June 19, 2009

Generally tough fishing has met anglers head on this week – with one notable exception. A sharp rise in temperature again signals the bass to make an adjustment and causes a slow down. The crappie seem to have noted the same change. Catfish, on the other hand, are still biting well. We’ve been running in the upper 80’s to low 90’s all week. The forecast is for the weekend to be only slightly cooler by a few degrees. Looks like plenty of sunshine for the weekend…  What most folks want to know is “How’s the algae?” Our answer is… thick and a bit on the malodorous side (it stinks). Stick to fishing above Monitor Point in the Redbud Arm, the Oaks arm (but not the keys), and the north end to avoid the algae.

On the bass front, slower is better. Try Senkos, finesses worms, or live bait for best results. Fish the very early morning hours or late evening and night time to put fish in the boat. Mid day fishing is just simply tough. I would stick to drop-offs and rocky areas. You may find a few top water fish – some have. All in all, keep in mind that fishing still beats workin!

Crappie? We’ve seen large schools moving through a few key areas. Four Poles was one of ‘em. Things were better there last week than this week, but my hunch tells me that the school is just undulating through that area. Try the poles – try the deeper standing docks in that area. Place your offering in that 15 – 20 depth with light line and light weight. Finesse will be the key with these guys with the warming weather.

Catfish just seem to be playing right along. They aren’t bothered by the warmer weather. They’re hungry and they’ll eat just about any of the key baits. Live minnows, mackerel, shrimp, crawlers – all should do the trick well.  

Enjoy the warms sunny weather this weekend. Stay safe on the water. Stop by and say a quick howdy while you’re in town.

Online Fishing Licenses Now Available through DFG! (STICKY TOPIC)

You can now buy your fishing license ON LINE. The process is simple. Go to DFG.CA.GOV then Recreation then Licensing or follow this link: http://dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/intro.html right to the page you need. Follow the instructions and you’ll have your license in five minutes flat. This is a great option to ensure you have a license when you get here to fish. 

Boat Inspection Information: (STICKY TOPIC)

As of Tuesday, April 8^th 2008, all boats launching in Lake County waters must undergo a permit process before launching. This permit is good for the remainder of the year. When you come into the county, stop by one of the tackle shops, fill out the form, attach your stickers to the boat, and go fishing. The process is a simple risk factor assessment, NOT a rigorous inspection of every boat. If your boat doesn’t flag the risk factors, you get a sticker and you’re good to go. If your boat IS at risk, then we’ll be looking at it to ensure you’re not inadvertently carrying these pests into our waterways. This falls under the “ounce of prevention” category with minimal inconvenience to the boating public.

The key is this: Clean, Drain & Dry your boat when you come out of ANY body of water. Beginning July 1, 2008 there will be a $10 fee per sticker. If you're a resident of Lake County (or your boat is and you may be asked for proof) one sticker is all you need. If you come from afar then you'll get an annual sticker (as in good for the calendar year). When you take your boat home and use it elsewhere, then the hope is that you’ve learned about the evils of bringing bad stuff our way and you’ll do the right thing by cleaning, draining, and drying your boat. You don't need a sticker next time you visit if your sticker hasn't expired. If you’ve got questions about the program, give us a quick call at 707.994.FISH (3474).