Clear Lake this week...9/2/2014

[DanIsaac]

This week finds the lake level at minus .09 Rumsey with 5.3 cfs release leaving Cache Creek Dam as of this writing. Now 5.3 cubic feet per second doesn’t sound like much, however, one reader e-mailed me that his calculations show that is one million gallons per day. Really? If that number is indeed correct, then it’s certainly sobering to say the least.

Over the next six weeks or so, things on and around the lake will begin to get busy as we have the Angler’s Choice TOC, the Triton Owners, FLW Ray-O-Vac, and the ABA TOC winding things up here on the 17th and 18th of October.

So, factoring the releases remaining close to what they have been over the past month or so, along with no serious rain insight anytime soon, we will most likely see the AC TOC experience a lake level of minus 1.6 or so, with Triton Owners seeing a minus 2.1, FLW dealing with a 2.7, and ABA at a minus 3.2 Rumsey, give or take a tenth here or there.

Ok, onto the fishing. Well, to be brutally honest it’s been tough. Just about the time I was
thinking it had to be me, I received a call from Chad Martin. Chad reported a total of two keepers for his all day effort on Saturday. So, just remember if you do get out and find it a bit tough, you are not alone, and when a stick like Chad struggles, you can bet it’s for real. Thanks again for the call Chad!

Techniques? Well, outside of kermit, and a flip/punch bite, the only pattern I can find is that there really isn’t a pattern. This past weekend and the beginning of this week has been a real ‘junk fishing’ affair. Today we managed to get one six to bite an LV, three to bite a drop shot, and two to bite a spinner bait, with one of those being a solid four. So you can scratch em’ up, but you have to cover a lot water, with a ton of shorts in between. Multiple (keeper) bites in any one area are just hard to come by right now.

Colors? Shad blades, red crawler and Aaron’s magic worms in assorted lengths and styles, ghost colored rattle baits, white or smoke colored frogs, and watermelon/red punch baits.

Water conditions? Well, unfortunately I have to report one of our first algae blooms of the year. We made it all of the way into September, and while it’s not everywhere, there are a number of areas which are affected. That said, there are still plenty of areas which are not affected at all, so again, don’t be afraid to move around. Water temps are running around 70 degrees in the AM, with afternoon temps reaching in and around 82 degrees.

Also of note, we are beginning to see some clear weed die off in some key areas, and with that, we should begin to see some schooling activity in those areas very soon.

Things are beginning to change, so stay tuned….it’ll get better for sure!

[Old dog]

Hey Dan. Started pre fishing today, 9/4/2014 for the AC TOC. The water turned so bad out on the alley there was a small fish die off. Saw a few shad, 100s of 3-6" catfish & baby carp. I've fished the lake for 30 years and I've never seen this in an open water water area before. We all remember the terrible fish kill in Sunken barge many years ago. Once I found cleaner water the bite wasn't bad.

[afchris]

Spent last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning out there. Here's a quick rundown.

First of all, I have spent a majority of my 3.5 years out on the Delta but love the occasional trip to Clear lake. So I don't have a ton of experience out there but love the scenery.

Thursday- Hunted around for that first bite until 1530. It came fast and quick. Rolled up on a wind-swept point with some deep rock and caught 6 keepers in 15 minutes. They were all around 4-4.5lbs. Just as quickly as it happened....it stopped. Didn't get bit the rest of the day.

Saturday-Tried to duplicate and failed miserably. Got bit one time that day. It was a good one...couple a head shakes and gone. Winds came up big during the afternoon and made it really tough to fish anything but moving baits. In the end...Goose egg for the day.

Sunday- Rolled up on a rock pile first thing in the morning and crushed them for 45 minutes. Once again a majority of the fish were in the 4-4.5 lb range. Once the sun peaked over the mountains it was over. I was off the water by 0830 haha.

All in all to have two 20lbs days doesn't sound that bad. But let me tell you it was a grind! Either the fish were there...or they weren't. As fast as you could find them they were gone. Looking forward to more fall trips up there.

Chris

[clearlakeoutdoors]

Fished south this morning till 11:00 am water was 78 degrees.the algae was bad in some areas but clear in others. Got one about 5 on a buzzbait , got one frog fish ,one chatterbait fish and had a few hits on a swimbait and that was it.Heard several reports of 30 + pound limits this last week so some have it figured out.Small bass everywhere.
Dave

[george]

Hello Dan, Thanks for the updates!

Are you going to be around Friday evening to come out to the the Diana Wilson event and listen to the speakers on the "State of Clear Lake"? I would like to talk to you for a bit if possible as see if we can put something together to get a stream of good information coming from the powers that be on the decision making regarding the lake to the rest of us!

Secondly, If I were to send you three Curados and a Calcutta could you have them cleaned and ready for me on Thursday?

Thanks,
George

[DanIsaac]

Hello Dan, Thanks for the updates!

Are you going to be around Friday evening to come out to the the Diana Wilson event and listen to the speakers on the "State of Clear Lake"? I would like to talk to you for a bit if possible as see if we can put something together to get a stream of good information coming from the powers that be on the decision making regarding the lake to the rest of us!

Secondly, If I were to send you three Curados and a Calcutta could you have them cleaned and ready for me on Thursday?

Thanks,
George

George, get em' to be asap and I will have them done. Who are the speakers? Dan