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Friday, July 23rd, 2010

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    Water Temp: bath tub

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Kudos to Ross for laying it down like he did..a no b.s. kind of guy and an expert guide here.I've had my rig moored here in Jones bay and have averaged 3 to 5 quality bucket-mouth a day in this area.sure the alge sucks real bad and in most cases un fishable.you just got to burn a lot of gas and find better water.big fish of the week went 4.5 off the shaded side of a deep piling..3 inch power minner.and a decent swim bite.just before dark.I did see a nice school of 8 inch bass with some bluegil
    City: lower lake

    Tips: Be spot on with every cast.deadsticking is crucial.tuff it out.the population will come back in a couple years.even if you don't stick a lot of em the quality is still top notch in my book.have fun.

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: No one loves Clear Lake more than me. But if you have to take so many precautions just to go fishing!....2 to 3 hours drive just to fish early morning? Ok let's keep it real. I was there and I know what I saw. Leave the Lake alone, let it do it's cycle and I'll be back next year. For now I'll try somewhere else....Thanks.
    City: SSF

    Tips: Try the lake and post what you think...keep it real. This is what this forum is for.

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I would love to read fishing reports from this sight but the fact of the matter is, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON, so, They will really only know by reading the "REPORTS" page. I know clearlake and its towns surroundings are suffering from poor lake conditions and the economy, BUT, people still need to know the TRUTH before they come up here. It is not worth the trip. MY BOAT IS SUFFERING REAL BAD from the ALGAE and I ALSO KNOW FOR A FACT THEY ARE SPRAYING THIS LAKE. I will not purchase another sticker. Clearlake needs to not charge this and I agree with Eric, the money is a waste. I understand the locals are trying to make up excuses and trying to tell people it's not that bad in some spots JUST SO THEY CAN COME UP AND IMPROVE THE ECONOMY (that is WRONG!) THE FACT OF THE MATTER is that it is VERY AWFUL to put a boat in let alone smell the awful stentch! Sorry for the lengthy note but PLEASE BE TRUTHFUL when explaning to people what your idea is "THE TRUTH" It is plain and flat out AN AWFUL LAKE TO FISH right now!
    City: rocklin

    Tips: Wait until this lake turns to it's natural, good condition!

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    Water Temp: LOW TO MID 80s

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: It's fish'in not catch'in. Somedays are better than others. WE ARE ALL BLESSED ! We able to fish on one of the best fisheries in the United States. My buddy Rich Bumpus always reminds me that everytime you fish Clearlake you could catch a bass of a life-time. He's right. always remember, KEEP IT REEL !
    Don
    City: UKIAH

    Tips: don't forget that big fish eat small baits too! Not always is the 1# swimbait the way to go for lunkers.

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    Water Temp: N/A

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: This is my personal opinion sorry if you don't like it: Don't you think you could Use the FORUM for these opinions. I open this REPORT page I am looking for a fishing report and fishing information not your bickering. Thanks!
    City: Fairfield

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Right on Ross! I was hoping one of you long-time locals would post and set the record straight. I too am tired of the b*tchin, complaining and finger pointing. It's gotten to the point that I don't even want to look at the Clear Lake report because I know that there are virtually no substantial fishing reports....just a lot of crap about how bad the fishing is and who's fault it is. Mother Nature is doing her work and sometimes it has an adverse effect on the fishery. Get over it! It's temporary! Our club has a two day tourney the third weekend in August. Based on Ross' info I'm glad we are fish mornings only on both days. Once again, thanks again for your insight and settin the record staight.
    City: Palo Cedro, Ca

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Here are some facts about what is going on here on Clear Lake.

    Yes there is algae. It is worse in some areas of the lake than others and it moves daily and even hourly depending on the winds, overall though, it is not as bad across the entire lake as it was last year at this time. It does not effect the fish but it can be annoying to the fisherman(woman). Mornings are best to fish algae free due to the overnight temperature drop and lack of sunlight that the algae flourishes on during the afternoon. No agency or private party that I am aware of is "spraying to kill the algae", period. There is a very temporary fix for breaking up algae that plugs up the launching areas and that is to break it up with a fire hose with lake water, but it is a very short term fix. Those of us with 30+ years on this lake have seen algae that is much worse.

    The single biggest factor in the lack of productivity of the lake producing numbers of fish this year (in my opinion)is the lack of bait fish. Two cold winters 4 and 5 years ago pretty much wiped out the threadfin shad that were in the lake in absolutely huge numbers. It is not the first time this has happened. I have not seen a shad or a silverside minnow this year. And even though there are reports of anglers seeing some, the numbers are tiny in comparison to what is required to maintain the population of bass we used to have. It is a simple fact that all indications lead to a smaller population of fish for us all to share. Forget the "80-200" fish days, it isn't going to happen.

    What I report to orgs looking for fishing reports is a compilation of my own results, those of a few other active guides I network with as well as on the water conversations with anglers who range from casual to top level tournament competitors. I have spoken with no one who has caught more than 10 fish in a day this month. I have seen reports where people are "whacking" them but whacking them to me is 25+ fish days. My reports are as accurate as the information I am given and my own observations. We are catching 5 t0 9 fish and day and they are running between 3 and 6 pounds. Not good numbers but still decent size.

    I run this lake 3 to 5 days a week and have for the past 8 years. My motor has not gummed up due to algae or weeds. I have wrapped my lower unit enough to hamper the water pressure but you just have to keep an eye on it and when it begins dropping, put the motor in reverse and back up a bit and it usually clears. Once a year the water pump gets changed and the lower unit gets fluid changed and seals checked. Regardless of where you fish that is basic motor maintenances.

    There is a spraying program that dock owners can get a permit for and have a licensed contractor apply herbicides to their dock and immediate surrounding water (5 - 7 yards from what I have seen). It is an expensive propostion and it is a limited amount of owners who appear to be able to afford it. In speaking with the folks who monitor hydrilla, this year has been a very light year of hydrilla growth and they have done very little herbicide application.

    I usually don't take the time to post but there is so much crap being written about what is going on up here that it starts to wear on you and in some cases some of the posters impune your intergrity by suggesting people aren't telling the whole story. There are the facts as I see them. If you wish to shoot me questions for answers from my perspective or rant at me...ross_england@sbcglobal.net. In the meanwhile, if you don't know what you are talking about, quit talking.

    Tips: Don't launch at a ramp clogged with algae and weeds. Don't run the lake without watching either the water pressure guage or checking the tell tale (or pee hole) where the water comes out of the side of most outboards. Do fish the mornings. Do fish in areas that are a little clearer, there are plenty of them. Have a good time.

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

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    Water Temp: 80-83 5 am to 1

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: algae/grass at Rattle S. to sulfur pits,looked like a billion green feathers suspended in the water, hooked 1 fish on ripbait brought in grass next 100+casts,Ander IS. the same,left. 7/22/10 Lakeport went casino area carp spawn in process, grass a 1/4 mile from shore saw 1 boat stuck in grass,went to Rocky pt. grass to the surface in 14ft did catch 1 3lb fish on drop shot saw SPRAY BOAT went to NICE [grass] 1 fish on frog back to dock to wash rig,very disappointed worst water and fishing in 25 yrs at this time of the year.
    City: Clearlake Calif,

    Tips: wax your boat/trailer before you come.

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: To everyone fishing this lake by boat, FIY - FLUSH OUT YOUR ENGINE A.S.A.P. IF NOT, PLEASE DRAIN YOUR LOWER UNIT. THIS CRUD IN THE WATER COULD CAUSE SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE TO YOUR ENGINE! To heck with the $10 annaul Quagga Sticker, HOW ABOUT THE $10 GOING FOR FREE BOAT WASH AND ENGINE FLUSH AFTER YOU GET OFF THE LAKE!
    City: pleasant hill

    Tips: I love this lake, but, time to let it go through it's cycle, besides, its has been sprayed with toxins to try and clear it up (BIG MISTAKE) it is killing off the fish!

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I AGREE WITH DAVID! I have been fishing this lake for 32 years and this is the second time they have SPRAYED THIS LAKE WITH TOXINS and now all the bait fish and bluegill are GONE! This lake is a ghost-town. I use to catch 90-200 bass out of here and any given weekend. The County/F&G poisend this lake again (they did this back in the 80's and IT TOOK YEARS for the fish lake to recover. When you spray to kill the Algae, you also kill of the plankton which the BASS FRY, BLUEGILL FRY, BAITFISH, NEED THE PLANKTON TO SURVIVE AND GROW. Thank you Clearlake for killing of this lake AGAIN! Please leave this lake alone and let it go through it's natural cycle (no wonder this lake is a ghost-town)
    City: PH

    Tips: **TOO ALL GUIDES AND LOCALS, PLEASE TELL THE TRUTH ON FISHING REPORTS, THE TOILET CONDITIONS AND TELL YOUR CLIENTS THE TRUTH ALSO! THANK YOU!

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 78-81

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Sorry AB, but I was there on july 13-14...why would I lie about the water quality. Anybody who has been there lately will have to agree with me. The water is terrible. I love Clear Lake, we used to catch 80+ fish a day during this time in the past. We were lucky to catch 15 fish in two days now...and 1 cat! if you say the water is fine you must be talking abot a different Clear Lake.
    City: S.S.Francisco

    Tips: Be prepared to work very hard to find a clear spot to fish. I did catch one 4.5 lb on a rago swimbait (Velvick BV 3D) and the most on sweet beavers. 2 on jigs.

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    Water Temp: 78-81

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: ok Steve, why don't you tell your possible clients about the worst water quality I've seen at DIRTY LAKE since I started fishing there about 10-12 years ago...I know is not your foult, but it's hard to read a report that doesn't even mention all the crap in the water. If you bring a boat there, be prepared to have wash it right after, not to mention having to replace all you line in all the reels. the only clear water I found was at the south west side near the end by some rocks. from konocti vista marina it's a loooong run to find clear water...I used to love this lake. Now I'm sad to say: no wounder all the for sale signs!
    City: S.S.Francisco

    Tips: try a different lake.

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    Water Temp: MId 80s

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished the north end to the narrows the last couple days, we caught lots of fish up to 4 pounds. Most were strong fighting 3 pounders.

    The bite was different both days, yesterday we got into a great swim bait bite, We caught them on the 6" Osprey and the 5" Hippo. We also caught fish on soft plastics, frogs and the shakey head.

    I took out a guy (Chris) that wanted to learn how to catch them on swimbaits, well he flat out whacked them and I think he is addicted.

    I was fishing the sinko with only 1 bite and he was throwing the swim bait and had a limit in about an hour once we found out how they wanted it.
    We continued to run our pattern all the way down to anderson island and back up north.
    City: Clear Lake

    Tips: Tips: We covered allot of water to find the fish and changed our presentation until we found out how they wanted it.
    If you can get a pattern going it should work on most of the lake now. Each day the pattern has changed for me from a slow presentation to a reaction bite.

    Have fun !
    ...
    StevePerkinsFishing.com

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 78

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: fished when it was cooler
    City: martinez

    Tips: check out bass fishing on clear lake with russ and roy on you tubethe

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished a couple of hours each morning for the last week, primarily from the narrows to Rattlesnake. Overall it was pretty slow - for the first couple of days around the 4th I caught more cats than bass! Seemed to be the same for others I spoke with. Got a bit better later in the week (perhaps as the holiday crowds subsided?). Quite a sight to see all the carp spawning behind Rattlesnake.
    City: Glenhaven, CA

    Tips: Surprisingly slow bite on drop shot/dart headed worms, usually these work well. Most productive was Basstrix 4" swim baits off Henderson Point - got 2 4+'s in successive casts. Bite for all was very soft.

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    Water Temp: 80

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: 7 bass towards north end. South end is clumped up again with algae bloom. Stinks real bad. Shag rock was a little better water. Wish F&G/County would let this lake go through it's natural cycle and stop spraying chemicals that are killing off all shad/baitfish and fry. $10.00 monthly stickers are a waist (nice to know money is going to spray chemicals in lake and killing off fish.
    City: pleasant hill

    Tips: Fish cleaner lakes and try again next year.

Friday, July 9th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 66 to 72

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: June 5-8th.

    On Saturday I fished the Rattlesnake arm to State Park and caught around 20 fish using worms, Jigs and swimbaits. The bite was much better for me in the morning.

    Monday and Tuesday I fished Rattlesnake and the Red Bud arm and had a slower bite and still got a lot of fish but it was a bit harder work.

    I was flippin the heavy cover, thules, weeds, and fishing the deep breaks with Jigs and soft plastics, also I fished with swimbaits and some reaction baits around ambush points.
    Most of the fish were only 3 1/2 pounders, kinda small but its still lots of fun to go out and catch a bunch of them.
    City: Lower Lake

    Tips: Fish the heavy cover or flip thules. Fish the deeper breaks.

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

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    Water Temp: Mid 70s to Mid

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: The fishing has been much better in the last week, and we are now catching an average of 15 to 20 fish a day. Still not to many big ones, lots of 2 1/2 to 3 pounders a few 4 pounders and a nice small mouth.

    I am fishing plastic worms 4" to 7" Texas ridged and Dropshot. Jigs, and some Reaction Baits. In the weeds try Frogs, 5" Swimbaits, Sinkos and Swim Jigs. The best action for me has been in the weeds and thules. For reaction baits try Deep Cranks, Swimbaits, and Buzzbaits.

    I have been fishing both the south and north parts of the lake and both are fishing well.

    Have fun !
    City: CLera Lake

    Tips: Try the Swim Jig in the weeds and Deep cranks around rocky areas.
    .
    .
    StevePerkinsFishing.com

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 75-80

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I too have to agree with David!

    This is a late report as I did a family camping trip from July 7-11. The water quality is really bad at Clear Lake. The keys were completely choked off in some parts with nasty green/blue scum/foam and there are areas where this stuff has made the keys completely unfishable. The lake is already getting green and getting choked off with algae in many areas. Yes, there are some spots that have clear water and this is where I caught all my fish but these areas are small and few and far between. I could barely make it into Rodmen slough because my motor kept getting fouled up with all the algae already. I have never seen the lake like this so early in the year. In late August through September, yes, but not in early July. Especially since the hot weather really just started getting going a few week before I was there.

    Just to keep this a report, I got 9 fish over the three and a half days I was there, fishing a few hours each evening and each morning. All on Texas rigged plastics and all were cookie cutter 2.5-3 pounders.
    City: Ben Lomond

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    Water Temp: 78*

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Yet another late report-stayed with the family for 4th weekend, 1st-7th. Did great, lots of cookie cutter 2lbers with an occasional 3 in the mix, best fish going 4.3. Had best luck again on Yami Creatures in cinnamon and pumpkin t-rigged with an 1/8th tru-tungsten weight. Picked apart pockets in the tules and structure around docks, fished Windflower Peninsula, Rattlesnake and Anderson Islands. Hit Hwy 20 side up past the narrows, action wasn't quite as good, bumped t-rigged worms off of Shag and narrows ledges for a few. Didn't do as well as Mr. Perkins on the swimbaits, had some short strikes and bumps with a couple of hookups (maybe presentation?) on Osprey's. Threw the kitchen sink first couple of days, patterned it out and enjoyed a great time fishing. Weather has been beautiful, and have to disagree with previous poster about the water conditions. It rained all winter, the water is way up (not sure of Rumsey right now, but almost at 8 in May) and just perfect. 14 of us swam, fished, went water skiing, kayaked and no algae, the water was refreshing and great. Very few weeds this year too, due to cold winter and high water. It was AWESOME, and the fishing is breaking wide open, good numbers but not a lotta hawgs.
    City: Clear Lake Park

    Tips: Fish every pocket, point and indentation in the tulies, go slow and let it sit after it drops. If you graph fish on offshore structure, drop a worm or a jig on 'em and LET IT SIT awhile before you move it.