Another healthy Clear Lake largemouth for the Big Man
So the calendar says spring, but here in California at least, it’s like the dead of winter…cold, rainy and windy. It’s wacky weather like this — sunny and 70 degrees one day, then pouring the next — that can make bass fishing tough. Still, our pal Big Fred Contaoi has been sending us some pix of big bass from Clear Lake lately, so he’s obviously figured something out. In fact, he finished 4th in a big tourney there last week…and the weather was super funky then, too.
But, this is all a long preamble to say that the spawn’s not far off…so it’s time to target pre-spawn bass. Learn how HERE
John Davis says
Curt…I have not been at ClearLake in Years…but when I lived up there and went to school…btw..think it has been turned into a museum…damm..am I REALLY that old…anyway…the big thing to use for BIG Cats was chicken GUTS..yea…pretty much the WHOLE mess on a big treble hook..gramps and I used to also punch a few holes in a can to cat food and use a bit of fishing like and a sinker to slide it down the anchor rope…biggest one I got was a bit less than twenty pounds…up a bit from Cache creek about 500 yards from the island. Good luck and let me know how you do. btw..did see one cat that was weighed out at Bob’s tackle shop at 43 pounds.
Mark says
JD – From one HSU alum to another, I’m thinkin you need to add Clearlake to your Fishing Reports list of Norcal lakes menu (in addtn to Shasta and Berryessa) <;)))))<
JD says
Hey Mark, roger that. I’ve been planning on it. Let’s just say “coming soon!”
Curt Wilson says
Hey JD,
Little off topic but the North Coast boys and I have been talkin bout a Clear Lake catfish trip! Whatcha got for us?
JD says
Well, what John said is a great place to start. I have not fished Clear Lake this time of year a whole lot for cats in many years, but when I used to, we targeted rock piles and creek mouths. Kitties are spring spawners and like old tires and rocks to do the deed in. The lake is flooding into people’s yards right now and the weather has (obviously) been super funky so I’m not sure what to expect. When I used to go there in the spring and summer, there was actually a guide who put a beat down on the big cats…get this…trolling crankbaits!
Curt Wilson says
Thanks guys ! Its going to be a mid may adventure . This leaves me plenty of time to plan the adventure any other advice is always welcome. We will certainly report in when the time comes.