Fishing, pheasant hunting and bird watching capture the attention of the outdoors crowd this weekend.
Despite unsettled weather conditions, bass are being caught by the few anglers out on Clear Lake. The only problem is that it’s cold and you have to dress warmly. The water temperature has been as cold as 45 degrees early in the mornings and it’s only rising to about 55 degrees by late afternoon. Most of the fishermen are catching from four to five bass for a few hours of fishing. In addition, a good number of smaller juvenile bass are also being caught. According to Trot Bellah of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, one angler hauled in a 12.8-pound bass Monday while fishing near Rocky Point in the north end of lake. Earlier this week, Gary Hill of Kelseyville caught four good-sized bass while fishing from shore at Clear Lake State Park. Hill said he caught his fish on live jumbo minnows rigged beneath a bobber. Other fishermen are casting crankbaits such as the LV500 with success. There are a couple of club tournaments scheduled on the lake for the weekend but no major tournaments until the middle of January.
Crappie fishing is rated from fair to good but many of the crappie are small. The docks along Clearlake Oaks and Kono Tayee are producing both crappie and bluegill. Catfish action has been good but very fishermen have been targeting catfish.
Trout are still being caught at Upper Blue Lake. The lake was stocked last week and the successful fishermen are drifting and using Power Bait dragging slowly along the bottom. The trout are good-sized, many between 12-14 inches long. Bass action has been slow.
Junior pheasant hunters will be participating in the annual Lake County Junior Pheasant Hunt on Saturday. The hunt is sponsored by the Konocti Rod and Gun Club and takes place at the club’s range at Highland Springs. The hunt is booked solid so there are no openings. Volunteers are always welcome, especially those with trained bird dogs.
Quail hunting has been very good around Lake Pillsbury. Actually, good numbers of quail can be found from Elk Mountain to Lake Pillsbury. Hunters are warned to stay on the main roads because many of the back roads are muddy. Be sure and tell someone where you will be hunting and when you will be back in case you run into a problem.
Duck hunting on Clear Lake is rated good for the few hunters out. Mallards, canvasbacks and teal have been making up most of the bag. The refuges in the Sacramento Valley are open for hunting Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays. The refuges have been averaging from two to four birds per hunters on most of the shoot days.
Redbud Audubon invites all birders and nature enthusiasts to join in the upcoming Christmas bird count on Saturday in Lake County. Birders will assemble at either the Clear Lake State Park or Anderson Marsh at 8 a.m. All skill levels are encouraged to participate.
The Redbud Audubon Society has been holding its annual Christmas bird count for decades and this year is the 41st annual Christmas bird count.
If you are interested in participating in the bird count, call 263-8030, leave a message and include your phone number. Someone will return your call. After the count, participants are invited to attend a pizza dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Kelseyville Pizza on State Street in Kelseyville. That’s where the count compilation from the day’s sightings is completed. Dress warmly and wear good hiking shoes.
