Destination: Clear Lake

EverStart Series Western Division, April 14-17

The EverStart Series Western Division heads to Clear Lake April 14-17. Not surprisingly, defending points champ Brent Ehrler is expecting to see plenty of big bass at the northern California weigh-in.

“If the timing is right, it could get downright insane,” Ehrler said. “Clear Lake is one of those places where you can sit in one spot and be within casting distance of three 5-pounders. It wouldn’t surprise me if it takes a 25-pound sack to win.”

Ehrler said the intensity of the daily fireworks will hinge heavily on weather conditions just prior to and during the tournament.

A mild, warm setting should lend itself to a sight-fishing slugfest, but unstable weather brought on by a late-season cold front could force the fish out of the shallows.

Clear Lake is a large lake with a bounty of fishable water, but Ehrler expects the Western Division opener to be won by the pro who locates pods of quality fish holding around flooded tules or boat docks in the Lakeport or Rattlesnake areas. The Redlands, Calif., pro bounced back and forth between those hot spots to nail down a third-place finish in last April’s EverStart Series event.

If the sight-fishing scenario materializes, shallow flats and shorelines cluttered with tules will be holding scads of bedding bass. Ehrler suggests targeting spawning bass with tube lures, jigs and soft plastics. It will also be a good idea to keep a Castaic or Osprey swimbait handy.

“The swimbait is a great locator bait,” he said. “The big fish will come up off the beds and try to eat it. If the fish doesn’t eat the bait, you can usually go back with a jig or tube and catch it pretty easily.”

Clear Lake lunkers are prone to dodge late-season cold fronts, but they usually won’t go far from their spawning areas.

Ehrler suggests keying on docks and scattered tule patches in 5 to 8 feet of water if the weather turns nasty. Finesse baits like the Roboworm and Kinami Flash are good choices for making the fish bite.