Fishing Reports
Updated 3/3/10
West Coast Bass had their season opener here on Clear Lake this past weekend and there were several big bags weighed. So what was the big bags caught on? It should be no surprise that swim baits were a big factor. The baits that topped the list were Osprey. I fished this event and I can say that I saw every size being thrown and big fish being caught on all of them. Keiteck has a paddle tail swim bait with a lot of action and it proved to be one of my favorites and accounted for a lot of fish. Additionally there was a combination of Huds, 3:16 and so on. The key was finding the big fish and when you found them they ate and ate many different types of baits. Other patterns were Senko's, drop shotting, cranking, ripping, jigs, and Texas rigging a Brush Hog. Some good friends caught nice limits using a variety of baits any pattern the first day was drop shotting a Maverick worm, all but one of our fish came on this the other was flipped with a creature bait. Day two the temp dropped so first thing we headed to fish concrete boat ramps they tend to be warmer, we had 4 fish early using a drop shot again. Then we decided to hit the main lake and target the tulles, we got into them. Started pitching Senko's and started hammering nice fish. We ended up culling all the other fish with this group of fish. The bite was hard for some, great for others but the key was finding the big ones and then staying on the fish as they moved in and out. Don't pass this time up fish can be caught many different ways so get out and have fun. Hitch are moving bass are feeding and staging, pre spawn.
For those who need BOAT INSURANCE June has worked out some great pricing with some of her carriers, so if you are looking for insurance give her a call at Vantreo Insurance 707-546-2300 ext 217. Also, soon you will be able to visit are store on line. So please keep your eyes open for this launch.
Check out our Live Web Cam to see what the lake conditions are. Remember we have access from a dock on the water so if you run out of anything, look for our sign at the dock at the Lucky 4 Resort just south of the Skylark Shores Motel. Just pull up to the dock, park your boat, and come on up through the trailer park to see us.
If there is anything we can do to make your fishing trip on Clear Lake more enjoyable, please let us know. It is our privilege to serve you.
Updated 2/19/10
I was out working on the pool this morning before heading into the shop. Looked out my back yard and said, "man I should throw a bait out there!" So I went up to the garage and looked at the rods and realized I cut all my baits of except one, a swimbait I still had tied on from the FLW event on Shasta. I walked down to the dock and cast my Maverick Minnow on a Maverick Swimbait head in Trout and on the third cast, BAM! The water is still a liitle stained so I could not see how big it was until the end then I prayed to God that it wouldn't get off. I ran up to the house where my son was still in bed, ran into the bedroom and threw on the light. A startled Spencer jumped and exclaimed "Holy Crap Dad". With Spencer still in his shorts we went to the shed to get a scale and take a picture. To celebrate the catch I'll give away a pack of the baits that caught this big gal to whoever guesses the her weight.
For those who need BOAT INSURANCE June has worked out some great pricing with some of her carriers, so if you are looking for insurance give her a call at Vantreo Insurance 707-546-2300 ext 217. Also, soon you will be able to visit are store on line. So please keep your eyes open for this launch.
Updated 2/11/10
Looks like we are in for some weather. The chatter bait bite seems to be picking up in shallow water, different colors for different times throughout the day. Reports are coming in of, yes dare I say it, Mission Fish. Some are throwing these swim baits up shallow around the tulles and starting to pick up fish. With higher water this would be a great choice. Down south fish are being caught in deeper water 20-30 feet throwing Shakey Heads. Most are throwing a Trick Worm or the Maverick 8" Shaker and working it slowly. A few friends have been throwing jigs and picking up fish as well, the brown and black and brown and orange Maverick jig accounted for a 6lber this week. Hope to see you on the water.
Updated 1/27/10
Well as of Wednesday the lake has officially surpassed last years high we are at 4.19 and rising with 2 hopefully wet months ahead. So how are this fish reacting to this surge of water? For the most part I think they are still in shock. Over the weekend most accounts have the bass hitting rip baits, blades, and crank baits up shallow. Chartreuse/Blue blades or other bright colors would be my first choices. As for rip baits, a Pointer 128 up shallow and a Staysee 90 on the breaks, again in bright colors or colors with a lot of flash. If you prefer cranking I would go with a BDS3 or 4 they are a wide body bait that moves a lot of water. For those of you who are fishing deep, the River2Sea Bottom Walker is still producing fish and I have heard of a few jig fish as well.
Updated 1/18/10
Nice to see the rain, lets hope it dumps on us we need it. Well with rain comes run off and with run off comes stained water. What does this mean for us? Well color for one thing. If you are out I would consider a blade in chartreuse blue or a rip bait in table rock or clown. If you are into throwing swim baits it's nice time to tie on a white one like a River 2 Sea and work it slow keeping bottom contact. The shaky head is still catching fish and most are using a Baby Brush Hog. Reports of jig fish south on rock piles have bee reported most reports have a blue and black jig leading. Another bite that seems to be picking up speed is a texas rigged full size Brush Hog, dark pumpkin color combo seems to be preferred. Remember the craw fish have lost the hard shell and are that deep green color now. They key is still slow so if you think you are going to slow consider slowing down even more. Be safe out there and wack 'em.
Updated 1/8/10
Well the bite is a little slow so expect 5 to 8 fish a day and you will work hard to catch them. Most fish are being caught using jigs on rock piles south. The color choice is watermelon green and brown/purple combiantions with pork trailers. Keep your weight on the lighter side, 3/8 to no more than a half ounce and go SLOW. For those of you who love to rip try throwing a Staysee 90 in Ghost Chartreuse Shad or Ghost Minnow. If you are shallow switch to the Pointer 128 same colors and work a three rip pattern then pause. Keep your pause on the longer side guys. Some fish are being caught on swim baits fished on the bottom. A good choice would be a River 2 Sea bottom walker, again I can't stress it enough SLOW. If you like dragging a worm or plastics try a Shakey Head with a Baby Brush Hog and keep the color choices to the pumpkins, remember the crawdads lose their hard shell and are a deep green now.
Updated 12/11/09
Nice to see some rain, but remember it takes about 3 inches to saturate the ground before we start to see real run off. Fishing has slowed a bit and slow is the word. Remember the old saying if you think you are going to slow well slow down more. Fish can be caught on Shakey Heads, try a Baby Brush Hog or a Maverick 6 or 8 inch worm, stick with the greens or purples. Some fish are still being caught on Swimbaits but here again the key is a slow presentation, think jig when moving this bait. River 2 Sea is a good bet this time of year, a bit smaller and easily worked on the bottom. Like the swimbait the Jig is showing signs of life, a 3/8oz football head is what I prefer with a Chigger Craw trailer in this cold water, low 40's guys. Color pattern is simple for me black and blue, PBJ, and brown and black. If you are fishing deeper water the Flutter Spoon can still put fish in the boat it has for me. The LV bite has slowed try ripping them or hopping them on the bottom don't forget to let them lay there for a while. One of my all time favorite patterns is ripping, we have started to see more fish being caught on smaller Rip Baits and a few on the larger 128 size.
Update 11/25/09
Fish are still being caught on Swimbaits fished slow, target rock piles and transitions in depth. The Shaky Head bite is turning on, an 8 inch Maverick worm on a 1/4oz head in Watermelon Candy is a good bet. The LV bite is slowing a bit but fish can be caught in the 2 -5 foot depth ripping this bait hard of the bottom. Some anglers have told me they are catching fish ripping Pointer 100's in the same water depth. For the most part most fish seem to be located in the 2-5 foot range and 17-25 feet. For those who like Fishing Minnows many reports out there of 40 fish days in the 2-4 pound class of fish. Other baits to consider: Flutter Spoon, Jigs, Drop Shot, and Deep Diving Crankbaits. Happy Holidays.