September 15

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.34 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is typically clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 79 degrees.

The bass on Lake Russell are still doing a lot of roaming, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that from what he is seeing most of them are just chasing bait in open water. They still aren’t related to anything like a point or brush, but the biggest concentrations do seem to be sticking to the 15-25 foot range. His boat is picking up some with bait but not very many. 

Consistent with that, trolling a Shad Rap 10-12 feet down in the main channel is still about the only way that Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) can consistently catch bass, and if he had to use conventional bass fishing techniques Wendell is not sure what he would do! Unfortunately there is still only sporadic schooling. 

Luckily Jerry’s boat is still able to lean on a pretty fair striped bass bite, with the fish they are targeting still in 25-35 feet of water off points on the lower end.  They are also a little scattered but most of the main lake points are holding some fish which are biting herring on a down-line.  

They are also picking up some catfish in these areas, and if Jerry were going to target catfish he would fish cut bait off points in 25-35 feet. 

Wendell reports that there is also some pretty good striper fishing up the lake below the Hartwell dam, and that pattern should stay good until temperatures drop.

But most of all Wendell’s boat has been crappie fishing recently, and they have had some outstanding catches in creeks off the main lake that have standing timber.  They got 62 in one area way back in a creek, and Wendell was surprised at just how shallow the fish had gotten at about 15 feet on the bottom. Everything came on minnow fished on a drop shot. They also managed some white perch, a couple of catfish, a spotted bass, and some early yellow perch. For some reason the perch seem to have started earlier than usual this fall, and they are getting at least one 11- or 12-inch perch every time out.  

You can still catch a mixed bag on main lake flats in 20-30 feet but you need wood cover to also hold crappie. 

September 8

Lake Russell water levels are around full pool (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is fairly clear. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 80s on the main lake.

The bass still aren’t biting too well on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that all that they can figure out is that the fish have gotten extremely scattered and suspended. The fish aren’t on the points, they aren’t on brush and they aren’t around the banks. Occasionally they find them schooling, but they are on such small bait that they are hard to catch.  They won’t even eat a live herring. 

There’s no disagreement there from Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336), and in fact his report that about the only way they can catch bass is trolling Shad Raps 10-12 feet deep over the main channel offers support. Wendell’s boat is no longer catching many bass mixed in with the other species they are targeting (more below.)

At the same time Jerry’s boat is still finding a decent striped bass bite, and most of them are in 25-35 feet of water off points on the lower end. They are also a little scattered but most of the main lake points are holding some fish. 

The best fishing right now has been for white perch, occasional early yellow perch, and crappie. Brush in coves close to the main lake will hold all three species, but the better perch fishing is on main lake flats in about 28 feet of water. They will take minnows on a drop shot or small jigging spoons and some catfish are mixed in. With cut bait you will catch a lot of channel cats. 

The best crappie fishing is in brush towards the backs of the creeks. Fish have been in a range between about 7 feet down in 14 feet and 14 feet down in 25 feet. Minnows are working the best. 

September 1

Lake Russell water levels are around 474.5 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is fairly clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 84 degrees on the main lake.

You can certainly catch striper off the main lake points, but Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that his boat is on a different pattern. They are catching fish 25-30 feet down on the lower end, but they are finding them suspended and roaming out over deep water in 70-120 feet of water. Fish are just swimming around following schools of bait, and so you have to find the herring in order to locate the fish. They have been taking down-lines pretty well. 

His boat is also still catching fish at the top of the lake in the Hartwell tailrace. Sometimes they are catching them on free-lines and sometimes they are schooling. 

Wendell is also finding the bass in a transition period, and the fish seem to be really spread out. They are still picking up fish trolling Shad Raps 10-12 feet deep over the main channel, but they are also catching some fish in large coves off the main channel. In addition to a few bass they are also catching white perch, crappie and catfish. The fish are on the bottom in 15-25 feet of water and a minnow on a drop shot rig is the best way to approach them. You will catch more crappie when there is brush but for the white perch and catfish is does not seem to make a difference. Crappie range from small to large and they are all mixed together in the same areas. 

August 31

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.49 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is fairly clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 84 degrees on the main lake.

It seems like the bass have just started to make an early fall move on Lake Russell, and yesterday Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that the fish were leaving the main lake points where they had been catching them and heading shallower towards brush on secondary points – still in the main lake.  The best fishing was coming in about 25 feet of water, and bass would take drop shots, deep running crankbaits and of course live bait.

Even though the bass have started to move the striped bass are still stacked up on main lake points, and Jerry reports that they are still catching them with down-lines in 25-40 feet of water. The bite can be a little inconsistent but there are good numbers of fish off the points. Sometimes when they don’t seem very excited about eating herring you can get a reaction bite with a large spoon. 

Small catfish are still stacked up in 8-15 feet of water in coves and off points, and cut herring is working very well. 

More to follow from Guide Wendell Wilson.

August 18

Lake Russell water levels are around 473.96 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is fairly clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 84 degrees over most of the lake.

While the water temperatures are in the 80s over most of the lake, Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that he has been targeting hybrid and striped bass in 65 degree water! Up the lake in the Hartwell Tailrace the water is very cool right now (even though sometimes it’s not, as when they aren’t letting out much water), and it’s attracted a bunch of striper.

Yesterday it was cloudy and rainy and the fishing was better than today, but each day they have caught good numbers of solid striper averaging about 10 pounds. They are catching them on a combination of free-lined herring and topwater lures, and there has been some pretty good schooling activity. 

They have also caught a bunch of good largemouth and spotted bass up to about 5 pounds up there.   

You can also fish for striper down the lake on the lower end, and generally the best pattern is to fish about 30-40 feet down with down-lines over deeper water on flats and off points. 

While there are a lot of patterns for catching bass right now, nothing is really hot in Wendell’s estimation.  Probably the best way to catch fish is to troll crankbaits with a small profile about 10-12 feet down over the main channel. 

You will also pick up some spotted bass fishing in large coves off the main channel, but this is a better pattern for white perch, crappie and catfish. Fish are on the bottom in 14-20 feet of water and a minnow on a drop shot rig is the best way to approach them. You will catch more crappie when there is brush but for the white perch and catfish is does not seem to make a difference. 

August 4

Lake Russell water levels are around 474.5 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is still clear on the main channel. Morning surface water temperatures are about 85 or 86 degrees.

The bite is fairly stable on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that he is still catching bass, striped bass, some perch, and catfish in the same areas. While they can be a little shallower early, fish are generally off main lake points in 25-40 feet of water. He is also catching them in the center of coves just off the main lake at the same depth. Points with brush are holding more fish, and most of the fish are usually related to the bottom. Live bait is hard to beat but crankbaits and drop shot rigs will also work for bass.   

The striped bass fishing is a little sporadic, and some days they are getting 7 or 8 while other days they are lucky to get two or three. 

All of that is in the middle and lower lake, but Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that his boat has also found some striper on the upper end in the cooler water below the Hartwell Tailrace. The areas he is fishing are less than 15 feet deep, and for these fish he is pulling free-lines. At times they are schooling and then you can pitch topwater lures to them. 

Down the lake Wendell is also fishing for crappie and perch, and picking up some bass and catfish, and he continues to target long coves off the main channel. He is getting in 15-25 feet and dropping minnows on drop shot rigs. When there is brush he is catching more crappie and less perch, and when there is a clean bottom he is catching more perch. 

Small catfish are still stacked up in 8-15 feet of water in coves and off points, and cut herring is working very well. 

July 22

Lake Russell water levels are around 474.4 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is still pretty clear on the main channel. Morning surface water temperatures are around 84 or 85 degrees. 

The fish are starting to group up more on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that in addition to bass he is catching striped bass, some perch, and catfish in the same areas. While they can be a little shallower early, fish are generally off main lake points in 25-40 feet of water. He is also catching them in the center of coves just off the main lake at the same depth. Points with brush are holding more fish, and most of the fish are usually related to the bottom. Live bait is hard to beat but crankbaits and drop shot rigs will also work for bass.

   

While Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) is on a similar pattern for similar species, his boat is fishing coves off the main channel in about 20 feet of water around brush. By fishing shallower and using minnows he is also getting crappiebut excluding striper.  Perch and catfish are on the bottom, crappie can be on the bottom or suspended, but most of the bass he is targeting are suspended by now. In some ways the graph is looking like fall more than summer, and the fishing is far better than usual for this time of year!  

Wendell does note that he is marking some striper deeper but they are extremely tackle-shy right now. 

Small catfish are still stacked up in 8-15 feet of water in coves and off points, and cut herring is working very well. 

July 14

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.53 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is still pretty clear on the main channel. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 84 degrees. 

One pattern is still stable with the bass on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that his boat is still catching fish off points in the main lake in 20-30 feet of water. In the morning they may be as shallow as 15 feet on the same points, and they are just sliding deeper as the day goes on. Points with brush are holding more fish, and the bass are usually related to the bottom. Live bait is hard to beat but crankbaits and drop shot rigs will also work. 

However, Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) is doing something different to catch bass on Russell, and he has discovered that there is another group of fish that is suspended over the tops of trees in 50-60 feet of water. In large areas of Russell the timber tops out only 12 or so feet below the surface, and in these areas the spotted bass are setting up about 10-12 feet down. The most effective way that they have found to target these fish is trolling Shad Raps, but of course you can cast the same bait or others like swimbait – or even flip soft plastics. 

In general these are spotted bass and the fish that are around points are often a little bigger. 

The striped bass fishing is pretty good right now, and Jerry’s boat is catching at least a few fish in the 8-20 pound range every time they go after them. In general the fish are holding deeper than the bass around similar points, and they have been about 20 feet down over main lake trees in 30-35 feet of water. Herring on down-lines have been the best way to catch them, and when a school passes through the action can be fast for a few minutes. Of course, Russell is a trophy striper fishery and it does not have the numbers that other lakes have. 

There are probably crappie back in the creeks, but Wendell reports that with water temperatures 90 or 91 back there he just isn’t looking thee. Instead, he is fishing large coves off the main channel at the northern end of the lake, and he is looking for brush about 15-20 feet down. Some of the fish are on the bottom and some are about halfway down. They have pretty much been exclusively using minnows. 

Small catfish are still stacked up in 8-10 feet of water in coves and off points, although Jerry has started to catch some out as deep as 15 feet.  Cut herring is working very well. 

July 1

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.56 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is still relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 84 degrees. 

With a mild week the bass still haven’t gone much deeper on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that his boat is still catching fish off points in the main lake in 20-30 feet. In the morning they may be as shallow as 15 feet on the same points, and they are just sliding deeper as the day goes on. Points with brush are holding more fish, and the bass are usually related to the bottom.  Live bait is hard to beat but crankbaits and drop shot rigs will also work.

 

In general Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) is fishing a similar pattern, but today the weather was so cloudy that the fish were moving around a lot and they actually found them schooling on bait repeatedly. They were in that same depth range of 20-25 feet on main lake points and they caught them on topwater lures. When the fish were not up they caught them on herring.

While Wendell isn’t picking up very many striped bass right now, Jerry’s boat has been catching striper up to 12-14 pound and hybrids as big as 8-9 pounds on the same main lake points. With a smaller population of striper in Russell, some points are holding schools of fish while others are not.  

When they aren’t chasing bass Wendell’s boat has been after the crappie, and they have found a surprisingly good bite on the right brush piles. Wendell notes that usually brush which holds crappie will also hold bass, but just because brush piles hold bass does not mean they will hold crappie. Russell crappie generally prefer brush that is in the middle of coves, while spotted bass will be on brush off points or in coves. 

Today Wendell found the best action 15-18 feet down off brush in about 23 feet of water, and in about a half hour they had a limit of medium and larger fish. The fish seem to be moving out of the backs of the creeks and today they were close to the main channel but still in the creek.

Minnows are working very well. 

Small catfish are still stacked up in 8-10 feet of water in coves and off points, although Jerry reports that soon they should move a bit deeper.  Cut herring is working very well.