Fishing Report: White has another strong showing at Clear Lake

There’s no place John White would rather fish than Clear Lake. He’s a dual resident of San Luis Obispo and Lakeport. And when he fishes for bass, he has had plenty of success at California’s largest natural lake.

White’s latest Clear Lake adventure Sept. 10-11 was in the eighth-annual Bob’s Marine Owners Tournament. A year ago, White and his longtime partner from Fresno, Tony Klein, won the event with a 39.26-pound two-day limit. It meant a $3,175 payday.

This time, White and Klein obliterated their winning weight of 2010. Although they finished with a two-day weight of 51.76 pounds, they had to settle for second place and a $2,900 check. Their total weight was 0.36 less than the winning team of Terry Odom and Dennis Wainwright, who had 52.12 pounds.

“It was the best two-day tournament weight I’ve ever had,” said the 70-year-old White. “We were flippin’ Brush Hogs to offshore weed beds and culling 4 1⁄2-pound fish on Sunday. Our biggest fish that day was 4.89 pounds and the smallest was 4.68.”

The duo caught 25 or more fish each day and held a slim first-day lead.

White and Klein, 69, have made a habit of notching outstanding results in the annual tournament for owners of Champion and Stratos bass boats. They placed first in 2004 and second in 2005.

Creston’s Dale Ball and partner Fred Rex placed 11th this year with a 42.16-pound, 10-fish limit that paid $500.

White has two October tournaments at Clear Lake scheduled with partners Steve Bereda in the American Bass championship event and Bobby Doss in the Angler’s Choice finale.

Tri Valley fish-off

Although fishless trying topwater baits early, Atascadero’s Graham Grove and Pismo Beach’s Mark Scribner switched to drop-shotting by 8 a.m. Two hours later, they had a six-fish team limit.

Their 19.26-pound bag was good for a 5-pound plus victory margin in the Tri Valley Club Fish-off at Santa Margarita Lake on Saturday.

Graham said their two biggest fish were caught on a spinnerbait and a frog Scribner contributed a swimbait fish. Only four of the 20 teams qualified for the fish-off caught limits.

Top 10, Number of Fish, Weight 1. Graham Grove, Atascadero, Mark Scribner, Pismo Beach, 6, 19.26 pounds; 2. Scott Garman, Morro Bay, Dan Barrios, San Luis Obispo, 4, 13.74 pounds; 3. Felix Camacho, Nipomo, Jeff Smith, Santa Maria, 4, 13.46 pounds; 4. Danny Knotts, Bill Lukeman, Santa Maria, 6, 13.02 pounds; 5. Dana & Clayton Chatterly, Lompoc, 6, 12.59 pounds; 6. Jeff Rose, Oceano, Craig Rose, Bakersfield, 3, 12.33 pounds; 7. Ted & Dustin McAllister, San Luis Obispo, 4, 12.12 pounds; 8. Bill & Pat Twomey, Lompoc, 6, 11.42 pounds; 9.Ron & Derek Morrison, Lompoc, 3, 11.23 pounds; 10. Johnny Johnson, Rob Marquez, Santa Maria, 5, 10.46 pounds. 1st Big Fish, 5.49 pounds, Rose & Rose; 2nd Big Fish, 5.48 pounds, Morrison & Morrison.

Virg’s albacore trip

Departure will be 11 p.m. Saturday with fishing and return Sunday. Cost is $250. If no albacore are caught, customers will receive a $100 raincheck. Call 772-1222 for more details and reservations.

Patriot Sportfishing albacore trips

The Pacific Queen is coming up from Southern California and will begin tuna trips out of Patriot’s Port San Luis landing Oct. 8. Tuna trips aboard the Pacific Horizon will be scheduled soon. Call 595-7200 for more information and reservations.

Panfish Derby

The first Panfish Derby at Lopez Lake was held Saturday with 68 participants. Mike Carollo of Grover Beach, was the grand prize winner of $750 for the catch of a 1313⁄16-inch, 1-pound, 9-ounce crappie.

Placing first in the kids (15 and under) division was Lennie Johnson of Oceano. She took home $250 for her 6 7⁄8-inch, 12-ounce redear.

The event was sponsored by Friends of Lopez Lake organization. The group formerly sponsored the annual trout derbies, which ceased after 2009 as the lake is no longer receiving trout plants.

Patriot Sportfishing

On Sunday, Pat Collins of Los Osos moved into second place in Patriot’s seventh-annual lingcod contest with the catch of a 24-pound, 6-ounce lingcod at Pt. Purisima aboard the Pacific Horizon.

Other jackpot winners catching lings included Colby Moe, Bakersfield, 14-0; Luther Terrell, Los Angeles, 11-6; Amy Blewis, Lompoc, 11-0; Greg Harold, Costa Mesa, 10-0; Ashley Pedro and Frank Alva, both Tulare, both 8-0; Alan Bailey, Nipomo, 6-0; and Inga Molinari, Fresno, 5-0.

For trip schedules and reservations, call 595-7200.

Last week, 260 anglers caught 88 lingcod, 694 red rockcod, 919 assorted rockfish, 555 bolina, 24 cabezon, five kelp greenling, and one ocean whitefish.

Virg’s Landing

Chuck Mason of Chicago, and John Van Dam of Tipton, had the biggest jackpot fish last week, 12-pound lingcods.

Other winners were Brad Salazar, San Luis Obispo, 7-0 red rockcod; and Aaron Kern Sonoma, 6-0 copper rockfish. The catch by 144 passengers included: 23 lingcod, 386 red rockcod, 870 assorted rockfish, 102 coppers, 10 bocaccio, one cabezon and one ocean whitefish.

For trip schedules and reservations, call 772-1222.

Port San Luis Boatyard

Morro Bay’s Linda Lalum, fishing with Roger Bruce, caught a 36-pound halibut Sunday for Whopper of the Week honors. Sixty-eight boats were launched last week.

Thirty-two lingcod, 21 halibut, seven salmon and two white seabass were in the catch.

Three-quarter limits were caught three days, full limits and three quarter to full two days each.

Santa Margarita Lake

Catch and release angler Paul LaPointe of Paso Robles used spinnerbaits for six bass Wednesday. The biggest fish weighed 9 pounds, 11 ounces, according to marina manager Don Lopez.

Creston’s Ted Ratcliff caught 24 crappie Sunday on crappie jigs.

Nacimiento Lake

Dave Rymal said Martin Rowley and several other Heritage Ranch residents have trolled for limits of spotted bass to 2-plus pounds and some white bass to 1 1⁄2 pounds.

Lopez Lake

Randy Van Otterloo, the lake’s new marina concessionaire, reports catching a 3-pound crappie Sunday using a Bumble Bee crankbait. Rodney Runels of Arroyo Grande used a red and brown crawdad jig to catch a 4-pound bass Monday.

Cachuma Lake

Catfish bite remains strong in shallow coves using mackerel, dough balls or nightcrawlers. Largemouth bass are in shallow water early.

Blades, crankbaits and creature baits are working. Crappie bite has improved using mini jigs in The Narrows and back of Cachuma Bay.

Lake San Antonio

No Report.

Whale Rock

For the third time this season, anglers caught trout in double-digit numbers. Ten trout were caught last week, equaling the catch of June 18-24. The most fish caught was 20 the week of July 18-24. Joe Reynolds caught two 14-inch trout and a 16-inch Saturday. Then he added 14-, 16-, and 17-inch trout, all on lures, Sunday. His 2011 total is 27 fish. Gary Collier reeled in 12-, 14-, and 16-inch trout on worms Sunday. He has caught the second most fish, 22. Pat Morris landed a 141⁄2-inch trout on worms Sept. 14. Eight anglers turned out last week.