John Murray's Blog

Struck out! Hit my old swimbait area first, no bites, off to the back of cache creek, a full hour idle. This is the area that I caught the 10lber, so the anticipation was high. On my third flip, I get a 4lber, here we go! 4 hours later, that was the only bite. This is the least pressured area on Clear Lake and the water was warming to 60deg, I stayed committed. About 1pm I catch another 4, about 10 feet from where I caught the first one. I had fished tight to the tules, out from the tules, and deep in the tules and trees. The water was perfect, the fish just wouldn’t cooperate. About 2, I started the hour idle out. I then stopped on a couple docks, throwing a swimbait. About the third dock, I caught a 3lber, boosting my confidence a little. I hit a few more areas, and ended on a dock that I lost a good one the first day. First cast, I missed another on a senko, and that was it! Had my worst tournament on Clear in many years, I guess I should have gutted it out in the popular areas. If there is a bright side, it’s that I get home earlier to see my family, my son TJ turned one last week, while I was at the Delta. I can’t wait to see him and how he’s changed in two weeks! I’m gonna take a couple weeks off, but I’ll start blogging again before the Smith mt. tourney, thanks for all the great support and messages, I’m ready to start catching ‘em!!!!!

Got SMOKED !!!!!! Started off good, caught 3 on a swimbait, right by Jared Lintner. Then went to a nearby dock and lost a good one on a senko. I then made the mistake of moving offshore and dragging a dropshot. Only one bite in 4 hours. Many of my best areas were covered up with boats, and I won’t move in on them, but still not a smart day. Tomorrow, I swing for the fences, I’m headed south to where I caught that 10lber, and see if she has any friends! Hero or zero tomorrow, wish me luck!!!

Had 6 bites today, 3 on a swimbait, 2 on a dropshot and 1 on a senko. They started moving today, I saw quite a few. I think I figured out the swimbait today, I hope so cause I’m boat out no 7, so I can get to a good area first. The first couple hours are important for the swimbait, then it’s off to dropshot, then back to swimbaits and even sight fishing. My goal is at least 17lbs, which could be strong or near last, you can never tell on this lake. 3 years ago, I had the same goal and I had 25lbs by 9am! Time to get my tackle ready!!!!

Still not there! Went down south all day and had two bites. A two pounder and a 10 pounder! Never had a bite where I weighed 105lbs in 2007. The fish are close to busting loose, I caught both flippin, and none on the swimbait. I did stop at Clear Lake outdoors and bought some 9″ Ospreys, they look deadly in the water. One more day of practice, I did see a few bed fish, so the move should start soon. Off to do tackle…

Still tough! Caught 4 today, a 2,3,4, and 5lber. I could have caught more on a couple spots, but I kept moving looking for a big school. Fished the north end today, and will go south tomorrow to areas I caught 105lbs three years ago.The conditions are going to change each day with the warming trend we have this week. The nicest days will be in the tournament, so an open mind will be required to follow these fish. I’m going to throw a swimbait a lot more tomorrow, trying to find the big (6 plus lbs) fish. This could be a tremendous week of fishing!