Upper Mill Creek Pond
Hello my fellow anglers … So, I guess I am going somewhat half empty here. Josh, It appears that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is not any different than anything else. Everything is costing more and more and more and yet still more! In many cases we are paying way more for less… For example, a bare bones fishing license in California costs $54 per person. With that being said, we have been recieving less and less trout plants every year. Why is that? Got me. Our local waterways have not been stocked for some time now. The Upper Blue Lakes was stocked with rainbows the middle of January. The Upper Mill Creek Pond was last stocked right before Thanksgiving last year and, Lake Pillsbury and Lake Mendocino have not recieved a trout plant for many , many months. I guess this is now the way it is in California. Pay more — get less?
CLEAR LAKE — There are nothing but good fishin’ reports coming from our awesome fishery over the mountain. WOW! Many anglers are hooking into bass weighing 5 to 7 pounds! The hot spots are the areas where creeks are entering into the lake. The hitch (one of the bass’ favorite treats) bait fish are moving into the creeks to spawn, and the big bass have followed them. Four to six inch paddle tailed swim baits have been working well. Also some anglers have been catching bass on spinnerbaits and underspinns around the rocks.
LAKE SONOMA — The bass have started to think about going in to their spawn mode! Many anglers are speeding up to the Dry Creek arm. Those that go all the way up to Skunk Creek have not been “getting skunked.” They all have reported hooking into some nice bass up in the creek or just inside its mouth. Slow reeling spinnerbaits around weed edges and cover has been working best. Also, I have received good reports from the Warm Springs arm starting at the Old Sawmill camp on up to the mouth of the creek. Remember to practice catch and release.
LAKE PILLSBURY — The fishin’ has picked up on our mountain lake. For those anglers who have made the trip up the mountain, the payoff has been pretty desent. The trout and bass fishin’ has really started to pick up. With the lake about ninety nine percent full, the spawning grounds are in good shape. Try fishing the Oak Flats area, the log jam at Sunset and Turtle Cove. The best road at this time is from Mendocino County out of Potter Valley. Take it slow and easy and enjoy the beauty of Lake Pillsbury.
DID YOU KNOW — In shallow water bass can detect color, especially RED. In one study red and white lures caught 3 times as many largemouths as any other color. But in deeper water most colors appear as shades of gray so color selection is of less importance. Their eyes absorb more light than the human eye, enabling the fish to see its food in dim light or total darkness. They will feed at any time of the day or night, but are less inclined to leave cover and search for food under bright conditions. So like most fish they prefer to hang out in the shade. They find better ambush camouflage in shady areas or under low light conditions
Thanks for reading and remember to keep it reel. Don — 4REEL Fishin’