Just about everyone agrees the late winter and early spring has been one of the coldest and wettest in recent memory. This is especially true for fishermen. The mornings have been below freezing with wind and rain. The water temperatures on Clear Lake have are ranging from as as high as 49 degrees in the afternoon to as low 40 degrees in the morning.
Normally by the end of March the bass are staging for spawning, but not this year. What is surprising are the number of bass that were caught during the Clear Lake Team Bass Tournament held last weekend. The tournament, sponsored by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, drew 108 boats and it took nearly 60 pounds to win the 35th annual event. Some large fish were caught, including a 10-pound-plus monster. Dozens of other bass were caught weighing in the 5-pound class.
The staff from American Bass did an excellent job protecting the fish during the weigh-in. They showed why they are one of the top tournament organizations around. The Chamber staff also did an excellent job in most areas. Tournament results show why Clear Lake remains one of the top bass lakes in the nation.
Most of the successful anglers said patience was the key. They fished super slow to catch their fish. The top lures were crankbaits, swimbaits and jigs. Bass were caught all around the lake, including the Clearlake Oaks arm, Henderson Point. Clear Lake State Park, Rocky Point and the Nice shoreline.
Beginning with March, the spring months are when the tournaments crank it up on Clear Lake. There is a tournament scheduled just about every weekend through late summer. There is a charity tournament, Save-A-Warrior, this weekend. It takes place Saturday, with blast-off at Library Park in Lakeport and the weigh-in at the Skylark Motel in Lakeport. The entry fee is $200 per team with a 75-percent payback Sign-ups open Friday starting at 4 p.m. at the Clearlake Outdoors tackle shop in Lakeport where there also will be a barbecue and a raffle. Tournament fishermen must be off the water by 4 p.m. Friday. Those eligible for the tournament are military veterans, firemen, police officers and other first responders.
Lake level
The lake level as of Thursday morning was 8.1 feet on the Rumsey Gauge, which means it's well past full (7.56 feet).
Other fish
Catfish action has been very good. Some large catfish are being caught, including several 20-pounders. The Clearlake Oaks arm is producing most of the catfish. There are several catfish derbies scheduled within the next three months.
Trout are being caught at Upper Blue Lake even though the lake hasn't been stocked in a couple of weeks. The lake is in excellent shape and the water is clearing up, Trollers are doing especially well.
Turkey season
The spring wild turkey season opened this past weekend and just about all the hunters reported seeing plenty of birds. In fact, turkeys have been seen within the city limits of Lakeport and Clearlake. Hunters are reminded they can't shoot a gun within the city limits of both cities.
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