Clear Lake

California
California43,663 acresMAX DEPTH 59 FT
WATER TEMP62°F−1.2°F in 13 daysEF RUSSIAN R NR CALPELLA CA · 24 mi
Measured Monday, September 14, 2026 · refreshed daily · the guide report reads these for you
Clear Lake shoreline outline
Clear Lake shoreline — depth survey in progress

The fishery

Largest natural lake entirely within California. Known for the highest bass catch rate in the state, producing regular 10+ pounders. Relatively shallow with extensive tule beds, rocky points, and submerged vegetation.

Species

largemouth · smallmouth · spotted · redeye

On BassHawk

Everything below points at one goal — finding the most, and the biggest, largemouth bass on Clear Lake.

Mapped on BassHawk

Traced from pre-dam survey sheets — the roads, foundations and creek beds that were there before the water.

Season at a glance

MONTHLEAD PATTERN
JANJig
FEBSpinnerbait
MARTexas-rigged creature
APRTopwater walking bait
MAYTopwater walking bait
JUNTopwater popper
JULBuzzbait
AUGCrankbait
SEPTopwater walking bait
OCTSquare-bill crankbait
NOVJig
DECJig

Pattern headlines only — full areas, depths, and bait detail live in the app.

Getting on the water

Boat Ramp
Clearlake Boat Ramp 95422
Clearlake Oaks Boat Ramp 95423
Kelseyville Boat Ramp 95451
Kelseyville Boat Ramp 95451 #2
Kelseyville Boat Ramp 95451 #3
Kelseyville Park Drive Boat Ramp 95451
Lakeport Boat Ramp 95453
Lucerne Boat Launch
Mike Thompson Harbor
Nice Boat Ramp 95464

What a guide report looks like

A complete, real report for Clear Lake — nothing held back. It ran on that day's conditions; open the app for today's.

SAMPLE GUIDE REPORT · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026

Fall transition is firing. Shallow rock and tule edges are loading up bass before they slide deep. Work the points hard early, then chase the deeper ledges as the day warms.

WATER 62°FAIR 63°FWIND 9 MPH WSEASON FALL

Water at 62 degrees sits right in that sweet spot where bass are still willing to chase, but they're thinking about pulling deeper as fall progresses. The pressure is rising after dropping, which can make them a little cautious, but the wind and cloud cover are keeping light reasonable. Expect scattered but catchable fish across the lake rather than one concentrated school. This is classic fall running and gunning water. Bass are starting to follow shad movements and setting up on structure that connects shallow feeding areas to deeper drop-offs. You'll find them active on structure edges and around any rock or tule that breaks up the bottom.

The day's game plan

EARLY MORNING · 6:40 AM to 8:30 AM
Shallow rock points on the north end (Point Lakeview, Long Tule Point, Rocky Point). Fish 3 to 8 feet deep, right on the rock pilings and edges where tule meets open water.
4.5-inch white or golden shiner swimbait on a 3/8-ounce jighead. Cast tight to the rock, work it slowly with short lifts and pauses. Let it swim just off bottom.
Bass are looking up and feeding hard in low light. Shallow rock is holding good numbers right now. The swimbait matches the hitch and baitfish the lake runs on. With cloud cover and wind, the bite stays extended into mid-morning.
MORNING · 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Secondary points and tule edges (Kelsey Creek mouth, Shirley Slough entrance, Baylis Point). Shift to 6 to 12 feet. Fish the edges and drop-offs near tule structure.
1/2-ounce spinnerbait with a gold Colorado blade and white trailer. Cast and retrieve with steady turns. If the water stays stained, bump it off any submerged cover you contact.
Spinnerbaits cover water fast and trigger reaction strikes as the light improves. The blade vibration cuts through any morning haze and pulls bass off the edges. You're transitioning deeper as the sun climbs, and spinnerbaits work that swing between shallow and deeper structure.
MIDDAY · 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Deeper ledges and channel edges near the Konocti basin (Mount Konocti vicinity, 20 to 30 feet). Work the breaks where the bottom slopes from shallow to deep.
5-inch Sakamata Shad swimbait in Golden Shiner or Reservoir Shad color on a 1/2-ounce jighead. Drop it to the ledge, swim it along the break. Work it methodically, don't rush.
As the sun gets higher and the day warms, bass retreat to deeper water. The channel edges hold prespawn schools and deep-water summer survivors. The bite slows but the fish here are often bigger. Swimbaits in natural colors work the clear-water ledge bite.
LATE AFTERNOON · 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Back to the secondary points and channel swings (Rattlesnake arm, Kona Tayee area, 8 to 15 feet). Start transitioning shallower again.
5/8-ounce crankbait, square-bill style, in shad patterns (chrome, pearl, or chartreuse-belly). Cast and wind. If you find timber or submerged cover, bang it off the wood.
Pressure is still rising but the afternoon swing lets bass move shallow again before the sun gets too low. Crankbaits cover water efficiently and trigger competition bites when fish are scattered. This is the second-best feeding window of the day.
EVENING · 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Docks and tule pockets on the north end (Holiday Cove area, northern coves with protected water). 2 to 8 feet.
Wacky-rigged 4-inch green pumpkin or watermelon seed worm. Pitch it under docks and along tule edges. Let it fall and work it on a shake.
As light starts to soften, bass move shallow again. Protected dock areas draw fish because the wind and open water give them a clear feeding window. Wacky worms are detail baits for picking apart tight cover and getting reluctant fish to commit.
DUSK · 7:00 PM to 7:39 PM (sunset)
Same as evening. Shallow docks and tule pockets. Stay in 2 to 6 feet.
Double-buzzbait pattern or walking topwater (Super Spook style). Cast shallow, work it with a steady twitch. Keep it popping and walking the top.
Last light is when the water comes alive. Bass push up aggressive and hungry. Topwater triggers feeding instinct. The buzzbait double pattern creates noise and silhouette. This is often the hottest bite of the day in fall.
NIGHT · 7:39 PM to 10:00 PM (after sunset, 2+ hours)
Stay shallow in dock-rich areas and tule pockets. 2 to 8 feet. Stick with protected coves.
Walking topwater or soft plastics fished slowly near docks (4-inch dark worm, junebug or black). Fish right on structure. Move slow, feel your way.
Full moon is waning but still bright enough for shallow feeding. Night fishing on a lake like this works when you stay tight to cover and move carefully. The solunar minor at 7:49 PM gives a small bite window. Many anglers skip night, but September nights can be productive if you stay shallow and patient.

Where to fish

What to throw

How to work it

Pro tips

If conditions change

If a front rolls in and the pressure drops hard before evening, bite gets even better. Stay shallow and aggressive all day. Switch to flashy, reactive baits like the spinnerbait and crankbait. If the front passes and pressure rises sharply after dusk, expect the next morning to be tougher. Fish slower on the shallow rock and skip down to smaller worms and jigs. Stay tight to the heaviest tule and docks. If the water clouds up from wind or run-off, switch the swimbait to a darker color (black, junebug) or pick up a chartreuse-tipped spinnerbait. Bump vibration baits harder. If the water stays clear and the sky opens up bright, use natural shad colors and longer leaders, and plan to fish the deeper ledges longer into the afternoon before the shallow bite wakes again at dusk.

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