Unsettled weather has kept the fishermen away from Clear Lake although the few fishermen out have been catching decent numbers of bass and a lot of catfish.
Bass fishermen on Clear Lake continue to battle cold weather and a slow bite. In addition, there has been a lack of fishermen. A good example was on Thursday morning at the Fifth Street ramp in Lakeport there were only two boat trailers in the parking lot. The water temperature on Thursday morning at the and it now sits at ramp was chilly 42 degrees. The recent rains have raised the lake level approximately three inches.
There are no bass tournaments scheduled on the lake for the rest of December. There are a couple club tournaments and there are also several club tournaments scheduled for January.
One the fishing scene, the action for bass has slowed considerably. A good example were the results of last weekends’ American Bass Association (ABA) tournament held on Sunday. The tournament only drew 22 boats The winning weight was 25 pounds. The best action has been between noon and 5 p.m. and the top lures include live jumbo minnows rigged under a bobber and fished very slowly. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits have also been effective. They should also be retrieved slowly and allowed to bump the bottom. Jigs and plastic worms have also been effective when allowed to crawl over the bottom.
One reason the fishing has slowed is because of the cold water. During the winter months it can take a bass several days to digest a crawdad or minnow. Their metabolism slows down and they barely move much. Studies have shown that a bass can go without food for several weeks during the cold months. Some of the more productive areas include Henderson Point, the waters off of Henderson Point and in Soda Bay and the deeper waters near Rattlesnake Island.
Catfish action remains very good for the few anglers after them. Some of the fishermen have been catching up to 20 catfish per day using shrimp and fishing in waters as deep as 20 feet. The catfish have been ranging in size from a few pounds to as large as 20 pounds. The crappie action remains slow but should improve in the coming weeks. A few bluegill are being caught by anglers using nightcrawlers.
Trout action at Upper Blue Lake remains fair for the anglers willing to stick it out. Both the bank fishermen and boaters have been catching some nice-sized trout. The lake is not on the current stocking schedule.
On the hunting scene, pheasant season closes on Dec. 24 and overall it has been a poor season. Many of the hunters haven’t bag a single bird. Quail season runs through January 30 and the hunting in the national forests and other public land has been very good. The fall wild turkey season closed on December 10 and it was an excellent season with most of turkey hunters having little trouble bagging their birds.
The bear season will run through December 31 or unless 1700 bears are taken. To date hunters have bagged 946 bears across the state.
Once the weather clears up it would be a great chance to plan a hike to Wright’s Peak on Mont Konocti. Winter is the ideal time to hike up the mountain because it is cool. Don’t do it alone but make a party of it and invite several of your friends. The Clear Lake State Park in another excellent choice and here you can hike alone if you wish. The park is safe and well patrolled.
