Clarks Hill Lake Fishing Report January 2018

Clarks Hill: Level: 9.1 feet low. Temp: Low 50s. Clarity: Very clear.

Linesides: Guide Brad Sasser reports, “This has been one of the best winters for hybrids and stripers, partly due to the mild weather, partly due to a high fish population and partly due to a great bait population in the lake. First thing in the mornings, you can find the hybrids stacked up off points and shoals in 15 to 30 feet of water feeding on herring and threadfin. As morning breaks, the fish are holding in similar depths but are more scattered and moving. This is when freelines and planer boards take over versus downlines. The fish have started their winter migrations moving farther into the backs of creeks in the mid to northern end of the lake and out Georgia Little River. There are some larger stripers being caught shallow in the backs of the creeks by trolling gizzard shad behind boards. We are seeing a few gulls and loons working pods of bait around the lake. Along with the birds, we have seen schools of spots and largemouth breaking near the pods.”

Crappie: Guide Brad Sasser reports, “The crappie are holding extremely tight to tree tops and feeding aggressively. Anchoring and fishing small shiners straight down in trees along with trolling jigs through tree tops have been producing slabs. This has and is shaping into a wonderful winter of fishing.”