Green water on Clear Lake: algae likely on the latest view

What we see

We read the color of the water from above on clear days. Blooms are patchy and move with the wind, so the shoreline you visit may look better or worse than the lake as a whole.

DamDeepest water N 3 miles

2040Depth, ft Free spot todayPlace to stay

What blooms are, and why they show up

Algae are tiny plants that live in every lake. A bloom happens when warm water, plenty of sun, calm weather and nutrients washed in from the land let them multiply fast enough to color the water.

Blooms often fade after a windy, cool spell mixes the water, and come back after a few warm, still days.

What to do

• Keep dogs out of green, scummy or paint-like water and rinse them if they go in.
• Do not swim or wade where the water looks like pea soup or has a film.
• Clean fish well and throw away the guts; follow any posted advisory.
• Check your state's lake advisory page before a swim day.

Fishing that week

The water is 58°F (a few days ago). Fish are not affected the same way swimmers are, but clean your catch well.

Expect largemouth bass on Clear Lake to be a strong bet. In the 50s bass still feed, but in shorter bursts, often on sunny afternoons when the shallows warm a little. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.

Next up, crappie: a solid pick. In the 50s crappie school on deeper brush piles and creek channel edges.

Catfish here are a fair bet. Catfish wake up in the 50s, especially near channels and creek mouths after rain.

The water level

The level reads 1,322.5 ft, about the same as a week ago and 0.3 ft down over 28 days. That is about normal for the season. A steady level keeps fish on familiar spots, so what worked last week should still be close.

Making it work on the water

• Set your depth for 58°F water: The surface is 58°F (a few days ago). Work the middle of the range early, then follow the fish shallower as the sun warms the water.
• Tie on the right bait: At this spot, try small jig or minnow under a float. Largemouth bass: they chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
• Work the edge, not the middle: Cover water with a moving bait first, then slow down with a jig or plastic where you get a bite. Position the boat in deep water and cast up onto the shallow side, so your bait falls down the slope the way fish face.
• Use the wind, carefully: With light wind the water is flat and fish spook easily; make long casts and go lighter on line. A light chop is a good thing: it breaks up the light and makes fish bolder.

About Clear Lake

Clear Lake covers about 43,500 acres with roughly 100 miles of shoreline at full pool. The deepest water sits around 60 ft. Largemouth bass, crappie and catfish are what most anglers on Clear Lake are after. Knowing which fish are comfortable at that day's temperature narrows a big lake down to a few good spots.

Weather and bite outlook

For the calmest weather, Tuesday is the pick of the next few days: patchy fog then sunny, barely a breeze and a high near 70°F. Highs slide from about 70°F to 64°F over the stretch, so dress in layers for the early start.

Circle Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on the calendar: 4 of the next 6 days rate good or better. On Tuesday the strongest window runs 6:15 am to 8:30 am, and Wednesday repeats it.