Clear Lake Iowa Fishing Report

[Bob Jensen]

Was on Clear Lake Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, June 18-19.

Bright weather, not much wind. Started pulling spinners, caught lots of really nice yellow bass and a few small walleyes, 15 inches tops.

Later in the afternoon the wind picked up a little bit, we switched to crankbaits, bite really picked up. Used a variety of colors and baits, firetiger Flicker Shad baits were best. Pulled #5 size on planer boards on outside lines, #7 Flicker Shad on flat lines. #5 size caught lots of yellow bass, some walleyes, and a flathead catfish that was 12-15 pounds.

#7 size caught larger walleyes, up to a little over 18 inches.

Also broke off two muskies. Don't have much chance to land them on 8 pound test line when they eat the bait.

Worked Billy's Reef area, north shore, and between Farmers Beach and Dodge's Point. Caught fish everywhere.

Returned Thursday a.m., caught a few fish right away, then everything shut down. Got off the water about noon.

Water temp was about 72 degrees.

Clear Lake bite is generally best when there is some wind. I really like a south wind.

Best Fishes,

[EYEweign]

GREAT report Bob...Thanks!!

[Time2fish]

Hey Bob,

My 6 year old nephew is coming down from Minneapolis on Saturday and I am taking him and his dad fishing. Any suggestions for Clear Lake? I would love to get into some yellows and just sit and watch him catch fish. Thanks in advance!

[Bob Jensen]

We caught yellow bass everywhere we fished on Clear Lake last week. We were pulling spinners around Billy's Reef, The Dollar Dock area, Farmers Beach to Dodges Point. We caught them mostly in 7-10 feet of water.

If I was going specifically after yellow bass, I would drift around with an eighth ounce jig tipped with a small minnow or 2" Gulp! or Power Minnow. When a group of yellow bass are found, anchor on them and go to a very small jig, sixteenth or smaller, tip it with something small, Gulp! Maggot or something like that.

Or, tie on an eighth our sixteenth ounce FireBall jig, tip it with a piece of crawler or minnow and just drift around the areas mentioned above. You'll catch yellow bass, but you'll also have the opportunity to catch walleyes, catfish, bullheads, white bass, crappies, who knows what. 6 year olds don't care what they catch, they just like to catch.

If the wind is from the south, fish the north side of the lake. The Dollar Dock area can be especially good with a south wind.

Let us know how you do.

Best Fishes,

[Time2Fish]

Thanks Bob, I will let you know!