Clearlake 3/18-19

I had my first experience fishing Clearlake, by bassboat and by kayak.  Nothing from the power boat, but success with the yak.  I got out two mornings, as early as I could defrost the ice from the yak.  First day found lots of great looking water which I shared with the pros from the Bassmaster Elite Series.  Lake and weather were perfect after the ice thawed off the yak.  The water was low 50s the weather was mid 60s.  The vis in the lake was up to about 10 ft and most of the fish seemed to be in three to ten feet.   I saw three fish caught.  I caught NADA.   I went with my son, on his bassboat, in the evening and fished around the residential  docks near Konocti Vista.  He caught a nice large mouth almost 4 pounds.  A local caught a 4.5# LM off of his dock.  Both fish came right at dusk.  One on a swim bait, one on a creature bait.

Next morning same drill—wait for the ice to thaw off of the kayak.  The weather and water were picture perfect after the thaw-close to 80 degrees by early afternoon.    Bottom was visible almost everywhere I fished.  I didn’t see or hook a fish.   About noon I headed in.   The water warmed up about one degree per hour and was 55-56 degrees when I headed in.  I decided to troll a shad crankbait that runs at about 5 ft.  Right at the entrance to the harbor I paddled over a bubbling spring in six feet of water.  The spring showed as a vertical band on the fishfinder.  As my lure passed through the spring, I thought I snagged.  I tugged on the snag and it tugged back.   I had out forty feet of line.  The fish broke water twice before I got it to the side of the yak.  He made my day and my trip.  I will definitely be back to Clearlake to catch him again.

Doug

Congrats on the fish!!!! Looks like you had  great time!!!!

Badog

Nice clearlake bass...thanks for the pics and report.  And the release.  Did you catch any of the Bassmasters in action?

HB

Nice CL chunker! I cant wait to get out there this weekend

WTG on the LMB Doug!