Clearwater Newbie - Please Help

[jeffyo45]

We fish Clearwater on Tuesday for a league and I personally have never fished the lake. My partner has a couple of times and has never caught more than a couple bass per outing. We were out there yesterday just motoring around (trolling motor broke) and we don't have a clue where to start. This lake looks like it is very challenging to figure out. I wish I had my own boat to try it more instead of begging people for tips but that is what I must do. The shorelines seem too shallow to have bass on the docks. Is this the case or can one usually find some around the docks? There are so many bullrush islands and lily pad mats. Is there a key to picking the ones that will hold fish? We are looking at trying docks and bullrushes that are adjacent to deeper water. If anyone can steer us in some type of direction that would be great. We mainly target bass but would like to put a couple slimers in the boat too.

[Dan Wood]

The bite will be good again in the evening, it just seems to slow down in that 11-3 time frame this time of year. I'd work scum frog type baits in the evening over the pads, you should be able to pick up some better bass. Buzzbaits, spooks, etc. all work good on the weed edges too. The pike are all over, just find the weeds and you'll find plenty of pike.

Sunfish are all over, you'll see them over much of the lake. You'll have to do a lot of sorting to find the big ones. If you can locate the crappies, they are nice size. I don't fish them this time of year, so can't help you there. Good luck!

[panolo]

I watched a guy slaughter some bass the other day in the reeds. Looked like he was throwing a pig-n-jig on the edges. He worked a point for an hour and brought in many good fish. I was unable too get over and see what he was doing due to the company we had in the boat but oh well.

[Dan Wood]

That lake is just plain full of bass. It is tough to find the bigger fish though (up to about 16" are very common though). The docks, from my experience, aren't very productive this time of year. You can still pull some good bass from them, but they are pretty shallow and choked up with weeds this time of year. The deeper weed edges are always productive on that lake (including the pencil reeds). Don't overlook the shallow bite though - there are bass all year in shallow on Clearwater. Fish topwaters over the pads and slop in the a.m. and you should get into some action. What species are elgible for your multi-species event? Pike aren't a problem, they are plentiful. Target the deeper weed beds and weed edges for those.

The bass can sometimes get pretty tight lipped in the afternoon this time of year on that lake, so definitely go for the bass in the a.m.

[jeffyo45]

Thanks Dan, I think you helped narrow it down a little for likely starting points.

We kind of determined the docks don't look all that great. Unfortunately that is usually our main targets for bass. I guess we will have to get our of our comfort zone for a week and try some new things.

Unfortunately we fish in the evening but I could see how the morning bite would be better. Pretty much everything that swims in lakes is eligible for points except for rough fish and rock bass. We saw some nice sunnies so I will be trying for them at some point.

Have you ever trolled on the lake? I would imagine we could pick up some pike doing that. We may be doing that as my partner broke his trolling motor. I am sure we will be casting alot of spinnerbaits too.

Will post a report on Wednesday.

[blackbas]

hey jeff, did you get the dinomite and gill nets along. that may be what it takes tonight. hehe

[jeffyo45]

If that's what it takes to win so be it.

[jeffyo45]

Well the weather was rough and the fish were pretty tight lipped. We managed 2 norts and 2 bass. Both bass 15"s and the norts were 25 and 22"s. Another team had 3 small bass and another team had 3 norts all over 22"s. The 4th team had all panfish. We squeaked out the win for the night and took home big fish for a 7 3/4" bluegill. Then we went over and enjoyed one of McBride's delicious hamburgers at 9:30. That thing is still sitting in my gut but it sure did taste good. I forgot to mention all of out fish came on plastic worms. I missed two fish on spinnerbaits. Hopefully I can fish that lake again when I have more than 3 1/2 hours. Lots of places to try and I would like to work them slower.

[taxmancommeth]

Jeff -

Did you try where I had told you?

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GET-ER-DONE

[jeffyo45]

Tax Man

We tried there for a little while with no luck. My partner's trolling motor is not very powerful so the wind kept blowing us off where we wanted to fish. We mostly fished shorelines that were protected from the wind. There is a nice weed edge where you told us to go so I was suprised we didn't get any norts there. On a calm day we probably would have fished that more thoroughly. Thanks again for the tips.

[united jigsticker]

The other side of Bungalo island from BJ's around all the sunken humps is excellent for Bass

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Good fishing,
UJ
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