Lake Sonoma bass rebound; Mendocino and Clear Lake still an early topwater play

Lake Sonoma’s bass fishing is back on the board. Don Moir’s Sept. 17, 2026 4Reel column in the Ukiah Daily Journal says reports out of the reservoir are much improved, still led by the north end. Yorty Creek, Cherry Creek, and the deeper water in Skunk Creek are the named coves. The bite he is hearing is a reaction bite: a fast retrieve with a KDV Square-build crankbait through and around submerged trees — long casts, keep it moving, cover water. Morning trollers along the dam have also been hooking landlocked salmon.

Lake Mendocino is the empty backyard right now. Moir says there are almost no boats, the early hours are still the window, and topwater before 8 a.m. is a good bet. Smallmouth have recently keyed on anything chartreuse. He and Teresa have been catching bass with full bellies; he calls this some of the best fishing of the season if you actually go.

Clear Lake’s water is getting better as nights cool and the algae eases, though parts of the Clearlake Oaks end still smell like a sewer. Bass are schooled in typical late-summer wolf packs. Most of the fish he is hearing about came off the south end in 15 to 20 feet. Early, a frog chugged across weed mats and along tules is putting fish up. The late-summer key is first light until about 8:30 a.m. — be on the water at dawn and keep moving until you find a school.

On the Mendocino Coast, salmon reports have been pretty good on a light chop, and with nearshore water near 60°F Moir says tuna are within reach of most boats. Labor Day traffic is off. Upper Blue Lake still has an early-and-late topwater bass bite (Pop-R, Bill Dance Spittin’ Image) plus a few trout on a troll or a slow-dragged crawler.

Photo: Contributed / Ukiah Daily Journal (Don Moir’s friend “D” with a bass at Upper Mill Creek Pond).

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Ukiah Daily Journal — 4Reel Fishing: Lake Sonoma Bass fishing improved (Don Moir, Sept. 17, 2026).