September 15

Lake Russell is just below full pool 474.66 (full pool is 475.00) and water temperatures are around 82-83 degrees on Lake Russell. The water seems to be a little off-color, and anglers are wondering if the lake could be turning over early.  

In the last couple of days the bass bite has fallen off on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that the same fish which were suspended in 15-20 feet and feeding are still there but just not biting. Guide Wendell Wilson(706-283-3336) reports that what makes it so frustrating is they have no idea why the action has slowed down.

Wendell has still managed to pick up a few on the upper end in areas with current, and on the lower end he has found some in 20-30 feet of water on flats. The bait is holding fairly shallow right now and the fish don’t seem willing to eat much besides live herring.

Even though the bass action has gotten tough, the striped bass bite which Jerry has found recently has more than made up for it. Yesterday they caught 14 fish in the 8-12 pound range! They are living on the edge of the river channel and around humps 2 or 3 feet off the bottom in 30-32 feet in the mid-lake section. Herring on down-lines are working very well.

At the top of the lake below the Hartwell dam Wendell points out that some fish can be found pulling free-lines, and then on the lower end there are also some fish 40-50 feet down that will take down-lines. They could be on the bottom or suspended at that depth over deeper water. 

Wendell has managed to keep people happy with a good crappie bite, and the fish his boat is catching are being caught up the creeks on minnows fished 10-12 feet down over brush in 15-20 feet of water. 

They can also still be caught night-fishing with lights over deep water in the 40-50 foot range. The best areas are in the creeks around timber or bridges; main lake bridges and timber do not usually produce. Fish will come to the light and take minnows 12-15 feet deep.

They are picking up a few early yellow perch on minnows in about 30 feet of water, but the action for catfish has actually been really good in 30-40 feet of water in the mid-lake. Fish will take live or cut herring fished on the bottom. 

August 27

Lake Russell is above full pool at about 475.25 (full pool is 475.00) as they try to lower Lake Hartwell levels, and morning surface water temperatures range from about 80 on the main channel to 84 in the creeks. Even though the water is very high it is still clear. 

The late summer bass bite on Lake Russell is pretty good, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that he is catching good numbers of fish suspended 15-25 feet down over 25-30 feet of water near bait. The fish are mainly on flats, but he is also finding them around points and in pockets. They are mainly over timber, but sometimes they are just around nothing but bait. Live bait has been the easiest way to catch them on guide trips, but drop shot rigs and shakey heads will also work.

Because the fish are suspended and related to bait they are moving fast, and so Jerry’s boat is just putting the trolling motor down and riding then dropping baits as soon as they mark fish.  

Even with the boat moving and fishing suspended baits Jerry’s boat is picking up a lot of catfish, and on the last trip they caught 10 channels in the 3-5 pound range. If he were to focus exclusively on catfish he would anchor in 25-30 feet and fish cut bait on the bottom. 

While he is focusing mainly on flats in 25-30 feet Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) is fishing a similar pattern for bass, and he is fishing drop shot rigs with rubber worms or minnows. On minnows they are picking up white perch and increasing numbers of yellow perch, including some good ones. 

Striped bass fishing has gotten a little more challenging the last several weeks, but Wendell reports that fish are in the usual areas – the bite has just slowed a bit. On the lower end his boat has been catching fish with down-lines in 30-50 feet, but some days (when the current is not too swift) the better fishing has actually been on the upper end in the Hartwell tailrace. You can catch fish by pulling free-lines in 2-15 feet or throwing topwater lures. 

While not many people are targeting them the crappie are still grouped up around brush and bridges in about 20-25 feet of water in the creeks. Wendell’s boat has been targeting them with minnows about 10-12 feet down.  

However, the best way to catch crappie is night-fishing with lights over deep water in the 40-50 foot range. The best areas are in the creeks around timber or bridges; main lake bridges and timber do not usually produce. Fish will come to the light and take minnows 12-15 feet deep.

July 29

Lake Russell water levels are still high at 474.58 (full pool is 475.00), and morning surface water temperatures vary from the low 90s in the creeks, to about 86 on the main lake, to the lower 80s on the upper end. The main lake is relatively clear although with recent storms some of the creeks are dirty. 

It’s one of those times of year when a number of species are mixed together on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that he is catching bass, striper, catfish and white perch all grouped up on the main lake and at the mouths of creeks.  The fish he is catching are suspended about 15-20 feet down in 25-30 feet of water, and he is targeting the mid-lake and lower end. The fish are related to bait schools and on the move, and so you really just have to ride and look for them – and then fish fast.  

While Jerry is catching everything on down-lined live herring, artificial lure fishermen could target bass with a drop shot. 

While Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) is fishing a similar pattern, fishing a little deeper in 30-35 feet of water he has found a group of fish that are holding a little closer to the bottom on main lake flats. The same mix of species is present, with bass and catfish the most common, white perch next, and at least one good striper on most trips.

However, the last couple of day Wendell has found less and less striper and so soon he will be looking in the cooler water below the Hartwell dam.

Catfish can also be caught shallow in coves, but more fish seem to be getting out deep right now. 

During the day the crappie are grouped up around brush and bridges in about 20-25 feet of water in the creeks.  Wendell’s boat has been targeting them with minnows about 10-12 feet down.  

However, the best way to catch crappie is night-fishing with lights over deep water in the 40-50 foot range.  The best areas are in the creeks around timber or bridges; main lake bridges and timber do not usually produce.  Fish will come to the light and take minnows 12-15 feet deep.

June 30

Lake Russell water levels are just under full at 474.93 (full pool is 475.00), and morning surface water temperatures have risen into the low to mid-80s. The lake is relatively clear. 

The bass fishing has gotten good on Lake Russell, but Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that it is only going to get better. Fish are already grouped up well close to the bottom in 20-25 feet of water, and he is catching them along the edge of the timber in the main lake. As water temperatures get hotter they will group up even tighter and head deeper into 40-60 feet of water. While you can catch fish on drop shots or a shakey head, Jerry’s guide boat is fishing with down-lined live herring.  Spotted bass, largemouth and striped bass are all grouped up together – and soon the catfish will be with them – but if you want to increase your chances of tangling with a big largemouth Jerry advises heading to the backs of the creeks and throwing a buzzbait early in the morning.

In addition to the striper that Jerry has been catching, Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that his boat has been targeting fish that are moving up the lake towards the Hartwell dam. Already they are about halfway up the river, and he is finding them just off the bottom in about 30 feet of water on the flats. These fish are also along the edge of the timber but fortunately not actually in it. Down-lines have been the best pattern.

While the lake is relatively devoid (for Russell) of big striper because of the gill maggot infestation a little while back, they are catching nice 8-12 pound fish. 

In addition to striper Wendell’s boat has been targeting crappie, and they have found big summer crappie back in the creeks around brush but not tight to it. At times fish are not even related to brush and just following roaming schools of threadfin. The fish are about 8-12 feet down over 14-20 feet of water and drop shotting minnows has been working very well. 

While Wendell has not been fishing it, the other productive pattern has been night-fishing with lights for crappie over deep water in the 40-50 foot range. The best areas are in the creeks around timber or bridges; main lake bridges and timber do not usually produce. Fish will come to the light and take minnows 12-15 feet deep.

Finally, Jerry reports that before they go very deep there is still a good catfish bite on cut bait in the backs of coves and off points. The best action is in 8-10 feet of water.

June 16

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.21 (full pool is 475.00), and before the cold snap water temperatures were 79-80 in the morning and 83-84 in the afternoon. Water temperatures have dropped several degrees but should quickly rebound. The lake is relatively clear. 

It’s a little unclear whether it is the very, very tail end of the herring spawn or whether bass are just still hanging around in the same places, but Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that there is still a little bit of a herring spawn bite on the main lake in 3-4 feet of water. A few fish are hanging around off the shallow points all day long and they will take topwaters, flukes, etc.

Jerry is also finding deeper fish on brush in 15-20 feet, and these will take a drop shot or shakey head worm. There are other fish that are suspended about halfway down in timber in the 30-foot range which will take the same baits. Live herring are also very effective. 

While Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) is pretty sure the herring are done, he is finding the same shallow bass as well as striped bass on main lake shoals and points. Until about 7:30 or 8:00 in the morning he is catching them casting topwater lures up shallow, and then after that he is finding them pulling out 16-18 feet down over 20-30 feet. He is only finding this bite in the mid-lake. 

Wendell reports that the crappie fishing has been outstanding on recent trips, and they have caught good numbers are well as some very large fish. In the spring when they were fat some of these would have been well over 2 ½ pounds, and right now they are getting plenty of 2-pound fish. 

The best pattern has been fishing 10-12 feet down over 20-foot deep brush in the creeks with minnows. 

While Wendell has not been fishing it, the other productive pattern has been night-fishing with lights for crappie over deep water in the 40-50 foot range. The best areas are in the creeks around timber or bridges; main lake bridges and timber do not usually produce. Fish will come to the light and take minnows 12-15 feet deep.

Finally, Jerry reports a fairly good catfish bite on cut bait in the backs of coves and off points. The best action is in 5-10 feet of water.