Wind and cool weather has slowed the bass action at Clear Lake. The water temperatures have dropped about five degrees and the bass have moved off their beds. The good news is much of the lake has cleared up and large bass can be seen cruising the shallows. The trick to success is to keep on the move until you find fish.
The Konocti Vista Casino annual team tournament held last weekend produced plenty of limits and some good-sized fish. The winning team for the two-day event was Cameron Cole of Kelseyville and Lyly Gossett of Lakeport with a 10-fish limit weighing 61.39 pounds. They also caught the big fish of the first day, an 8.78-pounder worth an additional $1,000.
Wayne Breazeale of Kelseyville teamed with Gary Barrett of Marysville to take second place with 59.99 pounds. They caught the big fish of the second day, an 11.62-pounder.
All 21 teams weighed in limits on day one when the average weight per fish was an incredible 4.88 pounds.
Most of the tournament fishermen said they caught their fish by sight fishing. That’s where you spot a bass on the spawning bed and tease it into striking a lure. The good news is the water is very clear in many areas. This makes for ideal conditions for sight fishing.
The bad news is there are literally thousands of bait fish in the lake and they range from small blackfish, hitch, threadfin shad and small crappie to bluegill. Most of the bait fish can be found near the shoreline because that’s where the zooplankton is located. This is the primary food for these tiny fish.
The annual Sonoma County Sheriff’s Association bass tournament for police and firemen got underway Thursday morning and ends today with a 3 p.m. weigh-in at the Skylark Shores Motel in Lakeport. Tom and Mike Gillotte of Sonoma are the first-round leaders with 23.5 pounds.
Tournament proceeds go toward the Casting For Recovery organization, which supports breast cancer survivors and takes them on fly fishing trips and teaches them how to fish.
The Clear Lake Bassmasters are holding a club tournament Saturday out of Lakeside County Park. The weigh-in starts at 3 p.m.
Catfish and crappie action is starting to improve. A number of fishermen report catching catfish ranging in size from 10-18 pounds. Live jumbo minnows or nightcrawlers have been the top baits and a few of the better areas are Horseshoe Bend, Shag Rock, Rattlesnake Island, Lakeside County Park and the docks off Nice and Lucerne.
Trout action has slowed at both Upper Blue Lake and at the East Branch of the Russian River. The good news is both areas are scheduled to be stocked with trout next week.
Lake Pillsbury should be a good bet for the weekend. The trout action is rated fair and the bass fishing has been good. The best bass fishing has been back in the coves with spinnerbaits, Senkos or plastic worms being the top lures. There have been very few anglers at the lake. The county road out of Potter Valley is in good shape. The best part of going to Lake Pillsbury is you often get a chance to see the elk roaming the shoreline. One of the better viewing areas is the old airport on the north end of the lake. It’s not unusual to see 15-20 elk in this area.
If you want to get away from the crowds and catch trout and small bass, then Letts Lake, located in the Mendocino National Forest, fits the bill. This small lake of 35 acres sits at 4,500 feet and offers beauty, solitude and good fishing. Only small boats or rafts with no motors are allowed, plus there is good access for shore fishing, including wheelchair access. There is no size limit on the bass but a daily limit of five fish. Most of the bass weigh less than a pound but they are scrappy fighters.
The U.S. Forest Service operates two campgrounds at the lake but they are rarely filled. The road going into the lake is well maintained and can handle travel trailers up to 19 feet in length. The easiest way to reach the lake is to take I-5 north to Maxwell and turn west to Stonyford. From Stonyford, take U.S.Forest Service Road M-10 to Forest Service Road 17N02, which takes you to the lake. The lake is approximately 15 miles west of Stonyford.
