Latest Update for Clearwater

[Iceman73]

Now that the cold weather has been upon us for a week or so straight, has anyone noticed the fishing pick-up on Clearwater? I am hoping to get out on Saturday weather permitting.

[Guest]

Boat traffic in general and fishing in particular have diminished to almost nothing in the past week.

Bass are still active in the west half of Clearwater, and a few walleyes reported from the east half taking Lindy-type rigs with 3 to 4 inch chubs. (Also some bite-offs, thanks to pike.)

[Guest]

Clayton,

What's the water temp?

When she's hit's 55, get out over the deep holes for some excellent suspended Crappie action.

PCG

[Iceman73]

I was out last night from 5:45 until 8:00 and got skunked. Tried jig and minnow, small suckers on a lindy, then after dark trolled a rap in the shallows. Not even a bite. I tried trolling anywhere from 6-12 feet, and didn't even get a snake. Any advice?

[Fathead]

Hi Iceman,

I was out on Wednesday afternoon for 4hours, and picked up 5 eyes on the east lobe. I was using a LBR w/minnow. The depths I caught them in ranged from 14 to 22'. A good place to start is the channel between east and west lake. Work the large break areas of the point and island. I spoke to a few other guys on the lake who got out earlier in the day/morning and really hammered them. The bite seems to be picking up on CW.

Good luck

[Guest]

This time of year you can work both sides of the Narrows without much boat traffic to contend with. Don't overlook the large emergent weed bed just east of the Narrows. With an electric you can circle that horseshoe shaped fish-holder and usually score. As with most of Clearwater, you will not hold the same depth, as it will drop and rise unexpectedly -- but, that gives you variation in presentation.

At the Narrows you're actually working an old glacial esker. You can hit gravel bars off the south point or the island and work sand to soft bottom on either side. It's easy to slip off to 44 feet, but it is tight structure.

[Fathead]

Hello Clayton,

The emergent weed beds you spoke about are one of the usual stops I have everytime I go out to CW. I have picked a few strays up the past few weeks, but nothing consistent in these areas.

How have you done recently?
I sure love CW this time of year, especially during the week days, since there is practically no boat traffic to speak of. I was out on Wednesday, and there were a few boats, all of which seemed to be pulling eyes in.

[Iceman73]

Thanks for the info. I worked both sides of the narrows last night, both with the jig and minnow and shallower with the shad rap. I have fished there before with a little luck, but it is a lot of work, at least for me, to hold position and not get myself either too shallow or too deep. The drops are just so steep! I didn't get out until 5:45, so it was dark within an hour and a half, so maybe if I'd had a little more daylight to work with, I'd have had more success.

[Skeets]

I was out there last Wednesday the 9th also.
My partner and I got 6 eyes, 1 pike, and 2 bass.
Jigs and minnows were the ticket in deep water for the eyes.
Pike and Bass were easy catches on the weedlines.
Gonna hit it again Monday, weather permitting.

[Guest]

Hey clayton and fathead, I just heard the walleyes went mad in a deep hole(i'm sure you know what I'm talking about) Are they just hitting jigs and fatheads? Somebody told me the fish were wild in this hole. Turnover got em goin! Are you guys going to be out there on friday or Saturday? I'm gonna hit it pretty hard friday night and Sat morning and afternoon. Fathead, I'll make sure to put the plug in this time.
Maybe I'll see you guys out there. I got a white chevy 1500 with a FM sticker in the back window, and I got one on the winshield of my boat.

[This message has been edited by Bigguns3 (edited 10-15-2002).]