Do you like lake fishing? If so, Clear Lake could be the ideal vacation spot for you. Clear Lake is known for some of the best catfish and bass fishing in the western US. Bassmaster consistently rates Clear Lake in first place for bass fishing in Western lakes. The record largemouth bass weighed in at 17.52 pounds.

Bass Tournaments

Bass fishing tournaments kick off with the big Lake County Chamber of Commerce Tournament in March. The 2018 winner caught 10 fish for a total weight of 53.31 pounds with the biggest weighing in at 10.23. 115 teams participated catching a total of 813 fish with a total weight of 2110.72 pounds! See the full results.

At the April 14 Best Bass Tournament Trail contest, the winner caught 5 fish for a total of 30.92 pounds with his biggest fish weighing 8.45 pounds. See the results here.

A smaller draw tournament was held May 5, with 8 anglers taking part. The winner caught 5 fish weighing in at 13.54 pounds and the top big fish came in at 8.52 pounds. Top techniques used were drop shot and senkos.

More bass contests are scheduled throughout summer and fall. See the schedule on the California Fish and Wildlife site. Follow Clearlake Bassmasters on Facebook for more about bass fishing, contests on the lake, and local updates.

• Check the schedule, reserve your camp spot and bring your boat.

Catfish Tournaments

The annual Catfish Derby, held in May, is billed as the "largest catfish tournament west of the Mississippi".  The 2018 winners caught catfish weighing 24.34 pounds in the adult division, 20.27 pounds in the ages 11 to 15 division, and a whopping 27.36 pounds in the kids up to 10 division. See the full results.

The record catfish for Clear Lake weighed 33.33 pounds.  In 2017, 11 year old Tanner Castillo was the youngest ever to win the derby with a 28.81 pound catfish, according to this article. Catfish were first introduced in Clear Lake in 1910, having been brought west from Mississippi to California in 1874 and stocked in the San Joaquin River.

This year, Clear Lake Campground also held a camper catfish derby for fish caught right at the campground. Tom Viada was the winner with a catfish weighing 18 pounds 11 ounces. Most fish caught were in the 7 to 15 pound range.

Although the contest is over, there's still plenty of great fishing right here at the campground. Fish on Cache Creek right from our shore, you don't even need a boat. Just reserve your space and bring your pole!

New Catfish Contest: Catfish Gold Rush, August 25-26 at Redbud Park (just minutes from the campground), boats only. See the poster on our Facebook page.

Clear Lake Campground is the perfect place to spend those lazy days of summer. Start your morning with a kayak or boat ride, a walk in Anderson Marsh State Park or fish right off the shore. Spend the hot afternoons lounging by the pool or going in for a swim. Evenings are often beautiful, a great time to kick back, have a barbecue, and enjoy your spot along Cache Creek. There's something for everyone whether you like to fish, experience nature, or just relax.

At the campground we have canoes and kayaks for rent, boat ramps for launching your own boat, fish-cleaning stations, and a small store selling frozen bait, night crawlers, hooks, and weights. Because Clear Lake is a shallow lake the water is a greenish color and swimming in Cache Creek is not usually recommended in summer although it's fine for fishing and boating. We have a nice pool where you can swim during the day and deck chairs and picnic tables by the shore of Cache Creek where you'll often see heron, egrets, ducks, and even otters.

Lake County has several special events in summer. Experience the days of the the wild west in mid-June at Middletown Days, a great family event with a parade, BBQ, horseshoe tournament, chili cook off, live music, and hay rides. Celebrate Father's Day with a camping trip.

Fourth of July celebrations are spread over several days with fireworks at different locations around the lake. In Clearlake there's a small parade followed by the International Worm Races, Lakeport holds a street fair, and Clearlake Oaks has a boat parade.  The CDFW usually schedules a free fishing day on the weekend before July 4 so you can fish right at the campground even if you don't have a license. The following weekend is the Lake County Rodeo, held at the Lakeport Fairgrounds.

In mid-August, the Lakeside Hot Car and Boat Show is held in Lakeport with music, vendors, food, cars, and high-performance boats making passes by Library Park.

A highlight of summer is the Lake County Fair, held Labor Day Weekend at the Lakeport Fairgrounds. Saturday night features top musical entertainment and there are lots of fun family activities and shows during the day both Saturday and Sunday.

Free concerts in Lakeport's Library Park are held Friday evenings at 6PM from mid-June through mid-August. The third Thursday evening from June through September, Kickin in the Country is held in downtown Kelseyville with live music, food, and vendors. Clearlake Art Gallery holds a third Friday Gala of art and music is held, 6 - 8PM. Head to Ely Stage Stop the first Sunday of the month for the fiddlers' jam. Live music is held in several venues around the lake on Friday and Saturday nights during summer.

Anderson Marsh State Park, across the creek from Clear Lake Campground, holds guided nature walks the second Saturday of the month, usually starting at 8:30. But you can hike on your own in the park any day, early mornings are usually the best time to go in summer.

Summer is a good time to visit Lake County wineries. Most are open for tasting on weekends and some are open every day in summer. Wineries often hold special events in summer, too. Visit the Farmers' market, with live music and food, on Saturday mornings at Steele Winery. Have a picnic and play bocce at Vigilance Winery in Lower Lake, just a few miles from Clear Lake Campground. Or take a jeep tour at Six Sigma Winery.

For more special events and the live music schedule, see the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Events Calendar. Plan your weekend with our 36 Hours at Clear Lake Campground itinerary.

Author:
Martha Bakerjian is a travel writer who divides her time between Clearlake and northern Tuscany. She writes about Italy on her site, Martha's Italy.

January 30 is National Plan Your Vacation Day and it's the perfect time to book a camp site at Clear Lake Campground. If you like to camp, why not plan a camping vacation each month? Clear Lake Campground is now open all year so if you have a small RV (up to 30 feet) you can even come up in winter.

Clear Lake is a top place for fishing and has been rated as the second best lake in the United States for bass fishing. It's a prime location for birding, kayaking, or just relaxing. Lake County also has live music, special events and activities year round. Monthly events include the Fiddlers Jam at Ely Stage Stop the first Sunday of the month and guided walks at Anderson Marsh most months on the second Saturday morning.

Here's a sampling of top events for each month:

Start the year with a guided walk at Anderson Marsh State Park, across the creek from the campground. Join the First Day Hike on January 1, usually starting at noon.

February is a great month for a wine weekend. Several wineries have special weekend events in February and most tasting rooms are open too. Barrels & Verticals Tasting is usually held the last Saturday of the month.

March is when fishing really starts picking up. The Clear Lake Bass Tournament is held in mid-March.

April is usually a top month for kayaking and boating. Kayak rentals can be arranged right at the campground. Spring break is a great time to come to Clear Lake Campground.

In May one of the top events is Heron Days, sponsored by the Lake County Audubon Society. Held right at Clear Lake Campground, activities include pontoon boat tours in Anderson Marsh. The Catfish Derby, held in Clearlake Oaks, is billed as the largest catfish tournament west of the Mississippi. Wine Adventure Weekend is held later in May, with more than 25 wineries participating. Mother's Day is in May so if your mom likes to camp, treat her to a weekend at Clear Lake Campground. There's a special Mother's Day concert at Soper Reese Theater in Lakeport and several restaurants have a special Mother's Day brunch.

June is the month to relive the wild west. Upper Lake Wild West Day is usually held the first Saturday of the month, with a parade, ice cream social, BBQ, live music, and activities for kids. Mid-month is Middletown Days, with a parade, BBQ, horseshoe tournament, chili cook off, hay rides, and even Cowboy Church on Sunday. A camping weekend makes a good Father's Day gift, too.

4th of July is a great time to come to Clear Lake Campground. Fireworks are spread out over several nights at different locations around the lake and there's a street fair in Lakeport. In Clearlake there's a small parade followed by the International Worm Races.  The CDFW usually schedules a free fishing day on the weekend before July 4 and you can fish right at the campground.

August events include free Friday night concerts in Lakeport's Library Park and the Lakeside Car and Boat Show in mid-August with music, vendors, food, and high-performance boats making passes by Library Park.

The first weekend in September is the Lake County Fair held in Lakeport with lots of fun events for the whole family. The Kelseyville Pear Festival, a huge street fair and parade celebrating Lake County's agricultural heritage, is the last weekend of the month.

The first Saturday in October is the Konocti Challenge Cycling Race. Participants can sign up for one of 4 different bicycling routes around Clear Lake, ranging from a 20 mile family fun ride to a century ride. Steele Winery usually holds a Harvest Festival the second weekend of October, with lots of fun activities for the whole family.

In November there are several arts and crafts fairs including the Dickens' Faire, the last Saturday of the month in downtown Lakeport.

Clearlake's Christmas parade is held the first Saturday of December. Anderson Marsh holds Christmas at the Ranch in December also.

For more special events and the live music schedule, see the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Events Calendar.

Fall is a nice time to come to Clear Lake. Although nights start to get chilly, days are often beautiful and sunny, especially in early fall. With the summer heat gone, temperatures are usually good for hiking, biking, or kayaking in the creek. Fishing is often fantastic during fall and there are still lots of birds.

Fall events in Lake County start with the Kelseyville Pear Festival held the last Sun in September. Pears are one of the county's top 3 agricultural products and there's a special exhibit about farming and pioneer families in the Pear Pavilion. Special pear events include a pie eating contest and pear dessert contest and there are a variety of delectable pear products available for purchase at the food booths. A parade down Main Street gets things going in the morning. The all day festival includes music and dancers on three stages, wine tasting, art, food, and other vendor booths, and kid's activities. It's a fun family event with something for everyone.

Bicyclists won't want to miss the Konocti Challenge Cycling Race the first Saturday in October. Participants can sign up for one of 4 different bicycling routes around Clear Lake ranging from a 20 mile family fun ride to a century ride. Courses start in Lakeport with the 65 and 100 mile riders starting by 8:30 AM and the more leisurely 20 and 40 mile groups starting by 10.  

The Steele Wines Harvest Festival is the second weekend October. This 2-day event features fun for the whole family including a 4H BBQ, music, arts and crafts show, grape stomping, pie eating contest, games, and activities for kids. Of course there's wine tasting, too. On Saturday morning there's also a farmers' market and the annual Run for Literacy offering 5 and 10K runs and a more relaxing 5K walk.

Halloween events happen at various venues around the lake both the weekend before Halloween and on October 31. Activities for kids include the annual Trunk or Treat in Clearlake and Trick or Treat on Main St in Lakeport, both on October 31. A fun family activity is the corn maze at Renker Farms, 2297 Argonaut Road in Kelseyville, usually open from 9:00 to 6:00 through November. So if you're coming to Clear Lake Campground on Halloween weekend, be sure to bring your costume!

Arts and crafts fairs and Christmas markets start in November. One of the best is the Dickens' Faire held the last Saturday in November. Main Street in Lakeport comes alive with arts and crafts vendors, food booths, music, and activities for kids including photos with Santa. The day ends with caroling and the tree lighting at sunset. There's also a costume contest so come dressed in your vintage Dickens outfit.

Clearlake's Christmas parade is held the first Saturday of December. Starting from Redbud Park at 6PM, it runs along Lakeshore Drive to Austin Park. Santa Claus is sure to make an appearance at this event, too, which is very close to Clear Lake Campground.

For those who would like to attend a special festival or event when you come to Clear Lake Campground, these are five of Lake County's most popular events. Remember that the campground, and other lodging options, may fill up quickly on these weekends, so be sure to reserve your camp site well in advance.

Heron Days:
Sponsored by Redbud Audubon Society, Heron Days usually takes place the last weekend of April in Kelseyville and the first weekend of May in Clearlake, right at Clear Lake Campground. The highlight of Heron Days is the pontoon boat tours into Anderson Marsh for a close-up look at the birds of Clearlake. These boat tours sell out quickly and Clear Lake Campground may fill up too so be sure to make your reservations early.

Enjoy this short video of a pontoon boat tour at the 2017 Heron Days event. This part of Anderson Marsh is also accessible by kayak, available for rent at Clear Lake Campground.

Lake County Wine Adventure:
Later in May, Lake County Wine Adventure is a 2-day event with more than 25 participating wineries. You can buy a passport good for one day or both days and there's a special ticket for designated drivers who can enjoy the food and fun (without the wine). Wineries offer tastings and food and sometimes music, tours or other special activities. It's a great opportunity to visit Lake County wineries.

If you don't want to come for the Wine Adventure weekend, there are still many opportunities for wine tasting. Most Lake County wineries are open on weekends and some are also open during the week, especially in summer.

Fourth of July:
Independence Day is a great time to come to Clear Lake Campground. Fireworks are spread out over several nights at different locations around the lake. Lakeport holds a big street faire at Library Park on July 4 with arts and crafts, music and food and a fireworks display over the lake at dusk. Downtown Clearlake celebrates with a small parade in the morning, followed by the unique International Worm Races at Austin Park and a fireworks display in the evening, usually on the Saturday before July 4. Clearlake Oaks holds a boat parade, also often on the weekend, with fireworks the night of July 3.

The CDFW usually schedules a free fishing day on the weekend before July 4, too, so it's a great time to try fishing if you don't want to buy a license. Clear Lake Campground is on Cache Creek so you can fish right from the campground. Be sure to reserve your spot at Clear Lake Campground in advance as July 4 is a popular time for camping!

Lake County Fair:
The Lake County Fair is held in Lakeport on Thursday through Sunday of Labor Day weekend, the first weekend in September. There's lots going on at the fair from animals, contests, and educational displays to food, music, rides, and entertainment. Saturday night, featuring top musical entertainment, is the most popular time to come to the fair but families will find lots of fun things to do during the day on Saturday and Sunday.

Kelseyville Pear Festival:
The Kelseyville Pear Festival, celebrating Lake County's agricultural heritage, is one of the county's most popular events. Held on the last Saturday of September, Main Street Kelseyville hosts more than 100 food and craft vendors and a wine pavilion featuring Lake County wines. Three stages feature a variety of music and entertainment well into the evening. A pear dessert contest, pear pie eating contest, and horse fair round out the events.

There's something happening in Lake County most weekends from spring through early fall so check the Lake County Events Calendar or the calendar tab on Lake County News for the dates you plan to visit.