Clear Lake crappie

[Quinnphoto]

I’m thinking about going to Clear Lake this week for crappie. I do have access to a boat. I’ve done some research but I know the experience of this board is priceless. You fly fishers have any words of wisdom for this Clear Lake newbie?

[lee s.]

Careful of rattlesnakes! And you will have plenty of company. Sometimes "lockjaw" can be a real challenge.
.....lee s.

[Rossflyguy]

Live minnows or balanced leeches

[Quinnphoto]

Live minnows or balanced leeches

Thanks-balanced leech it is.

[lee s.]

msg sent......

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I have never seen a time or place where Crappie were caught in abundance on flies.

I would say that Clear Lake is the most famous Crappie fishery that I know about in California.

40 years ago I worked in a bait shop and in the spring. We sold 20 dozen very small "Crappie (size) Minnows" to two guys who came in with a big ice chest and aerator headed for Clear Lake.

I always want to know more about Crappie fishing with a fly rod.

There are tons of YouTube videos about Crappie fishing now with light conventional tackle.


In my life time I have caught a 'ba-gillion' bass and panfish on a cast fly but only a few Crappie.



Here is a link to a bunch of YouTube videos about fly fishing for Crappie:

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...e+on+a+fly+rod


I guess I should be watching them all?

.

[Quinnphoto]

Careful of rattlesnakes! And you will have plenty of company. Sometimes "lockjaw" can be a real challenge.
.....lee s.

I understand you find the fleet of boats and join in. I will be hoping for some fish willing to join me in my boat

[mike borba]

There is a group on Facebook called Clear Lake Crappie Guide Service. My understanding is that the crappie are biting but are 20' to 30' deep.

[Idadon]

Back in the late 50’s, when Clear Lake was still clear and I was just a kid, our family visited a place called “Swedbergs” on the lake over by Konocti Bay. I remember my older brother catching a huge crappie off the dock with a dead minnow floating on the surface. My dad drove over to a baitshop in the highlands to weigh it and the owner wanted to keep it to have it mounted. Understand this was 60 years ago but I think it was over 5lbs. I remember rowing a boat up & down the Tully line so my dad could hit the pockets with a popper. After he caught a couple he’d row & I got to catch a couple. Great memories!!

[Quinnphoto]

Back in the late 50’s, when Clear Lake was still clear and I was just a kid, our family visited a place called “Swedbergs” on the lake over by Konocti Bay. I remember my older brother catching a huge crappie off the dock with a dead minnow floating on the surface. My dad drove over to a baitshop in the highlands to weigh it and the owner wanted to keep it to have it mounted. Understand this was 60 years ago but I think it was over 5lbs. I remember rowing a boat up & down the Tully line so my dad could hit the pockets with a popper. After he caught a couple he’d row & I got to catch a couple. Great memories!!

I think we all look for those moments from our trips. 60 years ago but still like yesterday. What a wonderful way to enjoy our past. 5 lbs is a whopper!!! Thanks for sharing. Pretty sure all who read this will be reminiscing back to a great fishing memory.