Bass tourney season nearly here

DFW issues 39 event permits for 2022, down from 60 in past years

January signals the start of bass tournaments on Clear Lake. Whereas there aren’t as many tournaments as 20 years ago, Clear Lake remains one of the more popular tournament lakes in California and still ranks at the top as far as many fishermen are concerned.

While the lake may not produce as many bass as other lakes, it’s still No. 1 when it comes to the quality of the fish. To date, the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has issued 39 permits for tournaments for 2022 and that doesn’t include the dozens of smaller club tournaments. The DFW requires all tournament organizations obtain an event permit for each of their tournaments. Bass clubs are required to get an annual permit.

On Clear Lake, the DFW issues only one event permit for any single day. There is no limit on club tournaments. At one time the DFW issued 60 or more event permits per year, but in recent years that number has dropped considerably. Where once a typical team tournament would draw more than 100 boats, now it’s more like 60 or fewer boats. One reason for the decline is the high cost of fishing tackle and bass boats. A new bass boat costs upward of $90,000 and lures can be as high as $100 or more each. Even meals in a restaurant can be expensive, to say nothing of gasoline for the bass boats.

One fishing tournament that continues to increase in popularity is the annual Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Catfish Derby. The derby annually draws more than 1,000 fishermen and is scheduled for May 13-15.

Just about all the lake’s tournaments operate out of Library Park, the Skylark Motel in Lakeport or Redbud Park in Clearlake.

As always, one of the most popular bass tournaments held on the lake is the Clear Lake Team Tournament scheduled for March 12-13. This tournament used to be called the RecordBee/Bruno’s Tournament and drew hundreds of fishermen. The Greater Lakeport Chamber of Commerce took over the tournament a number of years ago. At one time the tournament was the largest in the nation — drawing 225 teams from as far away as Illinois. The top prize in those years was $20,000 and while the tournament no longer draws the huge crowds, it is still rated as one of the top bass tournaments in Northern California. This year the entry fee is $200 per team and it includes a big-fish prize of$1,000. Entry forms can be obtained by calling (707) 263-5092.

There is no question that bass tournaments give a boost to the local economy. Studies have shown that a tournament fisherman spends at least $200 per day for every day he is at a lake. The average bass pro will normally spend several days prefishing for a tournament. The actual tournament is normally two days in duration. That is money spent in the local tackle shops, motels, gas station and restaurants.

There is also a spin-off effect from tournaments and that is publicity. Prior to bass tournaments, Clear Lake was known more for being a crappie and catfish lake and few people outside of Northern California had ever heard of it. Bass tournaments changed all that. Now Clear Lake is regularly written up in the major national fishing and outdoor magazines and every year fishermen from all over the nation visit the lake trying to catch that trophy bass.

What makes Clear Lake so popular for the tournament circuits? Most of the tournament fishermen will tell you it’s the number of big bass the lake holds. No other lake in the country has as many bass over 5 pounds as Clear Lake. To win a bass tournament on Clear Lake usually takes an average of well over 5 pounds per fish. On most lakes a 2-pound average will win a major tournament.

Fishermen love to compete in tournaments, be it bass or catfish. They dress up in brightly-colored clothes and even paint their boats and trucks. They will stand on the stage and show off their fish. It’s all part of being a tournament angler.

Ramps open

The Third Street boat ramp at Library Park in Lakeport has opened once again and ramp at the County Park in Kelseyville was expected to open Tuesday. Other public boat ramps around the lake should open soon as the Clear Lake level continues to rise from recent rainfall and ongoing runoff.

As of Tuesday morning the lake was .20 feet on the Rumsey Gauge.