Recreation
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Winter rains have returned – and we're delighted. With the water level on Clear Lake running on par with a 91-year average, it looks like we're going to be in great shape for our spring and summer fishing this year. That's about the best news we could bring you!
The winter bass bite on Clear Lake has been quite good – on live bait. The catfish action has been reasonably good. Crappie action is still mostly flat lined – mostly.
Here's what we're hearing in the store ...
When the barometer is stable, the fishing has been quite good for those using jumbo minnows. Before this series of rains came this week, we had a week of sunshine and warm weather. During that time, folks were telling us that the finesse bite was just starting to pick up.
But, alas, that was just a springtime teaser as the cold, rainy, wintry weather has returned and the bite on artificials went flat once again.
The good news is that we've got plenty of jumbo minnows to keep your rod going bendo. The jumbos are doing the trick well when fished over deep water, near ledges and deep structure.
I've heard two things on the crappie front this week. First, one of my customers caught a small crappie at Redbud Park in Clearlake. I haven't heard that in a while. Second, I've had a couple of calls asking if I could confirm a bite at Shag Rock. I can't, but there's word going 'round that there might be some action there. So what do you take from this? Well, one fish and a rumor doesn't make a hot bite report! I'll keep you posted.
For catfish, anglers are already getting excited about the annual Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Business Association Catfish Derby. Applications are available in the store or online. (I'm hoping to have them added to our site at www.994Fish.com in the next couple of days.)
The catfish action hasn't been hot by any means, but most anglers that are fishing for them are finding some action. Live minnows, nightcrawlers or mackerel seem to be the top entries in the bait category this time around. Those jumbo minnows are just the bomb!
I want to take just a minute to thank the good folks at Robinson Rancheria in Nice for hosting the Clearlake Ducks Unlimited banquet. I also want to that the nearly 100 folks that came out to support your local DU chapter and make our event a success. You know who you are – and we thank you!
We now turn our attention and energy to the annual Lake Friends of NRA banquet coming up Saturday, April 10, at the Lions Hall in Middletown.
This is our fourth year for the event here in Lake County. This event sold out last year and we're on track to sell out again this year. This is our flagship event for the year. Drop by our shop in Clearlake and preview some of the nearly 40 guns we'll have at the event, get your tickets and show your support for the Lake Friends of NRA.
And, lastly, we've got a full calendar of classes scheduled for March. Check our Google Calendar on our “Events & Classes” page at www.994Fish.com for dates and times.
For March we're offering the following classes: Personal Safety & Awareness, Intro to Handguns, Fundamentals of Marksmanship, Semi-Auto Pistol Operation, Handgun Care & Cleaning and we're teaming with ECTS for American Heart Association First Aid & CPR. I hope you'll join us.
Feel free to call 707.994.FISH (3474) or email (
Bob Rider is owner of Lakeshore Bait & Tackle, 14913 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, Calif.; telephone 707-994-FISH (3474). Visit the store online at www.994Fish.com .
- Details
- Written by: Editor
LAKE COUNTY – Submit a photo of your best catch to the BoatU.S. Angler Catch of the Month Photo Contest and you could win $50 and other prizes, plus be entered to win a realistic replica of your fish from Mount This Fish Co., which specializes in hand-painted fiberglass replicas.
The monthly photo contest, which starts in April and runs for seven months, offers two categories: saltwater fish and freshwater fish.
Winners of these monthly contests can take home a $50 BoatU.S. Visa gift card, BoatU.S. Angler logo items, a "gift bag" of fishing gear and a framed Catch of the Month winner's certificate to proudly hang on the wall. For complete details and how to enter, go to www.BoatUSAngler.com/contest .
In November all of the 14 monthly winners will be automatically entered into the Grand Prize drawing to win the replica mount from Mount This Fish Co., the newest sponsor of the photo contest. Their full-size mount replicas are perfect to commemorate your special catch, while their "Half Sided Series" are great additions to decorate your home or office.
All mounts are hand airbrushed and can be displayed indoors or out. To view the wide selection of full mounts, half mounts and 3D mounts, as well as their online specials, visit their Web site at www.mounthis.net .
BoatU.S. Angler is a membership program from the nation's largest association of recreational boaters that offers services and helps protect the interests of boat-owning anglers. Visit www.BoatUSAngler.com for more.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
LAKE COUNTY – The Redbud Audubon Society will lead a field trip to Bodega Bay this Saturday, Feb. 20.
Birding spots to be visited include Doran Beach, Port of Bodega, Spud Point Marina, Owl Canyon, the noteworthy “Hole in the Head,” Bodega Head and possibly Salmon Creek.
“This is an opportunity to see many birds not normally seen in Lake County, such as the three Loons – Common, Pacific, and Red Throated,” said Audubon Society President Marilyn Waits.
To carpool, meet at 8 a.m. at the back of the Calpine parking lot in Middletown.
If driving on your own, from Santa Rosa, take Highway 12 Bodega Highway. When it dead-ends at Highway 1, turn right/north.
The exit to Doran park Road is about four miles from this point and will exit off to the left/west from Highway 1. (There is another exit to the right about one-tenth of a mile before the Doran Park Road exit. You don’t want this one. You want the second exit.)
All field trip attendees should meet at 10 a.m. at Doran Park’s second parking lot on the left after the toll booth kiosk. It is the parking lot with a row of Eucalyptus trees along the road, explained Waits.
For more information about the Redbud Audubon Society, go to www.redbudaudubon.org .
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
While much of our nation is getting a snow pounding, we're waffling on whether or not to hit up Clear Lake for some winter bassin'. The bass and catfish have been biting reasonably well given the time of year. The crappie bite is still a no-show (or perhaps the crappie fishermen are a no-show).
The current lake level exceeds the 91-year mean (Thursday morning's Rumsey reading was 5.18 feet). Plenty of water in the lake bodes well for an awesome spring bite and a productive, healthy lake through the balance of the year. And there's more rainfall to come as we move through February and into March and April.
Here's what we're hearing about the fishing.
Bass (and bass anglers) are showing a preference for live jumbo minnows. The minnow bite has been consistently better this year than in the past several years through the winter season. Boaters are having the best luck. Target rock piles and ledges, dock ends, and other transitional areas where deep water is close by.
Crappie (and the folks that fish for 'em) have been scarce. We're still offering our “Find the Fish, Win a Rod” promotion to the first angler or team of anglers to bring in a legal limit of 25 crappie. Bring your limit of Clear Lake slabs in for a photo-op and we'll give you the rod of your choice from our selection of Shimano Convergence or Clarus rods.
Catfish anlgers are enjoying a sound bite. Mackerel, anchovies, night crawlers and live jumbo minnows are doing the trick. Lots of water is flowing into the lake and bringing lots of nutrients with it. The whiskerfish come to life around areas where the flows are strongest. Target areas where the water enters and the clarity returns to near normal conditions.
In event news, the Clear Lake Ducks Unlimited chapter is just a little over a week away from their Feb. 20 banquet at Robinson Rancheria. Dinner ($65 per person or $100 per couple) and raffle tickets ($20 each or 6 for $100 for a Beretta White Onyx 20ga O/U Shotgun) are on sale at Lakeshore Bait & Tackle in Clearlake. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to join your community and make a difference.
Bob Rider is owner of Lakeshore Bait & Tackle, 14913 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-FISH (3474). Visit the store online at www.994Fish.com .
Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .
How to resolve AdBlock issue?