I would go with 8 lb. There really isn't any need for overkill unless there is a lot of stuff to cut up your line (stumps, rocky bottom, etc.). 6 lb shouldn't be a problem either. I like to go with the lowest i can get away with just for the fun of it. It's more challenging (and fun) on lighter line when you hit a big one.
I use fireline, 8 or 10 lb test is almost impossible to break with your bare hands so it will definitely have enough strength to bring in a big bass. little on the pricey side tho
I wish I would have seen all of these ideas before heading to the shop. I ended up with 3 poles. One with 6lb, one with 8 lb and one with 10lb. All mono line though. 150 yards on each cost $9.50 total, but if I would pay $30-$40 for the one I'll toss lures on to be sure I wouldn't lose my lures. I have some 14 lb in my bag. Should I use that for my pole with lures? Or will 10 lb mono be ok?
How about these? They're all I have, but I can swing by a shop on the way up there.
I'd love to lure fish for striper, but all of the striper around here are in rivers and bays, that are definitely not clear.
They might work, but a Roostertail will outperform them dramatically.
The Spotted bass like them just as much as the Stripers do, I've caught more Spotted Bass on Roostertails than anything else in my tackle box.
Here's a color chart of some Roostertails:
http://www.basspro.com/Wordens?-Original-Rooster-Tail?-1/8-oz-/product/46137/-954889
My favorites are 04, 05, 11, 19, 20, 21, 35, and 39 all in the 1/8 oz. size.
The water doesn't have to be clear for a Roostertail to work, but they work better in clear water than most other lures.
If Clear Lake is clear water, you will catch very little if anything with heavy line and large lures. Light line and tackle with smaller lures will catch more fish in clear water. See if you can go with one of the guys that were talking about the Roostertails and you'll see what I mean.
but I think we're going to try and find this dam these other guys were talking about.
http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=s&lat=39.017597&lon=-122.806415&zoom=18&q1=94928&q2=39.017576,-122.806447
Depends on where your headed. Over at Rattlesnake I yanked black and yellow toads and did pretty good runnin 18lb on my Diawa Steeze and fast action Loomis. Averaged 5lbs all day. I dropped down to 8lb and crank baits over at Sonoma and did pretty good on the smallies. Thought lizards would be the ticket at Sonoma but the green crankbait with the orange belly did the trick. Threaded worms and lead core for the steelies in the cove next to the ramp on the dry creek (not marina) side. I'm not going near Sonoma this weekend, to flippin crazy. Clearlake won't be bad where your headed unless the winds kick up in the narrows. I'm heading over to Berryesa weekend after next then up to Eagle Lake week after (13-17th).
Go over to Outdoor Pro Shop in Cotati to get the latest and best info. Their over on Houser just off Redwood Highway after Lowes from the Cotati exit.
Watch the rocks if you fish Rattlesnake Island, that Volcanic rock will slice your boat up big time and you can't see em until it's too late. It's best to take someone that knows that area before you venture in on your own.
Where are you coming from? Those coach dogs will get you a mess of Crappie, I've never used them for Bass on that lake but who knows. Rattlesnake is the island just out from Clear Lake Oaks.
I was over at that pro shop today and the guy said to try a drop shot with a small worm. I live in RP. Only places I've fished in Sonoma are Yorty and Cherry creek. We just shore fish Yorty. I've used a big rubber worm wacky rigged or whatever there. My buddy took me back to Cherry and I got a few. We went to the end of Cherry Creek and just floated back. He was killing them, but I forget what he was using. I've never fished by the ramp, but I was told there were some good places by the dam, the marina, and up the other way. Called Warm something? ? Warm Springs.. I fish the Warm Springs side when Yorty and Cherry give up for the season. The best part of the Bass season is done at Sonoma and the Steelies will be moving down around the Dam in deeper water soon although last year and this year were a little odd because of all the water.
We're going to Clear Lake tomorrow and coming back on Friday. Just 2 nights. Have you ever fished that Dam at Clear Lake?
We're coming from Rohnert Park/Santa Rosa. I'm going to swing by Ralphine in the morning and grab some crawfish before we go out. We're camping at the State Park up there.