Clear Lake Conditions

Water level today is documented at 2.2 feet Rumsey. Last year on this date it was 3.8. Dam releases are interesting to say the least. For the previous week, water was going though the gates at a rate of 10 c.f.s. For the last three days it has been going through the gates at a rate of 350 c.f.s.. Don’t know why, but that is what is going on.

As a reminder, you can check out lake level and dam releases shown on an hourly graph with the links available on our website.

Water clarity is all over the board, all over the lake. The thick algae bloom seems to be moving around the lake. It is most abundant in the area of the Redbud launch. As you move around the lake though, it develops a definite line that you can see of green water meeting fairly clear water. In most areas, it appears to be just on the surface as the depth finder doesn’t pick up much interference underneath. In a few areas this past week I have seen water clear enough to see a bait that is 5 feet deep. It is thick enough in many areas to clog up the tip of your rod and gum up the line eye on your bait casters.

The water temperature has been running in the low 80’s.

Weed growth is heavy in most of the typical areas of the north. Overall, it is surprising though that combined with the low water and time of year, most areas should be topped out pretty heavily but it doesn’t seem as bad as I expected it to be at this point. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of weeds but it doesn’t look as bad as last year to me.

Keeping in mind that this is a natural lake and it is generally recognized as the oldest lake in North America at between 1.5 to 2 million years old, the lake has seen many cycles. Dr. Harry Lyons, a local biologist and foremost expert on Clear Lake has stated that the algae growth is a cyclical event. It was worse in 2008 than in 2007 and worse this year than last year. It could be worse next year, it just depends on the cycle and the environmental conditions. These types of events have happened hundreds if not thousands of times over the life of Clear Lake. The impact of man around the lake has created some of the algae problems with the increased run off of fertilizers into the lake. So if we are in an El Nino event this coming winter which is being claimed, and experience heavier than normal rain, we may see another form of algae go crazy next year. The key is that as distasteful as these events are to put up with they are all vital to what produces the size fish that inhabit the lake in the good years.

Activity This Month

According to the permit list, there are only two tournaments this month. They are both team tournaments and are scheduled for the 9th and 15th. Through the summer, tournaments are limited to 6 hour maximums. Fishing pressure last month was light and probably will be this month as well.

As always, if you are planning a trip to Clear Lake and don’t know if your dates are going to be shared with a competitive event, drop me a line and I will let you know what I see listed on the calendar maintained by DFG. Just another service we offer.

They're Baaack

Those of you who are looking to March of next year already might want to consider the fact that the BASS Elite series is back in California again in 2010. They circuit returns to the Delta with competition days of March 11, 12, 13, & 14 and then comes to Clear Lake March 18, 19, 20, & 21. The format is the same as 2009 with the full field competing on days one and two, a cut to the top 50 for day three, and the top 12 fish on day four. What that means for activity on your favorite body of water is the full field prefishing on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, then fishing for real on Thursday and Friday, then Saturday only 50 remain, and finally Sunday all but 12 are on the road.

July Fishing Recap

Fishing this past month remained about the same with numbers for a day running from 10 to 15 fish. The average fish was still running around 2.25 to 2.5 pounds. Fishing pressure was very light, especially during the week.

Most of July I looked for and never found a consistent surface bite. I think the water conditions and lack of bait concentrations prevented the top bite from developing. We did have a day that we had 4 swim bait fish on and landed two of them. Two of the fish we lost were nice fish too. Each day that I have been on the water and fished a swim bait early, I have caught at least one decent fish.

Drop shot worms and flick shake worms accounted for most of the fish last month. July’s numbers still reflect the low numbers of better fish being found around the lake this year. The numbers for July almost doubled June’s numbers, we landed 6-four pounders and 3-five pounders. Keep in mind that we also lost two fish that were definitely over 5 as well.

August Fishing

One thing that has changed during the past 10 days or so is that the shakey head is out producing the drop shot so I will be using it more. A jig bite should become more consistent as the month moves along as well. Based on last month’s results, consider making a swim bait a part of each day’s fishing, it may not get numbers but could get your best fish of the day.

As the water conditions change, specifically the algae growth, areas may clear up enough to really explore the action with crank baits. Typically this time of year you can start out with a rattle bait or speed trap early and then move to deeper diving baits that will get down to 15 feet at least and then as the day progresses, deeper than 15. The key for this bite is rock that is clear of weeds.

Due to the lack of fishing pressure on the weedier north end of the lake it is time to start snooping around some of the weed beds, docks, and tule areas with a frog. It probably won’t get a lot of bites but might get a few quality bites. That is what makes Clear Lake different from almost all bodies of water in the state, even when the bite is tough, your best 5 fish here on any given day are almost always going to outweigh your best 5 fish any where else for the same time of year.

What Was He Thinking?

8 inch bait - 2 lb fish

An 8 inch bait for a two pound fish…just doesn’t seem right somehow! That was not what I was hoping for when I bought this work of art.

Enough to Make a Grown Man Cry

Broken Custom Swim Bait

A $45 custom swim bait that is hard to find that has a track record of getting big bites (at least four that I know of), and one errant cast off of a piling. At least it went down hunting.

Seeing Fish

After years of pointing to fish and trying to get clients to see them I have come to the following conclusions.

All sunglasses are not created equally, get away from the cheap ones and invest in a good, major brand pair (Ocean Waves, Costa del Mar, Maui Jim to name a few) with polarization and all the UV spectrum protection. Your eyes will appreciate the comfort daily and you will avoid the long-term damage to which we anglers expose our precious vision.
If I can get you to believe you need a better pair of glasses, here comes the real sale point, you actually need two pair. I use three different lens color combinations because I have found that one color is not always the best due to differing light conditions. When my partner and I are looking for fish we will wear two different lens colors as experience has shown to us at times, one works better than the other.
Looking for bass is relatively easy when they are suspended under a dock or lazily cruising just under the surface. The game changes when you are peering into 4 to 10 feet of water or cover. Sometimes you will see the whole fish (bonus), sometimes a part of the fish is moving, or maybe just the shadow of the fish on the bottom. Last but not least is you may just see a dark spot or a light spot, not a fish, but a spot on the bottom that is a different color than the rest of the bottom. You will be surprised by how many times a cast to a spot produces a fish that you did not see.

Never buy a pair of sunglasses without trying them on. Make sure they fit your face and that you are comfortable with the weight. Polarization is a must, regardless of how dark the lenses might be, light shaded lenses with polarization are much more effective tools than dark lenses lacking polarization. Look for optical clarity, many glasses I try have an immediate adjustment period for my eyes and many times just don’t look clear and crisp a sure recipe for added eye strain on the water. Finally, in the long run, glass lenses or the polycarbonate lenses will hold up better to scratches, cleaning, and daily wear and tear, they are heavier but more durable.

August Dates

Dates are still available for August so check out the calendar on the website or drop me a line or give me a call to get out on the water.

Quagga Reminder

Just a friendly reminder that when you make your first trip to the lake this year with your own boat, make the time to get it inspected and put your 2009 sticker on your hull. During the past month, citations were issued by the sherriff's boat patrol and the fine runs a little over $100. All of the tackle shops around the lake will take care of the inspection and the sticker is $10.

If you want to make sure you are not “carrying” in your boat, keep a gallon of bleach around and dump a cup full into your bilge and live wells. Also put a light solution of bleach in a standard garden sprayer and spray the parts of your boat trailer that get wet when launching your boat.

Gift Certificates

Just a reminder that we do offer gift certificates that can be for a complete trip or can be used against the price of a complete trip. If you are interested, just drop us a line or give me a call.

Closing

Thank you for your continued interest and support of Clear Lake Guide Service! Our business continues to grow with the help of you and your spreading the word and my wife Deb and I both thank you. Good fishing and keep a tight line.

Miss an Issue of the Clear Lake Report?

We have archived all of our past Clear Lake Report Issues on our Clear Lake Fishing Guide Service website! Go to our Clear Lake Fishing Report Index!

There is a lot of useful information available on the Clear Lake Website. Even insights into the best times to fish the lake and other fishing tips. Local lodging, weather, and even lake level reporting is available through the links we have set up.

Good fishing, and I look forward to seeing you soon!