It’s on out West

Stren Series Western Division plunges into 2009 competition on Clear Lake

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – It seems fitting that Stren Series anglers can toast the kickoff to 2009 Western Division competition deep in northern California’s wine country. But as the field of 296 fishermen opened the season Thursday morning on Clear Lake, it’s doubtful many were contemplating the complex flavors of a pinot noir or a merlot, but instead the sweetest taste of all – victory.

Before these skilled bass anglers can raise a glass to success, however, they’ll need to unravel the mystery of Clear Lake’s early-March bite. And while California’s largest natural lake is a vaunted largemouth factory, weeks of rainy, cool weather could make that a challenge. On the eve of the tournament, one local angler reported sacking a 22-pound limit Sunday only to be thwarted Wednesday.

Having finished the 2008 Walmart FLW Series National Guard Western Division season ranked No. 8 among co-anglers, Robert Faaborg of Ramona, Calif., is fishing his first FLW Outdoors event as a pro this week. Even if the bite has been a bit stingier than in past years, Faaborg said the fishing on Clear Lake is still great with the bite picking up a bit over the last couple days.

“People have been whining about 15 to 16 pounds a day,” he laughed, adding he thinks it will take about 36 pounds to make the cut after Friday.

The last time the Stren Series visited Clear Lake this early in the season – in 2006 – Western stick Jimmy Reese took the crown, and the top-10 cut weight after day two would have been 36 1/2 pounds. There have been other winners since, fishing closer to the April spawn, but one thing always remains the same: There will be weight. Even with temps down and rain-stained water toughening the bite, predictions to make the cut after day two are coming in at a healthy 32 to 36 pounds with an average of about 20 pounds daily taking the win on day three.

There are definitely options on this near 44,000-acre lake: Some will fish the northern parts, where depths can hover at a shallow 6 to 8 feet, while some will venture south, where deep means something closer to 30 feet. But at a length of about 19 miles – with bending lake arms adding distance in some spots – and a width half that distance, long runs won’t be as much of a problem as simply finding the large schools.

Faaborg said he will head south Thursday, targeting shallow rock piles with a small ¼-ounce jig. His day-one partner is Aaron Reitz of Soda Springs, Calif., an accomplished Western co-angler, having finished right behind Faaborg in the FLW Series Western Division last year as the No. 9 co-angler and ranking in the top 10 two years running in the Stren Western. Reitz said he figured today would be “a big dragging day,” with anglers finding success drop-shotting jigs or worms, generally fishing slow or with other finesse techniques.

Early reports have most of the largemouth population swimming in large groups, so it could be feast or famine for the field. And co-angler George Thiel of Banning, Calif., said docks will factor into many game plans, as they are plentiful around the entire fishery and provide obvious structure targets.

Thiel said drop-shots are usually hot on Clear Lake at this time of year. He intends to fish a Carolina rig today – hooked to a Senko, Zoom Lizard or Brush Hog – or revert to a spinnerbait.

All agree that a little sun would go a long way to warm up the largemouth bite on Clear Lake, but the weather is calling for mostly cloudy skies today with chances of showers. It appears conditions will brighten some for Friday’s competition, however.

At stake

It’s little wonder why these skilled bass anglers – 148 professionals and as many co-anglers – are revved up to start Stren Series competition out West with a strong finish. The pros are competing for an enviable top award worth $65,000 ($25,000 cash guaranteed plus a fully rigged Ranger boat package if qualified) and the co-anglers, who fish from the backs of pros’ boats, for a top award worth $35,000 (guaranteed Ranger boat with outboard and trailer plus $5,000 cash if qualified).

But this tournament is also the pacesetter for Western Division anglers, leaving three more divisional qualifiers – Lake Roosevelt, Lake Oroville and California Delta – to determine who will qualify for the lucrative Stren Series Championship. The top 40 pros and 40 anglers from each of the series’ five divisions will earn a trip to this year’s championship on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala., Nov. 5-7 for a shot at $150,000 in the Pro Division and $60,000 in the Co-angler Division.

Weighing in

Thursday’s weigh-in takes place at 2:30 p.m. Pacific time at the marina at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa located at 8727 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville. For bass-fishing fans unable to attend the festivities in person, you can catch all the weigh-in action live at FLWOutdoors.com with FLW Live.

Thursday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:37 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 35 degrees

Expected high temperature: 55 degrees

Water temperature at the ramp: 49 degrees

Wind: N at 5 to 10 mph

Maximum humidity: 94 percent

Day’s outlook: cloudy with a few showers; thunder possible