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May 23

Clarks Hill water levels are at 328.39 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures are around 80-82 degrees.

The bass bite has changed a little on Clarks Hill,even though tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, GA reports that first thing there is still some schooling activity around long points and humps.  As all year on Clarks Hill he will have a fluke tied on for these fish, even though the bite usually only lasts an hour or maybe a little longer if there is wind. After the early flurry is over you can fish a Carolina rig or Sled from 3 feet out to about 14 in the same areas as these fish do not leave.

There is also a decent buzzbait bite in the afternoon, particularly if you can find an area with some bedding bream.  A good deep bite has also been reported around brush in 23-30 feet but Tyler hasn’t fished it himself.

In addition to the schooling bite and the buzzbait bite, tournament angler Josh Rockefeller notes that he is already starting to fish humps where some fish are headed.  He likes to target deeper humps with a ¾ ounce football Mop Jig, and he will also throw a big shakey head with a fat Magnum Trick Worm.  On shallower humps there can be some schooling during the day.  The hump bite is better when they are pulling some water.

It’s been an excellent time to fish for striped bass and hybrids, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports that with the spawn over fish are pushing back into deeper water. Bait is once again abundant, and along the edges of the channel you can can find good-sized herring and fish on most every point, shoal or blowthrough.  Fish are near the bottom in 15-30 feet of water, and most of the fishing activity is in the lower lake right now.

In the mid-lake Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the down-line bite is  now by far the best way to catch fish.  While a few are still being caught on planer boards, it has gotten very inconsistent.   The most productive depths in the mid-lake for down-lining are 15-35 feet.

Catfish can still be caught anchoring on red clay points and fan-casting baits at a variety of depths, with Chris reporting that 1-10 pound blues and channels are in the same shallow areas as striper.  Anchoring on humps in the 20-35 foot range is the better pattern for bigger, but fewer, blues.

May 9

Clarks Hill water levels are at 328.24 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures are in the mid to upper-70s.

The bass bite has changed a little on Clarks Hill, but tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports that overall the action is still really good fishing for bass that are targeting spawning blueback herring.  Fish are still all over the points in 1-3 feet of water, but Josh has discovered that in addition to the Gunfish he is having to throw swimbaits and swimming flukes on a ¼ ounce jighead.  There are still some good fish being caught on topwaters, but overall fish are getting a little more finesse-oriented at this stage of the herring spawn.

Striped bass and hybridsare also focused on the spawning herring, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reportsthat in the lower lake they are still pushed up very shallow on points around daylight.  A lot of people are fishing free lines and planer boards, but it is also possible to catch them on very shallow down lines.  Captain Brad Sasser has found fish in the 6-feet and 18-feet range around daylight along the edges of the channel, but after the sun gets up they scatter out in the same areas and it is hard to find a concentration of fish. Free-lines and planer boards with weights are working, and there is no big group of fish in 20 or 30 feet of water.  Fish seem to be making their way towards the lower end of the lake.

In the mid-lake Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the planer board bite is tapering off but fish are still catchable.  The down-line bite is getting better by the day and will soon be easily the best way to generate fast action.  The most productive depths in the mid-lake for down-lining are as shallow as 8 feet to 25-30 feet.  Fish typically go deeper as the sun gets higher.

Cut bait is still a good way to pick up a big fish.

 

Brad reports that crappie have moved back onto the brush, and the best brush piles seem to be along the river channels and not back in the creeks.  Fish are generally 6-10 feet down in 12-15 feet of water.  Double anchoring and dropping down minnows has been the best pattern.

Catfish can still be caught anchoring on red clay points and fan-casting baits at a variety of depths, with Chris reporting that 1-10 pound blues and channels in the same shallow areas as striper.  Anchoring on humps in the 20-35 foot range is the better pattern for bigger, but fewer, blues.  Some humps and points will produce a mixed bag of striper, hybrids, blues and channel cats that can fill up a cooler quickly!

April 25

Clarks Hill water levels are at 328.82 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures are in the upper 60s to lower 70s.

It’s most people’s favorite time to bass fish on Clarks Hill,and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports that right now the bite for fish schooling on spawning blueback herring is wide open.  Fish are all over the points in 1-3 feet of water, and throwing gunfish, flukes and the normal baits will catch fish, including striper.

Josh has found the best action on the northern end of the lake, and when the herring first started he was doing best in the warmest areas although that does not hold as much now. Main lake points and long, tapering points at the mouths of creeks have been the best.

As is usually the case the fish can be a little temperamental, and they are not constantly feeding.  A lot of it is timing and happening to pull up on the right point when they are attacking the bait.

It’s also a pretty fantastic time to catch striped bass and hybridson Lake Hartwell, again owing to the herring spawn. Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that lots of decent 5-10 pound striped bass are being caught, as well as some big fish up to the mid-30s.  The ratio of striper to hybrids has been about 60/40 in the mid-lake where Chris is mainly fishing.

Because fish are up shallow eating spawning herring, pulling planer boards and free-lines across red clay points and saddles between islands and the mainland where the herring are spawning is working really well.  The cut bait bite is also getting pretty good, and anchoring on the same red clay points and fan casting cut bait and live bait is doing very well.  Being patient and chumming will sometimes reward you with a very big striper.

Catfish can also be caught fishing the same way, and Chris reports that 1-10 pound blues and channels are also in the same shallow areas.  Anchoring on humps in the 20-35 foot range is the better pattern for bigger, but fewer, blues.  Some humps and points will produce a mixed bag of striper, hybrids, blues and channel cats that can fill up a cooler quickly!

April 5

Clarks Hill water levels are at 328.21 (full pool is 330.00) while water temperatures are in the low-60s. Down the lake there is 4-5 feet visibility, while some areas up the lake have as little as 4 inches.

It is an outstanding time to bass fish on Clarks Hill, and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, GA reports that you can pick up about any lure in your tackle box right now and catch a fish.  Fish are certainly on the beds spawning, and if so inclined you can catch them sight fishing.  Yesterday there were a lot of buck bass up, but more and more big females should follow them. In dirty water you can also throw a spinnerbait or chatterbait, and there has also been some good schooling activity.  In late April and May it will be post-spawn fish schooling off points, but right now the schooling action is pre-spawn fish that are feeding on bait in pockets or at the last point before spawning areas.  There are even some fish schooling on main lake points with wind. After fish go down they are often staying in the same areas, and yesterday Tyler caught ten good fish in ten casts on a jig in an area where minutes earlier they had been schooling.

Fish activity has been related to weather recently, and on days when the water temperatures are over 60 degrees William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports that striper and hybridshave been up and chasing herring.  When there is a cold snap, like earlier this week, they go a little deeper and become a bit more dormant.

Overall fish are relating to the main Savannah River channel in the mid-lake to lower lake, and they are being caught around shoals, blow throughs, humps and off secondary points. In the morning they are generally coming up to 14-19 feet, and then in the afternoon they are pulling back to 23-24 feet – although with the cold snap they found them as deep as 38 feet.

Almost all of the fish are being caught on down-lines, and very few people seem to be fishing anything else.  While there are some fish in the creeks far more seem to be relating to the main channel.

March 22

Clarks Hill water levels are at 328.85 (full pool is 330.00) while water temperatures range from about 54-60 degrees.  The lake is slightly stained.

A few weeks ago one might have thought things would happen faster this spring, but with some cool March weather the last week or two tournament bass angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports that fish have not moved out of pre-spawn mode on Clarks Hill.  In the very backs some small buck bass can be caught and there is even some schooling activity, but the better fish are still in the middle of creeks.  The best depth range for fishing has been 4-8 feet of water, and recently Josh has found that the crankbait bite has dropped off while he has been catching fish on a ½ ounce chartreuse/ white Buckeye Lures spinnerbait with gold willow leaf blades.

Overall catches of striper and hybrid have been pretty good this week, even though William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports that unpredictable weather means that you need to figure them out all over again each day.  In a matter of days temperatures have run the gamut from as low as 54 degrees to reportedly as high as 62 degrees, and it has the striper as confused as people about what to expect.

Overall fish seem to be coming out of the creeks, and they are being caught along the edges of the channel in the Georgia Little River and the main lake. Early in the morning the fish have typically been pushed up on blow throughs, shoals and points about 14-18 feet deep, where they can be targeted with down-lines.  After the first couple of hours they are breaking up but staying dispersed in the same areas at the same depths, and targeting them with planer boards is working better.

The crappiefishing on Clarks Hill is good, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that both long-lining and tight-lining are working well.  A large number of fish have moved shallow to their spawning areas, and some will probably go through with it during the current full moon phase. There are also still plenty of fish suspended at the mouth of creeks and coves that are aggressive.  Both jigs and minnows are working.

The bite for catfish has improved, and Captain Chris reports that fishing is now fair to good.  Fish are making their way shallower, but for now anchoring on humps in 10-25 feet of water is the best pattern.  At night the backs of creeks have been productive when fish move shallower to feed.  Cut herring and gizzard shad have both been working.

March 7

Clarks Hill water levels are up to 329.57 (full pool is 330.00) while water temperatures have dropped to the lower 50s.  There is lots of muddy water coming into the lake, but further down the lake clarity is more normal.

Water levels have risen about three feet in the last few days, and at the same time water temperatures have dropped five or six degrees.  All this seems to have had the effect of confusing the bass, or at least the bass fishermen, and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, GA reports that overall fish don’t seem to be biting very well.  Everything he has caught has been around an isolated rock pile in 8-9 feet of water, and it has been hard to duplicate that pattern in other areas.  A Sled with a green pumpkin Speed Craw has been working the best for him.

Tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta also thinks the fish are in a bit of a funk, and he agrees that the up-and-down water temperatures have a lot to do with it.  In the more stained areas up the lake he has been fishing a red crankbait, and around deep docks headed into the backs of creeks he has found some on a shakey head in clearer water.  But nothing has been hot.

Fortunately striper and hybrid fishing has taken a turn for the better, and William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) reports that fish are back in the creeks.  Their boats are concentrating on the upper end of the lake in the South Carolina Little River, Baker Creek and Soap Creek. Most of the fish have been in 15-25 feet of water, and while they have randomly picked up a few as deep as 38 that is rare.

With most of the schools broken up into small, scattered groups of fish, pulling free-lines and planer boards has been the dominant pattern.  You can still catch fish on down-lines, though.  Fish are generally keying on pretty small bait, and right now the crappie and striper fishermen are often getting in each other’s way!

Even though there is a lot of muddy water coming into the lake, Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that finding some cleaner water that is better for crappie fishing is not hard.  Overall the best pattern is long-line trolling from the mouths of creeks and coves to the backs until you can determine at which depth and level they are suspended.  They could be over 30 feet of water to start the day, and as the sun warms the water they could move as shallow as a few feet.  Both jigs and minnows are working.

The bite for big catfish remains inconsistent, but Captain Chris reports that the action for smaller fish is still pretty good.  Fishing points and humps in 20-35 feet of water with cut herring is working pretty well.

February 22

Clarks Hill water levels have risen to 327.99 (full pool is 330.00) while water temperatures are bouncing around in the low to mid-50s.  Most of the tributaries are dirty while the main lake is fairly clear.

You can’t believe a fishing report that is always positive, and now is one of those times when William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) shows that they are trustworthy.  They report that fishing for striper and hybridsis tough right now, and with all the rainwater that has been coming into the lake, as well as up-and-down temperatures, conditions are highly unstable.  It’s hard for the fish, much less the fishermen, to know what to do.

Overall fish are fairly shallow, and 90% of the fish being caught are coming on planer boards pulled in the creeks.  They do not want a still presentation, and pulling baits over 23-28 feet of water has generally been the best way to catch them.  They are having to work hard and cover water to catch fish.

Another complicating factor is that getting bait has been next to impossible, and the consensus from the bait distributors is that all the fresh rainwater flowing into Southeastern lakes over the last nine months has slowed the growth and productivity of the herring. Whatever the reason getting live bluebacks is tough!

There are a couple of patterns going for the bass, and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports that in the creeks towards the dam that have clearer water he is still catching fish on a Buckeye Jigging Blade in just 2-5 feet of water (even though there is deeper water nearby).  In the more stained areas up the lake they are fishing a red crankbait in the dirty areas, particularly around rocky points.

You can also catch some smaller buck bass with a jerkbait along steep banks or channel swings, as well as on a shakey head around docks.

The bite for big catfish remains inconsistent, but Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the action for smaller fish has improved.  Fishing points and humps in 20-35 feet of water with cut herring is working pretty well.

Crappie are still relatively shallow, and trolling in the backs of creeks with jigs has been successful.

February 8

Clarks Hill water levels are down to 326.49 (full pool is 330.00) while water temperatures have risen to the upper 50s.  Creeks and up the lake are more stained while the lower lake is clearer.

Rising temperatures have made for a good bass bite this week, and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, GA reports that he has been finding fish in a couple of different patterns. Overnight it seems that fish are wanting to get near heat-holding rock, and first thing until about 10:30 he is finding them around any area (points, banks, pockets, etc.) that has rock.  The depth range has been about 2-12 feet.  He is fishing shakey heads and Sleds, and up the lake in dirtier water he is using a black and blue Speed Craw trailer with the Sled while down the lake he is using green pumpkin.

After the sun gets up and the water warms, Tyler is finding fish throwing square-billed crankbaits and Rattle Traps into pockets.  Up the lake he is throwing red baits, and down the lake in the clearer water he is throwing more natural silver or white colors.  If a pocket does not have hydrilla Tyler is not finding fish.

Two days ago Tyler found some fish schooling in very shallow water, and all they would eat was a silver spoon with a feathered treble hook.

Warm weather has completely changed the striper and hybridbite, and William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) reports that down-line fishing is all but gone.  Fish have scattered out in the creeks in 5-20 feet of water, and pulling free-lines and planer boards is the best way to target them.  Work the edges of the creeks from the mouth to the back and then double back out to the front.  Although the extreme lower end is pretty dead there are fish in most of the creeks, with the South Carolina Little River, Wells Creek and Hawes Creek the best areas.

The crappiehave also gone shallower, and William Sasser Guide Service reports that they are catching crappie trolling in the backs of creeks with jigs.  Pulling baits along the edges in 6-8 feet of water near the bottom has been the best pattern.

January 24

Clarks Hill water levels are up to 327.97 (full pool is 330.00) and with all the rain and wind the lake is staying pretty dirty.  Water temperatures are in the upper 40s to lower 50s.

It wasn’t quite enough for a tournament win again this week, but tournament bass angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports that they are still finding numbers of good 3 plus pound fish very shallow and catching them on a ¾ ounce Buckeye Lures jigging blade.  They found the fish shallow in both clear and dirty water, with some of the fish stacked up on shallow brush and others still relating to points adjacent to ditches.  Everything was in about two feet of water with deeper water nearby.  Following the loons remains a great way to locate fish, and they will keep you from fishing dead water.

They have still not found a deep bite although some anglers may be catching fish around deeper rock.

On the striper and hybridfront, William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) reports very little change in the pattern.  They are still catching fish from 15-20 feet deep down to the bottom in about 30 feet of water, and most of the action is still the creek mouths. Down-lines are still working well but you can also pull free-lines and planer boards.  As with the bass, bird activity is showing where the bass are and the bite is overall pretty steady.  Most of the action remains concentrated up the lake and out the river arms.

Overall the fishing remains very good.

The crappiebite is still pretty good, and William Sasser Guide Service reports that they continue to catch fish near submerged timber in the South Carolina Little River.  Trolling jigs about 10-12 feet deep in 20-25 feet of water has been the best pattern.

The bite for big catfish remains highly inconsistent, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that locating the big blues from one day to the next remains very tricky. Baitfish can be found from a few feet deep down to 60 feet of water, which means that there are fish from the mouth of the creeks all the way to the backs as well as around main lake humps and points.

Under the circumstances the best approach is still to cover more water than usual, and anchoring on highly travelled areas for 30-45 minutes and then moving on if there are no bites is the best pattern.

January 18

Clarks Hill water levels are down to 327.69 (full pool is 330.00) and while the lake is starting to clear the water is still stained to muddy.  Water temperatures are around 49 or 50 degrees.

After some tough bass fishing trips tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports that they have found better action again, including an 18+ sack that won a recent open tournament. The bite has been uncharacteristically shallow, and they are catching fish by throwing a Buckeye Jigging Blade in the clearest water they can find.  Fish seem to be relating to points adjacent to ditches, and they have found the best action in about a foot and a half of water.  There is 20-30 feet of water nearby, however.

Following the loons is still a great way to locate fish, and they will keep you from fishing dead water. Cloudy conditions have been more productive than sunny ones, but on sunny days you can throw a crankbait later in the day.

They have not found a deep bite since the lake got muddy.

On the striper and hybridfront, William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) reports that they are still catching fish from 15-20 feet deep down to the bottom in about 30 feet of water, but instead of catching some of the fish back in the creeks all the action seems to be in the mouths now.  Down-lines are working well but you can also pull free-lines and planer boards.  As with the bass, bird activity is showing where the bass are and the bite is overall pretty steady.  Most of the action remains concentrated up the lake and out the river arms.

Overall the fishing remains very good.

The crappiebite has picked up, and William Sasser Guide Service reports that they have been catching fish near submerged timber in the South Carolina Little River.  Trolling jigs about 10-12 feet deep in 20-25 feet of water has been the best pattern.

The bite for big catfish remains highly inconsistent, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that locating the big blues from one day to the next remains very tricky. Baitfish can be found from a few feet down to 60 feet of water, which means that there are fish from the mouth of the creeks all the way to the back as well as around main lake humps and points.

Under the circumstances the best approach is still to cover more water than usual, and anchoring on highly travelled areas for 30-45 minutes and then moving on if there are no bites is the best pattern.

January 11

Clarks Hill water levels are up to 328.75 (full pool is 330.00) and with a ton of muddy water coming into the lake the upper end is very dirty and the stain line is moving south. Further up the lake and further out in the creeks is dirtier.  Water temperatures range from the upper 40s to lower 50s.

Water conditions have been extremely inconsistent as because of the inflow temperatures have been jumping around for the last week or so.  On the striper and hybridfront, William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) reports that means that fish have moved a bit deeper.  As a general winter rule fish are up the lake and out in the creeks, and right now the best action seems to be from the mouth of creeks to about halfway back.  Most of the fish seem to be in about 30 feet of water, with some fish suspended from 15-20 feet down and others right on the bottom.  Down-lines are working well but you can also pull free-lines and planer boards.

Overall the fishing has been very good.

Bass fishing has gotten much tougher on Clarks Hill, and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports that perhaps because of the cold, muddy inflow bites have been harder to come by.   The best action he has found has been throwing a Chatterbait in shallow, dirty water, but when conditions improve again fishing may improve in the ditches.

When the water clears again look for fish to be in deeper, clear areas closer to the main lake or at the mouth of creeks.  They should be about a foot off the bottom, often oriented to points, and they should take a Buckeye Lures jigging blade or a Su-Spin blade.  Right now deep fish have been hard to persuade to bite.

The bite for big catfish remains highly inconsistent with all the muddy inflow, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that locating the big blues from one day to the next remains very tricky. Baitfish can be found from a few feet down to 60 feet of water, which means that there are fish from the mouth of the creeks all the way to the back as well as around main lake humps and points.

Under the circumstances the best approach is still to cover more water than usual, and anchoring on highly travelled areas for 30-45 minutes and then moving on if there are no bites is the best pattern.

The lake has gotten so muddy that William Sasser Guide Service reports that it has been hard to find crappie around trees.

January 2

Clarks Hill water levels are at 325.85 (full pool is 330.00) and, while much of the lake is stained to muddy, around the dam is fairly clear.  Water temperatures are in the lower 50s.

It’s been a weird few weeks on Clarks Hill, and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports that with inflow and up-and-down water levels fish seem to have mostly moved out of the ditches where they were holding.  He is finding some fish in ditches that have rock piles, but the stained backs do not seem to be holding as many fish as two weeks or a month ago.  What he has caught around ditches with rock has come on a ½ ounce Sled with a Super Speed Craw in green pumpkin color.

The better bite that Josh has recently found has been in deeper, clear areas closer to the main lake or at the mouth of creeks.  They have found fish chasing bait in areas that have loons in the main lake or at the mouths of creeks.  Fish are suspended about a foot off the bottom, often oriented to points, and they have been taking a Buckeye Lures jigging blade or a Su-Spin blade.

The bite for big catfish has dropped off to fair to slow, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that locating the big blues from one day to the next remains tricky.  Baitfish can be found from a few feet down to 60 feet of water, which means that there are fish from the mouth of the creeks all the way to the back as well as around main lake humps and points.

Under the circumstances the best approach is still to cover more water than usual, and anchoring on highly travelled areas for 30-45 minutes and then moving on if there are no bites is the best pattern.

December 20

Clarks Hill water levels are at 326.96 (full pool is 330.00) and most of the lake is muddy.  The lower lake is cleaner but still far from clear.

The bass bite remains similar on Clarks Hill, but Augusta University fishing team angler Josh Rockefeller reports that while fish are in the ditches they aren’t in the very backs anymore.  They have moved out to about halfway back, perhaps because of all the cold, muddy water.  Bait is still crucial and so anglers should look for loon activity before settling into an area.  Fish do not want a fluke right now and the ¾ ounce Buckeye Lures jigging blade has been working best.

On the striper and hybridfront, William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) reports that fish also seem to be about halfway back in the creeks about 15-25 feet deep along the edges.  The lower half of the lake is pretty devoid of fishing activity right now, but the upper part of the lake in the Georgia Little River, Germany Creek, Amity area, and Rousseau Creek have been good.  Their boats are still fishing mainly down-lines but free-lines and planer boards are working, too.

Bird activity will already help you locate the fish, but they should get thicker and thicker as it gets colder.

Big catfish can still be caught, but Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the stained to muddy water has got the baitfish so scattered that locating the big blues from one day to the next has gotten tricky.  Baitfish can be found from a few feet down to 60 feet of water, which means that there are fish from the mouth of the creeks all the way to the back as well as around main lake humps and points.

Under the circumstances the best approach is to cover more water than usual, and anchoring on highly travelled areas for 30-45 minutes and then moving on if there are no bites is the best pattern.

William Sasser Guide Services reports that conditions have been so windy they have not done much crappie fishing, although reports have been of some good catches trolling on the upper end.

November 28

Clarks Hill water levels are at 326.65 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures have fallen into the 50s, ranging from the lower 50s to the upper 50s depending on area of the lake.  The upper part of the lake ranges from stained to muddy, with the top of the lake like chocolate milk.

Bass are starting to do what they are supposed to do in the winter on Clarks Hill, and  Augusta University fishing team angler Josh Rockefeller reports that the fish have started to move into the ditches in the backs. He is targeting 3-5 feet of water, but instead of wanting to be in straight areas fish are in swings and bends. Bait is still crucial and so anglers should look for loon activity before settling into an area.

Josh has actually seen some surface activity, which has tipped him off to where to start fishing, but the fish don’t seem to want a fluke.  However, casting a ¾ ounce Buckeye Lures jigging blade has been working really well.

On the striper and hybridfront, William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) reports that fish continue to move up the lake and out in the river/ creek arms. A lot of fish are in the Georgia Little River.  They have now gotten into the very backs, and Captain Brad Sasser reports that fish can be caught on down-lines fished relatively shallow in 15-25 feet of water.  Some anglers are also fishing free-lines and planer boards.

A few fish can occasionally be seen swirling on the surface, but the better way to locate fish is to by following the birds.  Gulls and loons have finally started to show up and offer some clues for finding fish.

Crappiefishing is wide open, and William Sasser Guide Service reports that up the lake and in the South Carolina Little River they are having great success fishing 6-10 feet down over brush piles in about 15 feet of water.  Fish are in the backs of creeks and they are very aggressive – for crappie.

While anglers can catch them tight-lining or trolling, Captain Brad is having the best results double anchoring over brush and fishing 6-8 rods straight down with minnows.

As temperatures have dropped Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the catfish bite has cooled off to a more moderate fair to good, although the pattern has not changed much.

Anchoring on main lake points and humps that top out in the 35-50 foot range has been working well, although with baitfish starting to ball up in the mouth of creeks some bigger blues are starting to move into those areas.  Cut herring will catch blues and channels in the 1-10 pound range while bigger baits like gizzard shad, white perch and bream are better for targeting bigger fish.

Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that at the top of the lake they are still catching strong numbers of white and yellow perch, with a lot of smaller striper and hybrids as well as some largemouth mixed in.  They are catching fish on both minnows fished on a drop shot and jigging spoons in about 25 feet of water.  Some fish are suspended as shallow as 8-10 feet where they can be caught on a crankbait.

November 14

Clarks Hill water levels are at 327.38 (full pool is 330.00), and water temperatures have fallen into the lower 60s.

It would be hard to lead off by talking about any species besides catfishon Clarks Hill right now, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the bite for big fish is as good as he has ever seen it anywhere.  One recent morning he caught three fish over 40 pounds, something he has never done before on Santee, Monticello or any other lake!

The pattern hasn’t really changed, and anchoring on main lake points and humps that top out around 30-50 feet has been the ticket.  Cut herring will catch blues and channels in the 1-10 pound range while bigger baits like gizzard shad, white perch and bream are better for targeting bigger fish. The bite has taken off because the lake has finally finished turning over.

 

 

Bass fishing on Clarks Hill isn’t as good as that, but it has been steady – even though Augusta University fishing team angler Josh Rockefeller reports that the pattern has changed since it got cold.  Before the cold snap he was catching fish shallow flipping any piece of cover (docks, trees, even points) with a jig.  After the cold he is still concentrating on less than three feet of water, but cranking square bills or fishing jerkbaits has been the ticket. He is basically going around rocky points with stained water and casting.

In the fall bait usually runs up the creeks on Clarks Hill, and Josh has found that he absolutely has to be in areas with bait to get bit.  He can either mark the bait on the graph or see it flickering on the surface, but in areas without bait he has learned not to spend much time casting.

While he has marked some fish deeper he has not found a deep pattern.

It has not been ideal weather for guiding anglers to catch striper and hybrids, but when they can get out between the wind and rain William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) reports that fish have moved up the lake and out into the branches of the Georgia Little River and South Carolina Little River. The fish are pretty aggressive, and fishing down-lines 20-25 feet deep just off the bottom near primary and secondary points has been the best pattern.  A little later in the season fish will be in the very backs of the creeks but the points are their stop on the way in.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a crappiereport on the Hill, but William Sasser Guide Service reports that on the upper end of the lake and in the South Carolina Little River fishing around brush piles 8 feet deep in 15 feet of water has been working.  Anglers are having success both trolling and fishing tight lines.

In one other fishey worth checking out, Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that at the top of the lake they are catching phenomenal numbers of white and yellow perch.  In three hours he caught 182 fish one day this week!  The best pattern is fishing small minnows on a drop shot, or small jigs, in 9-12 feet of water.

October 19

Clarks Hill water levels are at 326.63 (full pool is 330.00), and water temperatures are in the mid- to upper-70s.

Bass fishing on Clarks Hill isn’t easy, but Augusta University fishing team angler Josh Rockefeller reports that there are a few different ways you can catch fish.  Early in the morning there is a pretty hot fluke bite for numbers of fish, but once the sun gets up it’s over.  On cloudy days it can last until mid-morning.

You can also grind out some fish throwing a chrome Gunfish 115 or 135 for fish that occasionally come up over humps in 5-6 feet of water.  Sun and a bit of wind help, but it’s not a numbers pattern like throwing the fluke in the right conditions.  You can get some good ones, though.  The best area for both of these patterns has been the main lake towards the dam.

Some fish can also be caught on a drop shot, but 9/10 will be small.  There is the rare good one mixed in, however.

A few smaller fish are being caught cranking shallow water, but this should get better quickly with these cooler nights.

On the striper and hybrid front, William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) reports that they are starting to see surface activity again.  Before the storm it was starting, but now it is returning and there is a lot of bait running near the surface.

When fish are not on the surface they are catching them on down-lines fished 12-25 deep for fish suspended along the edge of the channel or a creek in 40-50 feet of water.  Fish are starting to push away from the lower pool into the arms of the lake, and the middle part of the lake on up to the Georgia Little River and near Cherokee has been productive.

The fall catfish bite is starting to come on, but Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that once the fall turnover finishes up the bite for blues and flatheads should get much better.  Anchoring on main lake points and humps that top out around 30-50 feet has been working pretty well, but should get hot soon.  Cut herring is catching coolers full of blues and channels in the 1-10 pound range while bigger baits like gizzard shad, white perch and bream are better for targeting bigger fish.

September 21

Clarks Hill water levels are at 326.55 (full pool is 330.00), and water temperatures remain in the mid-80s.  Water clarity has mostly returned to normal.

Back on the water after the storm, William Sasser Guide Service (864-333-2000) reports that the pattern for striped and hybrid bass has changed very little.  In the morning they are still catching fish in 30-38 feet of water on down-lines fished around humps in the mid- to lower lake.  Some people are pulling umbrella rigs.  There are very occasional fish breaking, but water temperatures will need to cool a bit before schooling activity takes off in earnest.

On the bass front, Augusta University fishing team angler Josh Rockefeller reports that the patterns remain about the same since temperatures have not really dropped.  Going back in the creeks and throwing a white and black popping frog in the shallow, dirty water is a good way to catch some quality fish.  There is also a suspended bite and

fishing off humps and points in 10-20 feet of water you can catch a lot of two pounders, and get even more blow-ups, throwing a clear Spook or Pop-R.  The fish seem to be concentrating on smaller bait so they want something more finesse-oriented.

There’s also still not a lot of change with the catfish, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the night bite for flatheads, blues and channels is still pretty good.  Anchoring on both main lake points and secondary points is working well, especially points with rocks and boulders present.  The night depth can range from a few feet to as deep as 50 feet.  Live bream are the best way to target flatheads, and cut herring will catch the other species.  It’s a broken record, but daytime fishing will get better once temperatures cool.