The lake will be a busy place this weekend as there are two major bass tournaments scheduled while other fishermen are prefishing for the upcoming Lake County Chamber of Commerce Team Bass Tournament, which is scheduled for March 20-21 and should draw more than 100 boats. It is one of the more popular bass tournaments held on the lake and goes out of the the Skylark Shores Resort in Lakeport.
The entry fee for the Chamber tourney is $200 per team and that includes the big-fish option. Country Air Properties is donating $1,000 to the team weighing in the heaviest bag during the tournament. Fishermen can sign up as late as 4 p.m. on March 19 at the Chamber office, which is located at 875 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport. Call (707) 263-5092 for more information.
This weekend NewJen is holding two team bass tournaments, which are going out of the Konocti Harbor Resort. Weigh-ins start at 3 p.m. They are separate tournaments as each is part of a different circuit of NewJen.
Konocti Harbor Resort was once the top bass tournament venue on the lake. The resort has undergone recent updating and is once again vying for bass tournaments.
Fishing conditions
Tournament anglers should find plenty of action. The weather is improving and many bass are being caught. Most of the fishermen report catching 10-40 bass per day. The bass are widely scattered around the lake and there is no single hot spot. Drop-shotting a plastic worm has been the most productive method of catching bass that are ranging in size from 1-5 pounds. The larger bass are still not biting and few fish in the 8-pound class have been caught.
Water temperatures are ranging from 50-58 degrees. The best action has been in the afternoons when the water warms up a few degrees. In recent weeks the lake has drawn hundreds of fishermen on weekends. The public boat ramp parking lots have been jammed.
Catfish action
In addition to the bass fishermen, there will a number of fishermen out on the lake seeking catfish. Overall the catfish action has been good with a number of 15-pound-plus catfish being caught. This is a good sign for the upcoming Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Catfish Derby scheduled for May 14-16. The 2020 derby was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The derby entry fee is $50 for an adult and $10 for children age 15 and younger. Entry forms and information are available at all county tackle shops. Fishermen can also call (707) 596-0248 for more information.
Crappie fishing
The crappie action has slowed but is still rated good. The crappie are spreading out and moving into the shallow water in preparation for spawning. Crappie jigs of various colors have been effective.
Trout action
Trout action at Upper Blue Lake is rated fair with a few fishermen catching limits. The lake is scheduled to be stocked with trout next week.
Other lakes
Fishermen are excited that the Indian Valley Reservoir campground and boat ramp is scheduled to open the first week in April. The lake offers excellent fishing for both largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Hiking opportunity
This is the perfect time to take the youngsters for a hike at Clear Lake State Park. They will see a lot of wildlife in a super clean setting. The view of Mount Konocti from the park’s swim beach is nothing short of spectacular.
