Clearfork Lake – May 2, 2026 – Columbus Bassmasters

Snowy Showdown at Clearfork Lake: A Day for the Record Books

If you thought the season opener at Indian Lake was a challenge, today’s tournament at Clearfork Lake took “grit” to a whole new level. Mother Nature decided to play a late-spring prank on the Columbus Bassmasters, turning a May morning into a winter wonderland.

Despite the flakes falling and the temperatures hovering near freezing, the bite was absolutely on fire. Here’s the breakdown of a day we won’t soon forget.

Winter in May

Anglers fished through a sight you rarely see during the spring spawn cycle: snow! While most of us were layered up in heavy gear, the bass were clearly undeterred by the unseasonal chill.

A Rare Clearfork Smallie

In a lake known primarily as a premier largemouth and muskie fishery, the crowd at the weigh-in was stunned by a true unicorn. A Smallmouth Bass made a surprise appearance at the scales today. Catching a brown fish at Clearfork is incredibly rare and a highlight for Rich Carter, who boated it.

Heavy Bags and a Monster Big Bass

The cold weather certainly didn’t stunt the growth of the bags coming in. We saw several massive weights today that would be impressive in any conditions, let alone on the tip of a post cold front.

The highlight of the afternoon was Bob Pharris bringing a massive tank weighing in at 7.24 pounds.