Last chance to solve the puzzle

Anglers struggling to find consistency on Clear Lake

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – They don’t want pickles or chocolate ice cream and they don’t want their bulging bellies rubbed, but the expectant mothers on Clear Lake are very particular about meteorological conditions. Thus far, they’ve not found their preference and that’s the dilemma facing anglers in the Wal-Mart Stren Series Western Division event.

Weather has been the major factor here, as a nice warming trend a week before the tournament was interrupted by a harsh dose of cold, windy conditions on Monday. The wind has subsided and daytime temperatures have warmed up nicely, but most of the big females are still undecided.

Anglers have found some fish bedding in creeks, tules and shallow flats. A few have bagged bruisers of 9-plus pounds, but the majority of anglers are reporting plenty of numbers absent the kicker fish.

Pro Mark Lassagne, who publishes the Bass Angler’s Guide out of Concord, Calif., enters day three with 22 pounds, 1 ounce. Once he puts five in the boat, he’ll be swinging for the fence.

“I’m pretty low in weight so I probably need to catch 23-25 pounds just to get a check,” he said. “I’m going to get a quick limit and then I’m going to throw a swimbait the rest of the day. I’ll run up to the north end, fish some humps and creek channels and look for some giant fish.”

Lassagne said he observed good numbers of big fish moving into shallow spawning areas a week ago, but Mother Nature’s little prank stymied those plans. This weekend’s full moon would normally prompt the fish to move onto the beds, but another patch of cold is headed this way and anglers fear that more fluctuation will just further postpone the spawn.

“I think this (cold weather) is going to hold them off,” Lassagne said. “Maybe they have a little foresight of what’s going to happen. They know it’s going to get cold and they’re just hanging out.”

Notably, the first two mornings saw the majority of boats running to Clear Lake’s shallower north end. On day three, the number of boats heading south was considerably higher. Chances are that the creeks and tules up north are getting hammered and anglers will be prospecting more around docks and offshore rock

Lincoln, Calif. pro Wade Curtiss has held a commanding lead since day one. His 52-pound, 11-ounce total gives Curtiss a margin of 11 pounds, 10 ounces, so it will take an amazing performance – or a monumental slip on his part – for anyone to overtake the leader.

On the co-angler side, Kyle Baker of Lancaster, Calif. is fishing very well. He leads his division with 38-5 after finishing second on day one. Baker, whose 9-13 won big bass honors on day one, is dragging finesse worms on shaky heads. He’s trying to offer the bass an alternative to the many dropshots they’re seeing.

The co-angler division is much tighter than the pro field, and Scott Sweet of Chatsworth, Calif. has shadowed Baker since day one. Sweet moved up from third to second on day two. He’s in good position to make a big move on day three so this race should be interesting.

Logistics

The Stren Series event, which runs April 16-19, is the third of four regular-season Western Division events. Hosted by Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, the Clear Lake tournament offers a total purse of $275,225. The winning pro could earn as much as $65,000 in cash and prizes if contingencies are met, and the winning co-angler could earn as much as $35,000.

Anglers take off from the Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa marina, located at 8727 Soda Bay Road, at 6:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday. Anglers take off from Redbud Park in Clearlake, Calif. at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. Weigh-ins will be held at the marina beginning at 2:30 p.m. Friday. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 15960 Dam Road in Clearlake, beginning at 4 p.m.

The full field competes Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers advance to Saturday’s final round. Winners will be determined Saturday by the heaviest accumulated weight from all three days of competition.

Friday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:30 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 49

Expected high temperature: 70

Water temperature: 62

Wind: SW 8-10 mph