Perfect weather has resulted in excellent bass fishing on Clear Lake and the fishermen are taking advantage of it by spending hours out on the lake. Actually, the fishing couldn’t get much better with most of the anglers reporting catching anywhere from 15 to 30 bass per day. What is even better is that the entire lake is giving up a lot of fish. The fishing has been so good that the parking lot at the public boat ramps have been jammed with boat trailers.
A wide variety of lures have been catching the bass and they range from jigs, drop-shotting a plastic worm to spinnerbaits and underspins. Live nightrawlers have also b een very effective, espeically for shore anglers. A lot of the bass have completed their spawning cycle but others are moving into the shallows to spawn. The water is perfect color and it is very clear in many areas. In fact, some of the fishermen have been complaining that it is too clear in some areas which makes the fish spooky.
The other good news is that it appears the bass tournaments will be starting up within a couple weeks. There are some large tournaments scheduled for July and August. This Saturday members of the local Clear Lake Bass Masters Club will hold an informal tournament. The weigh-in will start at noon at the Lakeside County Park.
A trophy bass at Clear Lake is considered to be one that weighs at least 8 pounds. In fact, many fishermen never catch an 8 pounder their entire life. Sara Theisn of South San Francisco achieved the nearly impossible when she went fishing for the first time of her life and on her very first cast she caught an 8-pound-plus bass. To top that off she caught the giant bass while fishing from a friend’s dock in Clearlake.
It’s not only the bass fishermen that are enjoying excellent fishing the crappie anglers are also catching some huge fish. Some of the crappie caught this past week topped 2 pounds and there were a couple that weighed in the 3-pound class.
The lake level is at 3.9 feet on the Rumsey Gauge and Yolo County is withdrawing water. They can take the water until Oct. 1 or until the lake level drops to 1 foot on the Rumsey Gauge.
The access at the dam at Indian Valley Reservoir is closed so the ramp in inoperative, Yolo County won’t open the gate until the State of California allows camping at the state parks. Access to the lake can be made via the Bartlett Spring Road. That road is in poor shape.
There is still no word from the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DWF) and when and what streams and lakes where they are stocking trout. Their reasoning is that if they release the names of the bodies of water that they are stocking too many people will show up to fish these areas and create a health hazard. They have stocked Upper Blue Like in the past two weeks and trout are being caught.
This is the perfect time to make a hike up to the summit at Mount Konocti. Make the trip in the mornings before it gets too hot and be sure and take plenty of water.
If you’re a bird watcher then a trip to the Lakeside County Park will give you an outstanding view of the pair of ospreys that are nesting next to the playground. They have two little chicks and you be able to see the parents bringing fish to the chicks.
