Tournament sign-ups open Friday
Bass fishermen will find all the lake's public ramps open
Bass fishermen will be lining up at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce office on Friday morning to get an early blastoff number for day one of the 35th annual Clear Lake Team Tournament.
One of Clear Lake's most popular tournaments is expected to draw more than 100 boats. During its heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s it was known as the Record Bee/Bruno's Team Bass Tournament and featured a 225team field (teams had to be turned away). While the tournament, like most bass tourneys nowadays, has dropped in popularity the last few years, it remains one of the top draws on the lake.
The tournament drew 111 boats a year ago, drawing fishermen from around the nation. This year the team that catches the big fish each day receives $1,000.
American Bass has been contracted to manage the tournament again this year. They ran the tournament a year ago and did a great job. The tournament operates out of Library Park in Lakeport.
Along with sign-ups for the Clear Lake Team Tournament, the upcoming weekend features a NewJen pro/Am tournament, which is expected to draw more than a 100 boats.
Tournament anglers should see a better bite. The water has cleared up and the fishing has improved. Bass are now being caught near Rocky Point, and Lakeside County Park is also producing decent numbers of fish. The south end is also kicking out decent numbers. The hot lure has been a crankbait. Live jumbo minnows also have been productive.
There are a number of tournaments coming up and bass fishermen will find all of the lake's public boat ramps open thanks the the plentiful rain received earlier this month. As of Thursday morning, the lake stood at 4.27 feet on the Rumsey Gauge, up more than 6 ½ feet from a month ago. Clear Lake isn't the only lake to benefit from the rain. Lake Pillsbury is full as is Lake Mendocino, and Lake Sonoma is nearly full.
Catfish bite
The good news is that the catfish action is improving daily and some larger catfish are being caught. Fifteen-pounders are common and there are even a few 20-pounders being caught. This should bode well for the catfish derbies that are coming up.
Other lakes
Upper Blue Lake was stocked with trout recently and the fishing should be good for larger trout. The bass fishing should also improve in the coming weeks.