Clear Lake 3-21-08

We got up there Thur night just after dark and set up the tent. It was very cold. We got up Fri morning and Fishhunter and Dan showed up. My son fished from a kayak for the first time. We didn't have live bait and I couldn't catch anything in the minnow trap. I should have driven to the bait store. We used Senkos all day. My son caught one that was about 18" and one that was about 12". I got skunked. My wife and duaghters got to play on the lake in the triple and we all had a good trip. Fishhunter and Dan did better than we did and I'm sure they will post a report.

If you go, stop for minnows. It was warm during the afternoon but take a warm coat for night time.   

We got home and were unpacking and my son asked me, "dad will you take me kayak fishing in the ocean"?
 

   We got home and were unpacking and my son asked me, "dad will you take me kayak fishing in the ocean"?

And your reply???
Glad to see you guys had fun. I tried to join ya but my CRS kicked in and spoiled my trip.

Yeah we're going. I need to get him a farmer john. He met Dan yesterday and heard the shark attack story and still wants to go. We are going to try to make it to Trinity next month.

Saturday: Frustrated all day watching everyone else (Adam, Dan, Juan, Chad) hook up with not one bite for me.  Considered changing my NCKA name to Pepe Lepew.  Afternoon got better when Juan and I had a double hookup.  I was just about to take a picture of Juan in bendo mode when I hooked up.  I caught three more in the late afternoon in a clump of half-submerged trees just outside the creek @ the launch ramp.  The most exciting was my last hookup.  I was throwing a minnow with no weight right into those submerged trees.  I turned my head to look at something when I heard a couple splashes.  I looked back to where I cast to see my minnow going apey trying to escape.  It was jumping out of the water!  Finally, mama couldn't take it anymore and slammed it.  When I got it next to the kayak, I saw the hook was in the lower jaw.  Rather than grabbing the net I fumbled around to try to lip it without getting hooked.  A couple head shakes and kayak head-butts and the line broke.  It wasn't huge, but it was probably over 18 inches.

Sunday:  I didn't want to fish all day so I bought 1/2 dozen JUMBO minnows and paddled directly to the submerged trees.  First minnow was huge, almost as long as my hand.  I tossed it in front of the trees and wham!  Fish on, and it was big.  Then it got caught in a snag and my line broke!  I had switched to my heavy tackle and couldn't believe what just happened.  Next cast after retying got snagged, and guess what?  I couldn't break the line no matter how hard I tried.  After that I used a weedless hook made for fishing wacky senkos.  It made all the difference.  I proceded to use up the rest of my minnows on that one spot within the hour with 3 real nice fish with the best for last.  Not my biggest, but about 19".

Sorry if I bore all of you with the play by play, but my first trip to Clear Lake started out slow, but ended with some satisfaction.  Especially since Sunday's fish were all fat and were caught in front of 2 or three bass boats that weren't catching much. 
 
Here are a couple pics.  I didn't get the camera out for every fish caught, obviously.

Nice fish Ben. Ive always wanted to hit Clear Lake, bur I only have Sundays free, thats just not enough time!

Jeff

No worries on the play by play, that's what we love! Great report and great pic's.

CHEERS!

Nice work on CL to all.  Sumo, nice story and nice fish!  You've been working hard to nail some big bass and its good to see that you are getting some quality fish.

Bryan

Nice LMB and report. Glad you had the opportunity to fish with Adam, a real senko/Raider fan.

scott

Great reporting, guys.  Thanks for sharing the good times.   

We got home and were unpacking and my son asked me, "dad will you take me kayak fishing in the ocean"?

Yeah!  That's awesome!   

Sorry if I bore all of you with the play by play

To read a detailed report is the choice of the reader.  I'm bored when I don't have that choice.  Keep 'em coming!   

pic1~ Dan rolled up on my nephew Chad and I, just as we got to the baitshop@7:45.....his SHOWING UP powers are UNBELEIVABLE and always WELCOMED!

Got our S-agents and off to StateParkCamp!

Sweet talked the LadySheriff into getting in early and doing the pprwrk. later...she agreed, so we pulled onto our sites and Familyamphibian(i'mBADwithNAMES)were already there! Nice meeting you and the family and glad your boy GOT FISH! and is ready to hit the OCEAN now!   He got HIT HARD by the MADNESS!

pic2&3~ Familyamphibian on the water

The weather was WINDLESS warm during the day, night was cold&clear.
Dan got a nice LMB for the trough as well as many others..even one on a ratLtrap!..nowTHAT'Sskill. 

The water was still murky and cold....visibillity was 4ft.max but much clearer in the creeks were there were NO FISH along the shorelines looking for lovin'!

Juan joined in on the post dinner huntdown friday eve and stayed for a nite also.

pic1&2~ Dan and his 18.5" of points.

pic3~ Mako1-Juan and Dan in the background driftin' & laxin'

Another nice get together & looks so much fun!!! 
& nice LMBs!!!
I wanna go too, but my freakin weekend job is killing me...

I'm trying to lure my nephew out of lurker status and told him I'm not gonna post any pics of him until he posts on his own....but that would be mean and thinking only of myself right?
He got the biggest and most(i think) than the rest of us hooked.

pics1,2&3~ Bendo shot......the barb didn't even penetrate its lip....boasting on a 21.5"

We fished til 3pm and then set up camp and cooked some grub, refocused and hit it again til 9:30 under the fullmoons rays for nothing but memories! who said fish eat during the fullmoon anyway?...whyIoughta!

pic1~ Dusk on the lake

pic2~ the setting sun

pic3~ mako1 Juan gettin flash-blinded in the darkness

more from the darkness!

pic1~Chad about an hour and a-half from freezin his _ _ _ _ OFF!   

pic2~ Dan doin' it in the dark.

pic3~ ??  fill in your own caption