Clarks Hill Fishing Report – December 2021

Clarks Hill: Level: 1.2 feet below full pool. Temp: 59-62 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Tournament angler Trad Whaley reports “December will see the fish start grouping up in the ditches. I like to have at least 3 feet of visibility to fish in 12 to 28 feet of water in the middle of creek channels and drains. Best baits are the A-rig with Berkley 3.8 Swimmers in a shad pattern and underspins. There will always be some fish shallow on channel turns and rock veins. We like to throw the Frittside and a DT-6 by Berkley. And if it’s slow, fish a jig and a shaky head. Key for the deeper fish is always the herring. Find them and you will find the fish. Always check GON for archived articles and fishing reports to show you right where to be successful. As always take a kid fishing. They are our future. Confidence is key.”

Linesides: Guide Bradd Sasser reports, “The hybrids and stripers have begun pushing back into creeks and can be found off secondary points 30 to 35 feet deep. Electronics are also very helpful with some groups being found along the edges of ditches in the same depths of water. We have been seeing some bird activity beginning to show up with them diving on schools of bait and fish very close by. The time of day that they have been feeding has been very inconsistent, with some mornings them feeding right at daybreak and other days it’s closer to midday. Planer boards and downlines are both very successful this time of year. Upper lake creeks have been very productive and also out Georgia Little River near the Amity area.”

Capt. Eddie Mason reports, “We’re switching up a little more this month. Instead of staying on the lower end so much, I’ve also been around Mistletoe in Rousseau Creek and Lloyd’s Creek, as well as in the rivers and creeks in between. I’m starting out in about 30 feet of water and catching some good fish between 20 and 30 feet deep. I’ve also put in at Plum Branch Yacht Club a few times. Because of the lake turning over, I’m jumping around a lot. We’re going out later and staying out later. I’m not fishing quite as deep as I do in warm weather, but I’m still making good use of my downrods. I took out former GON editor Brad Bailey a few weeks ago, and we had a great time. His story is in the December 2021 issue of GON.”