Weeds, algae, low lake a challenge

Grebes pretty much a no-show again this year at Clear Lake

Fishermen on Clear Lake continue to face multiple challenges, namely aquatic weeds, spreading algae and a falling lake level. As of Thursday morning the lake level was minus-.73 feet on the Rumsey Gauge as it continues to drop at a rate of about two inches a week.

Several boat ramps around the lake are now at a point when they could be closed at any time. This past week several boat trailers ended up getting stuck on the ramps.

Many of the boats that are getting stuck on the ramps are pontoon boats, the reason being that the wheels on their trailers are normally near the back end and they drop off the end of the ramps. When this happens the boat has to be pulled off the trailer and the trailed lifted up and its wheels placed back on the ramp so that a tow vehicle can pull the trailer out. At least one boat ends up becoming stuck on a ramp almost every single day.

The other problem for boaters are the weeds in the lake. Just about every boat is covered with weeds when it is taken out of the lake. The weeds get stuck in the outboard motor and they have to be removed to protect the motor. The parking lots are full of weeds that have been removed from the trailers and boats.

Fishing scene

On the fishing scene, the bass fishing at Clear Lake remains very good despite the tremendous challenges fisherman are facing now. Most of the successful anglers are fishing the south end of the lake and working the weed mats with jigs and Senkos. The bass are ranging from 1-5 pounds.

Best Bass Tournament (BBT) is holding a team tournament Saturday. The weigh-in starts at noon at Library Park in Lakeport .

The fishing pressure has been considerably reduced the past three weeks but there are still a good number of fishermen out on the lake during the weekends. With a few exceptions, the tournaments are just about done for the summer. They are scheduled to resume September.

Other fish

Crappie action has slowed as the fish move out into deeper water. Most of the action has been for boaters working at a depth of 8-10 feet. Bluegill action is still going strong around most of the docks where most of the fish being caught on nightcrawlers. Catfish action has been very good for the few fishermen out after them. The Clearlake Oaks area is kicking out some huge catfish.

Trout action

Trout action at Upper Blue Lake is just about dead. The lake hasn’t been stocked in months and is not on the future stocking schedule..

No-show

The grebes are still pretty much a no-show on Clear Lake. Boaters and fishermen report seeing only a few birds and no nests or young chicks.

In past years there were grebes by the thousands all around the lake by this time of year, but that’s not the case this summer. Most people report seeing only three or four grebes in a flock even though the conditions are ideal for nesting, including plenty of nesting material available and a plentiful supply of baitfish.

In 1990 it was estimated that more than 20,000 grebes were on the lake. The past few years has seen the grebe population decline and last year the population was estimated to be less than 2,000.