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It took some muscle to win ‘Gold Mussel’ inaugural season opener
LAKEPORT, CA – Massive limits and spring-like conditions highlighted the inaugural Best Bass Tournament Golden Mussel Division season opener at Clear Lake on Sunday.
Under clear skies and highs reaching the 70s, 25 boats competed in a historic event that saw some of the heaviest five-fish limits recorded on the lake in recent years.
The tournament was a showcase of Clear Lake’s legendary “big fish” reputation.
Four teams brought in limits exceeding 30 pounds, while the top two finishers both broke the 40-pound mark — the largest five-fish limits recorded for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
First Place: Chris Perez of Rocklin and Kent Simpson of Galt claimed the top spot with a staggering 45.16-pound mega-bag.
Second Place: Alec Pitts of Santa Rosa and Christian Burns of Petaluma followed closely with an impressive 42.20 pounds.
Third Place: Mason McAbee of Bakersfield and Mark Cobey of Woodland secured third with 37.95 pounds.
The competition remained tight through the top five, requiring a minimum of 30 pounds to place.
Local anglers Tom Jolin and Danny Andrusaitis of Lakeport took fourth place with 30.2 pounds, followed by Nathan Phillips of Kelseyville and David Burruss, owner of Clear Lake Outdoors.
The "Big Fish" of the day were equally remarkable, with the top three individual bass weighing in at 13.07 pounds, 11.06 pounds and 10.96 pounds.
The event featured a 100% payback to the participants, supported by tournament sponsors including Clear Lake Outdoors and G-Ratt Baits.
Garrett Dixon of G-Ratt Baits provided a significant portion of the raffle prizes distributed during the Saturday evening check-in.
Tournament Director Doug Bender and his staff received high marks for the event's smooth operation.
“Blast off went off with no delays,” noted organizers, as anglers enjoyed a full eight-hour day on the water.
Following the success of this inaugural event, the Best Bass Tournament staff expressed enthusiasm for their scheduled return to Lake County later this season.
Craig Nelson is a former professional golfer who fell in love with tournament bass fishing 20 years ago. He found Lake County after fishing an FLW Stren Series event and never left. He’s the back-to-back winner of the Konocti Classic and runner up in the inaugural WON Bass Clear Lake Open.
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- Written by: Craig Nelson
The search is on for the next Poet Laureate of Lake County
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Applications are now being accepted for the 13th Poet Laureate of Lake County.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 15, 2026.
The role of a poet laureate is to represent and promote poetry and literacy in the community they represent.
This is a volunteer position with a two-year term from 2026 to 2028.
Officiated by the Lake County Board of Supervisors, the Lake County Poet Laureate role was inducted in 1998 by inaugural Poet Laureate Jim Lyle.
Between 1998 and 2024, a total of 12 poets laureate have been appointed in Lake County with diverse backgrounds and visions for this role.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and a Lake County resident for at least two consecutive years.
Qualifications include having literary works published, including self-publishing, and a proven track record of literary-based community engagement and collaboration.
Applicants are asked to submit a mission statement, four original poems, two letters of recommendations, and a resume of literary involvement in the community, publications, and public readings.
Application and full guidelines can be found online at https://forms.bettercollected.com/lakecountypoetlaureate/forms/26-28-application.
If accommodations are needed for the application process, please reach out to current Lake County Poet Laureate 2024-2026 Brenda Marie Yeager, or Lake County Poet Laureate Emerita 2020-2024 Georgina Marie Guardado.
Questions can be directed to
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Governor proposes improving access to menopause health care
As part of his 2026-27 budget proposal, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday released a budget trailer bill proposal to support the inclusion of expanded perimenopause, menopause and postmenopausal health care in the state.
“This proposal will expand access to essential, evidence-based care in a way that’s affordable and fiscally responsible for the state. At a time when Trump’s Big Ugly Bill is driving up health care costs nationwide, California is doing the opposite: lowering barriers and putting women’s health first,” said Newsom.
“At every stage in life, women deserve access to affordable health care that meets them where they are—especially when experiencing the life-altering symptoms connected to menopause conditions that have long been under-recognized in our health care system. California always has and will continue to invest in women, and I’m proud that we are advancing awareness and expanding access to critical menopause-related care,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
The proposal announced by Gov. Newsom would:
• Improve prescription drug coverage for symptoms of menopause by requiring certain health plans to cover FDA-approved treatments for perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopausal symptoms, including coverage in the Medi-Cal program.
• Increase consumer and provider awareness by requiring plans to screen enrollees age 40 and older for menopause during primary care and OB/GYN appointments.
• Notify health plan enrollees of the menopause services available to them.
• Provide professional training incentives for physicians who specialize in menopause care.
• Invest $3 million to support a statewide public awareness campaign.
Expanding health care access while retaining affordability is especially important as consumers across the nation face double-digit rate increases in health care premiums due to what Newsom’s office calls Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill,” HR 1.
"I commend Gov. Newsom for including menopause language in the budget and continuing to prioritize women's health,” said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda). “Despite the widespread impact of menopause, most women still struggle to receive proper diagnosis, care, and treatment. This investment in both coverage and education is a critical step toward closing the healthcare gap that has left too many women without the support they need. Thank you, Governor, for being a partner in this: together, we're ensuring California women get the care they deserve.”
“Women’s health care is a top priority for the California State Senate, especially as HR 1 will jeopardize health care access for millions across the state,” said Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). “Menopause care in particular is an often overlooked and under-resourced area of care despite impacting more than half of the population. I look forward to continuing my work with Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan and the Governor to ensure this budget proposal successfully improves access to menopause and perimenopause treatments, as well as offers new educational opportunities for providers — helping millions of women in the Golden State.”
“Many women, especially women of color, lack information and access to menopause care – leaving them feeling vulnerable to misinformation and mistreatment,” said Jodi Hicks, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “Women must be supported and receive equitable health care access throughout their entire reproductive health journey and providers must be equipped to provide that care. This is a positive step forward on this critical, and too often neglected, issue.”
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Thompson, Masui call for Noem impeachment, ICE funding cuts after Minneapolis killings
Congressman Mike Thompson and Congresswoman Doris Matsui are calling for urgent oversight, transparency and accountability of the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the wake of two killings in Minneapolis this month.
Thompson (CA-04) and Matsui (CA-07) on Tuesday held a press conference outside the John E. Moss Federal Building, which houses ICE personnel in Sacramento, warning that unchecked federal enforcement is putting lives at risk in California and across the country.
Following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Thompson, Matsui and their Democratic colleagues are demanding a stop to ICE funding and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s removal from office.
They said the chaos in Minneapolis is the latest escalation in Americans’ concerns about federal agencies operating without sufficient oversight.
“Like so many Americans, I am sickened by ICE’s killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis,” said Congressman Thompson. “This is just the latest in ICE’s abuses across our country, including in Sacramento. Enough is enough. There is nothing legal, moral, ethical, nor humane with what’s going on in Minnesota and our Republican colleagues in Congress need to grow some courage and join us to impeach Kristi Noem, cut ICE funding, and stop the chaos.”
“From Sacramento to Minneapolis, we are seeing the same dangerous pattern: more force, less transparency, and no accountability from DHS and ICE,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “This is the fifth time I have stood outside this building demanding answers from a rogue agency. The fact that we are here again shows how persistent and unchecked this abuse of power has become. Secretary Kristi Noem must be held accountable, ICE needs to get out of our communities, and Congress must stop funding abuse disguised as enforcement. We will not stop fighting until there is real and independent accountability.”
“NorCal Resist affirms our commitment to our immigrant community and to defending fundamental democratic and human rights values this administration seeks to ignore through immigration enforcement,” said Giselle Garcia, program director, NorCal Resist. “May all representatives in Congress oust each transgressor and hold them accountable for their crimes against humanity. May the people continue to resist in the face of repression and fight for the world we deserve.”
Congressman Thompson and Congresswoman Matsui were among the first members of Congress to co-sponsor articles of impeachment against Noem, citing systemic failures in leadership and oversight.
Last week, Thompson and Matsui also voted no on legislation to provide funding to DHS, arguing that Congress must not continue to expand the power and resources of agencies that have demonstrated a pattern of terrorizing communities and trampling constitutional rights.
In addition to voting against funding for ICE last week, Congressman Thompson has introduced legislation to require ICE agents to wear body cameras and prohibit them from wearing masks or police insignia.
Thompson also has hosted numerous “Know Your Rights” workshops for local businesses and community members to help people learn their rights when interacting with federal agents.
The legislative fight for DHS funding now moves to the U.S. Senate, where lawmakers face a critical decision: approve DHS funding or hold the line.
With lives at stake, Congressman Thompson and Congresswoman Matsui reiterated that Congress cannot continue to fund DHS.
Thompson represents California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports