With no bass tournaments scheduled for Clear Lake this month because of the low water level, the lake is pretty much absent of fishermen. The only public ramp where you can safely launch a boat is Fifth Street in Lakeport and even here on any given day there are only three to five boat trailers parked in the parking lot.
For the few fishermen venturing out onto the lake, the fishing has been slow and most anglers are catching between two to five fish for a full day’s work. A good example is angler Mike Rothstein, one of the better fishermen on the lake. He has been out at least five days a week and is only averaging three or four fish per day. Other fishermen report similar results. Even the local fishing guides have been struggling.
Most bass are being caught on jigs or crankbaits worked slowly along the bottom. The slow action is not because of a lack of baitfish. At any given location the water is literally dimpling with baitfish working the surface. What is surprising is that you rarely see any bass working the baitfish.
Given the poor fishing conditions of late, it’s probably a good thing there are no bass tournaments scheduled for the next three weeks. There are several tournaments scheduled for November. Hopefully we’ll get some rain to raise the lake level by then.
Low water
With the lake level continuing to drop, boaters are being cautioned to be extra careful when launching a boat. Every week several boat trailers get hung up on the edges of the ramp. The only way they can be removed is if a couple of people wade out and lift the trailer back up onto the ramp.
Clear Lake isn’t the only place having problems with a falling lake level. Just about all the major lakes in Northern California are experiencing boat launching problems because of the drought.
Other fish
The good news is catfishermen are experiencing some of the best action in years. Some huge catfish are being caught and 20-pounders have been common. When a fisherman catches what could be a new lake record for any fish they should take a photo (or several) of the fish and then take that fish to a location (usually a business) that has a certified scale and have it weighed. Be sure to have at least one or two witnesses certify the weight. Local tackle shops can furnish the lake record weights.
It’s smart to do this because your fish may be the record for many years. A good example is the largemouth bass record for Clear Lake. That fish was caught in 1990 and weighed 17.52 pounds. There hasn’t been a bass caught in the lake that has come close to that in the last 32 years.
Blue Lakes
Upper Blue Lake is providing trout action for the patient angler. The problem is that the lake hasn’t been stocked in nearly two months, however it is full and in excellent condition. The drought has hardly impacted the lake because it is spring fed. The lake also has a good bass population.
Hiking
The fall months are an ideal time to hike up Mount Konocti. The weather is cool and you can hike during the middle of the day in comfort. The view from Wright Peak and the other peaks is breathtaking.
For safety reasons, always travel with a hiking companion and carry a cell phone. Don’t take a dog because if it goes off the trail it could encounter a rattlesnake. I also recommend taking a walking stick. You can make one out of half-inch PVC and it costs less than $5.
The trip to Wright Peak is approximately three miles from the parking lot, so plan on spending at least five or six hours on the mountain. Even if you don’t care to try the walk up the mountain, you can still enjoy some spectacular scenery from the parking lot.
