Clarks Hill Fishing Report – December 2009

Clarks Hill: Level: 2.4 feet below full pool. Temp: 64 degrees. Clarity: Clear to slightly stained downlake; muddy up the river.

Bass: Poor. Dale Gibbs reports, “Rising water on ‘The Hill’ did not improve our fishing. Recent rains brought Clarks Hill over 2 1/2 feet above full pool, but the largemouth didn’t seem to care. Fishing remained poor for most anglers even though cover was abundant for nearly two weeks. Now the water has been drawn off again so the corps can spend some stimulus money on our dam. Last report says the lake will be held at 326, 4 feet below pool for the duration of the work on the dam. Fishing has remained tough on the lake for the entire fall. One can only believe that soon it must get better. Fishing can be good in December. Try looking for largemouths in the backs of creeks for schooling fish early in the day. Use baits such as Zoom Flukes, both floating and on jig heads, crankbaits like the Shad Rap and spinnerbaits. All can be very effective. Later in the day try moving back out of the creeks, even in the main rivers, and look for places to use a jigging spoon of most any variety. The common spoons used are Hopkins and Berry’s Flex spoon in 3/4- to 1-oz. models.”

Linesides: Good. Capt. William Sasser reports, “December is a great month for fishing on Clarks Hill. This is the start of pulling gizzard shad and rainbow trout for large stripers. Mid lake in the backs of tributaries and Georgia Little River above the pumping station is where to be. This year we are covered up with 3- to 5-lb. hybrids which are eager to hit a live herring behind a planer board. Most of them are running 10 to 15 feet deep. Seagulls will tell you where to fish. White flukes with chartreuse tails on lead heads thrown around the gulls will put fish in the boat. On the lower end of the lake, fish with herring on downrods. The fish are between 20 to 35 feet deep.”

Crappie: Very good. “This is my favorite month for slabs on Clarks Hill,” William said. “We will mainly fish large submerged trees on flats right off the main river bed, basically out in the middle of the lake. Water depth will be 30 to 50 feet deep to the bottom, and we will fish 15 to 20 feet deep with small shiners. From one o’clock until 30 minutes before dark is the time you want to fish. Fish each tree 20 minutes, and if it doesn’t produce, move to another one. When you find one that’s holding fish, it will probably be a lot of crappie. Whichever rod on your boat catches a fish, put all the rods within a foot of that one.”