What are the best baits and depths to fish for bass in Clearlake, CA in mid October?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

Mid-October at Clearlake is a classic fall feed window: water around the mid-60s, clear water, and bass tuning into shad and baitfish. The game plan is a mix of moving baits for active fish and tight, bottom-oriented presentations for the wary ones staging on ledges and edges. Here’s a solid, angler-tested approach tailored for Clearlake this time of year.

**Best baits for mid-October on Clearlake** 🐟
- **Bladed Jigs / Chatterbaits**: A must-have for grass edges, sparse weedlines, and points with cover. Cast or pitch along outside edge, then pull a steady, hopping retrieve with a subtle lift to keep the blade in contact. If you’re chasing big bites, switch colors to chartreuse/white or dyed green pumpkin to match the abundant shad. See a real-world look here: [Lake Breakdown: Essential Zones for Catching Bass on Clear Lake](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDJjYrWb-WU) and a blade jig session here: [Clear Lake Bass on a Fresh Bladed Jig 👀](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjODatMfY-o).
- **Soft Swimbaits**: Small paddle-tailed swimbaits (4–5 inches) rigged on weighted jig heads or along a weed edge mimic the forage that’s present in fall. Good option: [Lunker City 6" Shaker Swimbait](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007IRC3BC?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) or 5" D-Shad styles for side-to-side action like [Yamamoto 5" D-Shad Swimbait](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004C35ODY?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).
- **Soft Plastics (Paddletail / Shad)**: For finicky pockets or deeper edges, a paddle-tail craw/mini shad suffices. Consider [Berkley Gulp! Paddleshad 6" Pearl White](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DDGJBNQ?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) and [Berkley Gulp! Grub 6" Salmon Red](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JN95VZS?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).
- **Power Plastics for Cover**: When you’re fishing through hydrilla or grass near docks, throw [Berkley PowerBait CullShad Albino 6 in](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBSV2FKS?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) for a slow, lifelike fall that triggers short-strikes from bass in dense cover.
- **Seasonal topwater / shallow options**: On sunny, calm mornings, a small topwater or squarebill around 2–6 ft on points or near weedlines can spark bites before the sun climbs high.

**Depth strategy (mid-October)**  
- Early light (first 1–2 hours): target 2–6 ft along weed edges, wood, and docks. Use a small topwater or a shallow squarebill to locate active fish quickly.
- Midday to afternoon: shift to mid-depth structure. Focus on 6–12 ft around points and inside bends where bait schools roam. If you’re seeing scattered fish on sonar at 8–15 ft, run a slow-rolled swimbait or a bladed jig along those shelves.
- Depth ladder for ledges: Don’t neglect the 12–18 ft range on suspected shad schools or sunken structure; a heavier swimbait or a compact jig with a grub trailer can produce brushed bites when fish are cruising the deeper edge.

**Weather note for early fall on Clearlake** 🌤️
- With clear skies and light winds (typical for mid-October here), bass can be spooky. Fish are keyed to shad and will respond best to quiet approaches and slower retrieves. A light-to-moderate line, stealthy casts, and natural color palettes work well in clear water. A brief weather snapshot from Clearlake shows clear conditions, temp around 65°F, and light wind—ideal for pinpoint presentations rather than big, flashy moves. Weather tip: aim for higher-perceived stealth during midday heat and use slower, more deliberate strips when the sun is high.

**Weather-specific fishing tip**: On clear fall days, keep your boat position shallow and cast toward the shade line or drop-offs; let the bait approach the fish slowly, with pauses to tempt following bass. If you’re marking bait and see a school tight to the bottom, try a slow, near-sinker retrieve with a paddle-tail swimbait.

**Quick, practical tip**: Use a 1/8–3/8 oz blade jig with a small swimbait trailer and a slow, tight-wobble retrieve; lift the jig slightly on each pull to break free from any grass. This combo tends to trigger longer holds from Clearlake’s stud bass when they’re feeding on shad.

If you want a concrete setup starter, pair a blade jig with a paddle-tail swimbait on a moderate rod for crisp feel and a smooth, controlled stop–go cadence. And remember: big Clearlake bass love a confident, patient presentation in October. Tight lines and good luck out there! 🎣🐟

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