The bass action has slowed a bit at Clear Lake but should improve this weekend. The one negative factor will be the forecast calling for cooler weather. We are moving into the heart of the spawning season and the bass will be moving onto their spawning beds.
Bed fishing is popular on Clear Lake during the spawning season and every year some monster bass can be seen swimming around the nests. One problem for fishermen has been the tremendous number of threadfin shad in the lake. There are so many shad and other small baitfish that all a bass has to do is open its mouth to get a meal.
I experienced an unusual sight Wednesday while I was at the county park in Lucerne. I was standing at the end of the long boat ramp walkway and noticed a school of at least 50 adult bass swimming in a small circle. Most of the bass weighed from 1-3 pounds but there were several in the 5-pound-plus class. Two fishermen in a bass boat approached and I directed them to the bass. They cast just about every lure in their tackle box at the fish but the bass just ignored them.
The more successful fishermen are casting the smaller swimbaits, such as the Keitech, and making a steady retrieve. Dropshotting a plastic worm or Brush Hog also has been successful. As always, a Senko continues to be one of the top lures. A few fishermen are finding success casting a plastic frog to the small weed mats lining the shore. The good news is both the north and south ends of the lake are producing decent numbers of bass. Some of the more productive areas have been Rocky Point, the shoreline from Long Tule Point to the State Park, Henderson Point, and the waters around Lakeside County Park.
There are a couple of bass tournaments scheduled this week. The annual Sonoma County Sheriff’s bass tournament is scheduled for today. The weigh-in takes place at the Skylark Shores Motel in Lakeport starting at 3 p.m. Anglers Press will hold a bass tournament Saturday as well. The weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. at Library Park in Lakeport.
Crappie fishing is still very good throughout the lake. Red-white crappie jigs have been the hot lure and one of the better areas has been the State Park. The good news is the crappie die-off is slowing down. Fewer dead fish are being seen by anglers. Fishery biologists said the reason for the die-off is probably the stress of spawning, but that there could also be a virus or a parasite involved. Fish die-offs are common on Clear Lake and it doesn’t mean the lake is polluted.
The annual Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven catfish derby is scheduled for next week and fishermen are complaining that they aren’t catching many catfish. The three-day derby is expected to draw in the neighborhood of 1,000 fishermen. The entry fee is $40 for adults and $10 for youngsters age 15 and younger. Call (707) 596-0248 for more information.
Trout action in the East Branch of the Russian River has been nothing short of terrible. It is still unknown if the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DWF) actually stocked the river for the opener April 29. The good news is Upper Blue Lake is kicking out some huge trout. Dave Brabe, owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, fished the lake earlier this week and caught a limit of trout within an hour. He said several of the trout were in the 16-inch class.
Bass action at Highland Spring Reservoir, located just outside of Lakeport, has been very good. Most of the anglers are having little trouble catching a limit. Plastic worms or jigs are the top lures.
