Clarks Hill Fishing Report – April 2023

Clarks Hill: Level: Full at 330. Temp: Low to mid 60s. Clarity: The lower end is clear, and there is some stain up the rivers with heavy stain way up them.

Bass: D.J. Hadden, with Hadden Outdoors in Appling, said to look for bedding bass in the backs of pockets. Clearer water on the lower lake will help you see them. Entice big females to hit a creature bait or drop shot by wiggling it in the bed, finding the hot spot that aggravates her the most. “A few bass will still be prespawn later in the month, waiting on the full moon in May to spawn,” D.J. said. “For them and the postspawners that were on the bed around the full moon on April 6, they will be out on the main lake on clay points and gravel blow-throughs waiting on the shad and herring spawns. Work walking baits, like a Spook, over these areas early, covering water from a foot to 10 feet deep. They will also hit a fluke or hard jerkbait in the same areas. If you prefer casting to shoreline cover, run up the river arms to stained water and fish buzzbaits and spinnerbaits around any wood or rock cover. Both allow you to cover water for multiple bites, and some quality fish will be on the shallow cover, too.”