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Recreation
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- Written by: Greg Cornish
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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- Written by: Editor
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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- Written by: Editor
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – On Sept. 6, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake held its 10th annual Charity Golf Tournament and Silent Auction.
The event took place at the Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course and had 114 players participating.
More than $25,000 was raised to benefit the Emergency Department Expansion project.
Winning teams included:
Flight A:
First place: Keith Long Team
Second place: Brassfield Team
Third place: Bikangaga Team
Flight B
First place: Fred Figg Team
Second place: St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake Respiratory/Cardio
Third place: Mendo Lake Respiratory
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Question: I recently shot a doe with my A31 tag in Los Angeles County (Archery Only-Either Sex). It appeared to be a lethal shot from 22 yards with decent shot placement.
I tracked the blood to a privately owned ranch 100 yards away. I stopped tracking it when it appeared she went onto the ranch property. I then approached the ranch manager to get permission to continue tracking my deer.
The owner initially agreed but after one of her coworkers talked to her, she retracted her permission (approximately 10 minutes from the time we spoke in her office). She requested that we leave her property at once as she didn’t want people to think they approved of hunting.
I didn’t have enough time to locate my deer and left brokenhearted.
I don’t like seeing animals die or suffer for no reason. I would never have shot if I would have known I couldn’t recover her. I believe I did everything legal and correct but it shouldn’t be right that a deer goes to waste because of the bias of a property manager.
Is there anything I could have done to recover my deer? Do I have any rights or is there anyone I could have contacted? I’m still sick over the situation. (Luke G., Loma Linda)
Answer: It’s unfortunate that this happened. Although the law prevents one from wasting the deer, the law does not permit the trespass to retrieve it. Perhaps, if you’d contacted the local game warden, they may have been able to contact the ranch manager or owner for some possible assistance to prevent the deer from going to waste.
According to Department of Fish and Game Lt. Todd Tognazzini, when archery hunting it is recommended to hunt farther from private property boundaries to avoid this type of problem as deer taken with archery usually travel farther after a lethal wound than those shot with a rifle.
Tognazzini says he has never been refused when a fresh and legitimate blood trail is found leaving public land onto private property.
Live mouth bass for sale?
Question: I recently noticed an advertisement in the seafood section of our local Los Angeles Hong Kong supermarket newspaper where they are selling “live mouth bass.”
Is there really such a fish? The picture looks like they are largemouth bass. I didn’t think our precious game fish could be sold for food. If these are largemouth bass, is it legal to sell them in the market? (Doc H., Walnut)
Answer: I am not aware of a species called “live mouth bass.” It is not legal to sell largemouth bass caught in the wild or under the authority of a sport fishing license.
Often times the Asian markets have aquariums where they display live fish for sale. Largemouth bass can be sold if acquired from a private aquaculture facility with appropriate sales receipts.
Remote controlled boat
Question: I have a remote controlled boat approximately 36 inches long with a remote GPS and fish-finder system located on the boat.
On the back of the boat there is a small box containing a baited hook. The hook is connected to a line with an attached weight. Once the boat is located in the area I’ve chosen, the line can be remotely deployed.
The line (which can be as much as 2,000 feet long) is also connected to the fishing pole I hold onshore. Once the line has been deployed, the boat is returned to shore.
With a California fishing license, can I use this at lakes or at the beach? (Ron C.)
Answer: Yes, as long as the rod is handheld or closely attended and the fish voluntarily takes the bait or lure.
For a description of “angling” and the legal methods authorized for taking fish, please review sections 1.05 and 2.00 in the Freshwater Fishing Regulations booklet available wherever fishing licenses are sold or online at http://dfg.ca.gov/regulations/ .
Angling under this definition is not required in ocean waters.
Hunting predators when a bear responds to the calls
Question: If I am out hunting predators using a call, and it is during bear season, and I have a bear tag … if a bear comes in on the call, can I kill the bear?
Answer: Yes, unless they are electronic calls. It is unlawful to use any recorded or electrically amplified bird or mammal calls or sounds, or recorded or electrically amplified imitations of bird or mammal calls or sounds … to take game birds/mammals (Fish and Game Code, section 3012).
Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at