BBT will kick off their 2018 season with back to back visits to Lake McClure. The Central Region starts off on January 13, followed by the Mother Lode Region on January 20. Other BBT events include the Coastal Region at Nacimiento on January 20.
For those looking to hit the waters of Lake McClure in January, Best Bass Tournaments offers this BBT Lake Blast
FISHING LAKE MCCLURE | JANUARY WINTER BASSIN’
Likely patterns for McClure this time of year and conditions could include dropshotting, ripbaits as well as small swimbaits.
SMALL SWIMBAITS AS THE BASS MOVE UP
A good option for a small swimbait in clear water, with low light conditions or even mid-day when there is a little bit of wind would be the Strike King Shadalicious. Lower visibility or a small wind helps hides the flaws of the angler. Target areas for the swimbait would be secondary points, as they are coming out of their deeper water points. Look for windward points and areas where the creeks come into the lake. Primary color options would be shad patterns in the local food source – shad, silver sides etc.
DROPSHOTTING THE TEMPERATURE BREAK
The new Max Scent Flatnose Minnow from Berkley dropshotted on a Trapper Tackle dropshot hook would also be a primary presentation for the winter bass hunt. The dropshot allows you to target areas by starting shallow and running deep. Especially in the depths of winter, largemouth as well as spots and smallies can be targeted easily with this technique as deep as 50- to 70-feet to 100-feet, as needed. The target area should be considered at the temperature break. The minnows will live in that thermocline zone, so dropshotting the area with a minnow should be a good producer.
Using your Lowrance depthfinder to locate the twists and turns that the main lake was originally designed around will also offer good target areas.
RIPPIN' SUSPENDED BASS
For those looking for a reaction bite the KVD J300D Jerkbait could be the ticket.
Utilizing Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon in 10- to 12-pound test will allow your jerkbait to stay down in strike zone and not float back up. Jerkbaits areas include the guts of the bays, straight down the middle. A lot of times the fish that will eat this presentation are suspended with the baitfish. Tossing in the middle of the guts and working from the back to the front, in cubby holes or a cul-de-sac can attract a suspended bass. It is important to work your way in and move back so as not to spook the fish, before they have a chance to see your bait. Fancast the areas left to right.
Translucent colors are going to best in clear water. If the water is dingy, go into a colored bait, like a chartreuse. If the sunlight cannot penetrate the water, you have to go to the colored bait to make sure it can be seen.
YO-YOING BAITFISH SHCOOLS
Also, you never discount the versatility of the Rat-L-Trap! Yo-yoing over a school of baitfish is an option over a spoon. The presentation can entail throwing it out over deep water and letting it float straight down to the baitfish and jerk rapidly up and down.
BBT MCCLURE JANUARY 13 EVENT DEETS
Launch: Barretts North
Sign-Ups will start two hours before blast off in the parking lot.
Register for this event
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