Clear Lake's Big Bass are Ready to Bite

 

If you have ever fished Clear Lake during the spring, you know it can be the best lake in the country and it makes sense why it is a destination for anglers across the country.

Your chance at an epic day or personal best is always there.

One angler who makes a point to visit the famed lake every spring is Vince Hurtado.

The former Elite Series angler will again make a trip this spring and offers his pointers for fishing Clear Lake this spring – advice he learned from 25 years of springtime trips to the lake.

A Lure Hodgepodge, Current Conditions and Locations

There are many fishing styles that can produce big Clear Lake bass during the spring.

“There are so many ways to catch them there in the spring. Ripbaits, lipless crankbaits, boot tail swimbaits, big glide baits, underspins, A-Rigs, and plastics will all catch fish there,” Hurtado begins. 

The biggest factor in deciding what to use depends on the lake’s current conditions. Clear Lake may be on a slight downturn right now, but the big bass are still there.

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“There is hardly any grass left now and that means they have nowhere to hide. This year, I think the docks, rocks, and tules will be more of a factor than ever,” says Hurtado.

There are many popular areas on Clear Lake that can produce tournament-winning bass or a day of a lifetime. Hurtado says that typically the biggest focus is on the north end of the lake, but the southern section can be a factor.

“The southern end is a little cooler and you may have spawning fish up north and pre-spawn down south. That could mean a longer window for throwing big baits for pre-spawners,” he shares.

Dropshotting Clear Lake Bass

A lot of guys think of a dropshot as being a ‘back of the boat’ technique and something for small fish, but it is a great way to catch a big sack on Clear Lake.

“It works really well when the fish are spawning, too,” he says.

Hurtado likes to focus on bedding areas, whether or not he can see fish bedding, and rigs a worm on a Trapper Tackle Dropshot Live Bait Finesse Hook.  

“That hook is the deal. It keeps the bait very secure when you wacky-rig or nose hooked your bait. A lot of guys have also figured out that you can just put the point of the hook (before the Trapper Box) into the worm to nose hook the bait and keep it very weedless and it doesn’t affect your hookset,” he says.

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Reaction Bite For Spawners

There is almost always a good reaction bite around the spawn and Hurtado will use plenty of rip baits, squarebills and lipless cranks at Clear Lake during the spring.

“This time of year you will get a lot of fish slapping at the bait and missed fish can be pretty common. I swap out my trebles with the Trapper Tackle trebles and because of the box in the design, you hook a lot of fish right in the face,” he says. “They get hooked so good that it is hard to take the hooks out with pliers. You can’t just pull them out like with other treble hooks.”

Swim Jigs and Vibrating Jigs In the Wind

If faced with windy or overcast conditions, Hurtado won’t hesitate to grab a vibrating jig and cover water. He’ll do the same with a swim jig under those conditions at Clear Lake during the spring but says that swim jig will also catch them no matter what the weather is like.

“Trapper Tackle makes a 30-degree Jig Hook for those who pour their own swim jigs and vibrating jigs. It hooks them as well as the other Trapper Tackle hooks. It has a big Trapper Box and keeps them pinned,” he adds.

Senkos on Clear Lake

It is hard to beat a Senko anywhere in the country during the spring. Hurtado agrees

“The key is to fish very slowly, it can be hard to do but it really helps this time of year,” he says.

He will fish his Senkos wacky-rigged and Texas-rigged and has been experimenting with a new prototype hook from Trapper Tackle that will soon be released.

“It is their dropshot hook; but it is thicker and is a 1X gauge. It is really going to be a big player for the wacky-rig,” he shares.

When using a Texas-rig with bigger Senkos, he prefers to use a Trapper Tackle XXX-Heavy Offset hook.

“It has a longer neck and holds the bigger bait much easier. Also, you will find that you don’t have to readjust your bait as often because the hook holds it in place a lot better than other hooks,” says Hurtado.

This can lead to less wasted casts and keep your Senko rigged and ready for a longer period of time.

If you are headed to Clear Lake this spring, Hurtado says to be prepared for a wide variety of techniques. Each section of the lake will fish differently and by being ready for anything, you will ensure you can make the most of your Clear Lake experience.

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