Thank you Tom.
You bring up an interesting point;
First about Clear Lk (and lets get this straight, I LOVE Clear Lk. for what is.... A fun lake, where the average guy can go stick a lot of "nice" fish... bass and cats... and Crappie too)
Now I know things change, and by the number of double digits, and even a few teeners caught from Clear this Spring, it might indiciate a climb in overall size. Hmmm. If that's the case, I must really suck, because I fished Clear 3 days this year, probably caught 120 fish in those 3 trips, and I think maybe only 4 or 5 were over 5 lbs.
In 2001, I fished Clear Lk. 90 days, and caught right at 1100 fish, for very close to 5000 lbs !!! No, honestly ! A legit average weight of just under 5 lbs, for 1100 fish ! 28 of these fish were over 8 lbs (half of those were on a swimbait), but the very biggest of 1100 fish was.... drumroll please.... 9.8 lbs. Not 1 single DD bass
Again, I know things change, but my experience at Clear this year is showing me a "downswing, rather than an upswing in size.
I know I should have been there in the Spring, throwing nothing but 6" swimbaits..... But I suspect I would have caught a good number of 8's and 9's (not quite'ers) and if I was really lucky, maybe one 10.2 or something. Hmmmmm.
The Delta....... You know I fished it a little recently, right ? Very cool place. Kind of like a big, spread out Clear Lk, with tidally affected water.
In a nutshell, I have two buddies (two of the best trophy bass sticks in Nor Cal) fishing the heck out of that place right now. The way I see it is, if they can't get a DD or two out of there soon.... at least by next Spring, then I most likely wouldn't be able to either. If they do start sticking DD's "I might" be able to stick a few myself.
Of course fishing is fishing, and one never knows what he's going to catch at any given time or place. However, one thing I have learned about trophy bass fishing is that it's best to stack all the odds in your favor.
Fishing 60 to 100, 10 hour days a year on little trout fed ponds... and getting skunked 70% to 90% of the time, gives you really good odds
Peace,
Fish