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Looking for Angling Action? Check Out Clear Lake's Yellow Bass Bonanza
By Lowell Washburn
Posted: May 26, 2009

CLEAR LAKE - Clear Lake Open Bible Church Pastor, Will Hunsaker is one contented angler.

While fishing at the Clear Lake Island shortly after sunrise on Memorial Day, Hunsaker successfully landed his 1,600th yellow bass for the season --- an event that would have any fisherman grinning from ear to ear. By the time most anglers were just heading out for the day, Pastor Will was making his way to shore. Towing a wire basket containing more than 80 adult yellows it was simply "all I care to clean for today".

"The Island is such a blessing and it is my favorite place to fish," says Hunsaker. "I get out as often as possible, and generally try to fish from 5:30 to 7:30 each morning. That leaves me time to get back, clean fish, and still be to the office by 9:00."

"I love catching and eating yellow bass," said Hunsaker. "Last year, between myself and the people who fished with me, we caught a total of 3,600 yellows. I thought this year would be slower, but it hasn't been. I keep a very detailed log and last year, I caught my 1,600th fish on May 25. This year, I hit the same number on the exact same date."

Hunsaker, who wader fishes near shore, has two recommendations ---- go small and go slow. Small jig head / Twister tail combos weighing 1/32 oz. are fine. Jigs weighing 1/64 oz. are even better. Although nearly any color may work, most anglers choose white, yellow, or chartreuse.

"I eat a lot of fish and also give fish to friends," said Hunsaker. "Our church has an annual fish fry on the first Sunday of November and I supply the fish for that."

Short lived and prolific to the point of being considered a nuisance species in many Iowa waters, especially in southern Iowa, DNR fisheries biologists note that yellow bass are one fish that anglers never have to feel bad about 'catching and keeping.' The more fish anglers harvest from a population, the better the growth rate for survivors. When adult populations are high, anglers are encouraged to catch all they can. In addition to being a feisty scrapper in the water, the mild flavored yellow bass is also without equal on the dinner plate.