Recreation
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sorry about the missing Monday report last week. I’m having duels with vertigo and last Sunday night vertigo won and sent me packing off to bed, leaving my office spinning in circles with a blank report on my screen. I love the golden years.
It fishing Friday night just that much more of a challenge. It was a hot August night in late September. Nearly in the mid 60s all night long and one of the brightest full moons I’ve ever seen.
We tried my favorite haunt in north lake and I caught one 2 pound bass on a Texas Rigged (hooked lengthwise weedless, unweighted) 6 inch dark colored Senko. That was about 9 p.m. and my catching stopped there.
Then my fishing buddy Sam went to work, schooling me on late summer fishing. Having two tanks filled with gas and a recently tuned engine encouraged us to coax the old pontoon to mid-lake.
I stuck with a jig most of the night fishing 15 to 25 feet of water while Sam fished bladed lures. He caught two 4 pounders and two three pounders in 15 feet of clear water and then I was convinced I needed to switch to a chatter bait.
On our way to the Narrows I noticed lights flashing and Sam said, “Hey, there’s guys on a boat screaming at us.”
At first I thought I had come too close or disturbed them, then I realized they were in distress.
I pulled up next to them and noticed right away they had the necessary safety equipment. Most importantly they had two anchors. Without those anchors they undoubtedly would have been fending off Shag Rock.
It looked to be about a 23 to 25 foot cabin cruiser full of cat fishermen. I told them I’d tow them to the safety of the state park. They were very agreeable and tipped me plenty for gas money. Good people.
As soon as we traveled back to mid-lake and settled in our spot Sam hooked something good. It turned out to be a big girl about 8 pounds. Sam’s somewhat gloomy face turned as bright as the moon for the rest of the night. He couldn’t get that smile off his face.
As the weather gets more uncomfortable to fish in the fish will become more active trying to fatten up for winter. Those are the good night bites if you’re strong enough to endure it.
We parked the pontoon and pulled into my yard at 4 a.m., two very tired and happy fisherman. What a great night to be on the water.
The Sonoma Belly Boaters had a tournament at Clear Lake this weekend. John Graves won it, bringing in an 18-pound bag of four fish Saturday and enough to maintain the lead on Sunday. They camped at the state park and without a doubt had a great time in this weather.
Here are reports from some of our local shops.
Troy Bellah and Dave Brabec, Clearlake Outdoors, Lakeport; telephone, 707-262-5852
Clear Lake
Most guys are reporting a tough bite this week.
LV 500 still seems to be the bait of choice but guys are catching them on a variety of baits.
The frog bite has picked up for some.
Cooler mornings seem to be helping the algae problem and mid-lake is in great shape almost to clear.
Blue Lakes and the Russian River
These were both planted this week and the trout fishing should be good all next week.
Ted Elliott, E Ticket Tackle, Lakeport; telephone, 707-262-1233
Well things haven’t changed much as far as the fishing patterns that are working around the lake.
According to some of the leaders of the California Bass Federation Tournament of Champions that was held the weekend of Sept. 22-23, throwing a punch rig was one of the most productive ways to fish up here west of the narrows.
Of course LV500 in colors like ghost minnow are still productive fished yo-yo down around the rock piles. Speed-traps and Norman DD22 are still producing good fish. Buzz-baits and spinner-baits are productive fished in the mornings and evenings.
The algae situation seems to be improving, with early morning being virtually algae free in some parts of the lake.
As always, the key right now is to keep moving until the fish are located, and then once located concentrate on that area for a little while as the fish are grouped up around the bait balls.
With the nights getting cooler, daylight periods getting shorter, and the weeds and algae situation improving the bite should really start to take off in the next couple of weeks.
Catfish are still being caught around the Lakeport area using night crawlers on drop shot rig. Here at the shop we haven’t heard of any crappie or bluegill being caught.
Greg Cornish lives in Nice, Calif., and can be reached at
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Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation authored by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) to protect game and wildlife such as elk, antelope, big horn sheep and deer from rampant poaching.
“Poachers are threatening California’s heritage wildlife, because until now penalties for illegally taking these animals have not been enough of a deterrent,” Chesbro said.
Chesbro reported that AB 1162 “changes the game” by directing the Fish and Game Commission to establish a new penalty fee schedule based on each animal’s trophy designation, including the size and characteristics of each species.
Fines for poaching trophy game will significantly increase, ranging from between $5,000 and $40,000 for deer, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep.
“This legislation was modeled after laws in other destination hunting states, such as Montana and New Mexico,” Chesbro added.
This bill was sponsored by the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance and the California Waterfowl Association.
It received support from the California Game Wardens Association and California Political Action Committee for Animals (PawPAC).
AB 1162 passed both houses of the Legislature with bipartisan support. The bill takes effect Jan. 1 2013.
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