Recreation
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The bass have moved up into shallow water, or at least into staging areas near shallow water. Some fish are on beds. Others … Not yet. Everything from swim baits and brush hogs to finesse worms on drop shots have been good this week. Live minnows are still a hot ticket. We’ve got plenty of plump juicy minnows on hand for the weekend.
The biggest news on the lake this week has been the crappie bite. We saw a pretty sharp jump in the numbers of slabs caught along the west side docks (point Lakeview, Jago Bay) as well as the Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks shorelines.
The peak, as mentioned above, seemed to hit during the near 100-degree temps we experienced earlier in the week. However, we know where they are now and they seem to like live minnows. We’ve boosted the amount of bait on hand in hopes of seeing this bite continue. It’s crappie time!
Catfish anglers are gearing up for the Catfish Derby coming in May. Already, folks are fishing Cache Creek, Indian Island, and Rattlesnake Island to scout out where the big fish are. All the usual players are here – mackerel, anchovies, livers, shrimp, crawlers, minnows ... and more.
Bob Rider is owner of Lakeshore Bait & Tackle, 14913-D Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-FISH (3474). Visit the store online at www.994Fish.com.
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- Written by: Editor
The meeting will be at the Mendocino County Museum from 9 a.m to noon.
The meeting will go over some of the project proposals submitted as part of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.
The act was reauthorized October 3, 2008, to stabilize payments to counties to help support roads and schools, provide projects that enhance forest ecosystem health and provide employment opportunities.
The act is also intended to promote cooperative relationships between the public and federal land management agencies. More information about the Act and RAC is available online at http://www.fs.fed.us/srs.
There are three projects approved as a beginning to this year’s proposals. Approximately $51,000 is available this year. Projects include creating a campground located at the old Grizzly Flat Guard Station administration site, finishing the Long Doe Conversion project from 2008, and developing a symposium for Illegal Water Diversion that would be held in Willits.
Project proponents are encouraged to present their proposals. Proposed projects must have a benefit to the Mendocino National Forest.
Possible projects could include fuel treatments in critical areas to reduce wildfire danger, planting trees along streams to improve water quality, road and trail maintenance, fish and wildlife habitat improvement, or recreation and environmental education.
For further information regarding RAC membership, please contact the designated federal official, Covelo/Upper Lake District Ranger Lee Johnson. Interest forms for RAC membership may be obtained from the Forest Service.
For more information, please contact Roberta Hurt, the Forest Service coordinator for the Mendocino County RAC, at 707-983-6658.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
CLEAR LAKE STATE PARK – The park is the setting for the annual Heron Festival and Wildflower Brunch on April 25 and 26, sponsored by Redbud Audubon Society and Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association (CLSPIA).
There is no entrance fee to the park to attend this two-day event.
Reserve now for the Wildflower Brunch from 9 a.m. to noon, on Saturday only, April 25.
Enjoy “create your own omelets,” prepared by CLSPIA members, with your choice of fillings, add a pastry, fruit and coffee, then enjoy at a picnic table in the great outdoors across from the Visitor Center. The cost is $15 per person.
Audubon sponsored 90-minute pontoon boat tours, with a naturalist aboard, start at 8 a.m. each day. Rides cost $15 per person.
Advance reservations are requested for both the Wildflower Brunch and the pontoon boat tour. Make reservations on-line at www.heronfestival.org or by phone at 800-525-3743.
However, there may be some tickets available the same day. A full schedule of activities and featured speakers for the weekend is also on the website. All other activities are free.
The award-winning Kelseyville High School Jazz Band will perform during the brunch from 9:30 a.m. To 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. The Lower Lake High School Jazz Band and Chorus will perform from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Visit the Nature Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The Visitor Center Museum and gift shop will be open each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy dioramas of Lake County’s natural and cultural resources. Join scheduled nature walks throughout the weekend.
Programs in the Visitor Center Auditorium start each day at 10 a.m. with keynote speaker Philip Greene on Saturday. Greene is an internationally known photographer of herons and egrets. His work focuses on the nesting cycle of herons, with special emphasis on mating behaviors, nest building and fledging.
At 10 a.m. on Sunday join keynote speaker Dr. Harry Lyons for his entertaining program, “Myths and Music of Clear Lake.” Lyons mixes biology, music and humor to tell the story of Clear Lake and its more than two million years of existence.
The two-day event schedule of all activities will be available at the park entrance.
Clear Lake State Park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.
Leona Butts is a Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association Board member.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Boaters haven’t had much luck even getting on the lake but our shore anglers have done well despite the poor conditions. The weather guessers have a nice looking forecast for the weekend with temperatures warming through the weekend to the upper 80s before a cool down late next week. Fishing should improve dramatically over the weekend as our bass are itchin’ to spawn.
Like I said above, our guys and gals fishing from shore this week have done surprisingly well fishing in winds that would make fishing from a boat difficult or impossible.
Live bait anglers have been dangling night crawlers or minnows under a bobber. The suspended bait seems to be doing the trick for cruising bass. Baby Brush Hogs, Senkos, and Maverick worms have been top sellers in artificials this week. Fish depths from about 6 feet to 14 feet for best results. Stick to your structure – rocks, docks and walls.
Crappie anglers have been quietly enjoying a fairly consistent, albeit not gangbusters, bite from shoreline locations around the south end of the lake. Indian Beach Resort owners Tony and Ken have added that the nighttime bite has been pretty good with up to a dozen slabs being caught in an outing. Typical offerings include mini-jigs in chartreuse or white/salt & pepper. Medium minnows are also effective.
The cats are active and eating all of the great stuff we love to throw at them. Live minnows, mackerel or sardines, anchovies, crawlers, clams, or chicken livers have all been in the mix. Again, shoreline locations have been catching fish. We derive from that a depth range of six to 14 feet. The islands (Indian and Rattlesnake) have also been popular spots for those seeking whiskerfish.
It’s going to be a beautiful and busy weekend here on Clear Lake. Come and enjoy the fun in the sun.
Bob Rider is owner of Lakeshore Bait & Tackle, 14913-D Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-FISH (3474). Visit the shop online at www.994Fish.com.
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