Clarks Hill Lake Fishing Report May 2018

Clarks Hill: Level: 1.9 feet low. Temp: 62-67 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Tournament angler Jon Hair reports, “The fish are on beds and starting to show up on shallow points chasing herring. Best baits are a Zoom green-pumpkin lizard and a Greenfish Tackle Big Rubber Jig in the reno wreck ‘em color for the bedding fish, and for fish on the banks. Throw topwaters, like a Lucky Craft Sammy and a Zoom Super Fluke, for schooling fish.”

Linesides: Capt. Eddie Mason reports, “We’ve been fighting a lot of high winds that seem to come from a different direction every day. We’re still managing to fish about five days a week, and we’re still catching plenty of fish. One day we’re fishing planer boards and freelines in shallow water, and the next day we might be fishing downrods 20 to 30 feet deep. We’re still fishing the lower end of the lake and sometimes mid lake due to weather conditions. Seems like the fish aren’t in the same place for days in a row. We’re hoping the weather will get stable and the high winds will be over. Should be able to catch fish in shallow water early morning on planer boards and freelines and downrods in deeper water midday.” Guide Bradd Sasser reports, “With all the conditions falling into place, the hybrids and stripers are beginning to stage up to spawn. The herring are also full of eggs causing them to move into the shallows near points and shoals. This time of year, both downlines and planer boards are extremely effective. Around daybreak and sunset, you can find the hybrids pushed up and stacked up off the edges of shoals and points in 10 to 20 feet of water as they are chasing the herring up or preparing to spawn. As the day sets in, they are moving out along the edges of the channels and moving in suspended groups. This is where planer boards become more effective. These patterns will continue until the spawn is completely over with. After that, they will begin to head toward deeper water and stacking up in large aggressive groups. Once they back out into deeper water, expect to find them in 30 to 40 feet of water off the sides of humps. Currently, several different areas of the lake are producing quality catches. Expect them from up around S.C. Little River all the way out toward Raysville.”

Crappie/Bream: Guide Bradd Sasser reports, “The crappie are moving into deeper cover with most of the ones we are finding in at least 15 feet of water. We should also see some very exciting shellcracker action a few days before and a few days after the upcoming full moon. Spring is one of the most enjoyable times of year to fish with everything and everyone getting more active after a long winter.”