VOL . 36 • ISS . 11
Clear Lake Facts
Clear Lake is a natural freshwater lake in Lake County fed by runoff flowing into many streams as well as springs in Soda Bay . Its sole outlet is Cache Creek . In 1914 , Cache Creek Dam was constructed at this point in order to increase the lake ’ s capacity and to regulate its outflow .
Clear Lake is 19 mi by 8 mi ( at its widest point , with surface area of 43,785 acres and a 1,155,000 acre · ft capacity . The average depth is 27 ft maximum is 60 ft . The lake elevation is 1,329 ft ( 405 m ), average water temp is 40 ° F in winter and 76 ° F in summer .
Clear Lake is believed to be one of the oldest lakes in North America , due to a geological fluke . The lake sits on a huge block of stone that slowly tilts in the northern direction at the same rate as the lake fills in with sediment , thus keeping the water at roughly the same depth . Core samples of the lake ’ s sediments , taken by U . S . Geological Survey geologists in 1973 and 1980 , indicate that the lake is at least 480,000 years .
Fishing Information
Clear Lake Outdoors , Lakeport , 707 ) 262-5852 , http :// clearlakeoutdoors . com /
Limit Out Bait and Tackle , Clear Lake Oaks , ( 707 ) 998-1006 , Indian Beach Resort , Clear Lake Oaks , ( 707 ) 998-3760 , Boat Launching Facilities
5th Street Lakeport - 5th St , Lakeport , CA 95453 : The ramp is large with several docks nearby . Lakeport can get busy during peak months , but is an easy to use ramp with decent parking .
Clearlake Redbud Park - Redbud Park , Clearlake , CA 95422 : A big boat launching facility in the south of the lake . There is a very large parking area with an adjacent park .
Lucerne Harbor County Park - 6225 Hwy 20 , Lucerne , CA 95458 : A nice small ramp with limited parking right in Lucerne .
Lakeside County Park - 1985 Park Dr , Kelseyville , CA 95453 : Is in between Clear Lake State Park and Konocti Vista Casino . Is small ramp with a small park area .
Konocti Vista Casino and Hotel - 2755 Mission Rancheria Rd , Lakeport , CA 95453 : There is a huge section of docks available to park your boat with power for battery recharging .
Clear Lake State Park - Clear Lake State Park , 5300 Soda Bay Rd , Kelseyville , CA 95451-8217 : Is a very large state park with tons of camp sites , making it the best place to stay on the lake if you are planning on camping in a tent or RV .
Clearlake Oaks Boat Launch - 12684 Island Dr , Clearlake Oaks , CA 95423 : Is a smaller ramp with limited parking , but it is located right in Clear Lake Oaks at the Keys , a large network of sloughs with houses .
MAP FEATURE
Lakeport El 1340
� Radio Tower
Lampson Field Airport
Highland Springs Res .
Berger Bay
Rumsey Bay
Willow Pt
Highland Sprgs Rd
Adobe Creek Res .
Tule Island
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Long Tule |
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Reeves Pt |
Point |
Quercus
Point
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Library Park
Adobe Cr Road
Clear Lake
El 1326
Finlay El 1340
Crk
Road
Road
Kelsy
Lucerne
Bottle Rock Road
Pepperwood Grove
State Park
Lucerne El 1330
Clear Lake The
St Pk
Narrows
L ' il Borax Lake
Henderson Pt
Soda Bay
El 1400 Kelseyville El 1386
Mt . Konocti El 4200
Lower
Point Lakeview
High Valley Road
Buckinham Pt
Road
May 12-26 , 2017
Anderson Island
Weekend
Island Fruit Island
Konocti Bay
Lake
Clear Lake
Lake County
Drawn by Dewayne Hight
Glenhaven El 1330
Sulphur Bank Pt .
Wheeler Pt
Thurston Lake
Rattlesnake Island
Road
New Public Launch Facility
Borax Lake
Clearlake Oaks El 1350
Leubow Point
M & M Campground
Clearlake Park El 1350
Fishing Notes
• Largemouth Bass are the most popular species pursued by anglers at Clear Lake . Minnow fishing is at its prime in in December , January and February . Fish minnows with split shot on the bottom or under slip bobbers . Night fishing with Brush Hogs and jigs is also productive at night during the winter . The pre-spawn bite begins in late February or early March . Plastic worms , swim baits , crankbaits and spinnerbaits will all work . When the fish go on the beds in the spring , anglers toss out Senkos and a variety of plastics . Summer is the the time to fish frogs and top water lures early and late in the day and jigs deep during the day . When the fall arrives , the bass became aggressive and anglers can fool them with spinnerbaits , rip baits and a variety of plastics .
• Black Crappie provide year round action at Clear Lake . Fish mini jigs and small minnows around brush and rockpiles throughout the year . Use your electronics to fish bait and schools of crappie .
• Channel Catfish and White Catfish provide a trophy fishery at the lake . Late spring , summer and fall , when water temperatures are warm , provide the most consistent action . Use live minnows , crayfish and cut bait along the shoreline .
• Bluegill offer great fishing in the spring and summer . Toss mealworms , redworms and jigs off docks for the panfish .
Indian Island
Red Bud
23
I decided to catch one crappie “ for the road ,” fishing off the pier next to the boat ramp . The sun was now high over the water , the worst time of day to fish for crappie , so I targeted the shade next to the dock . I tossed out a Berkley Atomic Teaser in grasshopper and had a couple of tentative bites .
Suddenly , my rod doubled over as a big fish took the lure . I first thought I had hooked a bass , but when I got the fish to the top of the water , it turned into a big crappie over 1-1 / 2 pounds , my largest of the day .
Since I fished the lake with Myer , he said the crappie are still biting , although it has been off and on depending on the day .
“ On Friday , an overcast day , the fish were really biting ,” Myer said . “ Today , it hasn ’ t been as good . The best action is still in the mornings and afternoons ; it ’ s been slow during the day .”
Myer expected the solid crappie action to continue until early June . Then the fish move into deeper water where theyy ’ re harder to find .
Dave Brabec of Clear Lake Outdoors confirmed the top-notch crappie action at Clear Lake .
“ The crappie action has been good since February ,” he noted . “ The reason why we ’ ve seen so many crappie the last couple of years was because of the good spawn three years ago . The fishing now is almost like it was in the 1960s ”.
“ The fish are now just about done spawning ,” he said . “ After they are
Vern Williams of Lucerne ( left ) and Paul Myer of Winters ( right ) display a couple of hard-fighting crappie caught at Clear Lake on April 10 .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff . done spawning , they go into deeper water and anglers have a tough time finding them . They are still out there ; it ’ s just finding them that ’ s the problem .”
Usually in October and November when the water cools down , the crappie again move into docks and coves around the lake to feed on silversides minnows , noted Brabec .
While the crappie bag limit is now 25 in possession , Brabec personally thinks the limit should be reduced to 10 fish total to keep the population robust and healthy .
“ There was pretty good crappie fishing in 2006-2007 and then people fished them out ,” he observed .
Myer emphasized that there is lots of public access for anglers around Clear Lake with the abundance of docks , boat ramps and parks . However , anglers need to move from spot to spot until they find fish , since the crappie move frequently .
Good areas to fish for crappie ( for a fee ) include the Indian Beach Resort and the Clear Lake State Park , advised Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle . Other areas include the county park , Lucerne Harbor or
Big black crappie like this are the reward for anglers fishing docks and other structure on Clear Lake .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .
Lakeport Docks ; these spots have free access .
Every time you fish Clear Lake , you may catch a potential state record crappie . Carol Carlton of Lakeport set the state white crappie record at Clear Lake on April 26 , 1971 . Wilma Honey of Lodi set the state black crappie record of 4 pounds , 1 ounce at New Hogan Lake in March of 1975 .
There have been reports of bigger crappie landed at Clear Lake in recent years , but none of the anglers have gone through the record certification process . “ Last year two anglers called me and told me that they each let crappie over 5 pounds go ,” said Brabec . In addition to crappie , the lake hosts a world-class largemouth bass fishery and huge channel , white and brown bullhead catfish for anglers to pursue .