The Real Report from Lakeport

Just got back from a family vacation at Lakeport. Of course I had to do a little night fishing. The entire Lakeport shoreline is grassed in. Weeds are coming out of the bottom as far out as 14 feet deep. Great cover you say? Not if your propeller will not propel her because it's choked with weeds close to shore. They are running 3 paddle-wheel mowers that cut the top 3 feet off the grass. They keep resorts and ramps mowed, with channel markers guiding you in. Lakeport Lagoons is relatively clear of weeds. Knocti Vista harbor is clear of weeds, with a channel leading in. Holiday harbor, full of weeds. Shirley slough entrance choked. County park choked. Algae floats up in the hot afternoons and gets broken up by the breeze.

Sunday night, the 8th, we ran to Long tule point, around the county park side, found relatively open water at 10 feet and got an 11 and a 5. Bait of choice was liver! They turned up their barbels at mackeral. Monday night we moved over to the Long Tule light and anchored at the bottom of the hill. I think fish and game did a drive -by on us. A very long boat like their electroshock rigs had the whole lake, but passed within 10 feet of us. Never stopped or said a word and I couldn't tell who or what it was because of the dark. I wonder if they use night-vision gear. Anyway, we got a 12 pounder on liver and a 3 pound bass on cut bait.

Wednesday morning we trailered to the south end and launched at Redbud. Between sunrise and 10 am we got 7 fish between 5 and 10 pounds. These were all on mackeral. Water temp went from 78 to 82 degrees.

Thursday night we went into Lakeport Lagoons. Can somebody tell me why bats crash into your fishing lines. It's very common on that side of the lake. Anyway, if you want a great show, hand off a 7 pound cat to a 6 year old little girl and watch the fun. She got that one in and then we moved back to Long tule light and got a couple 4 pounders at the bottom of the hill. The fish finder was going crazy so I sent the camera down. Very interesting to watch a bunch of fry darting around, along with a few minnows. Fish were small enough that the infrared makes part of their bodies transparent. I've never seen action like that before. Very cool. Fish are a lot smaller than the fish finder makes you think.

So that's about it. Of course all fish lived to tell about it. Early in the week we could not see the other side of the lake because of the smoke and haze, but it gradually got a little better. And a good time was had by all.