Clarks Hill Fishing Report – March 2020

Temp: 55 degrees. Clarity: Stained to muddy with floating debris.

Bass: Tournament angler Josh Rockefeller reports, “Fish are holding on rock anywhere you find it, and I am throwing a Buckeye Lures Goby Sled with a Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw or a jig. When the water gets stained, I like to go with something with a lot of orange and red. Fishing a green pumpkin and orange jig trailer on a Buckeye Lures jig with brown living rubber is hard to beat. Try to stay out of really muddy water and look for the stained water. A good stain in the water is what I like more then any other water clarity. A flat-sided crankbait in a red-craw color will get bit on bridges and rocky points. However, with this high water, these fish may move up into the trees. Staying more offshore on rocks will be the most consistent bite for now.”

Linesides: Guide Bradd Sasser reports, “Muddy and high water has not slowed the hybrids and stripers down from feeding at all. We are seeing more activity up and down the lake with less activity in the mid-lake area. They have been holding off points and blow-throughs in 25 to 30 feet of water. Downlining has been the most productive method by far. As things warm up and clear up, they will begin to shallow up more chasing the herring spawn and staging up to go through their false spawn.” Capt. Eddie Mason reports, “It seems like in the muddy water, I am catching them at about 10 feet down, while in the clear water, I’m catching them 20 to 30 feet down. I’m staying on the lower end of the lake using live bait and downrods. Water that is muddy today may be clear tomorrow, and fish are moving in much the same way. The best advice I can give anyone right now is to be willing to change up.”

Crappie: Guide Bradd Sasser reports, “The crappie are a little more temperamental to these drastic changes so quickly. They are still holding near structure but have shallowed up to the 12- to 15-foot range. The bite has been a little slower, but when you do get them to bite, they have been some really nice slabs. Trolling jigs has worked really well, along with small shiners. With so many different conditions and water colors, you need to try various different colored jigs. One day one color works great, and the next you have to use something totally different.”