Fishing Report For Clarks Hill Lake, GA

Current Report: Fair To Good

FALL. Now that Fall has arrived, bass here have moved shallow, following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays around 5 to 20 feet of water. Recently, vibrating jigs have become a very popular lure by both locals and tournament anglers alike. The Z-Man Chatterbait Jack Hammer Evergreen Custom Bladed Jig accounts for many big bass, according to local reports. The 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Clarks Hill Reservoir took an average of over 4 pounds each, for 15 fish to take the top prize. so there are plenty of big bass to catch. Currently topwater, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are catching most of the bass. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in 8 to 20 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 15 to 30 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 5 to 12 feet of water, preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 4 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 2 to 10 feet of water. Topwater, square-bill crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on gizzard shad, threadfin shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 10 to 30 feet deep.

Current Report: Fair To Good

FALL. In Fall, stripers return to shallower water, and are being caught in 10 to 35 feet of water. Georgia residents report Clarks Hill Lake to be one of the very best striper lakes in the state. Early in the day wipers chase bait to the surface and feed aggressively, making this an excellent time for topwater action. Look for shallow water nearby deeper river channels, and fish them thoroughly. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch striped bass at this time of year. Tailwaters from the Russell Dam generally hold healthy concentrations of fish.

WINTER. In Winter, stripers again hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom. Warm, sunny afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, to around 20 or 30 feet deep as they feed on roaming schools of threadfin shad and gizzard shad. The main lake basin, along deep channels is holding schools of stripers, especially in the section of lake around the dam. Locate schools of bait in 25 to 50 feet of water, then look for stripers close by. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are caught while drift fishing with live bait or cut bait. Spoons, blade baits, and heavy hair jigs are also effective this time of year. Due to the stripers slower metabolism this time of year, anglers are triggering more strikes by working baits more slowly.

SPRING. Water temperatures are return to the mid 60's, and that's ideal for the stripers to spawn. Starting in Spring, expect to find stripers running up rivers, and the backs of coves. In Spring, work the upper end of the lake where there is any inflowing water. If they spawn, this is where they will lay eggs in the moving water. They also move into transition zones on the main lake, in 5 to 25 feet of water, feeding on baitfish which are moving toward the shallows. Expect to locate them on mid-depth ledges, flats or points. The lake record is over 55 pounds.

SUMMER. Summer months are the ideal time to chase striped bass on Raystown Lake. In Summer, these stripers hang out in deeper water during the heat of the day, 30 to 70 feet deep, often over 50 to 100 feet deep. Much of the time they are holding over deeper, open water. Morning often draws the stripers shallower, so look for them around the 40-foot range as they feed on roaming schools of baitfish. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are all effective here.

Current Report: Fair To Good

FALL. Cooling, weather drops the water temperature in the shallows and is luring bluegill into the shallows along the shoreline. 5 to 10 feet is typical. Bluegill are prolific spawners and maintain a very healthy population here. Steeper banks around the lake, and shallow, weedy areas with drop-offs, are drawing bluegill in. Later in Fall, as the shallows get colder, bluegill will move slightly deeper in the same areas. My favorite way to catch bluegill is bobber fishing with a size 8 hook, on 4-pound monofilament, using small pieces of earthworms as bait. Fish anywhere there is cover - fish around brush, wood, docks, vegetation and bridge pilings.

WINTER. Cooling shallows have driven the bluegill back to deeper cover, in water ranging from 8 to 20 feet deep. In areas with no cover, anglers typically find them around sharp drops, into even deeper water.

SPRING. In early Spring, bluegill migrate from winter holding areas toward the shoreline areas, and are typically caught around 4 to 8 feet deep. As the water warms to the mid 70's they will begin the spawning ritual, building nests in 1 to 4 feet of water. Many of the bigger bluegill prefer to spawn a bit deeper, depending on water clarity. Small spinners and swimbaits, or jigs tipped with small pieces of nightcrawlers are good choices for catching a lot of bluegill in spring. A hook, line, weight and bobber, with small pieces of worms, also catches lots of bluegill.

SUMMER. Following the spawn, most of the bigger bluegill migrate to deeper water, around 5 to 20 feet deep. They prefer rocky or weedy areas, often hanging out on steep, rocky banks where they can move up and down to feed without having to travel a great distance. Small spoons, underspins, and mini-crankbaits are catching some of the bigger bluegill. Earthworms are also catching good numbers.