Lakeport, CA - When the Elite Series ventured to Clear Lake in 2007, history was made when Steve Kennedy clamed his first Elite Series win in record breaking fashion with over 122 pounds of Clear Lake bass. Kennedy’s assault on California’s largest natural lake wasn’t an anomaly, as six other Elite Series anglers that week joined the Century Club along with him.
Kennedy’s history making performance not only put Clear Lake on the national radar but also introduced many anglers and fans outside of California to the
swimbait, along with Kennedy’s post-win proclamation, “It was just
awwwesomeee!”
It is evident that Clear Lake has quite the reputation to uphold this week. However, like at the California Delta last week, cold fronts have delayed the spawn, leaving the bass somewhere between a late winter and pre-spawn pattern.
Photos
by Mark Jeffreys & Matt Pangrac
As a result, Elite Series rookies like Louisiana’s Dennis Tietje, are wondering where the scores of big bass have gone. “This isn’t what I expected at all,” he told The BASS ZONE. “This is my first time here and I’ve been hearing all these fabulous stories of 100 pound bags but I think they were lying,” he joked.
Clear Lake rookies aren’t the only anglers who have been struggling during practice.
“I don’t see how it could get much tougher than it is right now,” admitted Kevin VanDam. “It’s definitely a whole new lake from when we fished here three years ago.”
After narrowly missing an Elite Series win on the California Delta last week by a single ounce to John Crews, there’s little doubt that the home state favorite, Skeet Reese, is out for vengeance on a body of water which he is extremely familiar with. In BASS competition, among his five Top 5 finishes on Clear Lake, Reese has finished in second three times. It’s a trend that he will be looking to break by Sunday afternoon.
As many anglers have suggested, the big waves of spawning females are coming. For now, it’s a waiting game. With sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s expected for the remainder of the week, the main question is whether or not the warming trend will arrive soon enough to induce a migration to the shallows.
“There are not as many fish cruising but I have seen a few,” said Kota Kiriyama. “At any minute, they can move up big time and go crazy.”
Here’s what some of the anglers had to say about their first two days of practice on Clear Lake:
Kevin VanDam
“It’s been a really tough practice and I think the conditions have been a big part of it. There’s not doubt that they live in this lake but the last two days have been warming conditions with bright skies and light winds.
“It’s been a struggle for me to get a bite. The last time we were here, you could see big ones sunning under docks and so far I haven’t seen that. We have warming conditions all week so I keep hoping that it will bust wide open.
“With as much stuff in the water, they’re going to have a fantastic spawn so it’s good for the lake but it would probably be better for us right now if the lake was low. It’s going to be a tournament that changes every day. The bite is going to go away for some people and come to others. I’m just hoping that I’m one of the ones that it’s coming to.”
Alton Jones
“This tournament isn’t going to be the record setting tournament like we had before but it’s going to be a decent tournament. There are a fair number of bites to be had out there but the water is 10 degrees colder than in 2007 so everything is a few weeks behind.
“The mass wave of spawners isn’t moving up like in 2007. Last time, you could throw a swimbait all day and catch five big ones. This year, you might be able to catch two. Clear Lake always fishes small because it’s a big bowl and we’ve all lapped the entire thing. The guys that are doing the right things have found the schools of fish.
“I think that 18-pounds a day will get a check but I still think there will be a few 100 pound sacks.”
Dustin Wilks
“Practice has been really slow. The water is starting to warm up and it’s bright, sunny, and calm. When that happens it gets tough. We either need some really bad weather or a continuation of this stable weather and it will get good.
“In the mornings, the water temperatures are in the 50s but it’s just tough and from what I can tell, everyone that I’ve seen looks pretty bummed out because they expected it to be like last time when it was just wide open.”
Terry Scroggins
“I think we are two weeks too early. The fish are suspended and they aren’t pulled up. It’s just hard to get a bite. I have one area where I think I can catch them decent but I’m guessing half the field will be in there.
“Unless they pull up, it will be extremely hard. Clear Lake isn’t that big but it normally fishes big. This week, there seems to be a few key areas so the way it is right now, it’s going to fish small.”
Dennis Tietje
“The first day was brutal. The second day it showed a little promise and I’m getting in a groove to fish the way that I like to fish. I think things will change over the next few days so I think we’ll be in store for something better.”
Mark Tucker
“It’s nothing like it was when we were here before. If we were here a week later it would make a world of difference. It’s just a tough lake to fish offshore where the fish are probably grouped up because there’s not much cover for them. I would assume that 15-pounds a day will get a check unless they move to the banks and it turns into a slugfest.
“I’m getting about 10 bites a day but I haven’t had a big fish yet. I think that you’ll have to have a kicker each day to do well. By now, everyone knows about the swimbaits so the fish are a little less prone to run out and eat one.”
Kota Kiriyama
“The first day was really tough but I had a little bit better day on Tuesday. I’ve got one thing that I’m keying on so I’m trying to find more water that is similar.
“We are probably about a week behind if the temperature stays the same. The big fish are very difficult this year but I think that it should take between 18- and 20-pounds to get a check this week.”
