April 16

Clarks Hill water levels are at 323.60 (full pool is 330.00) and the lake is pretty clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 72 degrees.

It’s a pretty straight-forward black bass report this week, and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia reports that while there are other ways to catch fish most people are thinking about schooling fish on herring points. While the best bite is sometimes early right now fish can be caught on certain spots all day this way, and in the best conditions (with wind and sun) they can be caught all day in a lot of places. So far this season Tyler hasn’t seen a clear preference from the fish and so he alternates throwing a topwater, fluke, and a hard swimbait. 

Tyler notes that on the next full moon shellcracker should spawn and a good buzzbait bite should develop around the banks, and you can already catch fish on humps in 15-20 feet with a Carolina rig, drop shot, shaky head, etc. He just isn’t interested in fishing that way right now. 

Unsurprisingly there is also a fantastic hybrid and striped bass bite, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that he is wearing out the fish early throwing live bait on the bottom to main channel points in about 6 feet of water. He doesn’t believe the herring spawn is wide open yet, but the fish are up there and it’s about to be. After that early bite the striper usually go deeper and pulling free-lines and planer boards across points and humps is the best pattern.

Captain Rocky notes that in filling out a 40-fish limit they usually also catch 5-10 spots and largemouth as well as a couple of catfish.

The Clarks Hill crappie spawn is pretty much over, and Captain Rocky reports that fish are returning to brush.  The depth of the brush doesn’t seem to matter a whole lot, but you can’t go wrong with brush in 20 feet – although the fish could only be 5 feet under the surface. You can still troll some but you pretty much have to troll near brush. 

Finally, on the catfish front Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) was on the water yesterday and notes that he found a decent bite anchoring on humps and main/ secondary points with mussel beds in 5-15 feet of water. 

Additionally, dragging feeder creeks that are clean enough to allow it in 5-25 feet is productive. 

As always a variety of baits will catch fish, with larger, tougher baits like gizzard shad or perch generally getting less bites but overall bigger fish than softer baits like herring. 

April 3

Clarks Hill water levels are at 323.53 (full pool is 330.00), and the lower portion of the lake is clear. Beginning a few miles upstream from the dam, some dingy water is found, but almost nowhere is muddy.  Morning surface water temperatures are about 66 degrees.

Plenty of excellent fishing opportunities are happening at Clarks Hill Lake, butGuide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) said it's the absolute best time of the year to be bass fishing on this lake. Josh said the key to shallow-water bass action is that the herring spawn is underway, and that favored forage is a huge draw for bass. Working the points with several different lures can be productive; the key is finding points with herring on them. While the herring typically spawn at night, they still linger around the points, improving the odds of bites throughout the day. But the early-morning bite can be awesome, and Josh recommends lures like Flukes, Sebile’s, or anything that imitates herring. The spawning action is underway, with the full moon and warm weather ideal for spawners to move in. He’s working a one-half ounce jig with brown, live rubber with a trailer for spawning fish. It’s a different spawn bite than most years with the clear, lower water levels, so some of the beds are deeper than usual. For the best herring spawning points, Josh said to target the lower end of the lake, but up lake, the water is a bit dingy if anglers are keying on spawning bass. But bass fishing is on fire throughout the lake.

Not much has changed on thecatfish front, Captain Chris Simpson withFightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that the blues are moving shallower with warming temperatures, and flatheads are getting more active. But this weekend the warming water should provide better action for both species.  Anchoring on humps and points with an abundance of rocks and/or timber is working well.  Live bream and perch will put you in the game for catching both species, and even larger channel cats. 

March 25

Clarks Hill water levels are at 323.84 (full pool is 330.00) and some areas are stained but almost nowhere is muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are about 60 degrees.

When we have a $10,000 winner on “staff” we better start off with the black bass report, and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia reports that he caught 34-plus pounds over two days to win the Top Six last weekend by targeting fish in less than three feet of water. The key for him was fishing a spinnerbait in stained water for spawning fish, although some of the bass he caught may have been pre-spawn. He targeted laydowns, shallow docks, and any other cover in the water (levels are very low). 

Tyler notes that as soon as next week the fish could start schooling off points, but he hasn’t seen it yet.

That winning pattern makes sense to Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152), who has noticed that in clear water fish are even more finicky than usual on beds. They basically run off whenever you sight-fish for them, and so targeting dirty water makes sense. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing is in daily flux on Clarks Hill, and while acknowledging it makes for a tough fishing report Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that you literally don’t know what the fish are going to be doing from one day to the next right now. They may be feeding or not, they may have moved miles and miles, or they may have moved from 30-40 feet of water to 6 feet.  Fish are moving so much that he has fished from the Russell Dam to the Clarks Hill Dam, and all the way up the Georgia Little River, in just the last few days chasing them. 

The good news is that you can find fish in any part of the lake, and productive patterns have been down-rods on the bottom in 40 feet of water, pulling unweighted free-lines and planer boards across points, and casting live baits onto shoals off the channel. When striper are spawning it’s not unusual for them to move this much and you really just have to cover water to locate them. 

The population of Clarks Hill crappie is so strong that even though fish are doing all sorts of things catches remain good, and Captain Rocky reports you can basically catch them about however you want with fish at all stages of the spawn.  Long-line trolling is working, people are again catching them around the banks on their favorite shallow water techniques, and people are casting at schools they see on LiveScope. 

Finally, on the catfish front Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that the blues are starting to move shallower with warming temperatures and flatheads are getting more active. Anchoring on humps and points with rocks and timber is working well. Live bream and perch will put you in the game to catch both species and even larger channel cats. 

March 18

Clarks Hill water levels are at 323.93 (full pool is 330.00) and some areas are stained but not muddy. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 56 degrees.

While the hybrid and striped bass fishing was outstanding on Clarks Hill before this cold front, Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that now it has gotten really slow and fish are basically just not biting. They have caught 5 or 6 random fish today but no technique is good. Either they aren’t marking fish, or when they are marking them they won’t eat. 

But with warm weather returning the fish should turn back on in the next few days, and they should again be catching them about six feet deep on the bottom casting live bait along the sides of the main channel. They will also take cut bait and dead baits as they are hungry. 

The best bite will again be early, but you can fish this way all day in the right areas and particularly up the rivers. This same pattern is going on in other parts of the lake and in creeks, but it’s generally not as good as up the lake.   

Immediately before the cold front Captain Rocky caught 56 crappie long-lining in about 10 feet of water, and other people were catching them around the banks on their favorite shallow water techniques, but now that bite has also gotten really tough. They are still marking crappie in the same areas, but they just won’t bite.

Again, the fishing should turn on once the cold front passes. 

More to follow here as soon as we can get current information. 

March 11

Clarks Hill water levels are at 324.08 (full pool is 330.00) and some areas are stained but not muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are generally about 62 degrees.

A pretty phenomenal hybrid and striped bass has turned on at Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that they are smashing the spawning females fishing up the river. The fish they are catching are about six feet deep on the bottom, and they are catching them casting live bait along the sides of the main channel. However, they will also take cut bait and dead baits as they are hungry. 

The best bite is early, but you can fish this way all day. The key is finding the right areas, and if they are not on one shallow flat off to the side of the river channel you just need to keep looking. This same pattern is going on in other parts of the lake and in creeks, but it’s generally not as good as up the rivers. 

The black bass are rushing the banks with some already on the beds, but despite this tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia reports that the fishing has gotten a little tougher and weights are generally down.  Tyler suspects that’s because temperatures have gotten so warm so fast and fish are more focused on bedding now than pre-spawn feeding. While he is still marking some fish on brush in 10-15 feet, naturally most of the fish are shallow around docks or any cover in the water. Spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, jigs and soft plastics can all catch fish. 

He also isn’t sure exactly why but Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) concurs that fish are acting a little funny, and he has discovered that fishing up the river in the dirtiest possible water seems to be much more productive than fishing in clearer areas. His most reliable pattern has been dragging a jig around points in the dirtier water, and they have only been able to catch small fish on wacky-rigged worms around docks down the lake. 

Josh has not personally seen any fish spawning although he believes that most of them are within eyesight of where they will bed. 

But Josh has seen tons of crappie spawning in just 2-3 feet of water on his electronics, and Captain Rocky is catching them! He reports that basically now is the time when you can fish for crappie with your favorite shallow water techniques, from pitching corks into 1-2 feet of water to long-line trolling in 10 feet. Rocky notes that with water levels very low fish will spawn around whatever they can find, and it may not be their traditional spawning cover.  

Finally, on the catfish front Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that fish are scattered but anchoring on points and humps in the creeks in 10-30 feet of water is working pretty well. You can also drag baits midways back in the cleaner creeks at the same depth range. However, with some fish still deeper you can also target structure in deep water both in the creeks and on the main lake. As always a variety of baits will catch fish, with larger, tougher baits like gizzard shad or perch generally getting less bites but overall bigger fish than softer baits like herring. 

Overall, the bite is picking up but it’s not wide open yet. 

March 4

Clarks Hill water levels are at 324.00 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity is good on the main channel but stained in some creeks and river arms. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 53 on the main lake to 60 in the backs of some creeks. 

The black bass fishing is on the verge of getting into very good spring patterns, although Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that as of this past weekend he was still catching fish on a winter ditch pattern where they school first thing and then move deeper during the day. However, with the temperatures this week there will be fish on the bed by this weekend, particularly in the dirtier upper end that warms faster. 

There’s nothing but agreement with that from tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia, who reports that as of Saturday he didn’t see any real changes despite 70 degree air temperatures but this week fish will be rushing the bank and by this weekend some fish will be on beds. Spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, and floating worms around the banks will all catch fish, although with water levels very low the challenge will be finding brush or tree tops that have 3-4 feet of water on them. The biggest females are likely to move up first, and Tyler agrees you should head for dirty water that warms the fastest. 

Since not all the bass are on the same schedule, and because of the presence of spotted bass that live and spawn deeper, this week you should be able to find fish from 1-30 feet. 

The hybrid and striped bass are still extremely spread out, and while Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) recognizes it makes for an ambiguous pattern he reports that you can catch them about anywhere in the lake. Basically the two places he recommends looking primarily are 35 feet of water in the creeks or 50 feet in the river channel. Depending on time of day they could be on the bottom, while on bright, sunny days they will move up in the water column. It’s still a very good time for down-rod fishing but you can also catch fish that are spread out and roaming in the warming water pulling free-lines and planer boards.

It's about the time where you can crappie fishing however you want, and Captain Rocky reports that yesterday his boat caught several limits long-line trolling in the mouth of creeks to the middle of the creek long-line trolling. But fish are all on different schedules, and with water temperatures pushing 60 in the backs of some of the biggest creeks there are already fish spawning in some areas. You can fish for these casting jigs or with a minnow under a cork around the banks, although Rocky points out fish may have to spawn further offshore than usual this year with the water so low. 

Finally, on the catfish front Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that as the water warms the fish are scattering out into a variety of depths, but patterns have not changed quite yet. He is still finding that the best way to catch catfish is anchoring on channel ledges in creeks that are filled with baitfish and fan-casting to cover a broad range of water depths.

As always a variety of baits will catch fish, with larger, tougher baits like gizzard shad or perch generally getting less bites but overall bigger fish than softer baits like herring.

February 26

Clarks Hill water levels are at 323.68 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity is good on the main channel but stained in many creeks. Morning surface water temperatures are about 50 degrees on the main lake. 

There are basically two black bass patterns that Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) is fishing right now, and the first continues to be targeting fish in the ditches. This pattern doesn’t seem to be quite as good as a few weeks ago, but the ditches that have bait continue to be productive. The bigger fish are shallower, especially early, and slow-rolling an underspin has been his best way to catch them.  Josh notes that wind is key to activating the ditch fish. 

The second pattern is fishing up the rivers and creeks in the dirtiest water you can find, and in these areas the action has been really good with moving baits like spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, crankbaits and jerkbaits. However, so far this is generally a numbers pattern and not a way to find big fish. 

Tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia is seeing about the same thing, and on his last trip Tyler expected to see the fish shallower but realized they were still more stuck in winter patterns. First thing he is still targeting ditches and looking for schooling fish, and then later fishing deeper brush and rock. Tyler notes that a few warm days should bring the fish to the banks fast, however. 

But the most exciting thing Tyler has seen is crappie, and looking for bass he located a school of about 1000 fish suspended 3 ½ feet down in 5 or 6 feet of water. They were on a flat area in the middle of a pocket seeking warm water and very willing to eat jigs cast to them.

Meanwhile Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) has found another group of crappie stacked up in the mouths of creeks. They are in 24-32 feet of water but suspended as shallow as 6 feet to just off the bottom. Both minnows and jigs are working for these fish. 

With fish in such different places, and a lot in-between, the trolling bite is getting very good.

The hybrid and striped bass continue to make a seasonal progression, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that fish are moving all around the lake. You can literally locate fish about anywhere, and the deep fish are still in the channels but others are moving way up the creeks and rivers and spreading out.  How you target them is really a matter of preference and location, and for the deeper fish down-rods are reliable. But for fish that have spread out covering water with free-lines and planer boards is effective. 

Finally, on the catfish front Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that the water still has not warmed enough to move the fish and so his patterns have not changed. He is still finding that the best way to catch catfish is anchoring on channel ledges in creeks that are filled with baitfish.

As always a variety of baits will catch fish, with larger, tougher baits like gizzard shad or perch generally getting less bites but overall bigger fish than softer baits like herring. 

February 18

Clarks Hill water levels are at 323.61 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity is good on the main channel. Morning surface water temperatures are 46-47 degrees in the main lake. 

The black bass patterns are changing on Clarks Hill, although Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that LiveScoping offshore is a consistent mainstay and some monster bags are suspected to have been caught that way. Still the ditch fish that he has been on have totally changed, and from what Josh can tell they are starting to move towards spawning locations and getting around rock. This seems to partly be because the herring don’t seem to be going as shallow in the ditches in the mornings as they were a couple of weeks ago when the early bite was so good.  

Cranking rock is now a dominant pattern if you don’t want to fish offshore, and Josh suspects that some of the fish he is catching around rocky transitions will ultimately spawn just out of sight in those same areas. 

The hybrid and striped bass fishing is just fair right now, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that the best action he is finding is with fish that are about 50 feet deep on the bottom in both the river and creek channels around trees. Soap Creek has been a good area. With fish hanging around timber you can’t generally get a bait all the way down to them without getting snagged, and so generally you have to fish herring just above the trees. 

The crappie fishing is picking up, and Captain Rocky reports that you can still catch fish out of giant schools in 40-50 feet of water but there are also fish that are starting to move into the backs of the creeks in less than 20 feet of water. They are there because the water temperatures are generally a few degrees warmer in the backs. 

In general the deeper schools are harder to target because the fish are constantly moving and it’s hard to stay on them without forward-facing sonar, but if you long-line troll in creeks and cover water you will catch fish. 

Note that with temperatures rising more fish are high in the water column than when the warmer water was deep. 

Finally, on the catfish front Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that the water still has not warmed enough to move the fish and so his patterns have not changed. He is still finding that the best way to catch catfish is anchoring in creeks that are filled with baitfish on channel ledges. 

As always a variety of baits will catch fish, with larger, tougher fish like gizzard shad or perch generally getting less bites but overall bigger fish than softer baits like herring.

 

February 11

Clarks Hill water levels are up to 323.95 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity is mostly high. Morning surface water temperatures are 47 degrees. 

It’s a familiar but still surprising black bass report from tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia, who continues to catch almost everything schooling in the first couple of hours. Early in the morning bait is back in ditches and long drains, especially those with some brush, and the fish are chasing it on the surface. But then after the sun gets above the trees the bite dies.

Almost everything they are catching is on jighead minnows or Sebilles, with the occasional fish on a shaky head. Tyler notes that long casts are critical, and if fish are in the window where his LiveScope is operating they will follow the bait but not eat it. In fact he thinks the best strategy for tournament fishing is just to turn off forward-facing-sonar and fan-cast. 

Fish are grouped by size and Tyler is pretty much catching largemouth. They can be in any depth of water from less than 5 to more than 20 feet, and really it’s all about where the bait is.  

On a remarkably similar pattern, Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that he is also finding basically the only cooperative fish schooling in the backs of ditches before 8 am. But despite the water being about as cold as it will get all year they are about as shallow as they will get all year, and he is catching everything in 5 feet or less. At times they are running bait as shallow as 2 feet. Josh is catching everything on a jighead minnow, but once the sun comes out and he tries to grind out some more fish he is turning to a Sled for spots around deeper brush or rock. 

The hybrid and striped bass are moving around a lot, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that depending on factors like power generation (they really like when current is moving on the main channel) he is finding fish going from the backs of creeks in 30 feet to out in the river channel in 50 feet. But the commonality is that most of the fish are close to the bottom, and he is mostly fishing down-rods four cranks off of it.  

The crappie fishing has been really good, and Captain Rocky reports that in open water people are wearing out fish a bunch of different ways. They are not related to brush but can be found from the creeks to the main lake, pretty much universally in very large, tight schools. Depths vary greatly, and some of the creek fish are just 2-6 feet deep over 10 feet, while main lake fish could be grouped up 30 feet down in 50 feet. Tight-lining, long-line trolling, and casting with LiveScope are all working, but the best results seem to be coming casting. 

Finally, on the catfish front Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) may be fishing tomorrow and if so we will provide the latest. As of a few days ago he reports that dragging cut bait in and out of creeks filled with baitfish that have cleaner bottoms is still working, but anchoring in the same creeks on the channel ledges remains a bit more consistent. With cool water temperatures fish can get lethargic this time of year and they don’t have to do much work to eat since bait is moving slowly and balled up in large schools. Accordingly, they are less likely to want to chase a meal and still baits can be more effective.

As always a variety of baits will catch fish, with larger, tougher fish like gizzard shad or perch generally getting less bites but overall bigger fish than softer baits like herring. 

February 4

Clarks Hill water levels are up to 323.61 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity is high.  Morning surface water temperatures are about 45-46 degrees. 

While he hasn’t been on the water since the weekend’s snow, Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that just before it arrived the black bass were still very much set up in a ditch pattern. If he could find a ditch that had wind blowing into it he was sure to get bit, and fishing with a fish-head spin and fluke was generating a better quality of bite. While he has not personally seen it a buddy fishing the same type of areas also saw schooling fish like Tyler reported last week, and Josh concurs that the first hour is key right now. 

But Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) has been back on the water for hybrid and striped bass this week, and he reports that the fish have moved out of the creeks in 30 feet and are set up on the bottom of the channel in 50 feet. This pattern seems to be going on all over the lake at the right depth.  They also seem to be biting much better when there is current, and when the current stops they can turn off like a switch. 

In crappie news, Captain Rocky reports that he’s heard some decent reports long-line trolling in the major creeks in the upper part of the lake, but especially after this cold

it’s not a time when you can usually catch a ton of fish. It should get better, although linger effects of a very cold winter can hurt the trolling bite all spring – as happened last year. But luckily every year is different!

Finally, on the catfish front Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that dragging cut bait in and out of creeks filled with baitfish that have cleaner bottoms is still working, but anchoring in the same creeks on the channel ledges is now a bit more consistent. Especially with these temperatures fish can get lethargic this time of year and they don’t have to do much work to eat since bait is moving slowly and balled up in large schools. Accordingly, they are less likely to want to chase a meal and still baits can be more effective.

As always a variety of baits will catch fish, with larger, tougher fish like gizzard shad or perch generally getting less bites but overall bigger fish than softer baits like herring. 

January 28

Clarks Hill water levels are at 322.25 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity is high.  Morning surface water temperatures are about 47-48 degrees. 

The black bass on Clarks Hill remain in a wintry pattern, and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia reports that as is so often the case despite it being the coldest part of the day the first two hours are often the most productive. In a full day of fishing it’s not unusual to catch 75% of your fish in that window this time of year, and Tyler’s last trip was no exception.

Similarly, someone not used to fishing Clarks Hill could be surprised to see schooling activity in very cold water – but anglers familiar with the lake know to expect it. His last time out Tyler caught five or six fish in the first couple of hours on a Sebille and fluke that were schooling in 15-20 feet of water in a ditch. He noticed that long casts were necessary and the further away from the boat the more likely they were to bite, and in particular if he could see them on LiveScope they would look at his bait but not bite. 

Later in the day you can try to keep fishing the ditches with a jig or crankbait in the middle, but Tyler had a little more success fishing brush piles with small fluke on a jighead. However, overall these spotted bass were much less cooperative than the early fish which were mostly largemouth in the ditches. 

While Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) hasn’t been after the hybrid and striped bass since the last report with these conditions, he doesn’t expect any change for a couple more weeks. Basically numbers of fish can be found all over the lake in about 30 feet of water, and fishing for them with down-rods just off the bottom is the best pattern. 

At the same time, to target big striper it’s more about pulling planer boards and big bait with the boat in about 20 feet of water. Some fish will be as shallow as 5 feet while others will be in 30. 

Overall the crappie fishing on Clarks Hill is fair, and Captain Rocky reports that most of the fish have pulled off of brush piles and they are starting to group up in the major tributaries in a pre-pre-spawn pattern.  This is especially true in the creeks in the upper parts of the lake.  But it’s not a time when you can usually catch a ton of fish. With fish scattered from the surface to the bottom the best way to approach them is to long-line troll a bunch of jigs. If you have forward-facing sonar you can cast at them. 

Finally, on the catfish front Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that dragging baits in and out of creeks filled with bait that have cleaner bottoms is still working, but anchoring in the same creeks on the channel ledges is now a bit more consistent. Especially with these temperatures fish can get lethargic this time of year and they don’t have to do much work to eat since baitfish are moving slowly and balled up in large schools. Accordingly, they are less likely to want to chase a meal and still baits can be more effective.

As always a variety of cut baits will catch fish, with larger, tougher bait like gizzard shad or perch generally getting less bites but overall bigger fish than softer baits like herring. 

January 22

Clarks Hill water levels are at 322.78 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity is high.  Morning surface water temperatures are about 50-51 degrees. 

Fresh off the water, Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports a very good morning on the same patterns he has been fishing for hybrid and striped bass. Today they really got into the hybrids, catching 30 between 3-7 pound in four hours. The fish were 30 feet deep just off the bottom in the middle of certain creeks in the upper lake, and they are holding on flats near points or other depth changes. They are related to bait, driving it back into the creeks. Birds were everywhere. Captain Rocky’s boat tried to catch them on Alabama rigs and other lures, but they would only take live bait fished three cranks off the bottom. 

To target big striper, right now it’s more about pulling planer boards and big bait with the boat in about 20 feet of water. Some fish will be as shallow as 5 feet while others will be in 30. 

Winter patterns have definitely set in, and Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that the black bass are stacked up in certain ditches where you can easily catch fish on every cast. They aren’t very deep and he is finding most of them in 3-10 feet of water, often related to rock veins or little points. If the ice storm materializes he expects them to group up even tighter.

Jigs and red crankbaits will work, but Josh has had the best success pulling a Sled or Su-Spin blade and fluke on the bottom. 

There are also plenty of people chasing fish in open water with forward-facing sonar, but ironically these seem to be the most pressured fish a lot of the time recently and other patterns are often better. 

There’s no doubt the crappie on Clarks Hill are biting, and tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that this weekend’s tournament was won with an impressive seven fish for 16.23 pounds including a big fish of 2.90. Will and his partner were further back with a “mere” eleven pounds including a couple of two pounders. 

With the lake so clear the fish are very deep, and they were mixed between just “floating” in open water and related to standing timber 30 feet down in 40-45 feet. More fish were related to wood in the middle to lower lake, while the open water fish were in creek mouths along the edge of the river channel generally more up the lake. 

The catfish bite is still good on Clarks Hill, and Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service(864-992-2352) reports that most of the creeks are still loaded with baitfish, and the catfish want to be in the ones that are. They are still having about equal success dragging in and out of creek runs without too many snags and anchor fishing on the creek channel ledges. In creeks with a lot of obstructions there is obviously no choice but to anchor. 

A variety of cut baits will catch fish, with larger, tougher bait like gizzard shad or perch generally getting less bites but overall bigger fish than softer baits like herring. 

January 8

Clarks Hill water levels are at 323.19 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity is high.  Morning surface water temperatures are about 53 degrees. 

Maybe it’s helping that fishing activity for catfish is low on Clarks Hill, but regardless Captain Chris Simpson with Fightin Da Blues Fishing Guide Service (864-992-2352) reports that yesterday on the water it was apparent that the creek bite is still on! Most of the creeks are still loaded with baitfish, and the catfish want to be in the ones that are. They are still having about equal success dragging in and out of creek runs without too many snags and anchor fishing on the creek channel ledges. In creeks with a lot of obstructions there is obviously no choice but to anchor. 

A variety of cut baits will catch fish, with larger, tougher bait like gizzard shad or perch generally getting less bites but overall bigger fish than softer baits like herring. 

It's still a very strong striped and hybrid bass bite on Clarks Hill, and Captain Rocky Fulmer with Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that they are still getting fast limits. Fish remain scattered all over the lake and feeding aggressively, but his most reliable pattern is still fishing in the channels 20-30 feet down over 50 or more feet of water with down-rods.   

While the channel itself has been Rocky’s go-to area, the edges of the channel, humps, and even flats can be productive. 

This warm weather may change things for a day or two, but Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports he expects black bass to continue be grouped up in the ditches for a while. Early in the morning the fish are usually shallower in less than 10-15 feet of water, and then as the day goes on they move deeper and get harder to catch. It’s not unusual to find them in just 2-3 feet of water first thing if they have pushed a ball of bait that shallow, and then a lot of times they will find a particular hard spot in the ditch that they want to relate to when they are not chasing bait. For shallow fish a blade bait can be good, while an underspin with a fluke is always a good choice. 

Crappie report to follow.