Clear Lake named #1 bass lake by Bassmaster

[WRB]

Bassmaster came out with the top 25 bass lakes for the past decade and Clear Lake was #1, California Delta #5.

The Delta is massive it can handle the traffic, Clear Lake is good size natural lake at 43,785 acres but the small community towns can't handle the traffic.

If you plan a trip book it soon.

Tom

 

[GReb]

Would love to see bass or mlf make a west coast trip

[WRB]

B.A.S.S. doesn't get commuinty support out west, don't expect them anytime soon.

MLF on the other hand doesn't need public turnout and I would expect them to make the trip, several anglers live here.

Tom

[Russ E]

I would love to fish clear lake someday. Just don't eat any fish from there. It is rated as one of the most mercury poisoned lakes in the world.

[TnRiver46]

43,000 acres? I didn’t know it was that big. I’ve only been on a couple natural lakes in my life, that would be pretty fun! 

[soflabasser]

What is the biggest bass they caught out of Clear Lake this year? This year in Florida a man caught a 15 pound, 14 ounce bass out of Orange Lake, Florida. There has been at least 15 bass that where 13 pounds or bigger that where submitted this year to Florida's TrophyCatch program and today it is only July 1st. Several hundreds of 8-13 pound bass have been submitted this year as well. Many people do not submit their catches so the real number of trophy bass caught in Florida is much higher. If you like catching large numbers of bass the Everglades is hard to beat. 

[WRB]

Clear Lake produces a few 15-16 lb class yearly, it's not your typical Califorina giant bass lake. What makes Clear Lake special is the average size tournament bass is 5 lbs, 30 lb tournament limits the norm with 10 lb to 12 lb bass needed for big fish. Clear Lake is the oldest and largest natural lake in California, all others are man made impoundments.

Tom

PS, Big O was #10

[soflabasser]

Lake Okeechobee is a great lake to bass fish but there are many other lakes in Florida that are much better. There are several lakes in Central/Northern Florida where 10 pound and bigger bass are caught every week. From what I read the Clear Lake hitch is one of the fish bass eat in Clear Lake. That is why lots of people that fish in Clear Lake fish with lures with similar colors to a Clear Lake hitch.

[frogflogger]

9 hours ago, soflabasser said:

What is the biggest bass they caught out of Clear Lake this year? This year in Florida a man caught a 15 pound, 14 ounce bass out of Orange Lake, Florida. There has been at least 15 bass that where 13 pounds or bigger that where submitted this year to Florida's TrophyCatch program and today it is only July 1st. Several hundreds of 8-13 pound bass have been submitted this year as well. Many people do not submit their catches so the real number of trophy bass caught in Florida is much higher. If you like catching large numbers of bass the Everglades is hard to beat. 

Fishing and guiding in Florida for years I know that many many dd bass are never reported. Although it gets a lot of attention from bass fishermen I was always surprised there weren't more considering the insanely good fishing for bass in the everglades for numbers up to 7+ pounds and the occasional dd.

Almost any fresh water pond or canal you see in the state is capable of a dd. It is frog a fishing paradise. That said the water there is unique and not always comfortable for anglers use to reservoir fishing.

[WRB]

Bassmaster evaluated their top lakes based on tournament results over a 10 year time period.

#1 Clear Lake

#2 Guntersvile

#3 Lake Erie

#4 Lake St Claire

#5 Cal Delta

#6 Toledo Bend

#7 Sam Rayurn

#8 Falcon lake

#9 Coeur d' Alane

#10 Okeechobee

Tom

PS, Texas has 3 of the top 10

[12poundbass]

Coeur d’Alane? I’ve never heard of this lake. 

[WRB]

53 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Coeur d’Alane? I’ve never heard of this lake. 

Brandon Palahniuk's home lake.

Coeur d' Alane (Idaho) was a surprise in 2014 when named #4 bass lake in the country!

25,000 acres with 25 lb bass limits common, 7 lb smallmouth and largemouth are not uncommon in tournament limits. I know this lake for it's world class trout, it held the record 32 lb Rainbow for decades.

Tom

[Todd2]

I looked at whole list. I haven't fished any of them..lol. Kentucky Lake, Dale Hollow, and Table Rock not on the list.

 

Surprised that Fork is that low at 16.

[frogflogger]

Those are all rated by success in major tournaments for tournament fishermen. Lots of great places for the average guy to explore without having to go to one of these - except for me I need a big O fix annually - drifting over miles of vegetation - hurling frogs and swimbaits - bird watching.

[reelfast]

4 hours ago, Todd2 said:

I looked at whole list. I haven't fished any of them..lol. Kentucky Lake, Dale Hollow, and Table Rock not on the list.

 

Surprised that Fork is that low at 16.

I hate lake Fork with a passion. Fished it a ton. It is the most over pressured lake there is and it isn’t big enough to absorb the pressure. KVD didn’t make the cut there and said the same thing. It really used to be awesome, it just got ruined by all the pressure.

[Todd2]

3 hours ago, reelfast said:

I hate lake Fork with a passion. Fished it a ton. It is the most over pressured lake there is and it isn’t big enough to absorb the pressure. KVD didn’t make the cut there and said the same thing. It really used to be awesome, it just got ruined by all the pressure.

Yeah, never been there. I use to fish here in KY with a buddy from Texas who fished Fork back in the day and heard his stories..but sounds like that was back in the heyday. Didn't realize it'd gone down.

[reelfast]

26 minutes ago, Todd2 said:

Yeah, never been there. I use to fish here in KY with a buddy from Texas who fished Fork back in the day and heard his stories..but sounds like that was back in the heyday. Didn't realize it'd gone down.

People still pull giants from there, but the pressure has really hurt the bites. I have tons of buddies who won’t go back. I was hesitant to go that far, but I am finally there. 
 

Now.. Toledo Bend and Rayburn are awesome. 

[NorcalBassin]

11 hours ago, WRB said:

Brandon Palahniuk's home lake.

Coeur d' Alane (Idaho) was a surprise in 2014 when named #4 bass lake in the country!

25,000 acres with 25 lb bass limits common, 7 lb smallmouth and largemouth are not uncommon in tournament limits. I know this lake for it's world class trout, it held the record 32 lb Rainbow for decades.

Tom

Plus it's also loaded with kokanee. Hayden Lake is also great down the road from there, but it's too small to make any lists. Absolutely love it up there and wouldn't mind retiring there in 20 years.

[RoLo]

12 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Coeur d’Alane? I’ve never heard of this lake. 

 

I never heard of it either, that is, until this gator was taken in 2007:

 

39 lb 13 oz | 48.5” L x 27.5” G | Coeur d’Alene Lake, Idaho

Bob Ringer - April 17, 2007

 

Roger

 

 

[WRB]

2 hours ago, NorcalBassin said:

Plus it's also loaded with kokanee. Hayden Lake is also great down the road from there, but it's too small to make any lists. Absolutely love it up there and wouldn't mind retiring there in 20 years.

Don't want to retire where 75 % of the population are retired police and firefighters!

Tom

[A-Jay]

5 hours ago, WRB said:

Don't want to retire where 75 % of the population are retired police and firefighters!

Tom

Sounds like a safe place at least.

A-Jay