Clear Lake and Reports

Monday, August 29th, 2005

• By kmulhair

  Water Temp: 78 - 80

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: One of the best trips ever! I caught over 33 fish on Monday and 29 on Tuesday including a 7lb 10 oz (RELEASED EVERYONE!). Monday was windy and no top water. Started cranking and just caught good quality fish in the 1-2lb range. Everytime I got hit I thought I had a 3lb'er they hit so aggressive. No big fish Monday but lots of them. Off the water around 1pm because of the wind. Drove up to Lakeport to see if the wind was less and fished the evening again with no top water. Lost a 6lb'er drop shotting a piling (he turned the wrong way!). Tuesday was a repeat but got a 4lb 9 oz on a crank bait. Got the 7+lb on a a drop shot close to 4pm. That one made the trip worth while. Seemed like I had the whole lake to myself. Only saw a dozen fishing boats both days. Forget the weekends, going to take days off from work for now on! If you don't love this lake, something is wrong with you.
  City: Sunnyvale, CA

  Tips: 75% caught with white speed traps and white and blue w/red bleed marks for rattle traps. I looked for sparse weed bed and "weaved" (turn rod from left to right to change angle of movement) the lure from hole to hole among the weed patches. All of the nicer fish came drop shotting my secret green weenie 6" worm. Size up on line. I lost several good fish with 12lb flourocarbon line and couldn't stop them around pilings. 20lb power pro worked well!

• By champion

  Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

  Report: 100 fish fishing is great lots of 3 to 4lb. one over 5 one over 6 and some guy fishig with me (JASON) lost one over 8 and he owes me a doller!!!!!!!!!
  City: bakerssfield

  Tips: FROGS,FROGS,FROGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, August 28th, 2005

• By o-heim

  Water Temp: 78-82

  Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

  Report: Broke away for a weekend blast at rattlesnake island! 21 fish in 2 half days of fishing!Mostly dinks-about a pound, biggest 3.25. Early morning shallow by tules-as the heat progressed, fish 12-15 feet. In the morning the bites were fair on 4-5 inch magic worms in arrons magic or something simular.After 11a.m. the dinks got picky!!!! I missed over 50 fish due to lack of hooksetting ability. More than once I had fish pick up my bait and spit it out immediately. I had one hit it 9, yes 9 times before I set the hook and still lost him. Yes I used all different types of rods and tackle to find the"RIGHT FIT".Never could find the right combination. Tried to fish for larger fish in deeper water with varies techniques, but no luck. As usual metered tons of activity. Oh well kind of brain dead from all of the sun and beers. See ya!
  City: antelope

  Tips: Some areas are starting the "Pea soup" mode. I swear the water seemed to get twice as green between Saturday and Sunday. No real news just a F.Y.I.

Friday, August 26th, 2005

• By Ken C.

  Water Temp: 78 - 82

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: WOW! What you have heard is true! Arrived Thursday afternoon, fished until about 6. I had alot on but lost 'em all. My son Jason put all the fish in the boat. Most flipping jigs tight to the tules near the county park. All in the 3+ lb range with a couple over 4! I had at least a 10 jump up after my drop shot worm (MM Robo)as I was lifting it right at the boat (DOH!)!! Friday am, got a late start (8:30) but still had X-L-N-T action on everything we threw: brown/purple jig, white/chart blades and of course MM dropshot. Probably 20 fish in the boat by 11, largest an even 4 pounder by Jason. I had on one fish that showed itself by cartwheeling that would have gone 8 lbs easily - I was using 6lb test on my D/S rig and could not turn her at all! She finally shredded the line on the rocks (hint) and got off after what seemed like 5 minutes. In some spots we fished it was a fish on every cast! Friday mid-day we got on em in about 5 feet of water under an old dock with concrete piers and a concrete wall with a just a hint of old wood. I hooked into and landed my new PB of 6lbs. 5oz. on the ol' MM drop shot. He had me wrapped around the old concrete pier at one point and thought he was a gonner again on my 6lb test, but I was able to get the boat turned enough so I could get a better angle on him and he came back around. Easily a 5-minute battle and when I held him up, a "spectator boat" started cheering me ;^)! Friday night we went a froggin' and they were taking it with gusto! In an hour's time we boated 12 to 14 fish, the smallest was over 3 lbs, most were 4. Again I lost a good one - prolly about 5 to 6 when he wrapped me. Saturday morning (late start again) back to same spot and just hammered 'em (3 & 4 lb'ers) on the frogs until 11 when someone turned off the fish switch! Together we had over 30 quality frog fish in the boat in 4 hours total fishin time! Saturday morning, these fish were launching themselves on our frogs. First fish of the morning did a "center field" catch on my frog. Jason hung one on a tule that was dangling about 5" above the surface. A fish jumped up at it twice but didn't get it. He popped the frog loose and pitched it right back to the base of the tule (another HINT) and got slammed. That fish went 3.8. Frog bite started out intense, but notably slowed around 9:30, so you had to pitch your frog in and then "watch the paint dry". Just a phenominal froggin' session. All along one tule bank maybe 50 or 60 yards long.
  City: Delta Region

  Tips: THIS IS THE STUFF LIFETIME MEMORIES ARE MADE OF! Do yourself a favor, take your son, daughter, niece/nephew, grandson/granddaughter, or any other kid fishing. You'll have a blast. Blades, jigs, drop shot, buzzbaits, horny toads, FROGS (if you pitch it, they will come!). Please practice catch-and-release.
  One last note - I don't know what it means (this being only my second time on this lake) but the water in the big open area between the Narrows and Rattlesnake was turning literally an emerald green!

Thursday, August 25th, 2005

• By Dale Meddock

  Water Temp: ?

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: For all those Dad`s that have Son`s who love
  to fish.Now is the time to take them to Clear-Lake
  The LAKE is hot but so is the bite.Yesterday,
  we headed up for a night of fishing.We stopped
  by Limit-Out-Tackle.We always stop at Bob`s.
  For those fisherman that don`t get on the water
  much listen-up!!This was one fishing trip
  my son and I will remember!!For those that
  want to catch fish,GO NOW!!We got out on the
  water about 4 pm went south to lower end.We
  worked white/blades along rocky points.Caught
  some nice fish up to 3lbs.We tried a crank-bait
  and that worked to.No big fish,but lots of fish.
  We were waiting for evening and the sun to go
  down.We started Drop-Shotting on a small rocky
  point.The wind was blowing out of the south
  about 15mph.We fish the down wind side and
  just got eaten-up.We started out using 6 inch
  Roboworms--M.M.The fish loved them,we caught
  fish on almost every cast.The fish were small
  biggest 2lbs,We had a ball,until we ran out
  of M.M.worms.We tried morning dawn,they
  didn`t get near the bites,but were still catching
  fish.We were just waiting for night fall.
  My son Mark likes to catch those Clear-Lake
  Giants.He started out with a 1/2oz Football
  Jig,brown/watermelon hulla grub.He caught
  fish after fish on almost every cast.No fish
  was over 3lbs on average,but some were sure
  nice fatties.I was still Drop-Shotting and
  had to try a different color worm.Put on
  Hologram-Shad,WOW this was the hot color.
  The fish just pounded this worm the from
  the time it hit the water.I hardly ever
  picked up on my weight with-out a fish
  being on.We finally just got tired of catching
  fish.I hadn`t used my Black/red Spinner-Bait
  with the #7 Colorado/Black Nickel(1oz)
  I had it tied to medium heavy 7 foot rod.
  So I just started throwing it.It worked to
  perfection,I caught fish on almost every cast.
  The fish were all about 1 1/2 to 3lbs.
  I caught about 20 fish before my arms just
  gave out.We got off the water about 10 o`clock.
  We smiled all the way home.
  Good Luck Fishing
  Dale
  City: Woodland Ca.

  Tips: Find Bait-fish close to rocky or tully
  points.Start out with White Spinner-Baits.
  I like White Skirts/White Blades 1/2oz.
  We didn`t try trailers,but we did use
  Trailer Hooks.Drop-Shotting is great used
  only Roboworms.(M.M.--Holo-Shad)After dark
  go to Black/Spinner-Baits(3/4 or 1oz)also
  Football Jigs/Hulla Grubs.If you take these
  baits and go now you won`t need LUCK!!
  Just have a ball with fishing BUDDIES.

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005

• By Mark Stamp

  Water Temp: Don't know

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: On the 22nd and 23rd my son and I made our second annual 2-day fishing trip to Clear Lake. Last year we fished from shore near the beach at the state park and had a lot of fun. This year we had an infatable kayak and it's a good thing, since the lake was higher this time around and our preferred shoreline spots were inaccessible. But we still mostly fished from shore---we just used the kayak to get us to promising places along the shore near the campground. The wind was generally too much for fishing from the kayak.
  
  We fished the evening of the 22nd and morning and evening of the 23rd (and roasted all afternoon). It was not a lot of hours over all, but we had good luck with enough fish to keep us going and a few fairly nice ones. I'm not too good with the weights (these fish are so much heavier for their length than the ones I used to catch in Iowa), but I'd guess we had four that were about 3 lbs each and one that would probably go 4 lbs.
  
  Btw, I grew up in rural Iowa with a 1 acre farm pond in my back yard. Back then, anything over 2 lbs was a good bass, and the biggest bass I ever caught was maybe 5 lbs. At Clear Lake it's a whole different world...
  City: San Jose

  Tips: From shore, Little George spinners are great. They cast a country mile and they worked well for us. Also, fishing from shore is viable at Clear Lake, though it helps if you're willing to wade in up to your waist or so.

• By Larry Hemphill

  Water Temp: 81-82

  Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

  Report: I took me, myself, and I to Clear Lake today for the first time in a month! I was out of the country for awhile, so it was good to get back! I was very excited to see my 10 year old client on the cover of the current Fish Sniffer when I got back. That last trip to Clear Lake was great - dad's picture was even in the first section too with his 5-3! I started around Rattlesnake about 8 am - a little too late! I didn't ask for advice - just wanted to see what I could find out myself. The trip started with a heartbreak - 2nd cast I broke off a big fish on a white Norman DD-14. My fault - I still had my 10 lb test reel on from my last guided trip to Oroville. Darn!! My first bass in the boat was a 4-10 on a #301 Yamamoto Kreature. I got another 4-1 and a 3-11 on a spinnerbait and a new DD-14. A 10" black Power worm produced another 4-2 and a 3 1/2. The white ghost crank was good most of the day - even caught a 4 1/2 about 4 pm. I fished about 4 different color Kreatures with good results. #213 was excellent in the dingy water. The green pumpkin 8" Dead Ringer worm worked also, but the fish were mostly 1 1/2 to 2 3/4 lbs on that worm. I spent a lot of time on rock/tule areas and some of the dropoffs on Henderson. I tried to get a 20 lb limit and almost didn't make it - but the last 4 1/2 saved the day. I wound up with 31 bass, a 20 lb 5 oz limit, and a near case of heatstroke!
  City: Yuba City

  Tips: The most interesting thing about the trip was that I did what a SF Giants player did recently. I hit for the cycle - 4 different kinds of fish! In addition to the bass, a near 10 lb carp actually ate my DD-14 - was that fun to get off! Earlier on the same bait I caught a near 2 lb crappie (off Windflower). The next cast after my last 4 1/2 lb bass, a 13 to 15 lb channel cat smashed the DD-14. More fun getting her off! I really think that is a good lure!!!! Maybe too good! Since the water was so dingy, I don't think I caught any fish deeper than 15 to 18 feet. I tried draggin' the Kreature in 15 to 20 feet and did land a 3 pounder and lost a good one. Obvioulsy, I don't know if my day was good or fair since I didn't talk to anyone else. It really was good to be back!

Monday, August 22nd, 2005

• By Dale Meddock

  Water Temp: ?

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: I had to work this weekend,so didn`t get up to
  Clear-Lake.But I did talk to Bob Higgins at
  Limit Out Tackle.He said the white Spinner-Bait
  was hot during the day and the black Spinner-Bait
  was good after dark.My good fishing buddy,Greg
  was going to berryessa night fishing.But I
  talked him into heading to Clear-Lake.I louded
  him down with some of my custom Spinner-Baits.
  White/White Double #4 Willows and Black/Red
  1oz with #7 Black nickel colorado.Well Bob
  was sure on the mark.Greg arrived at Clear-Lake
  about dark Sunday caught several nice fish.
  Fished deep rocky points,with 10+ feet water.
  Biggest fish just over 5lb.Used only the White
  Spinner-Bait.As soon as it got dark they switched
  to the Black Blade.They had a fishing night
  to remember,and good ones.Only one fish over
  5lbs,but plenty of quality fish over 3lbs.
  Greg said they caught and released about 30.
  They only lost about a dozen fish.They figured
  they were Blade-Hits.Because a 3lb bass tried
  to take the blade off right at the boat.
  Well, I`am headed up Thursday night.
  Check with Bob for the most up to date info.
  Good Luck
  Dale
  City: Woodland Ca.

  Tips: Please,this is not an endorsment for any
  tackle.I`am sure any White or Black Blades
  will work.

Saturday, August 20th, 2005

• By Polebrother

  Water Temp: Didn't Check

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: Fished Sat and Sun (20th/21st) with my daughter and son-in-law who were visiting from SoCal. Caught 20+ fish each day in the tules between State Park and Lakeport. Best five went approx 17lbs with no fish over 5lbs...just couldn't find a big one. Relatively new to bass angling, my daughter her husband had a blast with the consistent all-day bite. They didn't want to leave and can't wait to come back. As other fathers already know, seeing your child limit out two days in a row in their first attempt at bass fishing is PRICELESS!
  City: Santa Clara

  Tips: Any green T-rigged baby brush hog worked well for us. We fished tule outer edges most of the day.

• By Skandy

  Water Temp: 80-83

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: The Redwood Empire Bass Club held their annual all-nighter tournament Saturday night with limits all around on both days. The first day weigh in was led with 18+ pounds for 5 fish. The 2nd day we saw a nice 21+ pound sack. My partner and I took first place with a 2-day total of 36 lbs bringing in 17-lbs on day 1 and 19-lbs on day 2. Most of our fish were caught with crankbaits during the daylight hours and brush hogs after dark. Texas rig, brass & glass, the hogs with only an 1/8 oz weight to avoid getting snagged in the rocks. For more information on the club and tournament results check out our web site at www.rebc.net (results should be posted later this week)
  City: Rohnert Park

  Tips: Our key areas were around rocks and along drop offs with deep water close by. Not much luck in the grassy areas or along tullys. The water was not very clear so you want to choose crankbaits in chart. or crawdad colors. You'll need to make sure the crankbait is hitting the bottom or at least the top of the grasses. After dark go shallow. Our 3 largest fish (6.1, 5.4, 4.7) all came in 8' or less and several 2-3 lb'ers in only 2-3' of water along concrete walls.

Wednesday, August 17th, 2005

• By fishboy22

  Water Temp: 76

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: Fish on, you have to get there UNREAL.
  City: San Francisco

  Tips: SPINNER BAIT IN THE AM, WORMS THE REST OF THE DAY. GO GET THEM

• By The Lone Angler

  Water Temp: 78-82

  Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

  Report: Started off at daylight a shotgun blast west of the sulfur bank throwing a new buzzbait that I used to use on the Arkansas river. The blade hits the head on each revolution. 5 minutes into dawn, a nice 4 lb fish clobbers it for my first BB fish on this lake. No more takers, so I picked up the yellow headed blackbird frog and flung it for 3 casts before a 6.5 inhaled it in some sparce tulies. Things are getting good. Several missed blowups and then I stick a 2.5 and a 4.3. All this by 7 am? Missed another 2.5 off rattlesnake, before the jig started calling me. I tried a yamamoto tube T-rigged for 10 minutes or so and never got touched. First cast off the northernmost point off rattlesnake, I stick a 3 on the jig. Caught 3 more before leaving for glenhaven where I stuck a fish about every 50 yards or so. I passed 2 very unfriendly guys in a boston whaler and picked up another 6.5 on the boathouse they just fished. Dam, I love to do that! It was just breezy enough that I was able to wear a long sleeve shirt all day. Further into the narrows, I caught3 more near a deep rocky point (?!), but no real size. Henderson point was stingy and I never got touched. Wasted an hour there. Finished up by Konocti from 1-3 when the wind came up and the jig bite went by the wayside. No worries, picked up the dropshot and only found a 10 yard stretch where I caught 8 more from 15-22 ft. Then All I could get were pecks and the fish never took it. Figure I had 23 lbs for my best 5.
  City: Yuba City

  Tips: rodstrainer 3/8 oz jig mostly. Any 6" worm dropshotted.

Tuesday, August 16th, 2005

• By Darius

  Water Temp: N/A

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: John, If you are looking for bluegil in this lake try state park (soda bay rd) I caught a bunch of bluegil using nightcrawlers and bobber they are everywhere boat launch and shallow water by the picnic area.
  City: San Francisco

  Tips: Just in case bring some roboworm MMIII trust me you are going to get sick fishing for bluegil you might end-up fishing for bass, good luck and I hope this helps.

• By Hawgmaster

  Water Temp: 82

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: The bite right now is ricockulous. I went out today for four hours and had over 40 fish. I tried flipping and cranking and throwing frogs. None on the frogs today, however yesterday morning I had nineteen blowups and landed twelve to 6.2 pounds with two other 5's before 7 a.m. Once the sun comes up it slows down quick if your not around docks or mats. The evening topwater bite hasn't happened for me. Flipping brushhogs was getting fish pretty much everywhere I tried, docks or tules. However, the bigger fish seemed to come from the docks. Cranking a speed trap accounted for about twenty of my fish today but they were mostly under 1.5.
  City: Lower Lake

  Tips: For the larger fish, flip slow with a light weight with brush hogs and beavers in dark colors.

• By john

  Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

  Report: can some one tell me if clear lake is a good bluegill or crappie lake and if so what to use for bait and were would be a good spot to try im going out this weekend thank you.
  City: stockton ca

• By "Bassin With Bob"" guide service

  Water Temp: 78 to 80

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: I guide full time on Clear Lake and live in Nice on the upper end of the Lake. I would rate the fishing the best I have seen it in the seven years I have been fishing the lake. Every year my brother comes out for two weeks in August and we fish everyday. I take no trips but him during that time. This past week we were able to catch a 11.9oz, a 10lber two over six lbs, three over 5lbs and 270 other fish from 1lb up to five pounds. See the pictures on www.fishclearlake.com. Most of my customers are at the novice level and I normally concentrate on drop shotting at this time of the year. The drop shot bite is un real. I have had customers, two people fishing, (not me) and they caught 80 fish in four hours. The crankbait bite is hot, spinnerbaits are working and the drop shot bite is on fire. Use six inch worms in shad patterns or dark colors like Robo's mm3. I keep the worm up about 12 to 15 inches and use a 1/8th drop shot weight. Move around if you don't get bit, don't work one area to long if no bites. I have been concentrating on the narrows, rattlesnake arm and the redbud arm. The outer edges of the tules from state park to lakeport all have been holding fish. Finding the shad now seems to be the key, earlier there was too much shad and you needed to get away from it, now find it and utilize it. The topwater bite is slow, but if you stay with it long enough, it can produce, Ie: frog, buzzbait, spook, etc. Besides the 11.9 and the ten my brother and I caught, I also weighed an 11lbe for a person who didn't have a scale and there have been numerous fish in the 6 to 9lb range reported caught. I don't post here often because I am busy enough with my guide business, feel free to e mail me for any info.
  City: Nice

  Tips: use drop shot for numbers, shad and dark colors, use six inch only, no need for four inch. Crankbaits both shallow and deep and in both shad and crawdad colors. Don't stay long in one spot if your not getting bit. Drop shot is also catching big fish, I had two over six pounds in the last three days on drop shot. No need for light line leaders, I use 12lb seaguar myself.

Monday, August 15th, 2005

• By tkboogie

  Water Temp: 70+

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: Probably best fishing trip i've ever had....and I only fished for a combined total of 5 hours. Smallest fish was around 1.5 lbs, biggest was around 5lbs. From where i'm from, i'm happy with a few keepers and a some shakers. THIS PLACE WAS AMAZING. had some friends that were new to the sport and had no idea what they were doing. i just gave them a texas rigged june bug cut tail senko and they all caught their limit in only 1.5 hours. i didnt do too bad my self, but i was so busy helping them land their fish, i didnt have much time concentrating on my own fishing. i cant even count the number of times everyone hooked into a fish at the same time.
  
  I was able to sneak out and go fishing solo....glad i did. flipped senkos around weed beds and nailed big fish. 3+ lbs.
  
  Did i forget to mention best fishing trip ever? this trip should make for a bunch of dissappointing trips on the delta.
  City: Oakland

  Tips: you could throw an old boot and probably catch something. but make it a JUNE BUG colored boot =)

Saturday, August 13th, 2005

• By Tom & Scotty

  Water Temp: 78

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: BEST FISHING AROUND PILLINGS AND DOCKS; EAST SIDE OF LAKE. SPINNER BITE BEFORE SUN HITS THE WATER. EXCELLENT SENKO BITE MIDDLE OF THE DAY (30+) FISH 3-4LB.
  City: Carmichael

  Tips: IT SEEMS THAT ANYTHING WE TRIED WORKED WELL. ALL FISH WERE FULL OF MINNOWS AND SPITTING THEM OUT WHEN IN THE BOAT. LARGEST FISH 7+ GOOD LUCK...BEST AUGUST FISHING THAT I CAN REMEMBER....

• By Jason G

  Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

  Report: fished the 12th thru 14 off my little kayak. (cant afford a boat yet)
  started fishing at about 7 each day. because of my limited range I fished the rock wall in soda bay just south of state park. fished top water till about 10 am lots of swirls behind my popper but only 4 takers. Then i switched to a texas rigged sweet beaver infection color and started killin them i averaged about 10 fish a day probably would have caught more but i was off the water by 12 the heat got to be too much to paddle in. average fish about 2-3#
  City: Pacifica

  Tips: any lure in red bright greens and browns worked for me. also fished a crawdad colored crank and did really well! <*){{{}}}>< GO GET EM THE BITES HOT

Thursday, August 11th, 2005

• By Pete

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: Thanks for the info on the dropshot! Had so much fun last week, that I headed up on Thurs. Launched from Lake County Park at 0715 and headed south towards the state park. Fished Kelsey and Cole creek inlets. Fished 4" oxblood worms, watermelon colored creature baits, pumkin seed senkos, and purple cut tails, all texas rigged with 1/16th oz weight. Also fished the area around the state park beach. Threw a rattle trap in for about 10 mins, and brought in about 4 little guys. Called it a day at about noon. Brought in 20, my partner brought in 10. Best five between the two of us went 23 pounds. Big fish landed on a rockwall at 1100 on pumkin seed creature bait, 6.5#. Great fight on 6lb test!
  City: San Rafael

  Tips: Somewhat new to bass fishing, but I cant praise fishing texas rigged worms enough in darker colors right now. Personally, they are very economical, since college textbooks are a mob racket!