The Big "O" has slipped into its summer time pattern with the fishing slowing down a bit. The rains have helped bring the water level up to nine and a half feet above sea level but the water temperature has been hovering around the 90 degree mark and has the bass looking for deeper cooler water. There is still a good number of bass still in the Clewiston channel that runs from the locks at Clewiston across the lake with the best area from the water tank back toward the locks. Wild shiners have been working well, but if you prefer artificial lures I would suggest worms like Gambler's Ace or the new Big Stick and if you prefer to throw a fast moving bait I would try a Spro Aruka Shad lipless crankbait or a Lake Fork Trophy Lures Magic Shad swimbait. This area seems to be good from sunrise till about 11:00 am and then the fishing really slows down. While you are out in the Clewiston channel you might also want to try fishing around the shoal islands, I have seen some schooling bass chasing bait around these island lately and can catch a few before they get spooked on topwater and crankbaits. Some other areas that have also been pretty good are the dynamite holes south of Clewiston, try working a worm like an 8" Lake Fork or their Baby Ring Fry in watermelon-red or blue fleck color around the outside edges.
With the water temperatures in the nineties it is best to get out early and to fish slow as possible to get these bass to bite. My clients have also been catching a few bass in the rim canal north of Clewiston, with the best areas being points that have a lot of rock on them. For these areas I have been using a jerkbait like a Lucky Craft Pointer or Rapala Husky Jerk, if this doesn't work try a worm and fish it slow. A Gambler Ace rigged weightless and wacky style where you hook the worm through the middle with the hook exposed and again fished slow should produce a few bass along these rocks. I have received reports that the rim canal has been pretty good up above Moorehaven, I would concentrate on the points especially the ones with rocks on them. The lake is fishing a little tougher than it has been but the bass are still very catch able, as Byron Childers of Gambler Lures caught over twenty five pounds in just five fish to win a tournament this past weekend. For the bluegill fisherman I have had reports of lots of bluegill beds on both sides of the Clewiston channel out toward the water tank, the rim canal and some of the dynamite holes also have a good number of bluegills to be caught. To answer a question that I receive daily, yes the ramps at Clewiston are open and very useable. There are a few logs in the rim canal south of Clewiston so please be carefully running this way. Till next time good luck and tight lines.
