NeroXyn

@king fisher - seems like they should be to at least listen to what my expectations are assuming they are realistic on the water. My brother is fortunately a bit flexible about the whole thing - this is more on my dream trip going to Clearlake and he is just happy to tag along. Does anyone know some recommendations I can look up to? I have heard of Ross England - sounds like he is an old school.

Hi, Stupid question (i hope not): does a guide service typically always have a strict plan on what's the gameplan on what to do for the day or can we request focusing on certain techniques, etc.? For context, I am planning to have a dedicated fishing trip to Clearlake, CA in May/June with my brother. I am an avid bass fisherman, whereas my brother is a new to whole bass fishing thing. I am thinking - if this is going to be the only chance I have to fish at Clearlake, I want to make the best moment possible, such as catching a 7 to teen pounders bass or catching a school of bass with reaction baits for the entire day. Is this something that can be requested/talked to the guide service or what's the norm? Thanks, N

Me and my brother are planning to visit Clear Lake, CA for fishing trip on mid-May. This topic may have been brought up before but I have specific topics to get a bit more color on Clear Lake/guide services in general: Does anyone have recommendation on specific guides (targeting bass)? I have heard good things about Ross England. Connected to the above - is fishing style something that guide services can cater specifically? I am not familiar Ross England, for example, but seeing him featured in numerous YouTube channel, I doubt he shies away from power fishing especially that time of the mind, but given a rare opportunity, I'd love to see if big bass swimbaiting can be specifically catered. Essentially, if I already pay pretty penny for guides, I don't want to be stuck doing finesse just to get guaranteed bites. I want to get best memories possible. Which airport do you typically arrive in? I am guessing SFO is the baseline then take 3 hours drive going to Clear Lake? I am debating whether Clear Lake is shore-accessible, seemingly share similar features as Big Bear Lake here in SoCal. This helps determining if it's worth extending the stay in Clear Lake. Besides fishing, are there places of interests I should be visiting while in town? Foods, attractions, etc.? Thanks for your time!

I guess we just have different mindset haha. But you are not wrong - saltwater people use 9 ft. spinning setup. I have learned to adapt my spool tension to free fall.

Good activity, here. Thanks all for the input - really appreciate it. If I can ask more - do you run typically run these smaller spoons on M/F casting rod? I know some guys recommends ML/XF Expride B but knowing from my own ML BFS rod, I don't think it can handle 1/2 oz effectively.

That's what I imagine - I can just yo-yo it, just a different look than blade bait or a jig. 1/2 oz jiggin spoon should be small enough and flutter slow enough to work on middle column and less likely to snag.

Learning from various posts, I know it's common knowledge jigging spoon is mainly used for vertical jigging. I am wondering if anyone ever uses this type of spoon for casting and horizontal jigging? I have seen inshore/saltwater people do it - in Japan, it is a light shore fishing technique using "metal jig" - but I almost never see a post of people talk about it, except for that one TacticalBassin short. I figure it should supplement the traditional flutter spoon except small baitfish profile. Tight line, all, and thanks!

I recently have been playing around with my own DIY tail spinner, using cheapo blade baits which I converted the tail hook with a split ring swivel and #3.5 willow blades. During low light sunset with full moon, the bites was going on like crazy and I managed to snagged a couple of decent-sized bay bass (and a couple of unlisted species I don't know). P.S.: I am still debating what's the right rod pairing for this, because suggestions stretches from ML Expride B to MH-MF. My ML rod, which I use for BFS, I can tell it barely feels comfortable lobbing 1/2 oz blade bait and tail spinners, so I am curious if anyone can tell me if 7'2" ML-C Expride is on the stiffer end. Tight line.

I like the fact scope shad makes it possible to work "fast". I know it sounds ridiculous on a drop shot but I am working on it horizontally 99% of the time so having pintail style bait works as a bottom hopping when texas rig won't work (or gets drifted too often by the wave). I need to play around more with paddletail style like Berkley Maxscent one and probably your suggestion to get to know more.

I learned that bay bass are biting well during gloomy days in SoCal so I took the opportunity to go with basic finesse drop shot with Yamamoto Scope Shad 3 inch. Couldn't figure out how to stroll with it, but it sure works on drop shot.

Oo that makes sense. How's shaking on baitcaster feel? People say it's easier using spinning, but i have gotten rid of all my spinning setup. I have a BFS setup so i thought it would work just fine since the rod is light enough for throwing and shaking 1/16th to 1/8th oz jig.

I was looking at this Luck-E-Strike Scrounger Jig, specifically on a 1/8oz 1/0# size. After looking at some underwater footage for scrounger jig, the way the bait moves looks very similar to strolling baits when you shake it. I.e., side rolling motion when the tail is waggling. So it got me wondering if there is a subtle difference that makes strolling make much more momentum. Is the lack of the lip that make it less intrusive hence more bite (because how the head moves similar to chatterbait blade) and more realism? Why would I not use scrounger jig and eliminate the need of shaking (possible making it more viable to use baitcaster setup)? Thanks!

Compton has a pond called Magic Johnson park. It's not known for big fish, likely cuz some people keep taking big ones home, but you can get away with downsized lure or even micro bait for ultralight/bfs. The problem with bringing ultralight is simply when fishing post lunch time - winds around that area pick up quickly west to east. Legg lake/whittier narrows is another one people haven't mentioned here. They were supposed to be big fish but summertime they seem to reside on the most inner parts of the three lakes. Kenneth hahn park has a small clear water pond usually fished more for trout. Years ago, there used to be bass as well, but i haven't been there for so long and recent youtube seaches (people love to vlog) don't have people fished there recently. Balboa lake at Van Nuys harbors the biggest fish i know you can easily reach easily. However, this might be the most pressured water body i have ever seen fishing here so far. Many videos on YT showing they caught 3 to 7 pounders here, from ultralight all the way to big baits, but just like the echo park post earlier, you have to go during down time otherwise you'll end up finessing. Catfish and placos are easily found here.

Used to use #10 for bfs but i found it a bit too thick so i dropped to #8 which is a sweet spot for ultralight to light stuff. #8 just seems to be exactly 1 goh, which is japanese measurement standard (0.165mm - i find it is still thicker than advertised). Overall, loving the line. Limber.

I think it's the same as any other Largemouth. I can see the shape is a bit odd, cuz it's a neighborhood city pond bass, so it might be skinny with a large head proportion-wise.