Clear Lake Fishing Report

Full spawn is underway at Clear Lake, with bass in all three phases, but most in actual spawn. The northern end of the lake has been clearest, and best for sight fishing bedded bass. While the spawn in active, the bass fishing overall has been inconsistent, and should become even more challenging with the current weekend storm. The best producer right now are finesse soft plastics... drop shots, Senkos, and Flukes are all working for smaller bass, but the typical bigger Clear Lake bass have been challenging to lock into a pattern.

Catfish action has remained awesome all spring. Big fish are being caught everywhere on chicken livers, garlic shrimp, or dip baits. Even bass guys are accidentally hooking some double digit cats. Crappie are still biting well on submerged brush.

Clear Lake levels are high and water temps have jumped to 55°F... and climbing. These early spring conditions have ignited an absolutely awesome bass bite over the last week. Quality fish are hitting all over the water column. A ton of fish in the 4-6 pound range, with the occasional 8+. Topwater guys are getting frog blow-ups (absurd for this time of year), flippers and punchers are finding big fish buried in the cover, and rip baits, glide baits, and swimbaits are all getting crushed around the lake. The live sonar crowd is also having a field day out deep, shaking a minnow on light tackle and connecting with some serious giants.

Worth noting... with water levels this high, the quarter-mile offshore no-wake zone is strictly enforced.

Clear lake has cooled fast with the recent stormy weather… from upper 50s down into the 48 to 51 degree range across most of the upper end. That drop pulled grouped-up fish out of the 5–10 foot range... making them scatter and push deeper. Sonar has been key, but overall the bite has been inconsistent… a stark contrast from the week before when a 45-pound bag won a recent tournament.

Crappie around Rattlesnake remain a solid option for anglers throwing mini jigs, and the backs of coves continue to produce catfish. A recent 44-pound channel reset the lake record, a reminder of what’s swimming here.

Water clarity is running 1.5 to 2 feet in most stretches, cleaner around Lakeport. Lake level jumped about half a foot and is essentially full. Expect inconsistent bass action until temps and conditions stabilize… then the reaction bite should start to build.