Had day off and decided to head up north to Clear Lake and maybe catch a big bass. Got to boat launch guy and his two dogs which are chasing sticks on water on left...so have to launch on right channel. Started fishing about 1:15pm and fished until 6:30pm. It was sunny and bit windy. I had on my usual top water perch #7 minnow and chatterbait on other pole. I got a few hits right away and landed two 8" bass. No skunk and still fishing in the channel. Figured close to launch most people blow by this to get to their spots it would hold some fish and kept me out of the wind. I put on a mud walker that goes over the thick lily pads and tried that but no hits bumps or blow ups. Back to the top water minnow this time I was hugging the left set of pads and cast along them moved bait nothing, moved it again nothing...started to swim it along side the pads and big fish on!!! Had about 5 ft of line out and yep 4lb test on the top water...found the drag quickly...and turned him from going into the pads and lipped him on first shot. Haul him up and this one has some heft...get out the tape measure and 17" by 4" wide....look for phone in cooler where I usually put it....NO phone left it at home. Sorry no photos. Nice fish. Let him go. Kept fishing and made it to end of channel on left more wind so stayed to right and got a 12", 11" and 3 10" bass and few more dinks. Turned around before pilings and went to other side of boat launch where I had caught fish last weekend...but too windy getting blown down the lake to east. So gave up on that and guy was out there testing his boats motor no fishing just making big wake...so trolled back to first channel and got a few more on way out.

Got 16" bass all on top water minnow perch rapala got a few swimming it but most were just while it was on top of the water just after a twitch. Didn't get anything on buzzbait, chatterbait, or mud walker.

Got six 10" and larger 17", 12", 11", and 3 10" couple 9" and rest were very small. Not a bad day and all fish catch and released. I went there last Saturday and got 20 bass largest was 12" most on top water and got a few on chatterbait and 4 while trolling including a crappie in the middle of the lake. That time I launched from left and fished around the pads and in between the sets of pads by the launch. Had good luck closer to shore and by docks.

Good luck out there.

James

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