Any crappie action at Clear Lake this summer?

[DougB]

I grew up on Clear Lake (Lakeport area) and fished there a lot as a kid.  I've been making a trip or two back every year with my family.  This year, I've been watching for any positive reports on crappie fishing, but have see very little.  I'm thinking of coming up in the next couple of weeks and doing some fishing from kayaks.  I'm open to almost any part of the lake (the State Park by Kelseyville, Lakeport, Rodman Slough, etc.).  Anyone have any tips for us on whether its worth the effort, and if so, where we should try?  I used to primarily fish with white and yellow jigs in shady areas along the shore (under piers, near overhanging willow trees, etc.).

Also, if not much is going on at Clear Lake, how about Highland Springs?  I've caught some bass and crappie there as well.

Thanks

Doug 

[catfished]

Hi Doug,

The only place that's reporting some crappie action is Indian Beach Resort in Clearlake Oaks. Their guests are catching 6 to 8 fish (2 1/2 - 3 1/2 pounds each) from their docks but 99% of the action is at night or early morning hours before daylight. I only mention this because it indicates a few crappie in the area. IBR is actually right on the Glenhaven/Clearlake Oaks border so most people consider it to be in Glenhaven.

I have heard of a few crappie in Rodman Slough but that's all I've heard. I imagine that if you worked the slough shoreline in the shaded areas like you do, you would catch a few but of course that's just my humble opinion. 

The only thing I can add is that most crappie being caught this year are in the 2 to 3 1/2 lb class so it doesn't take a lot of fish to fill a basket.

As far as Highland Springs, I haven't even been there since late spring. At that time the boaters were catching a few bass but I didn't hear of any crappie there.

I wish I could give you more and better info but that's all I have. Perhaps some of our members can help out as well.

Good luck if you decide to come up.

[bobberboy]

Just read the Indian Beach report for Crappie and it looks like they are catching rainbow trout    I didn't know the lake had trout.  Thought the water is too warm?

[catfished]

Just read the Indian Beach report for Crappie and it looks like they are catching rainbow trout    I didn't know the lake had trout.  Thought the water is too warm?

They're not catching rainbow trout there, they caught one trout, That was a very, very rare catch in Clear Lake, especially in the south part of the lake and in late July. There have been a few instances of trout being caught in the north end of the lake and in Rodman Slough but always in the spring when the water is much cooler than now. The water depth at Indian Beach is at least 30 feet off the end of the docks and gets deeper past the end so maybe it could survive by going deeper as the water continued to warm up.