Fishing and boat racing take the spotlight at Clear Lake this weekend. The high-speed sprint boat races operate out of Library Park In Lakeport on Saturday and Sunday. American Bass is also holding a team event on Saturday out of Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina. Several club tournaments are also scheduled.
The boat ramps at Library Park will be closed to the public from 12:01 a.m. Friday until 11:59 p.m. Sunday because of the boat races. A portion of the lake in front of Library Park is also closed to boating.
Fishermen also will be barred from fishing off the docks in Library Park. The boat races take place in front of Library Park, so that part of Clear Lake will be off-limits to fishermen. The races run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The field at Natural High will be reserved for parking for those attending the races.
The American Bass team tournament will hold its weigh-in Saturday starting at 3 p.m. at Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina.
Overall the bass fishing has slowed a little but is still rated as good. Most of the anglers are having little trouble boating 10-15 bass for a day’s effort.
Few moments in fishing are as exciting as having a large bass explode on a topwater lure, especially a plastic frog. Lately a number of fishermen report they have been casting a plastic frog to the weed mats and have been catching some huge bass. This is especially true in the north end of the lake. The key to success is to keep on the move until you locate active fish. Many of the bass are still spawning. The only problem has been water clarity. In most of the areas the water is too stained to see the bedded bass.
Clear Lake is famous for its outstanding frog fishing. That’s where an angler casts a plastic frog to a weed mat and a bass explodes on the lure. Frog fishing is just getting underway on the lake because the weed mats are starting to form. These weeds mats are made up primarily of Sago Pondweed. The bass seek out these mats because they offer shade and a ready supply of food as smaller fish hide beneath them.
There are a number of brands of plastic frogs on the market and they all work. The lure has a pair of long and flexible plastic legs that coil up and expand as the lure is retrieved with short jerks. The trick to using a frog is to allow the bass to take the lure underwater before setting the hook. The trend is to set the hook as soon as the blowup occurs, but that often pulls the lure out of the mouth.
Crappie action has slowed somewhat around the lake. The State Park was the hot spot for several months but the action there has slowed to a crawl. Crappie are being caught off the docks at Library Park, but the park will be closed to the public until Monday because of the sprint boat races this weekend. Crappie are also being caught at the Lakeside County Park, Redbud Park and along the Nice-Lucerne shoreline.
Trout fishermen received some good news. The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DWF) has announced it will stock the East Branch of the Russia River next week. It has been more than a month since the DFW stocked the stream and the fishing has been very poor. A few trout are being caught at Upper Blue Lake by trollers. The best action has been at the Narrows.
Indian Valley Reservoir is worth a try for bass. The lake is full and the water clarity is good. The bass have been holding tight to the sunken trees. Jigs and spinnerbaits are the top lures.
