Clarks Hill
2006 Fishing Prospects
Clarks Hill (J. Strom Thurmond) is Georgias largest reservoir at 71,535 acres. This Corps of Engineers (COE) reservoir is located 30 miles northeast of Augusta on the Savannah River. The numerous creeks feeding the lake, over 1,200 miles of shoreline, and large areas of open water provide a wide range of fishing opportunities. Navigation charts can be obtained from the Clarks Hill COE office (800/533-3478). Striped and hybrid bass are stocked each year to help control forage fish populations and provide great action for big fish. Clarks Hill consistently ranks near the top in Georgia for crappie fishing. Although hydrilla and blueback herring presence in the lake impacts largemouth bass behavior, there are plenty of bass to fill your cooler once you are on the right pattern and dont leave out shellcracker in the spring, a favorite with the locals. A creel survey on the lake is being conducted in 2006. A major focus of the survey is to determine the impact of pumpback operations at upstream Russell Dam on fishing in Clarks Hill Lake.
Crappie fishing was excellent last year and should be again in 2006. Crappie will average ¾ lb. with the bigger slabs going 1 ½ - 2 ½ lbs. Fishing, Soap, Grays and Newford creeks and Little River near Raysville are great spots for spring crappie. There are several fish attractors in the lake and they will come into full play when the spring spawning frenzy ends. Fish attractors are a great place to take kids fishing. In addition to crappie, they hold good numbers of shellcrackers, bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish. Late summer and fall are a great time to fish under the bridges for feisty papermouths. Try the backs of creeks such as Big, Hart, Dry Fork, Knoblick and Cherokee for winter and pre-spawn action.
Striped and hybrid bass fishing continues to be good in Clarks Hill Lake. Strong year classes in recent years are producing good numbers of fish. Average weights should range from 3 lbs. for hybrids to 7 lbs. for stripers. Winter and early spring angling areas include Big Creek, the Little River near Germany Creek upstream to Holiday Park, Soap Creek from the confluence with the Savannah River to U.S. Highway 378, the north bank of the reservoir above the dam, and major creeks near Bussey Point. Drifting live blueback herring usually provides the best results. A light to moderate breeze makes for good drift fishing. Otherwise, use your trolling motor to control speed and direction. Planer boards work great to get several baits away from the boat while trolling. Other techniques that work well are slowly trolling redfins, Norman lures or roostertails 80-100 feet behind the boat, and jigging spoons near drop offs, ledges or humps in 20 - 30 feet of water.
By summer and into the fall the hot spots for linesides will be in the mouths of major feeder creeks and rivers. Again, blueback herring is the best bait. You can catch your own herring with a cast net or buy them at local bait shops. Dead or cut bluebacks, shad and large minnows on the bottom work great. Surface action for schooling fish occurs predominately during late summer and fall. Bucktails, Gotcha shad and pencil-poppers work well on schooling fish.
The COE resumed reverse-flow generation at Russell Dam in September 2002. Fishing success for striped and hybrid bass below this dam, the uppermost section of Clarks Hill Lake, is expected to decrease, particularly at night, due to reverse-flow generation. A creel survey began in 2005 to assess the impact of reverse-flow generation on fishing success in the entire lake.
Results from a 2001 largemouth bass tagging project indicate a high release rate (63 percent) of caught bass. The high release rate combined with strong year classes has resulted in numerous small bass. Anglers are encouraged to take some of their catch home, particularly bass in the 12-15 inch size range. Harvesting these fish will allow their "brothers and sisters" to grow faster, providing for more 3 lb.+ bass in the future. Bass in Clarks Hill tend to orient away from the banks more so than in many other Georgia lakes due to the presence of hydrilla and blueback herring. Best bets in the fall and winter are Grays, Lloyds and Rousseau creeks in the Little River arm and Soap, Murry and Fishing creeks in the main Savannah River arm. Jigging spoons in creek channels or wherever baitfish are bunched up is a great mid-winter tactic. During spring and summer concentrate your efforts near Bussey Point and in Cliatt, Cherokee and Big creeks. The flats around the confluence of the Savannah and Broad rivers are usually productive all year. Be sure to fish over hydrilla beds, particularly in the spring and fall, for some great surface action. Look around Bussey Point, Cherokee Creek and Ft. Gordon for the best concentration of hydrilla.
Shellcrackers are big (many in the ½ - ¾ lb. range) and easy to catch. Try crickets, worms, grubs, spinners, flies or wasp larvae. The best areas are usually Keg, Lloyd, Grays, Cliatt, Soap, Big and Fishing Creeks. Hot spots for catfish are Little River near Holiday Park, Germany, Big and Hart creeks and Broad River. Several 40+lbs. flathead catfish have been caught in recent years.
Sampling efforts indicate there will be plenty of white perch in the lake for the next couple of years. White perch, a relative of the white bass and striped bass, are tons of fun on lightweight tackle and make an excellent meal. Look for white perch in 20-60 feet of water near ledges, drop-offs and standing timber with small jigs, spoons or minnows working best.
A population of chain pickerel (known as jackfish) has been steadily increasing since the arrival of hydrilla in 1995. These weed loving fish are concentrated around Bussey Point, and in creeks on the lower end of the lake including Cherokee, Grays, Cliatt, Keg, Mosley, and Shriver. A variety of weedless lures and surface plugs work best. A wobbling spoon with trailing pork rind, plastic lizards, and hollow-faced chugger type surface plugs are some good bets for jackfish.
Additional Resources and Information
USACOE website- fish attractor coordinates list
