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Recreation
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The crappie anglers aren’t finding huge success. Our catfish anglers are doing well fishing a variety of traditional techniques including live bait. There’s light rain in the forecast for the next few days, so bring your duck suits and enjoy a solid bite on bass.
The bass report is very much the same as last week – with jumbo minnows ruling the roost for attracting bass. Transitions to deep water and deep water rock piles and reefs are the name of the game. Just as a reference, we plowed through nearly 2,000 jumbo minnows last week. That’s a strong indicator that folks are catching bass.
The reports this week continue to boast of 20-, 30- or 40-fish days. That’s pretty unusual for this time of year. I’d look for the bite to continue unless we have a dramatic weather change. The artificials bite is still considered to be tough.
For the tournament folks and those working artificials, small swim baits and lipless cranks have been top producers. Jigs and finesse worms on drop shot rigs are also a go-to for this time of year.
Crappie anglers are still looking for the bite to improve. I had “researchers” out Friday morning with some of our best trained minnows checking some key areas. We’ll see how they do and I’ll report in with any substantial information.
Catfish are fond of our jumbo minnows this time of year. They’ve livened up a bit with the warmer water, too. Look for cats in water 8 to 18 feet, perhaps deeper too. If you get into some nice fish, we’d love to get our 2009 picture board started, so come on by for a photo op.
If you’re a regular reader of our report, you have probably read about the Ducks Unlimited banquet coming up. In a nut shell, the dinner is on Feb. 21 at the Lion’s Hall in Middletown. That’s just a little over three weeks away now. Don’t delay! I’ve got dinner tickets on sale NOW here at Lakeshore Bait & Tackle in Clearlake. You can call 707.994.FISH (3474) for more information. There are some great sponsorship opportunities available also.
This is a catered event therefore no tickets will be sold at the door. Don’t let this great event pass you by. DU is the greatest wetlands conservation group in the world and we can do our part right here at home. Come, have a good time, eat a great meal, and perhaps win a gun or other great merchandise.
Bob Rider is the owner of Lakeshore Bait & Tackle, 14913-D Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707.994.FISH (3474) or visit them on the Web at www.994Fish.com.
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- Written by: Editor
CLEAR LAKE STATE PARK – A nature walk is planned this coming weekend at Clear Lake State Park.
Meet docent Glenn Smith at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at the visitor center ramp for the walk.
Nature has marvelous ways of revealing itself at this time of year.
The park's nature walks will continue on the second and fourth Sundays of each month this year.
There is no entrance fee to the park for participating in walks. Rain cancels the walk.
Clear Lake State Park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.
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- Written by: Editor
Bass anglers have been enjoying a lively bite on jumbo minnows. Transition areas to deep water have been the name of the game for most. Successful anglers are willing to try different depths and presentations of the live bait for best effect.
The flip side of this enthusiastic report is that the folks working artificials are finding an overall tough bite. Simply stated we’re in a typical winter bass pattern where the fish prefer (almost exclusively) live bait. Some areas that are producing this week are No Name Reef, Wheeler Point, Frazier Point, Glenhaven Reef and Henderson Point. Look to other areas with similar features to be doing well also.
We’ve got high hopes for the crappie bite to swing back into gear. A few of our crappie hunters have hit the water this past week to find crappie tightly schooled but not so willing to bite. Those that did catch the slabs were meticulous about their presentations.
What I believe is necessary is an ultra-finesse presentation of live bait. Two or four pound fluorocarbon or copolymer line coupled with a light wire Aberdeen hook and BB-sized split shot – add a live minnow and fish slowly. Most importantly… Come by the shop and let us take some pictures of your catch!
The catfishing has sprung back to life with the warmer weather. We’ve had our regulars get back at it and they are doing pretty well fishing deeper water with live minnows or night crawlers. This bite will probably hold as long as the weather does.
Now that we’re into the new year, I want to take a minute and highlight the Clearlake Ducks Unlimited Banquet coming up in February. But first, let me say this – for every $250 we raise, DU gains an acre of habitat. What a phenomenal statistic!
So on with this. We have many fine firearms on display that will be featured at the event. Some will be auction items, others will be on drawings, others yet will be on games that you play for chances to win. We also have dinner tickets on sale here in our store.
The event will be held at the Lion’s Hall in Middletown on Feb. 21. Come on down to the shop for an early preview of the guns, pick up some drawing tickets for the Browning Silver 70th Anniversary shotgun, and get in on the dinner too. Join us for this fabulous event that benefits our wildlife habitat.
Bob Rider is owner of Lakeshore Bait & Tackle, 14913-D Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-FISH (3474). Visit the store online at www.994Fish.com.
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- Written by: Editor
MIDDLETOWN – The Middletown Mustang Invitational Wrestling Tournament takes place on Jan. 9 and 10 at Middletown High School.
Something is different for the local wrestlers this year. The Mustang grapplers have more at stake than medals. They are taking to the mat for our troops!
The team wrestlers decided to do a “take-down-a-thon” and collect pledges for every take down they score during their matches, with proceeds going to Operation Tango Mike. Monies will be used to pay shipping costs to send care packages to deployed troops.
Coach Troy Brierly is very pleased with the team’s enthusiasm about both their wrestling and willingness to do for others.
“The kids are really excited about this,” he said. “They’re into it. I am really happy that they are so enthused about it.”
Brierly does more than coach wrestlers. He mentors to the teens, hoping they will understand there is more to high school than dating, cars and the social life.
Each year, his Mustang team chooses a project and this year they chose to support Operation Tango Mike and the mission to send support and care packages to the troops.
An interesting fact is that former Mustang wrestler Austin Heinisch has been deployed and received care packages from Lake County’s Operation Tango Mike, as have other Middletown High School graduates.
Anyone wishing to assist these generous kids in their effort to support the troops may do so. There is a link on the Middletown High School wrestling Web page at www.middletownwrestling.net.
You may also contact Coach Troy Brierly at 322-4092 or by e-mail at
Wrestling action begins both days at 9 a.m. and concludes at approximately 5 p.m. Stop by Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road, and check it out.
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