clearlake 1-10-09

one word,
beautiful

another word, SKUNK

Fished from 2:30 to 5:00 on Saturday
When I got into town, the first thing I saw was a tackle shop with the sign "boat inspections here", wondering what this was about, I wandered in and found out that Lake County now has a voluntary boat inspection and stickering program.  The sticker is only $10, but the ticket for not having one is $180, and there are 3 wardens patrolling Lake County (mostly Clear Lake according to the shop owner)
He also said that he would be keeping a fat stock of live minnows all summer.

So I got my moat sticker and launched from Rosebud park.  There were only a few bass boats on the lake, but I kept my eye on the pleasure boaters cruising around at 50mph as I paddled across the lake towards the golden gate bridge...

well, the lake was stunning, the breeze moderate, and the fish non-cooperative as I threw plastics (senkos, creatures, and curly tail grubs)

I'll be back in a couple months as the water gets a bit warmer.

Pics:
1: the new tackle shop
2: almost no wind
3: sure looks fishy...

oah yeah, here's the rough route I paddled and fished, I did all of my fishing near the shore in 5 to 15 feet of water...

If it is $10 for a voluntary inspection, why the fine if not? Doesn't make sense.

H20Spider..Feel free to chime in on this one. Inquiring minds want to know.

Great report, pics and Google map, rockfish - too bad about the skunk - it'll pay off later.   

Hey guys 

Clear Lake is in all out war against the Quaga Muscle.

The sticker is to show the athoritys that you took the time to basicly fill out the paper work, and that you Know how the muscle gets from lake to lake.

The big scare is the spread of the muscle from the lakes down south.

Yes you even need the sticker on float tubes and kayaks 

Thee checking station is more-than-likley protocall


As far as the ten bucks well.... thats C.A government.

fourty + for a fishing licence holy crapp....

Hey guys 

Clear Lake is in all out war against the Quaga Muscle.

The sticker is to show the athoritys that you took the time to basicly fill out the paper work, and that you Know how the muscle gets from lake to lake.

The big scare is the spread of the muscle from the lakes down south.

Yes you even need the sticker on float tubes and kayaks 

Thee checking station is more-than-likley protocall


As far as the ten bucks well.... thats C.A government.

fourty + for a fishing licence holy crapp....

What you explained is obvious. What is not obvious is why a VOLUNTARY inspection costs $10 but the fine is $180 if you don't do it volunarily. Think about it for a moment there.

Clear Lake has this honor system where you can certify that you are mussel free by mail. Then they mail you a sticker to your house. Or you can go into a tackle shop and get certified and get the same sticker. The fine for not having the sticker is $180.00 and the sticker is not voluntary.

Thanks, Jaime. The word Voluntary threw me.

yeah, I guess I should have been more clear...

Once the weather gets a bit warmer I think I'll be back there several times this summer.  I may have to make a bait tube first though...

Clear Lake has this honor system where you can certify that you are mussel free by mail. Then they mail you a sticker to your house. Or you can go into a tackle shop and get certified and get the same sticker.

Wow, they must be REALLY serious about preventing mussel infestations.
(insert sarcasm here)
Really though, an honor system?! What a pointless exercise of bureaucratic BS. Hahahaha!

Oh, and thanks for the report and pics, rockfish! Good on ya for sticking to the artificials, too.

Wow, they must be REALLY serious about preventing mussel infestations.
(insert sarcasm here)
Really though, an honor system?! What a pointless exercise of bureaucratic BS. Hahahaha!

Let me just say this. I think the honor system is a great idea. Why? It is a lot more efective than what other places have in place.

How many times have I got through inspection with the guy just looking at my float tube and nothing else? For all I know, someone could have had a bucket full of quagga mussels and dumped it in the lake without them knowing. Wake board boats take on a tank full of lake water to help create big wakes. They never even look at that tank. People go in the lake and when they pull out dump the whole tank in. Will they ever know?

Having said that, Once the Delta get's infected, there is no stopping for all the lakes in northern Cali to get it sooner or later. JM2c.

Sorry for the hijack.

Back to the fishing report...XSquid, James, and I fished that same spot this summer, when the froggin' was the ticket.  Too bad the fish didn't want to be friendly.  Better luck next time.

Bryan

10 bucks=  is for the sticker and the paper work.

The inspections are up to you, and are a waste of tax money and are a joke!!

Sory Hojo for stating the obvious!

Hey, no prob. Just took a while to get an answer to my question.