Recreation

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Written by: Greg Cornish

Published: 17 September 2012

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – I finally got out on the water for a relaxing evening of fishing last Tuesday.

We launched out of the casino and were concerned about the algae plugging the engines cooling system but then soon found is was just a light layer on the surface.

The lowering water has allowed the weeds to get closer to the surface and twice we had to rapid reverse before getting out to open water.

We fished south of Clear Lake State Park and north of The Narrows in 25 to 40 feet of water. We tried a combination of blades, jigs, Senkos and Brush Hogs. My only two fish came on a dark colored jig.

We got on the water by 8:15 p.m. and fished until 2 a.m. We each caught two fish and they were caught before 10 p.m. then the bit just turned off.

The wind lied down and the algae appeared. I’ve never seen this much algae so late in the year on a cool night. It wasn’t sinking to the bottom at night any longer. It stunk and made the evening less pleasant, but it was still good to get out.

I think both fish of mine were over 5 pounds. We took a photo of the largest only to find after we released him I’d forgotten to put the card back in the camera – the equivalent of no film with no internal memory. The second smaller fish I was able to capture on my iPhone before her release.

As the weather cools and the bass try to fatten up for the long cold winter and next years spawn, the bite will get better as it does each year.

A big thank you goes out to all the firefighters who’ve been working so hard this season in our area.

Ted Elliott, E Ticket Tackle, Lakeport; telephone, 707-262-1233

Bass fishing around the lake has been the typical. One day an area holds bass; the next they have moved on pattern.

With all the baitfish out in the lake the bass are just following them around and gorging themselves.

There is still a top water bite during the early morning using Buzz baits, spooks, poppers, Ricos and frogs according to patrons of our shop. They have been searching for baitfish up on the surface and then throwing some type of top water lure in amongst the bait fish and are this is producing bites.

After about 9 a.m. the bite goes to a deep LV 500, DD22 crank bait bite yo-yo off the bottom. Fishing the rockpiles down in the Clear Lake Oaks and Redbud arms of the lake has also been producing some fine fish.

River2sea S-wavers have been producing in areas where the weeds have died down to about 20 inches below the water surface.

The swim-bait bite should start to pick up in the next couple of weeks as the weeds continue to die. Additionally, the spoon bite has shown signs of waking up in the deeper parts of the lake.

Catfish

The more productive bite has been the catfish bite. Several of the fire personnel that have been fighting the fires around lake county have been coming in and renting poles to fish off the shore while they are off duty.

We have had several of them connect with catfish ranging from 8 pounds, 14 ounces to well over 10 pounds. They have been fishing from the shore and the docks of the hotels/motels that they have been staying in using a drop shot rig baited with a night crawler.
 
Bluegill crappie

Indian Beach Resort in Glenhaven has reported crappie, bluegill and bass under their docks, but not many fish being landed. Fishing has been considered good at both sites with limits being common.

Troy Bellah and Dave Brabec, Clearlake Outdoors, Lakeport; telephone, 707-262-5852

The bass fishing on Clear Lake remains fair this week with very little change as far as lures and patterns go.

Dropping water levels and late summer algae blooms have plagued the north end making it a bit tricky to locate the fish.

The south end seems to be producing a more consistent bite with fish being caught between 5 and 25 feet deep on rock piles, docks and the shorelines with a steep drop off.

The No. 1 selling lure at the shop right now is the Lucky Craft LV500 in any of the shad patterns. Fisherman have been using this lure with a YO-YO style retrieve off the bottom and catching some quality fish on it.

The frog bite is going pretty good right now too. Look for tules that have a little weed mat shelf next to them, throw your frog on the mat, give it a couple twitches and let it sit.  

I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but the best advice I could give any angler right now is to stay on the move until you locate the fish.

Greg Cornish lives in Nice, Calif. Email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Details

Written by: Editor

Published: 15 September 2012

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Michael P. Carion has been named chief of the Law Enforcement Division at the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG).

Carion, a lifelong hunter and angler, has been a DFG warden for more than 30 years. He also teaches waterfowl enforcement techniques and waterfowl identification to cadets at DFG’s academy.

“Throughout my career, I have made every effort to include hunting, fishing and environmental stakeholders in the decision-making process,” said Carion. “I have found we get much better results by working together.”

He graduated in 1980 from Humboldt State University with a degree in wildlife management.

He was a seasonal aid on the Klamath River before being hired full-time by DFG in 1981 as a fish and wildlife assistant at the Imperial Wildlife Area.

Carion most recently was Assistant Chief in the 23-county northern region of California. He assumed duties as chief this week.

Carion lives in Anderson with his wife Nicole, a DFG environmental scientist who supervises the statewide restricted species and wildlife rehabilitation program.

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Written by: Carrie Wilson

Published: 14 September 2012

Question: What are the differences between baiting and attractants? I know baiting is illegal but was curious about attractants. What qualifies something as an attractant? Can you please define and differentiate? (Josh L.)

Answer: There is no difference … bait is an attractant and an attractant is bait. No specific definition is provided in Fish and Game laws for these terms, but the definition of “baited area” in the California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 257.5 is helpful.

It states in part: “Resident game birds and mammals may not be taken within 400 yards of any baited area. (a) . . . baited area shall mean any area where shelled, shucked or unshucked corn, wheat or other grains, salt, or other feed whatsoever capable of luring, attracting, or enticing such birds or mammals is directly or indirectly placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered . . . “

Under this regulation, the use of any substance (real or artificial) that is capable of attracting an animal to an area and when used causes the animal to feed (on the substance) is prohibited.

Generally, aerosols sprayed into the air are permissible because there is nothing to feed on. But the same products applied to a surface (e.g. tree, brush, rock, etc.) where the animal licks, eats, chews, nibbles, etc. the surface is considered feed and is a violation.

In addition, intentional acts that disrupt any birds’ or mammals’ normal behavior patterns (CCR Title 14, section 251.1) as well as feeding big game mammals (CCR Title 14, section 251.3) are prohibited.

For the complete regulations, please go to http://dfg.ca.gov/regulations/ to find the California Mammal Hunting Regulations for 2012-2013.

Casting nets for catching own bait

Question: I want to use a net to cast and catch my own bait rather than continue to buy bait at the stores. Is it legal to do so?

I do most of my fishing in lakes and I see shads and minnows I would like to catch. I can't seem to find any information on the Web site that relates to catching your own bait and if you could what are the sizes of the nets that I can use. Any information or alternatives in regard to this would really help. (Khanh Vu)

Answer: Unfortunately, the device you describe (commonly called a throw net, casting net or Hawaiian throw net) is not legal to use in freshwater.

Approved baitfish may be taken only by hand, with a dip net, or with traps not over three feet in greatest dimension (CCR Title 14, section 4.05.

In addition, possession of these nets in inland waters or within 100 yards of any canal, river, stream, lake or reservoir is a violation of state law (CCR Title 14, section 2.09).

Where does inland end and ocean begin?

Question: I would like to fish with two rods in the Delta but don’t know whether the regulations are in the freshwater books or in the ocean books. Is the Delta part of the ocean regulations or is it considered inland waters? Where does it change from ocean to inland if considered inland? (Brian S., Felton)

Answer: You can legally fish in the waters of the Delta with a second rod stamp. Inland regulations apply from upstream of the Delta to Carquinez Bridge.

The definition of inland waters vs ocean waters is, “Inland waters are all the fresh, brackish and inland saline waters of the state, including lagoons and tidewaters upstream from the mouths of coastal rivers and streams. Inland waters exclude the waters of San Francisco and San Pablo bays downstream from the Carquinez Bridge, the tidal portions of rivers and streams flowing into San Francisco and San Pablo bays, and the waters of Elkhorn Slough …” (CCR Title 14, section 1.53).

Hunting with a 30-30 but dispatching with a .22

Question: If I hunt deer with a 30-30 cal, can I carry a .22 pistol at the same time (not to shoot deer)? And if I wound a deer with the 30-30 cal, can I kill the wounded deer with the .22 cal? (John D., Ramona)

Answer: Yes, it is legal to carry a .22 caliber rimfire pistol while taking deer during an open rifle season. No, you may not kill a wounded deer with any rimfire cartridge (see CCR Title 14, section 353). If hunting in Condor Country, remember that your pistol ammunition must also be lead-free.

Non-lead bullets for squirrels in condor country?

Question: If I am a land owner or a land owner’s agent engaged in squirrel depredation in the condor area, do I have to use non-lead bullets? (John B.)

Answer: Yes, even if you are using rimfire ammunition to shoot nongame mammals, the use of projectiles containing lead is prohibited in the condor range. (CCR Title 14, sections 355 and 475.)

Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .