Time for the annual pilgrimage to Clear Lake. Went last weekend with a friend from work for the first time this year and caught 20lbs on finesse. It was good to see Clear Lake fishing strong after last fall. Last fall it was hard to get fish. You were on them or you were getting just about nothing.

This year seems much much better. The water seems good and the fish are hungrier. There's a lot less bait than last year which might be contributing to better fishing.

Practiced one day with Nico in his boat on Wed last week, then fished the FLW Everstart as a non-boater Thurs/Fri.

Weather was hot all 3 days and very calm. The water was mixed, anything from 6 foot vis to total algae sludge. Water conditions changed around each day though the bottom of the end of the lake had the most algae.

Wednesday we practiced on the north end just hopping around trying to find new places. Along our lap we caught fish here and there. Nothing amazing, just some 3's and low 4's. The real goal was to figure out which light line finesse stuff would work.

At the end of the day we found one nice stretch that kicked out a 4 and two 5 and a halfs. I guess we had 22lbs. Didn't weigh them.

For the derby I drew Randy Macabee and Tommy Cardoza. Both guys are mega sticks on Clear Lake.

About 13 years ago a friend, Bill Cook I think, put me in touch with Randy to fish a team tourney at Margarita. In one of my most bonehead moves ever, I overslept my alarm clock and missed the event. Randy went out by himself and caught a 20lb bag that would have won the tourney. Always felt so dumb about that.

Randy is one hell of a fisherman. If you've watched his videos on the TW vlog or followed his tourney career over the years (he's won 6 boats at Clear Lake alone!) you know he's a deep cranking and swimbait expert and I got to see both in action.

His bite wasn't happening in the event but he gunned for it all day. I was totally impressed. From the back I scratched around with my dropshot and caught 15lbs. After watching Randy fish I know it's only a matter of time before he nails down a $125k win on the FLW Tour. He has discipline and patience like few have.

Day 2 with Tommy was another treat. We were on fish all day. Tommy had a solid bag well over 20 in the first hour and a half. I picked off two 4lbers and lost one that crushed me right at the boat and left me with a scale on my hook :(

Tommy was a machine the rest of the day and had some serious chances. Unfortunately 3 good fish came off for him shortly after the hookset. He weighed a great bag at 22lbs and finished 20th but I know he wanted those 3 good ones back. He was real close to making the cut.

Tommy really helped me to get my 5 and I was grateful for it. Late in the day with 4 fish in the box he said, "Rob cast in that shade right there - that's where they are". On the first cast a fish stole my worm but on the 2nd cast a solid 3 and a half took it.

I weighed 16 on the day, finishing just out of the cut in 15th place. My biggest bass died for some reason. Hard to understand why, I didn't even put a buoy in it and we took super good care of the bass with ice and rejuvenade product. I take a lot of pride in fish care but this fish just didn't make it. It cost me a few spots in the standings but not the cut spot thankfully.

The big bite in the morning would have done it for me but it was just one of those things. I was happy to head home and see my boy and catch up on some sleep :) Clear Lake is an awesome place to fish and I wish it was closer. If it was in one day driving range I think Nico and I would start doing tourneys there instead of the motherlode.

As it is, it's fun to head up and catch straight quality largemouth. Special place up there.