cripplure or a Kastmasters is the top method for the trout. Jigs or plastic worms will catch the bass.
A number of people have asked me when Yolo County will open the ramp at the dam at Indian Valley Reservoir. According to a spokesperson in Yolo County, it is highly unlikely the gate will be open this summer. The lake level is very low and water will be withdrawn from the lake this summer, which will make the lake level even lower. Those who have canoes or kayaks can launch at the north end of the lake off Bartlett Springs Road. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has no plans to stock the lake this summer with trout or kokanee.
Junior hunters get a chance to open the spring turkey season Saturday. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has authorized a youth hunt for Saturday and Sunday. Any holder of a junior hunting license can hunt but adults who accompany them can’t. The general spring turkey season opens March 28. The junior hunters should find very good hunting throughout Lake County as there are wild turkeys everywhere. The limit is one bearded bird per day and a total of three for the season.
Calling turkeys is the name of the game during the spring turkey hunting season and E Ticket Tackle Shop in Lakeport now has a good selection of turkey calls in stock made by Paul Meek. Paul Meek turkey calls are considered top of line and are popular throughout the country. The shop also carries the special shotgun turkey shells as well as other ammunition. Owner Ted Elliott is also a gunsmith and does firearm repairs.
