Fishermen who plan on entering the 29th annual Clear Lake Team Bass Tournament scheduled for March 19-20 can sign up today starting at 9 a.m. at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce office, located at 875 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport. The blast-off numbers for the first day of the tournament will be issued in the order fishermen sign up. Some fishermen will wait in line all night to get a low blast-off number
The tournament is sponsored by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and Konocti Vista Resort and Casino. The tournament goes out of Konocti Vista Casino. The entry fee is $200, which includes the big-fish option. As in past years the tournament will pay back 100 percent of the paid entry fees. Entry forms can be obtained online from the chamber’s web site at www.lakecochamber.com. Local tackle shops also have the entry forms. For more information call 263-5092.
The tournament started in 1987 and for years was known as the Record-Bee/Bruno’s Team Bass Tournament. At one time it was one of the largest bass tournaments in the nation and the 225-team limit was normally filled by early September. In those days the winning team took home $20,000 in cash. Last year’s event drew 111 teams and the winning team of Kelly and Kyle Maughs of Kelseyville weighed in 65.96 pounds for the two-day tourney and collected $6,000. The tournament remains one of the largest and popular bass tournaments on Clear Lake.
The bass action on Clear Lake is still rated as good despite the recent series of storms. The best action has been from midlake south where the water is clearer. The water temperature has been as high as 52 degrees in the late afternoon. On Wednesday, the trio of Bob Myskey, Gary Hill and Steve Kelley fished the midlake area and loaded up on bass, crappie and bluegill. They used jumbo minnows and nightcrawlers and the big fish of the trip was an 8-pounder caught by Myskey. The crappie and bluegill were caught on nightcrawlers fish slowly along the bottom in 20 feet of water.
Catfish action has been good for the few anglers after them. The best action has been in the south end of the lake near Redbud Park and off Rattlesnake Island. Jumbo minnows, nightcrawlers and cut bait all have been effective for catfish weighing up to 20 pounds.
Crappie and bluegill action also has been exceptional. In addition to the area around Shag Rock, the docks along the Glenhaven-Clearlake arm have been kicking out some huge crappie. Kono Tayee is also producing crappie.
A pair of anglers who caught over-limits of crappie found it was an expensive mistake. The two fishermen were nabbed by the game wardens last year after being found with 450 crappie over the limit. The limit is 25 per day and in possession per person. They pleaded no contest and one angler was fined $4,100 and the other $965. They were also placed on probation and are forbidden from fishing for three years.
The Federal Fish and Wildlife Service won’t consider placing Clear Lake hitch on the endangered list for at least another year. At the meeting of the Chi Council on Wednesday it was announced that the feds have given the hitch status a low priority and won’t even address their status for at least another year and possibly two or three years.
Upper Blue Lake continues to put out limits for the few fishermen on the lake. The lake was stocked last week.
Waterfowl season closes Sunday and overall the season wasn’t much to brag about. A lack of water early in the season in the Sacramento Valley slowed the overall hunting success. At Clear Lake, the hunting was rated from poor to fair. Most hunters were happy to bag a couple of birds.
Quail season in Lake and Mendocino counties also closes Sunday. Most of the hunters rated the season good, especially in the Mendocino National Forest.
