Clear Lake getting better, still moody

Game plans will likely include shallow and deep patterns

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Optimism abounds, but uncertainty remains as Walmart FLW Series anglers enter day two of the final seasonal National Guard Western Division event on Clear Lake.

On one hand, competitors are fishing the top bass lake in the West – some 43,000 surface acres with a shallow pool on the north end linked by midlake narrows to a deeper southern pool, all surrounded by magnificent mountain majesty. However, even such a gem of a fishery can turn moody, and a recent cold front has Clear Lake in classic fall transition mode. That means scattered fish and lots of movement.

The good news is that the partly cloudy conditions of day one should yield to sunny skies for the next few days. This warming trend will do good things for the lake, and anglers are eager to capitalize on what looks to be an uptick in bass activity.

Those who fared well on day one reported lots of running. California pro Randy Mcabee Jr., who leads his division with 23-4, fished 30 spots on day one. He targeted deep structure where bass gathered to feed. Frequent relocation was the key to keeping his swimbait in front of aggressive fish.

Mcabee said he’ll resume his day-one pattern with hopes for the right combination of weather conditions. As he explained, more sunshine warms the water, but as visibility increases, so does the fish’s apprehension.

“It should get better today, but I’m hoping we keep that little 5- to 10-mph breeze to put some chop on the water,” he said. “The water is starting to clear up, and that light penetration may hurt (the bite) a little bit. We need a little motion on the water, and a little overcast would help.”

Several anglers will likely commit most of their day to methodically working deep structure with jigs and Texas rigs. The latter produced a whopping 27-pound bag – the heaviest in both divisions – for day-one co-angler leader Mark Smith. Others will look for a shallow bite first thing, then go deep later in the morning. The afternoon usually produces another round of shallow action, so Clear Lake will see plenty of rooster tails today, as anglers move around to time their bites.

Utah pro Roy Hawk will start shallow with a Rat-L-Trap and then hit the deep stuff in 10 to 20 feet with a crankbait. He’s expecting a day of high numbers in which fortunes may rise and fall based on the luck of the draw.

“There’s a lot of fish being caught,” he said. “If you look at the standings, it’s so tight. Anyone in the top 60 is just one bite away (from dramatic improvement). It’s going to take a lot of work. You’re going to have to go through a lot of fish and hopefully get a lucky bite or two.”

Matt Newman of Agora Hills, Calif., hopes to see more fish in his well a lot earlier today, but he’s prepared to implement his backup plan sooner if day two starts to look like day one. He’s hoping to catch most of his fish on a crankbait. However, he’ll keep a Carolina rig handy just in case.

“Yesterday I had one 2-pounder at 2:30, and I had a 3:20 weigh-in,” Newman said. “I stopped on a reef and caught four fish in 12 minutes on a Carolina rig. I’ll use (the Carolina rig) on some of my spots today, but that’s like a last-resort panic button. It saved my life yesterday.”

Logistics

Anglers will take off from Konocti Harbor Resort, located at 8727 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville, Calif., at 7:30 Thursday and Friday morning. Saturday, anglers take off from Redbud Park, located at 14655 Lakeshore Drive in Clear Lake, Calif. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at Konocti Harbor Resort beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 15960 Dam Road in Clear Lake, beginning at 4 p.m.

Children will also be treated to a Family Fun Zone prior to Saturday’s weigh-in at Walmart from noon to 4 p.m. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include a trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games. The Fun Zone will also include fishing seminars from the National Guard pros, rod and reel giveaways and a drawing for a $300 Walmart gift card. All activities are free and open to the public.

The entire field competes for the first three days of FLW Series events. Co-angler winners are determined on day three based on the heaviest accumulated three-day weight. The top 10 professionals continue competition on day four, and the winner is determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.

Thursday’s conditions

Sunrise: 7:29 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 48 degrees

Expected high temperature: 73 degrees

Water temperature: 63-65 degrees

Wind: WNW at 5-7 mph

Max. humidity: 85 percent

Day’s outlook: partly cloudy, sunny later