March 14

Clarks Hill water levels are still very high but down from yesterday to 331.64 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity varies around the lake. Morning surface water temperatures are about 60 degrees again today. 

It’s difficult fishing right now on Clarks Hill for hybrid and striped bass and crappie, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that even being on the water every day and with all the contacts guides have catching fish is a challenge. There is a tremendous amount of water rushing through the lakes, with the Hartwell, Russell and Clarks Hill dams are all wide open, and while there are cleaner and dirtier areas there is a ton of trash and even whole trees floating in the main river. 

The only way they can find striper right now is pulling up on the banks and throwing baits on the bottom. Those fish have been off main lake points, and with so much water rushing (and dodging trees) it’s not easy fishing.  The bite has been better in the morning but never great.

At the same time the crappie fishing in the very backs is messed up, too. Perhaps one out of five or ten sections of creeks are trollable with the water conditions, but even then it’s not a fast bite. This morning Rocky has eight or nine fish working hard. What they are catching is coming long-lining black and chartreuse jigs in the dark water, and they have been about 4 feet down in 10 feet of water. Fish are not on the banks right now. 

March 13

Clarks Hill water levels are even higher at 331.92 and rising (full pool is 330.00) and sections of the creeks and rivers are muddy, but many areas are cleaner than would be expected. Morning surface water temperatures are around 60 degrees and rising. 

The bass have gone very shallow on Clarks Hill, and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia reports that he has been catching everything in less than 3 feet of water throwing a spinnerbait and flipping a jig. At first he was targeting very muddy water that he reasoned would have warmed up the fastest, but actually found a better bite where there was about 2 feet of visibility. This weekend one day he caught 13 pounds of bass in one pocket, and while he isn’t sure if those fish were spawning by now they must be.

  

That’s confirmed by Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle, who says that fish are on the beds now. He is catching them shallow on spinnerbaits. 

While Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) was fishing out of state this weekend, with the very high water levels he reports that back on Clarks Hill he has discovered a frog bite already! There are fish up in the trees, and the biggest challenge has been getting them out with the lake this far above full.

On the catfish front, Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that the areas he is fishing are still very muddy with trash floating all over the place, but he still rates the bite as fair. Fish are still highly creek-oriented and the best pattern remains fishing in 20-40 feet in the creeks which are holding more bait and blues than the main lake. 

You can anchor with a variety of cut baits, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

More to follow.

March 6

Clarks Hill water levels are very high at 330.63 and rising (full pool is 330.00) and the water has gotten muddy again. Morning surface water temperatures are about 53-55 degrees, and during the day you can see water approaching 60!

Patterns have changed fast with the hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that as the lake has gotten muddy he has had to look very shallow. Almost overnight fish have moved towards the banks in the warm, dirty water, and the only place they have been able to catch fish has been around main lake points in about 5 feet of water.  Usually this bite starts later in the spring, but they are catching fish by pitching baits towards the points.  You could also pull herring on planer boards. 

Pretty soon Rocky expects the fish to mostly be on an early morning bite. 

In the conditions the crappie are doing something similar, and Captain Rocky reports that (even though they don’t appear ready to spawn from the fish he has cleaned) they have also moved super shallow. They are catching them 3-4 feet deep in the backs of creeks long-line trolling with guide parties, but you could also catch fish casting jigs or minnows around the banks.

What all this rain will do is uncertain, and Rocky reports that it could move the fish even shallower – or blow the creeks out so much that the fish move out. 

At the same time our bass contacts are also watching the fish move out of late winter patterns, and Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that he can see the deeper ditch fish he has been on moving. There are still some there and even occasionally schooling, but it’s less each day. He thinks the better fish are moving shallower and they are now catching a lot of buck bass around the banks.

That’s consistent with the report from Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle, who says that fish are moving towards spawning areas.  He is catching them shallow in pockets on jigs and spinnerbaits. 

While tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia is still finding some offshore fish, he agrees with that assessment. Already they are catching most of their largemouth in 5-10 feet of water chasing bait, and he is also finding fish that have pulled up shallow around docks. This weekend he expects to be fishing almost exclusively in dirty water with a spinnerbait and a bright crankbait. 

But that’s not to say you can’t still fill out a limit fishing offshore and LiveScoping, and in 10-30 feet Tyler is targeting schools of spotted bass that are eating whatever swims by. He is casting at them with a 3-inch Gulp! swimbait on a Bad Little Shad jighead. He is also hitting 20-50 brush piles each tournament, and while interesting it can be aggravating to see how many fish look at your bait without taking it! A wacky worm is also easy to see on LiveScope, and he is also fishing a Zoom Super Speed Craw on a creeper head. Green pumpkin has been the best color.

On the catfish front, Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that underlying conditions haven’t really changed enough to move the fish – in fact they have gotten even more extreme.  It’s muddy again about everywhere and there is trash floating all over the place, but he still rates the bite as fair. Fish are still highly creek-oriented and the best pattern remains fishing in 20-40 feet in the creeks which are holding more bait and blues than the main lake. 

You can anchor with a variety of cut baits, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

February 28

Clarks Hill water levels are at 329.84 (full pool is 330.00) and water color is a mixed bag. It’s clear at the Russell Dam, muddy within sight of the dam down to mid-lake, clears by the Clarks Hill dam, and clear up the Georgia side until about halfway up where it gets muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are about 51 degrees in the main lake and 54 in the back of creeks. 

The hybrid and striped bass are moving fast on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that in a few days he has had to completely switch ends of the lake to stay with the fish. While you can catch fish on the lower end on the bottom in about 40 feet of water, the better fishing is up the lake where the bigger fish are moving to spawn. There you can find them from about 12 feet to 40, and in both areas they are highly channel-oriented. While Rocky is fishing down-rods regardless of location, at the upper end more people are pulling boards and free-lines. 

Overall Captain Rocky says it’s as if the crappie fishing is running about a month behind. By this point they should be catching them trolling jigs in the top of the water column from 2 feet down to 12 feet midway back in the creeks at depths of about 20-40 feet.  But while it’s weather-dependent, and some days the fish are higher, most of the time they have been finding them 14-20 feet down. 

Still fish are feeding pretty well, and they are getting 40-60 per day ranging up to 2 and even rarely 2.5 pounds. 

The bass are still in a similar pattern, and Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that they still aren’t schooling like they were a few weeks ago but he is finding fish stacked up in the same 25-30 foot ditches where they have been active. They are in big schools of twenty to twenty-five fish, and this week he has had the best success fishing a jerkbait down the side of the channel ledge. He also picked up a few casting when they came up on top. 

At one point a school of striper and then white bass (!) came through the same ditch where bass were feeding. 

On the catfish front, Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that the fish are still scattered and they are having to move around a lot, work hard, and be patient – but they continue to catch some big fish.  Overall, the best pattern remains fishing in 20-40 feet in the creeks which are holding more bait and blues than the main lake. 

You can anchor with a variety of cut baits, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

February 22

Clarks Hill water levels have dropped back to 329.64 (full pool is 330.00) and the lake is clearing, especially the main channels, although there is still plenty of dirty water to be found in the creeks. Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 51 degrees. 

As water conditions have improved there has been a significant improvement in the hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that the down-rod bite has gotten really good in the channels again. Fish have been about 40-50 feet down close to the bottom, and if you can find bait in relatively clear water they are feeding very well. 

In contrast for crappie fishing you want to fish the dirtier water, but as good as the bite has been overall Captain Rocky reports that there are still some tough days. Like today. They have been crappie fishing since 9:00, looking at tons of fish, and haven’t had a bite.   Overall the pattern is still long-line trolling midway back in the creeks from depths of about 20-40 feet. A lot of the fish seem to be holding about 12 feet down, but generally the easiest ones to catch seem to be the ones that have come up to 4-6 feet. Generally plain jigs are all you need but it’s important to have a wide selection of colors and adjust them according to what’s working.

But days like today (so far) are a reminder that some times they just won’t bite.    

The bass fishing was tougher this weekend than last, and Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that he’s not yet sure if that was a result of worse weather (higher pressure) or if some fish are starting to move off of winter patterns. There was a lot less schooling action in the 25-30 foot ditches where they have been active, and they also wouldn’t take the WillowVibe/ swimbait combination on the bottom as well as they have been. 

At the same time the reports from shallow cranking weren’t great either, and so perhaps it was just a slower weekend. 

The big picture is consistent with the report from Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle, who says that ditches are still the go-to pattern. He likes the Bad Little Shad Jig with a fluke for these fish – Scoping. At this point Jon doesn’t see much sign that fish have started to move up in significant numbers yet.   

On the catfish front, Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that with water conditions the fish are still scattered and they are having to move around a lot, work hard, and be patient – but they are catching some big fish.  Overall, the best pattern is fishing in 20-40 feet in the creeks which are holding more bait and blues than the main lake. 

You can anchor with a variety of cut baits, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

February 14

Clarks Hill water levels have shot up to 330.22 (full pool is 330.00) and with two inches of rain Monday almost the whole lake is muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 49-51 degrees. 

If anything the hybrid and striped bass bite has gotten tougher on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that in six hours of fishing today he and another guide boat both caught 20 fish in six hours. If you find some clearer water you might catch hybrids. But that’s no easy feat, and it’s muddy from dam to dam and then back up the Georgia side. Overall the Georgia side is not quite as bad, but it’s starting to back up. Every day the cleaner patches move. 

The fish they caught today were on down-rods fished 50 feet deep over 100 feet of water over the river channel. 

Luckily the crappie fishing is much better, and Captain Rocky reports that it’s already good and about to get amazing. The pattern is long-line trolling midway back in the creeks from depths of about 20-40 feet, and this pattern is coming on all over the lake.  Big fish are feeding.  A lot of the fish seem to be holding about 12 feet down but the easiest ones to catch seem to be the ones that have come up to 4-6 feet, and they are running their baits shallow. Plain jigs are working well, and the best color varies almost hour-to-hour. Accordingly it’s important to have a wide selection of colors and adjust them according to what’s working.   

On the catfish front, Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that with the lake very muddy the fishing is slow and the fish are still scattered. Finding them from day to day can be really difficult. 

Overall, the best pattern is fishing in 20-40 feet, and right now the creeks are holding more bait and blues than the main lake. 

You can anchor with a variety of cut baits, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

February 12

Clarks Hill water levels are down to 328.61 (full pool is 330.00) and about the upper third to quarter of the lake is still muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 49-52 degrees. 

Fresh off a fourth place finish with 16.22 pounds in yesterday’s 52-boat Super Six Shootout tournament (18.76 won), Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that he continues to find a fast-and-furious bite in the ditches in the morning. He pulled into a 25-30 foot deep ditch first thing yesterday that has been reliable for some time, and once the fish started schooling he caught basically everything on a 3-inch Keitech swimbait. Recently they have also been catching a lot of fish on the bottom with a small swimbait on a WillowVibe, but the fish basically wouldn’t eat unless they were on top and he only weighed in their smallest fish off the bottom. Once the sun got high the schooling essentially stopped and the bite slowed way down. 

February 9

Clarks Hill water levels are down to 328.76 (full pool is 330.00) and about the upper third to quarter of the lake is muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 48-50 degrees. 

It’s still pretty tough sledding on Clarks Hill, but Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that they are catching hybrid and striped bass just below the mud line wherever that might be. Fish are relating to the river channel in 60-70 feet of water, and they are holding about 35 feet down. Everything they are catching is coming on down-rods and they are having to work for fish.

The crappie fishing is improving but it’s still not where they want it to be, and Captain Rocky reports that in a really full day of fishing they are catching 40-50 fish. The best action is coming long-line trolling, and the fish are found in the last 25 feet of water in the creeks. They are catching the most fish about 10 feet down over 20 on jigs.

On the bass front, tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia reports that it’s been taking 17-20 pounds to win and he is on a couple of good patterns. The first is attacking every brush pile you know of with a Damiki rig, and it’s as simple as watching on LiveScope and seeing if a fish comes up. If you don’t see one move on to the next brush pile. Tyler has had the best luck in 18-22 feet, and it’s all about covering water. 

But his biggest fish pattern has been very shallow, and in the backs of creeks early in the day he is finding big bass chasing shad (at times schooling) in as little as two feet or less. In the clearer water you can often see 100 shad being chased by one bass, while in murkier areas it’s more about seeing swirls or fishing targets like a bush. 

While the bass are generally on very small bait 1.5 inches or less, in low-light conditions and/ or muddy water Tyler is finding he needs something bigger like a spinnerbait to get their attention. Just matching the hatch isn’t working. His best fish this week was about 7 pounds and was in the back of a shallow flat with no deep water around!

February 1

Clarks Hill water levels remain at 329.74 (full pool is 330.00) and most of the lake is muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 47-50 degrees. 

Much of the year Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) fishes shallow on Clarks Hill, and as muddy as the water has gotten in many areas one would have expected the shallow bite to be better right now. But in a full day of guiding yesterday they continued to find the best action near the bottom in deeper ditches with 25-30 feet of water but 45-50 feet nearby. A 3-inch Zman swimbait rigged on the WillowVibe is still his go-to bait. The best action came before 9 a.m., when fish were also schooling on the surface, but the ditch pattern continued to produce all day.  Josh suspects you could find fish in shallower ditches if you could locate bait, but he’s not seeing much shallow.

That’s consistent with the report from Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle, who says that ditches are also his go-to pattern. Jon also notes that a few fish are starting to move into pre-spawn staging areas in 12-20 feet – namely any point or drop in the mouth of a spawning pocket. He likes the Bad Little Shad Jig with a fluke for these fish. 

On the catfish front, Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that the bite is very similar to last week as all the rain and muddy water has the fish very scattered. Finding them from day to day can be really difficult. 

Overall, the best pattern is still fishing wherever the bait is in the creeks or around main lake points. The best depth range is 20-40 feet, and anchoring has been most effective recently.

A variety of cut baits are working, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

January 31

Clarks Hill water levels are at 329.74 (full pool is 330.00) and most of the lake is muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 47-50 degrees. 

They caught 20 fish, but Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that today was a pretty tough day for striped and hybrid bass. The fish are still moving around a ton, and he had to run about 20 miles. The fish were about 8-10 miles from where they have been. 

In the end they found the most fish in clearer water below the mud line on the lower end, and they caught them suspended about 20-30 feet down just off the main river channel over deep water. There are birds scattered everywhere and they aren’t offering a ton of help. 

The crappie that they were seeing in such huge numbers are just starting to bite, and Captain Rocky reports that they are stacking up in the backs of creeks. Even though water temperatures are still cold they are getting into an early pre-spawn pattern, and long-line trolling is starting to become effective. They aren’t wearing the fish out yet but it’s clear that they are getting more active, and the next warm day or two should see them feeding much better. 

January 22

Clarks Hill water levels are at 328.53 (full pool is 330.00) and the upper third of the lake is muddy.  Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 40s. 

When weather allows them to get on the water it’s still a good bite for hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that as long as you stay below the mud line and find bait there are fish to be caught. Most of the fish have been on the bottom in about 50 feet of water, but weather has them moving around so much that it’s not uncommon for Captain Rocky’s boat to have to travel 10-20 miles per day to locate the fish. Warm rain later this week will almost certainly move them again. 

There’s no doubt Clarks Hill is still full of crappie, and Captain Rocky reports that it’s not uncommon to mark 1000 fish under the boat. Occasionally they will eat, and even take a live herring at times, but it’s more typical for them to ignore baits for about five minutes and then just swim away.  If you can fish for them after several warm, rain-free days then they are more likely to feed, but that’s hard to find right now!  After fronts they just won’t bite.

As for locations sometimes they are on deep brush, and sometimes they are just on the bottom in 45-50 feet. 

Recently it’s been all about the ditches for Clarks Hill bass, and Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that he is catching almost all of his fish on a small swimbait on a jighead or WillowVibe in the ditches. Some days – and particularly early – they are often pushed up very shallow into just a few feet of water and even schooling, while at other times they are sitting further out on a piece of cover. It seems to be all about how the bait is set up. He also has some deep ditches on the lower end that have been productive, but in general he is finding the better fish up the rivers in dirtier water. Early in the morning he is having better luck with white baits, while during the days something more translucent is working better as the sun comes up. In general fish have been shallower earlier and deeper later. 

That’s very consistent with the report from veteran tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria, who took second place with his father Steve in yesterday’s Boating Atlanta tournament on Clarks Hill. They picked up a couple of deep fish on a jig but never really found a good deep bite in practice, but they found their big fish (including an 8.9!) up the lake in the muddy ditches. In practice the fish were feeding shallow in just 3-5 feet, but yesterday they were holding by a brush pile at the front of the ditch in about 12 feet. When they were more active they took a crankbait, but yesterday they would only take a shaky head. 

Finally, the catfish patterns are still about the same on Clarks Hill, but Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that the bite has slowed as all the rain and muddy water has caused the fish to scatter. Finding them from day to day can be really difficult. 

Overall, the best pattern is still fishing wherever the bait is in the creeks or around main lake points. The best depth range is 20-40 feet, and anchoring has been most effective recently.

A variety of cut baits are working, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

January 4

Clarks Hill water levels are at 322.76 (full pool is 330.00) and morning surface water temperatures are in the low 50s. 

It’s an outstanding bite for hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that they are frequently catching 50 good fish in just a couple of hours. Big 6-9 pound hybrids have pushed to the backs of big feeder creeks in 40-45 feet of water, and they can also be found up the main channels at about the same depth. They are starting out on the bottom but once they begin feeding actively they will come up and feed from 10-50 feet. Down-rods are catching everything for them, and the fish are full of eggs as they move towards pre-spawn locations. 

The deeper bass bite has been the thing for Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) recently, who reports that there has been lots of bait suspended in 20 or more feet in the ditches on the lower end. For guys with forward-facing sonar targeting individual fish and casting at them with swimbaits or jerkbaits has been effective.

That’s consistent with the report from Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle, who says that casting swimbaits on the Bad Little Shad Head is working well in the ditches. For this pattern to be most effective you need clear water in 20-30 feet. 

At the same time there is also some decent action cranking in stained water after recent rains. 

There are more Clarks Hill crappie still related to brush than on some other area lakes, but Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that most of the fish are now in open water. Most of them are at the mouths of creeks, but some are related to the main river channel. Fish are highly concentrated, which means there are some massive schools but also a lot of dead water. Fish are generally in 20-40 feet of water, throughout the water column. Tight-lining is the preferred technique if you aren’t using forward-facing sonar, and either minnows or jigs tipped with minnows have been working the best. 

The catfish bite is fair right now on Clarks Hill, and Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service(864-992-2352) reports that fish are extremely oriented to baitfish whether that bait is in the creeks or around main lake points (which are also holding big blues). The best depth range is 20-40 feet, and anchoring has been most effective recently.

A variety of cut baits are working, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

December 21

Clarks Hill water levels are at 322.50 (full pool is 330.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 53 degrees. 

It’s still a good bite for hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that fish are spread out over most of the lake from the dam to the rivers – except with low water levels the last ten miles are no good. Fish are relating to the main river channel and the mouths of creeks to about 1/3 the way in, and 30-35 feet is the target depth range. Most of the fish are on the bottom but they will sometimes come up and black out your screen when you drop baits down to them. Down-rods and herring have been most effective. 

The schooling bass have pretty much gone away on Clarks Hill, but other than that Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that fish are in about the same areas. Fish are on the bottom in ditches and creek channels, and they will take blade baits at times. 

But the best pattern he has found is still fishing a crankbait very shallow anywhere there is a rock vein running into the lake, and he is targeting his efforts at the mouths of creeks. Smaller fish seem to be further back. 

For a deeper pattern, Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle reports that jigs are still working around any rock in 10-20 feet of water, and specifically in the ditches in 15-20 feet you can find fish around brush and rock piles that will take the same bait. 

The crappie are still very much in a transition phase, but Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service(864-980-3672) reports that right now – even as some fish move off brush and trees to roam in open water – he is still finding the best fishing around brush. Mostly they are around brush or trees in 15-30 feet of water, and both minnows and jigs are working about the same.

The catfish bite is stable, and Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that the cold weather still has the baitfish stacked up at the mouths of creeks where it’s easy to locate the big blues and flatheads. The best depth range is 20-40 feet, and some areas are driftable and dragging baits in and out of these areas is working well. Others are so snag-infested with standing timber that you have to anchor. 

A variety of cut baits are working, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

Finally, for something a little different Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that as long as there is power generation below the Russell Dam they are killing the white perch at the top of Clarks Hill.  The best action is in the channel about 32 feet deep with live minnows on a drop shot, but after you get the fish going you can switch over to cut bait or jigging spoons. It’s a real mixed bag and they are catching perch, a few crappie, yellow perch, a few spotted bass, and a few largemouth – but surprisingly no cats this year. 

December 14

Clarks Hill water levels are at 322.65 (full pool is 330.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 56 degrees. 

It’s a really good bite for hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that the mid-lake on both sides has held the most fish recently. They are not everywhere but when you find them they are in tight schools and will black your screen out. Fish are related to the mouths of creeks and the river channel, and generally they are about 30-35 feet down although they are catching some fish about 20 feet down and others even closer to the surface. The best starting pattern is to put baits near the bottom and crank them a few turns up, but then adjust based on where the fish are holding (or moving). 

There is a little surface activity but it is not a dominant pattern, while birds are definitely helping to locate fish.

Right now the schooling bass will drive you crazy on Clarks Hill, and Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that they are on such small bait that it’s almost impossible to get them to eat. The better pattern he has found has been fishing a crankbait very shallow anywhere there is a rock vein running into the lake, and he is targeting his efforts at the mouths of creeks. Smaller fish seem to be further back. On warm, cloudy days you can even catch them on topwater lures, and if there is a lot of cover in the water he will roll a spinnerbait around it. 

For a deeper pattern, Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle reports that jigs are still working around any rock in 10-20 feet of water, and specifically in the ditches in 15-20 feet you can find fish around brush and rock piles. 

The crappie are very much in a transition phase, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that typical for December fish are moving from brush to open water. Naturally they are very scattered, and fish can be found mostly in 15-30 feet of water. Right now some fish can still be caught on brush, but by the end of the month most of them should have congregated in the mouths of creeks. 

Both minnows and jigs are working about the same.

The catfish bite is stable, and Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that the cold weather still has the baitfish stacked up at the mouths of creeks where it’s easy to locate the big blues and flatheads. The best depth range is 20-40 feet, and some areas are driftable and dragging baits in and out of these areas is working well. Others are so snag-infested with standing timber that you have to anchor. 

A variety of cut baits are working, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

November 30

Clarks Hill water levels are down to 322.66 (full pool is 330.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 60 degrees in the big water and cooler up the creeks.

Water temperatures are in the magic zone where fish are comfortable most everywhere, and as a result Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill can be literally anywhere on the lake. And they are, as is the bait. However, Captain Rocky reports that the biggest concentrations of fish that he can find are about 25-35 feet deep in 60 feet of water, although sometimes they will be on the bottom and then come closer to the surface in those areas. While you can pull free-lines and planer boards, or umbrella rigs, Rocky is catching most of his fish on down-rods. There are also fish schooling in a lot of areas and they can cast lures to those. 

The bass fishing has picked up on Clarks Hill, and Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that anywhere that he can find a rock vein running out into the lake he can catch fish around it. Sometimes they are closer to the bank and want a shallow running crankbait, but at other times they are suspended deeper over the rock and a jerkbait works better. Josh notes that particularly on sunny days you have to have wind or else the fish will not bite, and even on cloudy days wind helps. 

On a similar note Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle reports that when fish are on the bottom jigs are still working around rock in 10-20 feet of water, but he also points out that the colder weather should put more fish in the ditches. The best action will be in 15-20 feet of water around brush and rock piles. 

While the crappie bite is changing every day, Captain Rocky reports that most of the fish are around brush and trees and they have pretty much all moved out to the river channel. He has caught them as shallow as 8 feet, but most of the fish are suspended about 15 feet deep over deeper water. Minnows are working the best. 

On the water all day, Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that he rates the catfish bite as “good”. Cold weather has the baitfish stacked up at the mouths of creeks, and as a result it’s much easier to locate the big blue catfish. The best depth range is 20-40 feet, and some areas are driftable and dragging baits in and out of these areas is working well. Others are so snag-infested with standing timber that you have to anchor. 

A variety of cut baits are working, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

November 15

Clarks Hill water levels are at 323.35 (full pool is 330.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are down to around 62-64 degrees.

It’s still not great bass fishing on Clarks Hill, but Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports they are finding a pretty good shallow bite anywhere that there is a creek channel that swings near a vein of rock. The fish are super shallow, and they are actually catching them in less than two feet of water – but with deep water nearby. Fish are taking shallow-running crankbaits. 

They are also catching fish around very shallow cover, such as downed tree or a crappie brushpile, that is mostly out of the water in the gut of a cove or pocket. The fish are related to cover that’s in the deepest part of the pocket. 

Similarly, Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle reports that there is also a deeper bite with the Bad Little Dude jig fished around rock in 10-20 feet of water. Fish are in both the creeks and the main lake, and the type of rock doesn’t really seem to matter. It could be isolated rock piles or rock off of points.

There are still fish around offshore brush but they are smaller. 

The commonality is that fish are all related to some sort of cover, and there aren’t any schooling fish right now

The hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill are still literally all over the lake, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that he has found them as far up the Georgia Little River as you can go, halfway up on the South Carolina side, and even in the lower lake. Fish continue to make great movements from day to day and so you have to keep moving until you find them.

Luckily the birds are helping, and loons, gulls and even crows will point you in the right direction. They have seen some schooling early in the morning and the fish have stayed up long enough to catch numbers. They are still eating well. 

While fish can be anywhere, in general the best action has still been in the river channels. Sometimes they are in 70 feet of water and sometimes they are much shallower, and when you locate them they can be from the top to the bottom. They are still catching everything on down-rods when fish are not schooling.    

On the crappie front, Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that fish are still on structure in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. While there is great variability in where they could be, including from day to day as they move around, 10-25 feet has been the best depth range day-in and day-out. Generally they are about 10-15 feet deep. Minnows and jigs are really varying in their effectiveness from day to day, and one day the fish will express a strong preference for jigs while one day they will only eat live bait. 

Overall, while the fish are still biting they are moving a lot and pretty fickle about what they want. 

The catfish are still on a similar pattern, but Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that unfortunately the bite has normalized. It’s still good but not quite as wide open as a week or two ago. 

The baitfish are stacked up in 20-40 feet of water in the creeks. Some creek runs are driftable and dragging baits in and out of these areas is working well. Others are so snag-infested with standing timber that you have to anchor baits along the creek channel. 

A variety of cut baits are working, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

November 9

Clarks Hill water levels are at 323.40 (full pool is 330.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 67 degrees.

The hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill are literally all over the lake, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that he has found them as far up the Georgia Little River as you can go, halfway up on the South Carolina side, and even in the lower lake. Fish continue to make great movements from day to day and so you have to keep moving until you find them.

Luckily the birds have arrived to help, and loons, gulls and even crows will point you in the right direction. Also luckily, they are eating well. They have seen some schooling early in the morning and the fish have stayed up long enough to catch numbers. 

While fish can be anywhere, in general the best action has been in the river channels. Yesterday they found them in 70 feet of water, and when you locate them they can be from the top to the bottom. They are still catching everything on down-rods when fish are not schooling.   

 

The bass fishing has gotten a little tougher, and in a tournament Saturday Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) caught a big 5-10 fish on a crankbait but couldn’t find much more size besides a 3-pounder that came on a swimbait off a point early. He found the best action around secondary points where the creek channel swings in, and it seems that every similar point held one or two fish like that. However, they were mostly smaller spots.  

His tournament partner did manage to pick a bass out of those schooling striper, but when you have to find the few bass in acres of striper it can be a real waste of time in a tournament.  Fun fishing it’s awesome!

While last week Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle reported that there were a lot of fish on brush, this week it seems that mostly the small fish are still on brush. Now they are catching better ones with the Bad Little Dude jig around rock in 10-20 feet of water. Fish are in both the creeks and the main lake, and the type of rock doesn’t really seem to matter. It could be isolated rock piles or rock off of points. 

On the crappie front, Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that fish are still on structure in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. While there is great variability in where they could be, including from day to day as they move around, 10-25 feet has been the best depth range day-in and day-out. Generally they are about 10-15 feet deep.  But Saturday in a tournament they caught a lot of fish 6-8 feet down, but their biggest at 30 feet. Minnows and jigs are really varying in their effectiveness from day to day, and one day the fish will express a strong preference for jigs while one day they will only eat live bait. 

Overall, while the fish are still biting they are moving a lot and pretty fickle about what they want. 

Catfish report to follow from Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352), who is on the water today.  

November 3

Clarks Hill water levels are at 323.58 (full pool is 330.00) and the lake has pretty much turned over. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped another degree overnight. 

Whenever someone asks what effect a front is going to have on the fishing Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) is non-committal, because he has seen them bite and not bite, during and after a warm or cold front – so it’s only a guess. But this week he has fished for big blue catfish every day, and he can definitively say this front did not mess up the catfish bite.

The baitfish have moved up in the creeks and are stacked up from 20-40 feet of water. Predator fish of all species are feeding and the blues are super aggressive in these areas. Some creek runs are driftable and dragging baits in and out of these areas is working well. Others are so snag infested with standing timber that you have to anchor baits along the creek channel.  They have had some of their best action this week beaching the boat on a bait-filled ledge in a creek and putting out rods.

A variety of cut baits are working, but big durable baits like gizzard shad and white perch are working the best for big bites.

On the water for bass all day yesterday, Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that he was surprised by a lot of things he saw. They did see some fish surprisingly shallow in a pocket considering the air temperature, but it seemed that more of the fish – particularly spots – were schooled up in ditches in the 10-foot range.  They were further along than he expected.  Bass generally prefer the narrower ditches that have some rock, but if there is a clear drain running through a flatter pocket (especially if it has stumps) those are holding fish, too. Casting the Willow Vibe with a Super Fluke, Jr. up the middle and working it back was the ticket. 

They also caught some fish on spinnerbaits and even had a big one blow up on a Whopper Plopper up the lake, but that wasn’t as good as it sometimes is. They also didn’t see any schooling, perhaps because of the cold front.

Additionally, Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle reports that there are a lot of fish in brush in 12-20 feet right now. The Bad Little Dude jig has been working well for them.  

November 2

Clarks Hill water levels are down to 323.62 (full pool is 330.00) and the lake has pretty much turned over. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped several degrees into the mid-60s.

Even before the cold front hybrid and striped bass were on the move on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that post-cold snap they have really taken off. They are scattered out up the lake and moving back into the creeks, and especially after the front it now seems that most of the fish are concentrated in the middle to upper third of the lake where the bait and fish have both gone. In the last few days they have mostly been about 20 feet down over 40-70 feet, as the middle of the river channel in the areas they are located is now at most about 70 feet deep. You can also look in the middle section of creeks up the lake, but not in the very backs. While you can pull planer boards and free-lines, Rocky is only fishing down-rods – even when the fish are very shallow.

With the exception of some crows that behave like gulls at times, you don’t really have birds to speak of to help locate the fish yet. Instead you have to rely on electronics to find them from day to day.

Especially for anglers used to catching lots of crappie, Captain Rocky reports that after this cold snap it has gotten tough to catch the numbers of crappie they expect with any consistency. It will probably stay that way through February.

Most of the fish are on the upper end in the river channels, but they will be in one spot one day and then gone the next. Now that they have moved off brush with this cold snap they are very scattered and temperamental, and one day they will be on the bottom then the next they will be at mid-depths.  Another day you might see 1000 on a brush pile, but they won’t bite. 

Bass and catfish reports to follow. 

October 26

Clarks Hill water levels are down to 323.87 (full pool is 330.00) and the lake is still turning over but it should be winding down. Morning surface water temperatures are around 68-70 degrees. 

It’s a crazy time for hybrid and striped bass fishing on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that today he had to move over 5 miles to find the fish he had been catching the previous few days. In fact, it might have been closer to 10. They are on the move, but when you locate them they are eating well. 

Fish are in the river going up the lake, and they are 8 feet down and today over 30-40 feet. In fact, some of them were in less than 8 feet of water and they could almost see them coming up and biting on down-rods. You could also catch them on free-lines and planer boards.

The fish have been schooling the last few days in the morning and evening, but perhaps because he had to go so far to find them today Rocky didn’t see that. 

The bass bite is pretty tough on Clarks Hill right now, and Jon Hair with Greenfish Tackle reports that with the lake still turning over there’s no great pattern. The fish mostly quit schooling a week or two ago, although you might get lucky and find some fish schooling back in the creeks. Basically the two ways Jon thinks you can catch fish right now are fishing around brush and rock in 10-20 feet with a creeper head, and casting a buzzbait. Unfortunately, the upcoming cold front will knock that bite back but it should also hasten the end of the turnover. 

Unfortunately the catfish report has come back down to Earth again on Clarks Hill this week, for the same reasons Jon doesn’t rate the bass bite very well, as Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that there is a lot of poor water quality in the lake because it still hasn’t completely finished turning over. That’s making for only a “fair” catfish bite.

It looked like the mid-section was finally done last week and then bad upstream water quality washed back in and messed things up again. This seems to cause fish of all species to be on the move constantly searching for comfortable water as it may be in different areas every day. Once the lake finally turns over then all the water from top to bottom will be well-oxygenated and the fish movement should be more predictable. 

But if you look for them you can find some monster crappie on Clarks Hill, although Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) concurs that they are all over the water column and moving a lot. Overall he is finding the best action in the big water fishing in at least 20 feet or more at the mouths of creek or in the main lake around structure. Some fish are 20-25 feet down, while others are 5-10 feet down, but he’s seeing the most fish 10-20 feet below the surface. In addition to brush bridges are also producing.  He has caught his biggest fish on Fish Stalker jigs recently. 

In the Broad River, Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) also reports that they are finding crappie, mostly around brush. Typically the area is stained but right now it’s about as clear as it gets. Some of the fish are in 20 feet of water while some have been as shallow as 8 feet. 

October 19

Clarks Hill water levels are down to 324.78 (full pool is 330.00) and the lake is still turning over. Morning surface water temperatures are around 70-71 degrees. 

It’s not every week that we lead off with the catfish report on Clarks Hill, but Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that it has been an incredible few days of fishing and the fall feed is definitely on…  Two days ago they had 11 fish that totaled 210 pounds, while yesterday they had 16 that went 330 pounds! The patterns have not changed, and blue cats continue to gather up around big schools of baitfish that are congregating at the mouths of feeder creeks. 25-45 feet is the key depth range, and anchoring on points near the creek channel ledges is the best pattern. As usual, for bigger fish bream, perch and gizzard shad are the best baits, while for more activity herring and shrimp are the best bet. As you can imagine, the last couple of days Chris has been using big baits!

At the same time the turnover is affecting the quality of the hybrid and striped bass fishing on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that one day will be strong while the next day the action is slower.  It also seems to make a big difference whether they are generating power, and when the water is moving the fish are feeding much better. 

Overall fish are related to the river channel suspended about 25 feet down over deep water, and the biggest concentrations are mid-lake. Free-lines and down rods are working the best, but there are also some fish schooling. You are most likely to see them on top in the early morning. 

The crappie fishing is getting a bit tougher, and Rocky reports that fish are moving out of the backs of the creeks seeking better water quality in the main river channels. They are over brush in 30-40 feet of water, but right now he is finding most of the fish about 8 feet down.  Minnows have been working better than jigs for him.

More information to follow on the bass, but from what tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia is hearing it’s still hard to beat a buzzbait for good bites. The schooling fish are generally smaller spots. 

October 13

Clarks Hill water levels are at 325.31 (full pool is 330.00) and the lake is still turning over. Morning surface water temperatures are around 73 degrees. 

They are still doing really well with the hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill, and Captain Tony Shepherd with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that it’s getting to be one of the most exciting times of the year to fish for them. Wednesday he found a literal acre of fish that stayed up for over two hours, and they had a ball catching them on chrome-colored topwaters. There are a few terns and gulls around that can point you to the fish, and the key is to work the outside edges and not run through them.

Overall fish are spread out in a lot of different places, and the schooling action is pretty random in the areas where fish are holding. There are not many fish at the lower end in the big open water, but there is strong topwater activity below the Russell Dam and fish are also moving up the river arms. 

Outside of schooling activity, there is still an early morning feed off points in about 20 feet of water close to deeper water. Then there is a group of less active but still feeding fish about 45 feet down on the river channel and at the mouth of creeks.  The best schooling activity has been on cloudy days. 

While he didn’t find quite the bass he wanted on the second day in the Mr. Clarks Hill event, tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia reports that he was doing one thing right by throwing a buzzbait. This year’s winner and Mr. Clarks Hill Dale Gibbs had a pretty good first day and then really caught them on the second day. He didn’t have much until lunch, and then he picked up a buzzbait and smoked them the rest of the day finishing with three 6-pounders and catching a ton of pretty good fish.

Tyler did catch several fish on a buzzbait but struggled to find quality, and his most consistent action actually came fishing brush piles in 18-30 feet. While there wasn’t much size to them, it was easy to catch fish on jigs and soft plastics. He also messed with schooling fish a little, but they were on extremely small bait and not very cooperative. 

Overall, for the next month Tyler expects that a buzzbait and floating worm will be hard to beat. It’s especially good if there are tree-tops or laydowns in the water that you can fish them around. 

The crappie are still on the same pattern on Clarks Hill, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service(864-980-3672) reports that he continues to find fish in 10-60 feet of water, with fish in murky water shallower and fish in clear water deeper. Most of the time he is fishing in 25 plus feet of water, and he has found the best action on structure in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. How deep the fish are holding is very inconsistent, and some days he finds them 20-25 feet deep and other days they are just under the surface in 5-10 feet. That’s typical this time of year, but generally fish still go deeper when the sun is higher. 

It's day-to-day with minnows versus jigs, and in jigs Fish Stalker Slab Tail jigs in glimmer blue or blue dew are working the best.   

As fish get more used to the lake turning over catfish are getting into some more reliable patterns, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that blue cats continue to gather up around big schools of baitfish that are congregating at the mouths of feeder creeks. 25-45 feet is the key depth range, and anchoring on points near the creek channel ledges is the best pattern. As usual, for bigger fish bream, perch and gizzard shad are the best baits, while for more activity herring and shrimp are the best bet. 

October 5

Clarks Hill water levels are at 325.36 (full pool is 330.00) and the lake is still turning over. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid to upper 70s. 

It’s an interesting bite for hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill right now, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that this week the pattern may have changed a little – but he hasn’t changed what he has doing. The net result is that he is not catching as many small fish as a week or two ago, and particularly the hybrids seem to have moved a bit on him, but they are actually getting more big fish and still filling the box.  

Overall fish are still spreading out up the lake and out into the river arms, and very early they are catching fish on specific points in about 24 feet of water with shallow down-lines. After that Rocky is still going about 60 or so feet deep in 100 feet of water in the river channel where the biggest fish still seem to be holding. 

The lake is still turning over, and all over the lake Rocky is still getting a mud line on his boat when he fishes. 

With Mr. Clarks Hill coming up this weekend, tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia reports that bass fishing is on the verge of getting really fun when temperatures drop about 5 or 6 more degrees. But fish are already schooling pretty well, and on almost every hump down the lake that he has fished Tyler is finding schooling fish. They are not staying up long or very concentrated, but he is seeing 4 or 5 fish come up at a time and in a few hours catching ten or fifteen this way. However, most of them are smaller spots running up to about 2 or 3 pounds. They don’t seem too picky about what topwater you throw at them. 

For better fish Tyler is getting bites on a buzzbait, and so that will certainly be part of the game plan this weekend. 

Fresh off a good finish in a crappie tournament on Clarks Hill, Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that he has found fish in 10-60 feet of water, with fish in murky water shallower and fish in clear water deeper. Most of the time he was fishing in 25 plus feet of water, and he found the best action on structure in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. How deep the fish were holding was very inconsistent, and some days he found them 20-25 feet deep and other days they were just under the surface in 5-10 feet. That’s typical this time of year, but generally fish still go deeper when the sun is higher. 

Recently the minnow bite was better, but in the last few days the jig bite seems to have surpassed it. Fish Stalker Slab Tail jigs in glimmer blue or blue dew worked the best.   

As fish get more used to the lake turning over catfish are getting into some more reliable patterns, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that blue cats are starting to gather up around big schools of baitfish that are congregating at the mouths of feeder creeks. 25-45 feet is the key depth range, and anchoring on points near the creek channel ledges is the best pattern.  As usual, for bigger fish bream, perch and gizzard shad are the best baits, while for more activity herring and shrimp are the best bet.