Clarks Hill Fishing Report December 2012

Clarks Hill: Level: 15.3 feet below full pool. Temp: 58-62 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Tournament angler William Hooker reports, “Most guys are throwing 1/2- and 3/8-oz. jigs in brown with green-pumpkin trailers, floating worms, No. 5 and No. 7 Shad Raps in a shad color, 1/2-oz. white spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps in blue/chrome. Fish the grass in the lower lake with these baits, and you will catch fish.” Guide Dale Gibbs reports fish breaking in the backs of the creeks and ditches. He called on Nov. 26 and had caught some fish on medium-diving crankbaits, flukes and jerkbaits. The bite will continue in these areas between 1-15 feet of water. Late in the month look for fish to pull out deeper, and use lead-head flukes and Sonar Blades.”

Linesides: Guide William Sasser reports, “With the water this low, we will spend a lot of time downline fishing in the mouths of the major creeks fishing herring over and down in the trees for stripers and hybrids. We’ll fish the Raysville area as well as Parksville up to Russell dam. Later in December as the water temperature drops, fish planer boards in the backs of creeks in the afternoons. The seagulls have arrived on the lake for the winter. Watch them, and they will help you find fish.”

Crappie: Guide William Sasser reports, “Treetop fishing with jigs or minnows this year with the lake this low is very rewarding on those warm afternoons in winter. The fish will have a time each day when they feed great. It’s hard to pin it down exactly, but afternoons are best. Boat docks with 20 feet of water under them will hold a lot of crappie this time of year.”