Matt Allen pictured with Tim Little
Are you ready for thirty plus pound bags? I hope so, because on Clear Lake, this year, anything is possible, according to Matt 
Allen of Tactical Bassin’. “These fish are healthier, hungrier [and happier] this year,” Matt says with an uplifting tone. It’s a different lake than this time last year and the FLW anglers will be facing different, but probably better conditions.
BAIT
California’s largest natural lake has set up a little differently this year, some man-caused alterations and others natural. First of all, the Tule Perch population has just exploded. There are 3 inch young of the year everywhere, and a good amount of 5 to 6 inch adults roaming around.
This size class of baitfish is going to be larger than the shad. Speaking of shad and hitch, they are still around in their usual haunts and numbers. This year, anglers may find themselves keying in on perch rather than shad and hitch. Crawdads are always a favorite bass snack this time of year and there continues to be no exception this year.
VEGETATION
Secondly, this year to keep algal blooms to a minimum the lake got sprayed to kill it off. For those of you who were hoping on punching some grass, no worries there is still some vegetation in the usual places in the north end.
The south end; on the other hand, is practically void of the typical summer vegetation and algal blooms.
CLARITY
The spraying caused the lake to dirty up, like chocolate milk. The south end is starting to show signs of clearing, as I’m writing this; however, the north end will take the longest to clean up.
Mid-lake has been producing the best bags lately and will more than likely continue to do so around the end of September. By then, the lake overall will continue to get better color.
STRATEGY
On a good note, a really good note, Matt feels this year the bass are healthier overall than last. They are gorging on baitfish, especially those perch and not to forget those crayfish.
The bass seem to be more dialed in this year, claims Matt, it won’t be a junk fishing, milk run tournament. Finding a strong school or two, throwing the typical fall baits and preserving the fish to last the tournament will lead to a successful finish. Matt believes this year more than others, a “camper” has the capability to walk away with the trophy and check at the end of the weekend.
Getting into the finer details, it is fall and all the typical fall baits will produce limits. Matt says, “Late September anglers will see the very tail-end of the topwater bite transition into two groups of fish, those heavily feeding on crayfish and others feeding on baitfish.”
The lake is setting up to pit the crankbaiter, jerkbait and topwater fishermen against the deep jig and deep crankbait slingers.
Not to forget the lipless crankbait, that bite has started to pick up with the cooler temperatures the first week of September brought. A late summer heat wave has hit, but fall is approaching and bringing cooler weather with it.
The anglers keying in on baitfish, throwing reaction baits will want to focus more on baitfish color patterns. Shad is always a solid producer. This year, with the before mentioned perch explosion, a bit of chartreuse is definitely encouraged, especially in the dirtier water. For those who decide to fish a bit slower and deeper, they will want to focus more on the reds and blacks to appeal to the crawdad eaters.
Swimbaits cannot be forgotten, it is Clear Lake after all. Matt simply says, “Swimbaits are always in play on Clear Lake.”
BACK OF THE BOAT
For those of you fishing the back end of the boat, don’t fret - I’ve got some good info for you too. If you so choose to drop shot, there is always the Roboworm, the Monster Hitch (MonsterfishingTackle.com) that is going to dominate due to the fact it is the worm color that hits all the above mentioned prey colorations. It is my gift to you, for reading the article … you’re welcome.
You shouldn’t have any problems connecting on some fish, as they are on the move up and down in depth. Be prepared for dragging a jig, drop shot and a topwater bite that could produce at anytime of the day.
Matt is confident there are going to be some hefty bags weighed in beginning in late September, and is hopeful the trend will continue into the TOC season.
Finding bait shouldn’t be a struggle and where there’s bait…there’s bass.
Fish the scenario you find yourself in; there are many ways of catching fish this time of year. Matt says, “Stick with your confidence fall baits and technique,” and you will have a great week on Clear Lake.”
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