page_title: Clear Lake (California)
section_title: Recreation
hierarchical_section_title: Clear Lake (California) / Recreation
caption_attribution_description: English: Clear Lake, from Route 175 in Lake County, northern California. The Clear Lake region was the former homeland of the Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo indigenous peoples, with their sacred and archeological sites. Photo by Kit Conn.
context_page_description: Clear Lake is a natural freshwater lake in Lake County in the U.S. state of California, north of Napa County and San Francisco. It is the largest natural freshwater lake wholly within the state, with 68 square miles of surface area. At 2.5 million years, it is the oldest lake in North America. It is the latest lake to occupy a site with a history of lakes stretching back at least 2,500,000 years.
  Known as the "Bass Capital of the West," Clear Lake supports large populations of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, carp and catfish. Two-thirds of the fish caught in Clear Lake are largemouth bass, with a record of 17.52 pounds. In addition to fish, there is abundant wildlife within the Clear Lake basin. There are year-round populations of ducks, pelicans, grebes, blue herons, egrets, osprey, and bald eagles, and the basin supports sizable populations of deer, bear, mountain lion, raccoon and other animals.
  The expansive, warm water of Clear Lake makes it popular for watersports, such as swimming, water skiing, wakeboarding, sailing, boat races, and jet skiing.
context_section_description: With over 100 miles (160 km) of shoreline, Clear Lake is a popular spot for water sports enthusiasts. Fishing, swimming, sailing, wind surfing, waterskiing, boating, and riding personal water craft are all popular activities, primarily in the summer. According to the California Water Boards, Clear Lake sees 15,000 recreational boaters per year. There are 11 free boat launch ramps around the lake that are open to the public. Individuals may rent boats and personal water craft from many businesses around the lake.
  Clear Lake is sometimes called the "Bass Capital of the West." Largemouth bass, which are farmed and planted in the lake by California Department of Fish and Wildlife, crappie, catfish, bluegill, and rainbow trout can be found in the county's lakes. Fishing boats can be rented, and many stores and facilities around the lake specialize in fishing equipment. Numerous fishing tournaments and derbies are held through the year. In 2016, Clear Lake was ranked by Bassmaster Magazine as the #3 best bass lake in the United States and the #1 best bass lake on the West Coast.
  Area wineries with tasting rooms include Guenoc and Langtry Estate Vineyards and Winery, Steele Wines, Brassfield Wines, Vigilance Wines, Six Sigma Winery, and Wildhurst Vineyards among others.
  All boaters entering Lake County are warned that Dreissenid mussels, otherwise known as quagga and zebra mussels are a great threat to Clear Lake. By law, boats are required to be inspected before launching. Shops in the vicinity carry out the inspection. At every entry to Lake County, signs warn boaters not to spread hydrilla in the county's bodies of water. Extensive management efforts have controlled the presence of hydrilla in Clear Lake, although it may return at any time.
  The lake is also the site of an annual "splash-in", the "oldest and largest seaplane gathering in the Western United States".
  The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment released an advisory statement regarding eating fish caught from this lake based on the mercury level.
caption: View of Clear Lake and Mount Konocti from CA Highway 175
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