Clearlake Redemption
Clearlake Redemption
I was fishing the famous Shag Rock on Clearlake in August of 2005 and I hooked what looked like a teener on a dropshot. This is one of the spots that Steve Kennedy fished the Hud during the Elite Series and woke the world to big Western swimbait fishing. The fish immediately ran away from me and stripped about 30 yards of line, jumping twice in the process. Luckily, I got the fish turned and coming to the boat in deep water. I was sure that I would land that fish. About 30 feet from the boat, the hook just fell out.
I've made that exact same cast with many different baits over many subsequent trips and caught dozens of smaller fish. I made the same cast yet again yesterday afternoon while taking waves over the bow as a pleasure boat rounded the corner too close with heavy winds. This time, I got the fish turned and it ran to me. I got it out in deep water and put the wood to it. I quickly landed it with my custom Point Blank 7' MH, Steez SV103XS, and 8lb. Sniper. It weighed 9.71 lbs. Nowhere near my best, but I feel a little redemption.
I've made that exact same cast with many different baits over many subsequent trips and caught dozens of smaller fish. I made the same cast yet again yesterday afternoon while taking waves over the bow as a pleasure boat rounded the corner too close with heavy winds. This time, I got the fish turned and it ran to me. I got it out in deep water and put the wood to it. I quickly landed it with my custom Point Blank 7' MH, Steez SV103XS, and 8lb. Sniper. It weighed 9.71 lbs. Nowhere near my best, but I feel a little redemption.
Re: Clearlake Redemption
Sweet revenge.
- papabassin
- Elite Angler
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Re: Clearlake Redemption
Nice Bucket! Love the redemption story...You never forget the giants that got away, but this helps the sting I'm sure!
Re: Clearlake Redemption
The fish are really grouped around the bait. You can catch 100 or more fish a day if you find the bait. I started on a school of bait with reaction baits in the morning and got about 20 fish in the first hour and then it really shut off. I ran around the lake after that like a chicken with its head cut off trying to find quality fish and clear water. The south end of the lake is like pea soup and smelly. My south end spots in Rattlesnake were unfishable because of the algae.robchik04 wrote:nice! How was the bite overall?
The wind caused some current in the afternoon and the fish on the outer stuff really turned on. I caught about fifty small fish on one shoal from about 2-4 p.m. and another 25 or so off of Shag rock. Bladed jigs and cranks for reaction baits are easy bets. The dropshot and swinging jigheads in the rocks are solid for bottom contact baits.
- Redlinerobert
- Platinum Angler
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Re: Clearlake Redemption
Sweet fish! 12 years is a long time to stalk revenge.
Re: Clearlake Redemption
I fished for a 16.5 lb. bed fish for almost an entire day in 1990. It was on Lake Otay in San Diego and there was no way that I could get back to the area the next day. I told a guy about it. He caught it the next day and it made the papers. I'm still seeking revenge for that one.Tokugawa wrote:Sweet fish! 12 years is a long time to stalk revenge.
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- Senior Angler
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Re: Clearlake Redemption
Awesome fish and congrats