Fishing and the ‘New Normal’
Greetings my fellow anglers.
It is amazing what has happened to our world in just five months! I hear folks saying the phrase “New Normal” all the time.“NEW NORMAL?” The so called “new normal” has been messing with our lives now for five months. Crazy! You lay in bed wondering what will be the “New Normal” tomorrow? NORMAL? When things were “NORMAL” what was normal anyway? I just wish that all the crazy stuff would just stop. There is an simple fix, people just need to be kind to each other. You do not have to agree with them. But, kindness never hurt anyone. Being kind is not always the easiest way to go. It is worth it though. Have you ever noticed that if you are kind to a person, in most cases, they are kind back to you. We all bleed red blood. We are all made in the image of God.
“Constant Kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust and hostility to evaporate.” Albert Schweitzer
CLEAR LAKE: Did you hear the great news ? Once again, Bassmasters Magazine has rated our bass fishery over the hill as one of America’s best . Actually, for 2020, they rated it #1. That is right ! Clear Lake is the best bass fishing lake in the United States!! WOW! So, with that being said, this a “New Normal” I think all of us anglers will be happy to accept. Really, for over an decade, we have blessed to have this fantastic bass
fishery so close. I have to admit that I am spoiled. Gosh, anglers that live in, lets say, Utah would be stoked to have Clear Lake in their backyard.
Also, this is great news for the merchants of Lake County. Retailers in Lake County had been hit extra hard with all the covid restrictions. When the day comes. And, it will come, that all the guide lines are relaxed, remember to shop Lake County when you over the hill fishing on the #1 rated bass fishery.
The algae monster is in full bloom right now. Probably, one of the best ramps right now is the County Park out of Kelseyville. There is is not as much algae there. Just remember, that if you take your boat to a car wash right after pulling out of the water, it cleans up pretty good. This past couple week’s the fishin’ has picked up. Early in the morning hours the frog and top-water bite has been decent. The bass are aggressive and hungry after spawning. Midmorning, fish the deep water docks and rock piles with plastics on a drop shot rig.
LAKE SONOMA : With the HOT Summer weather we are having, Lake Sonoma is slammed with wakeboard boats and personal watercrafts! About the only positive thing that comes from all the activity are the mud lines that are produced by the waves beating the shoreline. Bass like to use the mud line as cover to ambush it’s prey (bait fish) . So you can pick a bass up by throwing a spinnerbaits or a LuckyCraft BDS in a shad color. A lipless cranbait, something that zips along with a flash to it.
LAKE PILLSBURY: The lake up on the mountain has shrunk. But it is still the most beautiful lake in our area. Even though the road is not the greatest, it is still worth the trip, especially if you can put together a few days to go camping. The trout fishin’ has been rated fair to good lately. The warmer weather has the trout down in deeper water. Troll the east side of the lake or along the dam with your down rigger set at 20 to 25 feet. Use a flasher or action disc and trail it with a nightcrawler. The Bass fishing has been pretty good. Most anglers are catching four to twelve Bass per outing. Top water early in the morning, then change to fishing plastics, swim baits or crank baits. No matter what species of fish you are after, the early morning hours is the best.
LAKE MENDOCINO: The small and largemouth bass fishin’ has been pretty good. Now with some vegetation growing up from the bottom, the drop shot setup has been working the best for Teresa and I. We have the hook up about 24 — 28 inches depending on the height of the weeds. Most of the catchable fish are in 10 to 15 feet of water. Also, got a report that some nice catfish are being hooked in Crappie Cove and the river channel. The hot bait has been live crawdads.
Thanks for reading and remember to keep it reel ! — Don = 4REEL Fishin’