Clear Lake will be a busy place this weekend

Crappie tourney, two bass tournaments on tap

Clear Lake will be a busy place this weekend. On Saturday the Clear Lake Crappie Association is holding a team tournament and American Bass Association (ABA) is sponsoring team events on Saturday and Sunday.

The crappie tournament goes out of the public boat ramp in Clearlake Oaks with the weighin starting at 3 p.m. The ABA tournaments go out of Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina in Lakeport.

The weigh-ins both days begin at 3 p.m. The crappie tournament is the first of several to be held on the lake this year. The payback is 100 percent of entry fees. The entry fee is $60. If there are at least 50 boats entered, the winning team will take home $1,000. The minimum size is 12 inches and there will be a 10-fish limit per team. No dead fish can be weighed in and all the crappie must be released. Live bait such as live minnows can be used. The last two crappie tournaments held on the lake have produced an overall average size of 2 pounds per fish.

The big fish of the tournament is expected to weigh close to 3 pounds or possibly more. Fishermen can enter the tournament as late 3 p.m. Friday and just before the blast- off Saturday in Clearlake Oaks. Entries are being accepted at the Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks and Lakeport Bait and Tackle in Lakeport.

For more information call 998-1006 or 900-5101. Overall the bass fishing has slowed a little on Clear Lake. The successful fishermen are staying on the move to locate their fish. The local fishing guides report most of their bass have been caught on live minnows. Bass are also being taken on jerkbaits and deeprunning crankbaits. The bass have been holding at depths ranging from 5-15 feet. The deeper water along the Nice-Lucerne shoreline has been one of the better areas. Henderson Point is also giving up some nice fish as is Soda Bay. The largest bass have been in the 5-pound class with the occasional 7-pounder. A few bass are being caught in the north end of the lake near Rocky Point.

Bluegill fishing

Bluegills continue to provide good action for shore fishermen. Two of the better areas have been Lakeside County Park and Clear Lake State Park. Lucerne County Park is also providing good bluegill fishing. Nightcrawlers suspended beneath is the best method of catching bluegill.

Lake level

The lake level is at 4.6 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. That’s compared to 7.98 feet (more than a full lake) at this time last year. Normal for this time of year is 5.13 feet, which means we need more rain.

Trout fishing

Trout fishermen received some good news. Upper Blue Lakes was stocked this week with 1,000 pounds of trout and the fishing should be excellent for both boaters and bank fishermen.

Nature walk

The Redbud Audubon Society is holding a nature walk Saturday at Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville. Participants should meet in the parking lot area near the visitor’s center. The walk, which is open to the public, begins at 9 a.m.

Polar plunge

The Special Olympics Polar Plunge takes place Saturday at 10 a.m. At Lakeside County Park.