Lake County will be a busy place this weekend. Not only does the Zone A deer season get underway Saturday, but the bass fishing on Clear Lake continues at a scorching pace.
As is common on the opening weekend of the Zone A deer season, the temperatures are expected to be in the 90-degree-plus range and only the hardiest of hunters will be hunting all day. Most of the hunters will call it quits by noon. Actually, most of the deer will be bedded down in a deep canyon within a couple of hours after daylight. The deer are concentrated near the available springs and water holes. For deer hunters, water is the gift of life. Most experienced hunters carry at least two canteens of water. This is especially helpful if you have to pack out a buck in this heat.
The Mendocino National Forest from Upper Lake to Lake Pillsbury should draw most of the hunters. The ridges from the Deer Valley Campground to High Glade are expected to be crawling with hunters.
Typically the game wardens and forest rangers validate from 10-15 deer tags from the national forest on opening weekend. A successful hunter must fill out the deer tag and have it validated.
Needless to say, there is a high fire danger in the national forest but there are no special restrictions to date. However, campfire permits are required outside of a designated campground.
Hunters should tell someone where they plan to hunt and when they will return. That information should include the description of your vehicle and its license number. In fact, I recommend writing the information down on a piece of paper and leaving it with your spouse or close friend. This simple little act could save your life.
Deer hunters who plan on hunting the national forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) properties should also be on the lookout for marijuana growers. This is especially true in the Mendocino National Forest. According to authorities, hunters should use extreme care in the more remote areas of the national forest. If you see anything suspicious such as PVC drip lines, brush piles placed in long rows, empty fertilizer bags or garbage, get out of the area as soon as you can. If possible, get a GPS reading or note some other landmark and report it. Hunters shouldn’t confront the growers. When you figure that each mature marijuana plant is worth at least $7,000, the growers go to great lengths to protect their crop. Lake County led the state in the number of marijuana plants found last year and the Mendocino National Forest was the leading area in the county.
Fishermen also will also be out in force this weekend. There are no major tournaments scheduled on Clear Lake but there will be hundreds of recreational anglers out on the lake as well as several club tournaments taking place. Overall the bass fishing on Clear Lake remains excellent and most of the fishermen reporting catching from 15-40 bass per day. The bass are ranging in size from a pound to 5 pounds with the occasional 8-pounder. The most productive method is drop-shotting a plastic worm. White spinner baits are also catching fish as are as jigs and Senkos. The entire lake is producing decent numbers of fish. A few anglers are having success using topwater lures late in the evening.
Crappie action is rated fair to good. Some of the better areas being Shag Rock, Henderson Point and the docks at Lakeside County Park and at Library Park in Lakeport.
The Lakeport Yacht Club is holding its annual catfish derby Aug 26-28. The entry fee is $50 per adult and $15 per child younger than 16. The winner of the kid’s division receives $300, second place is worth $200 and third place is $100. There is a raffle starting at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 28. Fishermen can enter the derby a late as 9 p.m. on Aug. 26. For more information call 279-1974 or 339-1590.
No local waters were stocked with this trout this week. Upper Blue Lake is still providing fair action for trollers working deep. Bass fishing is rated from fair to good.
