The father-son team of Sandy and Bryan McGeogh won the American Bass Association (ABA) team tournament on Clear Lake on Saturday. The total weight for five fish was 32.05 pounds. They also had big fish which weighed 8.4 pounds. They collected $2,600 in prize money. The tournament drew 20 teams and most weighed in fish.
The number of fishermen competing in tournaments has dropped considerably, Whereas a few years go most of the bass tournaments drew at least 80 to 100 boats this year they are lucky to draw 50, or even less. The reason for the decline is the cost of fishing has been climbing. The main reason is the cost of gasoline which is more than $5 a gallon. A modern bass boat will use 60 or more gallons a day in a tournament. That and motel fees and food makes it an expensive sport. A good example are the boat ramps. On any given day they just about deserted.
Overall, the bass fishing is improving on the lake. The fishermen have been braving bitter cold weather and wind but that is forecast change this weekend. The forecast is for sunny warm weather.
The hot lure on the lake is a jig or plastic worm. The trick to success is to work the jig or plastic worm slowly. Another technique that is successful in stained water is to shake a plastic worm.
A 6-inch worm is rigged on a 1/0 wide gap hook and a 1/8-ounce worm weight is pegged tight to the hook with a toothpick. The worm is cast back in the tules or under a dock and allowed to sink to the bottom. The tip of the rod is twitched. This allows the worm to dance on the bottom. When a fish grabs the worm all you will feel is a slight pressure.
Jumbo or extra large minnows are also deadly—even in stained water. Most of the minnow fishermen are rigging the minnow so that it can swim freely without a bobber. A few fishermen are using a slip bobber which controls the depth of the minnow.
In addition to live minnows, nightcrawlers can also be very effective on bass and they’re a lot cheaper to buy. A few fishermen have been rigging the nightcrawlers on a drop-shot rig and it has been deadly.
Trout fishing on Upper Blue Lake is rated from fair to good. Trollers working the middle of the lake have been catching some nice-sized trout. The fishing pressure has been light.
Indian Valley Reservoir is full but the road going into the lake is closed and will remain that for the next two months. The road at the north end of the lake is open but care has to be used. If you get stuck the only out .way is to walk and that could take a couple of days.
