Clear lake 24-25 April 2010

Weather was looking so good we decided to hit CL and see what was happening.  Met Craig (Ravensblack) at about 1630, Jim (Saltydog) rolled in about 1700.  We grabbed a campsite at the Edgewater Resort in Soda Bay, about a mile or so south of the State Park. Nice place to camp, also has cabins, pools, clean restrooms & showers, lots of shade - might be a little tight if crowded during the summer but real nice now. Only other campers were a couple of tournament bass guys, who shared some good intel that the fish had been moving up into the shallows late in the day.

Wind was blowing strong when we arrived but dropped when we got OTW and then went flat calm. We geared-up and got OTW about 6pm. Craig got out first, Jim and I launched about 20 minutes later.  Not 20ft from the launch I started marking fish in 8-10 ft of water right inside the L-shaped piers. Dropped a minnow and had a fish on that shook the hook.  Dropped again, fish-on, saw a flash of green-gold and thought small bass, got it to the surface and it was the biggest crappie I have ever caught - 15" and a thick slab.  Jim dropped and immediately hooked-up with 17" & 18" LMBs.  Bite then died, paddled around to the outside of the pier and landed a 14" crappie.  Fished out there for 30 minutes or so then came back inside and landed 3 small (13") LMBs. 

We fished until about 2030, Craig whipped-up some pulled pork sandwiches and then we were back OTW from 1000-0100, Beautiful moon to float around under on Sat night.  We fished between Edgewater and Ferndale Resort. Craig landed a crappie, nothing for Jim and I. I was going for a cat.

Got up early Sunday and fished all over the shore, docks and points in Soda Bay and then paddled over to the State Park. Craig and Jim went up the slough and ran into Juan. I stayed outside and fished the shoals and point outside the slough. Jim picked-up a 19" LMB in the slough, I got a 17.5" LMB outside and then Craig and I picked-up 18.5" LMBs on the paddle back. Got real hot on Sunday by early afternoon.  Water was starting to get some algae forming in chunks on the surface plus alot of pollen.

We beached it and Craig BBQ'd some killer burgers before we hit the road.  Jim stayed and fished the Sunday evening bite.

The fishing was slower overall than we expected, but we caught a few nice ones, and had a good time as always!  I forgot the battery for my camera in the charger at home but Craig and Jim had me covered.  Those guys will have to add more pics to the report.  Tried to load a crappie shot but it was too big, will have to resize.

Craig and Jim - thanks guys for another good time!

Nice report John and great comeback on ClearLake! Cant wait to go back to StatePark myself and camp and fish all Over Again!Very Nice Crappie too!

Congrat on the 180 point Crapie!    Thanks for the report John.

sound like, good time!!!

Congrat on the 180 point Crapie!    Thanks for the report John.

& yeah congrats!

Hey it was great fishing with you guys again as always. I like that campground better than the State Park. The launch and general store are centrally located.....so is closer to all the campsites.....real close. The showers are free.....no coins.....long as you want. There are full hookups for r.v. or just to charge batteries, run aerators or lights, & water is in every campsite. Swimming pool and ping pong. And the office lady/manager was as nice as could be and late, very late, checkout was o.k. Try that, or any infraction, at the State Park and see what happens.....speaking from experience here. I caught a 17", 2-18", and a 19" lmb, but no *U**ing crap-pies.    Fish with you guys again soon. Real soon.  jim

I had a great time. The fishing was kind of slow this weekend. I had some great expectations but sometimes they just dont materialize. The company was great and we flat-ass covered some ground or water I should say. It was really flat and clear at night and the lights on the water were very cool. The creek at the CL state park was getting real brown and no crappie in there. My goal was to catch the crap-fish and I tried . Finally succeding in getting a trolled up one at around midnight on Saturday. Trolling by some lights Dr Evil had set up on the pier. What a hoot. 8-3/4 inches of pure crappie. Hahaha. I worked that crappie jig all day Sunday in all forms of structure and reeds. Logs and rocks. Slow trolled over little rockpiles produced a real nice LMB around 4 pounds I think. When it went airborne it pulled the small hook. Fun on an ultralight with 4lb test. Finally went back to minnows for the long paddle back to Edgewater and caught an 18.5 LMB that was fiesty and fat. The pbers we all talked to plus Juan (the master) all concurred that the missing bite was really stumping everyone. All in all a great trip and Loretta at the Edgewater is the sweetest old gal you will ever meet. We will be back. Next stop Lucerne and Nice. and the sloughs in between. I am on the crappie mission now. After seeing Johns pig of a crappie and I am now , lets say, hooked.


ps Doesnt John look like the evil doctor with red eyes?

Loved the report John. Congrats on that monster crappie bro. Good to see
Craig and Jim  catching some good size bass too.

Jedmo

nice one boyz, that place looks doable and clean. it would be a good place to an NCKA TakeOverInvasion. The crappies have never been so scared for thier lives!!
Thanks for NOT keeping this a secret.

great looking trip guys, congrats on all the fish, thanks for the report and pics, cameron

Looks like a great trip and some nice fish!

Great going guys wish I could have been there but have been determined to get my brown. I love the fact that John produced your nightmare Craig 180 point crappie 

Hey guys,Its great to  see you  all smilling so much congrats  to all  and well  fish  soon ,tight  lines Gabe.

Damn John that slab comes with its own pan and handle no gridle necessary!

looks like a nice day, plus you got pulled pork sandwiches

Mike

Looks like you guys ripped it. That damned crappie was gorgeous. Those pictures are gorgeous too.  Good to hear that the crappie are smackin. I'm heading up there this weekend for some fishing and some work. If a Crappie gets worked up, I'll let let you know. Thanx for the report. I'm def. going to hit the Edgewater in the very near future! Rite on You guys. Hi Craig Hi bird long time no see