The weather has been perfect for bass fishing and fishermen are out on the lake catching fish. It’s amazing how fast the bass fishing can turn around at Clear Lake. A couple of weeks ago the fishing was terrible and fishermen were struggling to put a few fish in the boat, but that has all changed. Most anglers have been catching five to 10 bass a day.
Most of the bass are holding tight to the docks or even the pilings. The good news is the bass are weighing between 2-5 pounds. The hot spots have been Henderson Point, Shag Rock and the area around Rattlesnake Island. In the north end, Rocky Point is a good bet. The trick to success is to be patient. The water temperature has been as cold as 56 degrees early in the morning but warming up by noon. The top lures have been slowly retrieved plastic swimbaits.
There are still a lot of baitfish and the bass have been feeding on them. The water in most areas is very clear. The fish being caught have been in excellent condition.
Other fish
Bluegill action on Clear Lake has been nothing short of phenomenal of late. Several fishermen repor catching up to 15 bluegill per day using nightcrawlers. Some of the bluegill are weighing up to a pound. The hot spots are the docks along Glenhaven and at Clearlake Oaks.
Catfish action has been outstanding. Last week two anglers went out and caught more than 30 catfish each. A couple of their fish weighed more than 20 pounds. The hot bait has been fresh salmon.
Fishermen are still wondering where the crappie are as very few have been caught. To date, the crappie have essentially disappeared. Last fall there were crappie everywhere. This year crappie are nowhere to be found.
Stay safe
Fishermen venturing out onto the lake during the winter months are cautioned to always wear their life preservers when in the boat. When the water temperature drops below 50 degrees you will last only about 10 minutes in the water before hypothermia sets in. The other factor is that decks of bass boats tend to ice up in the early morning, making for slippery conditions.
Other lakes
Other local lakes are providing good fishing. Lake Berryessa and Lake Pillsbury are both good choices. Even Lake Oroville has been providing good fishing as has Lake Sonoma.
At Clear Lake, the number of fishermen out on the lake on any given day has been the lowest that it has been in a good number of years. A good day at the boat ramp parking lot means about a dozen boat trailers.
Hunting scene
Most of the all the waterfowl seasons are closed. The wild pig season is still open, but that’s open year-round.. This year there are wild pigs everywhere and many of the ranchers will allow you to hunt on their property. Ranchers consider pigs a problem rather than an asset.
Hiking
This is the perfect time to hike up to Mount Konocti. The weather is cool and the view is awesome. Make Clear Lake State Park part of your trip. The park is teeming with wildlife. Carry a lunch and take your cell phone.
