Yakhopper Clear Lake Strategy

Where did the 70/30 numbers come from? I would love to see that studdy.

Numbers came from a presentation on CL bass fishing by Andy Cuccia.  Not based on a scientific study as far as I know but based on his experience, so actual percentages are just general estimates, more important point is that breeding sites are limited and majority of bass are not on beds at the same time.  The percentages he used as estimates stuck with me because it really drove home the point that alot of fish aren't on beds and thus are available for non-bed fishing.  I think the video is still available on the Western Bass website if you do some digging.

I'm going with the JumbowMinnow AlabamaRig! No bass can resist a whole school of live bait. 

Throw in a pitchfork and a couple of sticks of dynamite and you're good as gold Pat!   

hahaha sc thats gonna be rediculous

I'm going with the JumbowMinnow AlabamaRig! No bass can resist a whole school of live bait. 

My kind of guy Pat. Are you coming up? Do it man. We have room.

E-newsletter from Ross England, one of the best bass guide at Clear Lake

Bass are being caught on all sorts of presentations right now. Jigs, plastic worms, chatter baits, swim baits, and “the rig” were all reported this week. A tournament was actually won here yesterday on a presentation other than the rig, by using a normal, old fashioned swim bait. Of course second and several other top finishes were on the rig.

Seems like the typical Spring deal here on the lake, follow the hitch and be around spawning areas and you find concentrations of bass....and a pile of boats. I can safely say that my peaceful winter has come to an end as more and more boats show up every day and even during the week.

Top baits for the month should include swim baits by Osprey, Baitsmith, Huddleston, and River2Sea. Jerk baits in 4 to 6 inch lengths made by Lucky Craft, Excalibur, and Rogue are staples for the month of April. The jig bite is improving, mostly on structure but as more fish continue to move up it should improve around the lake. As the weather improves and water temperature increases the Senko in 5, 6, and 7 inch sizes will be a good choice for heavily pressured water.

Finally, the most consistent producer the past several weeks has been the dependable shaky head and trick worm. We have not caught a big fish on one this year yet, not one over 7, but it has been a real producer on those off days.

Most of the fish we are targeting come out of the 4 to 6 foot range of water. In some areas we may have the boat in 7 feet of water and in others 9. Keep moving until you find a patch and then have a little fun, move on and leave a spot for someone else to fish.

LIVE BAITS
We did have a couple of guys up this week from the southern part of the valley who fished an afternoon and the following morning using live bait per their request. I second guessed myself and took 4 dozen shiners for the afternoon and boy was I glad I did! We used them up in 4 and a half hours catching 31 bass including four 6 pounders and twelve 5 pounders. That afternoon I learned that the tackle shops had all run out of minnows and the scheduled delivery did not arrive so I started the next morning with two dozen baits and we were done in two and a half hours. Needless to say, they are eating minnows!

I wish I could get over the "no live bait" mentality, but I just cant make my self do it. Nothing against minnow fisherman at all, I think its all about catching and for fun. Just been a tournament fisherman for quite a while,it's sketched into my brain artificials only.Taking my swimbaits and jigs and going to paddle a ways to try to make the magic happen and find some hungry hitch munchin largies

Yeah me too. I have been struggled with myself on whether to buy the live bait or not. I have been using artificial lures for many years.  Should I  at people for using live bait but I could be cursed and will not able to catch any fish with my lures?