In This Issue:
Activity This Month
August Fishing Recap
September Fishing
Fishing Weed Beds
September Dates and a Special Offer
Quagga Reminder

Volume 3, Issue 9
September, 2009

Clear Lake Conditions

Water level today is documented at 1.5 feet Rumsey. Last year on this date it was 2.4. As a reminder, you can check out lake level and dam releases shown on an hourly graph with the links available on our web site clearlakeguideservice.com.

Water clarity varies depending on the section of the lake and which way the wind blew last night. In most areas, the algae remains on the surface as the depth finder doesn't pick up much interference underneath. In a few areas this past week I have seen water clear enough to see a bait that is 5 feet deep. It is thick enough in many areas to clog up the tip of your rod and gum up the line eye on your bait casters. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing if an area that was clear yesterday remains clear today without actually checking it out.

The water temperature has been running in the mid 70's.

Weed growth is really thinning out. Quite a few areas that were very heavily weeded in are opening up nicely and off shore weed beds are starting to show plenty of lanes and openings.

Bass Fishing

Activity This Month

According to the permit list, there are three tournaments this month over a period of 5 days of competition. On the 5th is a small one day team tournament. The weekend of the 12th and 13th the lake hosts the annual Bob's Marine Champion and Stratos owners appreciation tournament. This tournament is open to anyone who owns a Champion or Stratos boat and is one heck of an event that should field over a hundred teams. The WON Northern Team Championship takes place on Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th and should have a field over 125 teams. Both of these events have no cut off so fishing pressure will pick up for the middle of the month.

As always, if you are planning a trip to Clear Lake and don't know if your dates are going to be shared with a competitive event, drop me a line and I will let you know what I see listed on the calendar maintained by DFG. Just another service we offer.

Bass Fishing

August Fishing Recap

We finally got a little fun back in the fishing in August thanks to a little more consistent action on top. It has not been easy to locate the areas but at least each day out we have found some surface action. Of course, some days were better than others but we had a few days with over 20 opportunities. One thing that has really stood out is that the morning bite has been slow. Mid day action has been the most consistent.

While the numbers went down a little the size increased a little. An average day was 7 fish. The average fish was running around 2.5 to 3 pounds. Fishing pressure was very light, especially during the week.

The few times we settled into looking for fish on the bottom with worms, we caught them on shaky heads. Most of the fish caught came from either 3 feet or less or 10 to 15 of water depth.

Shakey head worms, jigs, and top water baits accounted for most of the fish last month. August's numbers still reflect the low numbers of better fish being found around the lake this year, although the top water bite did improve the better fish. The numbers for August include: 2-six pounders, 2-five pounders, and 6-four pounders.

This was not an end of day picture, it was the picture at the end of a triple! All 3 fish were on at the same time for Ben Slick and his daughter and nephew. You notice who is holding the largest one, the little lady on the right.as usual.

bass fishing clear lake, California

September Fishing

In the last two weeks we have caught fish on deep diving crank baits, jigs, shaky head worms, drop shotted worms, cane toads, flukes, four different types of swim baits, frogs, poppers, & live bait. I look for all of those presentations to improve as September brings on some cooler mornings and a slow decline in overall water temperature. A few of the places we have caught fish in less than a foot of water in August won't have water on them in September.

I look for a better and more consistent bite to develop around the remaining off-shore weed beds. Rattle baits, blades, swim baits, and top water should improve around this type of cover. A significant number of silverside minnows, crappie fry, and juvenile bass are around this growth right now and cooler temps will bring a more aggressive feeding pattern into play. While it is not one of my baits of choice, the chatter bait will work in this situation as well.

Success at the end of summer and beginning of the fall period can be achieved through the four basic food groups: top water, rattle baits, swim baits, and jigs. This doesn't mean that there aren't a bunch of choices out there that will work too, but choices within these 4 bait groups will put you on the hunt for better fish in September.

Three of the four basic food group results in September.

Top Water

Swim Baits

Crank Baits

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Fishing Weed Beds

One of the better ways to locate pods or schools of bass this time of year is to work the weed beds. In general, the water will be clearer around these weeds and small fish that bass will feed on will be hanging around the vegetation whether they are silversides, juvenile bass, crappie, or bluegills.

The where to fishing weed beds is to look for something a little different or fish the edge of the weeds. Looking for the something different can be a stretch that is a little deeper or a little shallower. It also can be a change in the type of weed. The other key is to look at the weed layout and find the small points within the bed. Many times I will pull up to a weed bed and just sit and look before even making a cast just to see if there are breaking fish and their position of where they are attacking bait. A little trick that works for me in calm conditions is to look for small patches of bubbles on the surface. Many times when a bass breaks the surface the resulting handful of bubbles left on the surface gives away the position of an active fish.

Great baits in the fall for this kind of fishing include; rattle baits, medium depth crank baits, blades, top waters, and swim baits. If the bass are busting the surface buzz baits, walking baits, and poppers will be effective in getting some action. When the fish are not coming up the medium crank baits, blade baits, and swim baits will find active pods of bass that are cruising around looking for the drive thru. At times, the bottom is the best place to find action and this is done very effectively by hopping a rattle bait on the bottom.

One thing about this kind of fishing is you will notice that when you catch one fish, you will catch another or see others following the hooked fish to the boat. You have to decide if the bass are holding on that spot or if you simply intercepted a wolf pack of bass that was on the hunt and moving.

Some days they are on the inside edge of the weeds, the next day they are on the outside edge of the weeds, and other days they are positioned in pockets on the inside of the weeds. Once you figure it out, you should be on fish, at least until they change again.

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September Dates and a Special Offer

I want to book four Wednesdays in September so here is the offer.book the 9th, 16th, 23rd, or 30th and get a full day for the price of a short day! That is a savings for you or you and a buddy of $100! This offer is available only on a new booking and must be booked by 6 p.m. Friday, September 4. Dates are available in September so check out the calendar on the web page, drop me a line, or give me a call to get out on the water.

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Quagga Reminder

Just a friendly reminder that when you make your first trip to the lake this year with your own boat, make the time to get it inspected and put your 2009 sticker on your hull. Citations have been issued by the sheriff's boat patrol and the fine runs a little over $100 at this time but is being discussed about moving higher. All of the tackle shops around the lake will take care of the inspection and the sticker is $10.

If you want to make sure you are not "carrying" in your boat, keep a gallon of bleach around and dump a cup full into your bilge and live wells. Also put a light solution of bleach in a standard garden sprayer and spray the parts of your boat trailer that get wet when launching your boat.

bass fishing clear lake, California

Gift Certificates

Just a reminder that we do offer gift certificates that can be for a complete trip or can be used against the price of a complete trip. If you are interested, just drop us a line or give me a call.

bass fishing clear lake, California

Closing

Thank you for your continued interest and support of Clear Lake Guide Service! Our business continues to grow with the help of you and your spreading the word and my wife Deb and I both thank you. Good fishing and keep a tight line.

bass fishing clear lake, California

Miss an Issue of the Clear Lake Report?

We have archived all of our past Clear Lake Report Issues on our Clear Lake Fishing Guide Service website! Go to our Clear Lake Fishing Report Index!

Bass Fishing There is a lot of useful information available on the Clear Lake Website. Even insights into the best times to fish the lake and other fishing tips. Local lodging, weather, and even lake level reporting is available through the links we have set up.

Good fishing, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

bass fishing clear lake, California
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Kelseyville, CA 95451
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