Destination: Clear Lake

Stren Series Western Division, March 1-4

Stren Series Western Division pros always look forward to their annual stop at Clear Lake. The fishery is loaded with heavyweight largemouths, and early spring is when they really like to chomp.

Second-year Stren Series pro and 2005 points runner-up Jon Strelic of Alpine, Calif., didn’t mince words when asked for his pretournament forecast.

“We’ll see some big weights,” Strelic said. “We always do this time of year. Clear Lake is a bass factory. It could be scary if the weather will just cooperate.”

Strelic said Clear Lake largemouths will likely be in prespawn mode, although there could be some early bedding in progress if the weather warms in late February. He expects rip baits, crankbaits and swimbaits to be the dominant lure patterns in water ranging 6 to 10 feet deep.

Strelic’s call: 30-35 pounds to make the top 20; 30-40 pounds to win.