Clarks Hill Fishing Report March 2012

Clarks Hill: Level: 8.1 feet below full pool. Temp: 55 degrees. Clarity: Main lake is clear; stained in most tributaries.

Bass: Good. Guide Dale Gibbs reports, “The spawn is close, and the bass are loaded with eggs. Most of the bass are shallow and feeding well. During March, you will need several items to fish with. Crankbaits that run from 2 to 7 feet are a must. The type and kind are not as important as where you fish them. Use bright colors in stained water and natural colors in clear water. The spinnerbait pattern should be good this month, also. Slow-roll the bait this month until they begin to spawn, and then move shallow and speed up. Soft plastics will be good go-to baits starting this month. Use Carolina-rigged worms and lizards, shaky-head worms and jig ’n pigs. All of these will produce fish. Big numbers will be caught on soft plastics, but quality will be caught on spinnerbaits and jig ’n pig patterns. This is the time to catch big bass on Clarks Hill.” For a feature article on March bass fishing at Clarks Hill with tournament pro Bobby Stanfill, see page 52.

Linesides: Guide William Sasser reports, “The fish will be migrating from mid-lake down to the dam this month. The warm water temperatures have us fishing live herring in 40 to 50 feet of water on the bottom. Fishing at night around the dam with cut bait will catch a lot of nice March stripers. Tied up to the cable at night with live herring fished 25 to 50 feet deep will catch a lot of hybrids. Pulling planers in the morning shallow around main-lake points will work, also.”

Crappie: Good. “Crappie will spawn this month, so fishing shallow with jigs and minnows below corks will catch fish,” William said. “Brushpile fishing in the backs of all the creeks in 20 feet of water is great. Jig fishing around boat docks is wide open this month. Buffalo Creek already is full of fish and fishermen.”