My son and I are finally planning on taking the boat up to Clear Lake for our first time ever next weekend(25th , 26th).
Any advise on where to launch , where to stay (possibly one night or two , safest location's) where to fish and what techniques . What to expect for weather etc...
I bass fished for 30 + years , just never been to Clear Lake .
Any tips would be appreciated ,
Thanks ,
Robb R
Clear Lake , first timer
Re: Clear Lake , first timer
Hey Robb, The fishing at Clear Lake can be pretty fickle this time of year but you can also get on em big time! There are lots of good little places to stay on the west side as well as east side at Lake Port or Konocti Vista casino. I would probably stay south because that is where your best bet of getting bit this time of year is.
I was up there just a couple of weeks ago and did well but the bite looks like it has changed a bit!
I would start off near Shag Rock and fish south starting off throwing some sort of top water; Spook, Punker, buzz bait and spinner baits in chartrues/white around wind blown banks and docks! If the wind is blowing try you best to fish the wind blown areas but pay attention and be safe, this lake can get real dangerous real fast!
3/8 to 1/2 oz jigs in browns, purples, reds on brake lines out from the bank and fish them slow! Berzerk Baits football head in brown/green pumkin with a yamamoto baby craw in Pumpkin or purple.
Drop shot a six inch red, purple or oxblood worm, Robos have been working; six inches off the bottom, ten pound test on tully points staying way off the point and casting as far as you can to reach the edge; very your presentation form shaking it to dead stick.
Shad color crank baits in the backs of coves and off main points! If they are not eating something shallow graduate to mid range and then ten to twelve feet on the cranks and try to tic something; Rocks or green weeds!
Also check the Clear Lake reports; Larry Hemphil, Brubec and Clear Lake Outdoors all give good reports!
Good Luck and have fun with you son! May you both catch monsters!
George
I was up there just a couple of weeks ago and did well but the bite looks like it has changed a bit!
I would start off near Shag Rock and fish south starting off throwing some sort of top water; Spook, Punker, buzz bait and spinner baits in chartrues/white around wind blown banks and docks! If the wind is blowing try you best to fish the wind blown areas but pay attention and be safe, this lake can get real dangerous real fast!
3/8 to 1/2 oz jigs in browns, purples, reds on brake lines out from the bank and fish them slow! Berzerk Baits football head in brown/green pumkin with a yamamoto baby craw in Pumpkin or purple.
Drop shot a six inch red, purple or oxblood worm, Robos have been working; six inches off the bottom, ten pound test on tully points staying way off the point and casting as far as you can to reach the edge; very your presentation form shaking it to dead stick.
Shad color crank baits in the backs of coves and off main points! If they are not eating something shallow graduate to mid range and then ten to twelve feet on the cranks and try to tic something; Rocks or green weeds!
Also check the Clear Lake reports; Larry Hemphil, Brubec and Clear Lake Outdoors all give good reports!
Good Luck and have fun with you son! May you both catch monsters!
George
Re: Clear Lake , first timer
Robb,
I would recommend giving Jimmy up at Clear Lake Bait and tackle a call. He is a great guy and not only fishes the place but has many contacts that keep him up on how and what they are hitting on. Here's a link to they're we site
http://clearlaketackle.com/
There's a place in Clear Lake Oaks. I believe it's called the Lakeview Lodge. It's fisherman friendly and the rate is around $70 Ask for the "fisherman's special" There's a free ramp in Clear Lake Oaks or you can make the short trip over to Red Budd Park in Clear Lake. Jimmy's tackle shop in right there at Redd Budd.
If you really want to catch fish and you don't mind using minnows, Your Son should have a blast! Check with Jimmy ahead of time to make sure he has "jumbos" and that bite is working. Fish them in Jones or Jago bays in about 20 feet or around Frazier point. Wherever you see fish on the graff, just Split shot the minnow with about 2 feet of leader. Another way this time of year is to fish a Texas rigged Beaver or Brush hog in watermelon red flake, or whatever your favorite color is. Fish it in 10-20' with a 1/4 ounce weight. There should be a crank bite (LV500) starting soon and if that bite is on yo yo it or rip it around the tule edges. Good luck and have fun!
Again Jimmy will fix you up!
DG
I would recommend giving Jimmy up at Clear Lake Bait and tackle a call. He is a great guy and not only fishes the place but has many contacts that keep him up on how and what they are hitting on. Here's a link to they're we site
http://clearlaketackle.com/
There's a place in Clear Lake Oaks. I believe it's called the Lakeview Lodge. It's fisherman friendly and the rate is around $70 Ask for the "fisherman's special" There's a free ramp in Clear Lake Oaks or you can make the short trip over to Red Budd Park in Clear Lake. Jimmy's tackle shop in right there at Redd Budd.
If you really want to catch fish and you don't mind using minnows, Your Son should have a blast! Check with Jimmy ahead of time to make sure he has "jumbos" and that bite is working. Fish them in Jones or Jago bays in about 20 feet or around Frazier point. Wherever you see fish on the graff, just Split shot the minnow with about 2 feet of leader. Another way this time of year is to fish a Texas rigged Beaver or Brush hog in watermelon red flake, or whatever your favorite color is. Fish it in 10-20' with a 1/4 ounce weight. There should be a crank bite (LV500) starting soon and if that bite is on yo yo it or rip it around the tule edges. Good luck and have fun!
Again Jimmy will fix you up!
DG
"And Jesus said unto them,come ye after me and I will make you become fishers of men"
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Re: Clear Lake , first timer
George , DG ,
Thank you so much for the advise and the tips . I will definitely call Jimmy to see what's hot .
I am hoping there are not to many tournaments on 25th and 26th .
I am also hopeful wind will not be a problem , especially for safety .
You would think after 30+ years of bass fishing in Norcal that I would have already made it up to Clear Lake .
Thanks again for the advise , it's one of the things that make this a very good website .
Best Regards ,
Robb
Thank you so much for the advise and the tips . I will definitely call Jimmy to see what's hot .
I am hoping there are not to many tournaments on 25th and 26th .
I am also hopeful wind will not be a problem , especially for safety .
You would think after 30+ years of bass fishing in Norcal that I would have already made it up to Clear Lake .
Thanks again for the advise , it's one of the things that make this a very good website .
Best Regards ,
Robb
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Re: Clear Lake , first timer
Gotta agree with DG, hit Jimmy up for info. He will honestly tell you what they're hitting & not sell you stuff you don't need. Stay south, I'll be up there for four days starting the eve of the 20th & I'll post a report under Clear Lake for you. I think it should be good as the weather should be fine. Last time out for me was very windy, but I think you may also get into a senko bite around docks. I'm thinking blades & cranks around rock structure should be good, but will know more about it next week! Good luck, have fun, & stay safe!
Re: Clear Lake , first timer
I wanted to thank all the guys that gave me some tips of fishing Clear Lake . My son and I had a great time.
We fished the 25th , 26th and the morning of the 27th.
We ended up with about 50 bass total for 25th and 26th , biggest went 7 , 5 and 4 . Caught the big ones on spinnerbaits deep and the rest were on shallow cranks and d-shots .
Clear lake is tough to learn for a first timer at the lake on finding those big bass.
We ended up fishing for catfish on sunday the 27th . WOW !!!! we ended up catching 16 catfish , smallest one was 5 lbs and the biggest went 20lbs , we were averaging 12 to 13 lbers , had three double hook ups, broke off two and missed about 5 or 6 good hits ---- all this in 4 hours . Catching big catfish on bass gear with 12 lb test is a HOOT!!!!!!!!!!
Going back again soon .
Thanks again,
Robb
We fished the 25th , 26th and the morning of the 27th.
We ended up with about 50 bass total for 25th and 26th , biggest went 7 , 5 and 4 . Caught the big ones on spinnerbaits deep and the rest were on shallow cranks and d-shots .
Clear lake is tough to learn for a first timer at the lake on finding those big bass.
We ended up fishing for catfish on sunday the 27th . WOW !!!! we ended up catching 16 catfish , smallest one was 5 lbs and the biggest went 20lbs , we were averaging 12 to 13 lbers , had three double hook ups, broke off two and missed about 5 or 6 good hits ---- all this in 4 hours . Catching big catfish on bass gear with 12 lb test is a HOOT!!!!!!!!!!
Going back again soon .
Thanks again,
Robb
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