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Headed to Clear Lake with the intent of bass fishing, but once I launched and saw the water temp had actually DROPPED 2.5* with all this wonderful weather we have had, I quickly switched over to try my luck at some trout action!

It was a good move, when the wind died down, I noticed a school of fish surfacing in shallow water in the S.W. corner of the lake. I eased over near them and began casting a small gold Kastmaster in front of the feeding school, and reeling in slowly keeping my rod tip high....wham, wham, wham...it was pretty fun. All in all I boated and released about ten bright wiggling small trout between 8-12" I missed about 20 more!!

While doing this for a while, I noticed that the calm water and sun was warming things up a bit, the water temp had climbed from 44* to 47.5*, so I decided I would troll my way over to one of my favorite bass areas, and try them once again. I didn't troll very far, when my pole bent over pretty good, I thought for a second that I snagged bottom as I was only in 8 feet of water.....but then, up into the air went the trout in the pic! He spent more time jumping than swimming! The pic doesn't do him justice because I was in a rush to get him back in the water. I would say he was an easy 18", very fat as the trout are feeding on the massive bug hatch going on at this lake.

Didn't catch any bass this trip, but saw two cruising about 3' of water, problem is, they saw me too and wasted no time heading back out to deeper water! Oh well, I know they will move up soon enough......."Winter" can't last forever?? I'm going 'ground hog' hunting!

For any trout guys that want to try this Lake, when you drive out towards the lake, at the end of the long straight launch driveway you will see pilings that continue out into the lake, look straight across the lake from there, then look right and you will see the County park at about 3 O'clock, right in between those two areas is where the schools were circling and they didn't seem to want to go anywhere else? They just kept swimming in circles and eating bugs, and I just kept casting and picking one off here and there....I only keep three trout lures in my bass box, I could only imagine what someone with the right gear could have done?? Have fun if you go, hope this helps!

Dave

3/24/2008 3:15:00 PM

Sounds like maybe the lake was recently stocked. Just a hunch. Nice fish and thanks for the report. Good info.

fishtimidator

3/24/2008 10:59:00 PM

I don't think it was stocked? According to the WDFW website, it's not due to be stocked until April...and they are pretty good about their schedule. Also, they say they are only going to plant it with apprx 1200 14"+ fish? I really think it's the bug hatch that has the little ones jacked up! It wasn't huge schools by any means, maybe 20-30 fish.... Go try it, see what you think?? I usually fish for trout a little in the "early" season, but switch over to bass asap!! A true trout angler could probably knock the crap out of them...especially with a fly rod!! Thanks for the comment.

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