Give me some clear fishing lakes?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

**Clear-water bass lakes** can be some of the most exciting—and frustrating—fishing you’ll find in late summer. Here’s a practical starter list of well-known clear-water spots across regions, plus how to fish them when the water looks like glass. Also included are handy lure options you can grab online to be ready for those ultra-clean repro days. 🎣☀️

- **Clear Lake, California** — One of the clearest bass fisheries you’ll find in the West. Expect crystal to gin-clear water on calm days, with big largemouths cruising shallow in the morning and snapping to deeper flats as the sun climbs. Tactics: finesse baits, slow down, and fish parallel to structure. Short, precise casts dominate vs. big, splashy lures. For technique ideas, check this video: [BEST Lures For CLEAR WATER Bass Fishing (Crystal Clear Water)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ-fNejYG70).
  - Related gear ideas: [LUCKY CRAFT Gunfish 95NF](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR9PYVXK?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) and other topwater options. 
- **Lake Mead, Nevada/Arizona** — Deep, clear water with bigstriped bass and largemouth. Early mornings can be gold; as the day heats, fish often suspend along clear ledges. Tactics: drop-shot or light crankbaits along drop-offs; keep line and shadow control sharp to avoid spooking fish. See clear-water tricks here: [Clear Water Bass Fishing Tricks! How To Catch Bass In Crystal Clear Water!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUrNv7BvZp8).
  - Gear note: the Gunfish line from Amazon is a strong option on clear days: [LUCKY CRAFT Gunfish 115NF](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWJYJ6RT?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).
- **Lake Travis, Texas** — A classic clear-water reservoir with a hot, clear surface in late summer. The fish can push to mid-depths or hold tight to rocky structure. Tactics: effective for sight or near-sight work with natural colors, and slower retrieves in bright sun. You can glean general approach from crystal-clear water tips here: [Clear Water Bass Fishing Tricks!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUrNv7BvZp8).
- **Lake George, New York (Adirondacks)** — Notoriously clear in many zones; strong smallmouth and largemouth populations in open-water and along weed edges. Tactics: long casts, subtle presentations, and focusing on shade edges during the heat. See a real‑world sight‑fishing example here: [Sight Fishing Big Bass In Crystal Clear Water!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uQmzUGT37M).
- **Lake Winnipesaukee or other Northeast clear-water fisheries** — Can offer superb deep-water clarity on calm days, with big bass to entice from ledges and humps. When the sun’s high, switch to finesse and deeper structure work. See related clear-water techniques here: [Fishing CRYSTAL CLEAR Water Ponds For BASS! (New PB)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc4bwTQOjo8).

Techniques and gear to pair with clear water in late summer:
- **Line and leader**: go lighter where you can—fluorocarbon leaders (6–12 lb) help with invisibility in clear water. 
- **Baits and color**: go natural—shad, bluegill, and pumpkin raters look authentic in clear water. *Small, subtle baits* outperform big, flashy ones in glassy conditions.
- **Presentation**: slow, precise retrieves and shallow-to-mid-depth work; cast parallel to the bank or to structure edges; allow wary fish to commit with short pauses.
- **Techniques to try**: *drop shot*, *wacky rig*, and *Neko rig* with light weights on clear days for ultra‑finesse bites.

Amazon lure ideas that excel in clear water:
- [LUCKY CRAFT Gunfish 95NF Top Water Bass Lures](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR9PYVXK?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — great for tense surface bites in glassy mornings.
- [LUCKY CRAFT Gunfish 115NF Top Water Bass Lures](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWJYJ6RT?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — a longer profile for wary fish.
- [PLUSINNO Fishing Lures Kit for Freshwater Bass](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFY42TGZ?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — great starter kit with a mix of shapes/colors perfect for clear-water days.
- [PLUSINNO 264/397pcs Fishing Accessories Kit](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9BW96MG?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — economical option for trying several finesse options.

Practical tip for late-summer clear-water days:
- Start with a long, quiet walk-the-bank approach at dawn. If you don’t see fish, switch to a subtle, bottom-hugging presentation (drop-shot or Ned rig) with a natural color, then ease your lure through likely edges (drop-offs, points, and weed lines) while watching for line tension and subtle taps.

Weather note (late-summer context): when the sky is bright and the water is crystal clear, fish often hug structure and depth where thermal temp layers keep oxygen stable. Focus on early mornings or late evenings, and keep your presentations tight and natural during peak sun.

If you want more specific spot suggestions near you, tell me your region or state and I’ll tailor a lake list with current water clarity notes and season-ready lures. Until then, the lakes above are reliable bets for glassy-water bass action. Tight lines and may your casts be true! 🐟🎣

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