The storm after the calm

Cold front blasts Clear Lake with wind and chill

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Consider the deck shuffled. Right as Stren Western Division anglers were starting to get a handle on Clear Lake’s fickle disposition, a sharp cold front bullied its way into the region – just in time for the final round of competition.

During the day three weigh-ins, sponsor flags whipped vigorously, and by nightfall heavy gusts of wind piling past Mount Konocti sounded like a freight train. When the top 10 pros and co-anglers launched Saturday morning at Redbud Park in the city of Clearlake, white water crashed against the ramps and floating dock undulated like roller coasters.

Warm jackets, rain suits, gloves and various head gear were the norm, as ducks huddled on shore and the American flag looked like it was tacked to a piece of plywood. A big change from the three days of warm, calm conditions that anglers enjoyed during the qualifying rounds; Saturday’s weather will no doubt scramble many plans.

“This changes everything,” said tournament director Chris Jones. “It will be harder for these guys to get to their key spots. Most of these anglers are catching their fish on the north end of the lake, but making that run – at least this morning – in these conditions is almost impossible.”

Holding the pro lead for three days, Wade Curtiss of Lincoln, Calif. carries a 9-pound, 9-ounce advantage into the final round. Curtiss kept mum about most of his details all week, so it’s a safe bet that he has something figured out. Trolling motor problems limited his search abilities on day three, but Curtiss said he intentionally stayed clear of his better spots, in hopes of saving catchable fish for the final round.

Curtiss pairs with top co-angler Kyle Baker of Lancaster, Calif., who fished a watermelon Zoom finesse worm on a shaky head. Working the bait super slow has been the key to his success, and he believes that the declining weather may actually work in his favor. The bass will most likely settle into a state of general lethargy, so Baker’s technique – essentially dead-sticking – could be just what they need.

“I think (my technique) will hold up today,” Baker said. “I think the fish are going to want something slow and I’m already fishing that way.”

Notwithstanding Baker’s plan, many of the tactics employed during qualifying days will yield to methods better suited to Saturday’s turbulence. With fierce winds stirring the shallows and cooling temperatures driving fish to deeper retreats, the sight-fishing game is no more.

“Anytime you have wind and big waves, it makes it tough for shallow water fishing,” Jones said.

That’s bad news for anglers who found big fish moving into traditional spawning areas. Case in point: Pro Corey Fenske of Granite Bay, Calif. and his co-angler partner John Loverin of Valley Springs, Calif. found the heaviest bags in their respective divisions – 24-12 and 27-12 – on day three. They won’t find such opportunities during the final day of fishing.

The tournament’s first three days saw a lot flipping with plastics. With more current, Jones said he anticipates anglers in the final round will fish spinnerbaits and other reaction baits. Points, drop-offs and deeper rock piles will be good bets.

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 Redbud Park in Clearlake, Calif. at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. Weigh-ins 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.

Saturday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:29 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 38

Expected high temperature: 60

Water temperature: 58

Wind: WNW 10-20 mph