Clarks Hill Fishing Report May 2012

Clarks Hill: Level: 8.3 feet below full pool. Temp: 68-71 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Dale Gibbs reports, “The recent cool temperatures drove the surface temperature back into the upper 60s. With that, the blueback herring bite slowed abruptly. It looks as if warmer weather is coming back, and with that the blueback herring should return to the shoreline to spawn. The weather has been crazy all year, and who knows what will happen next. Look for largemouths to be feeding heavily on herring in May. Several patterns can be used to catch largemouths this month, but look for two things specifically to catch fish. The topwater bite should become more prevalent, so throw Zara Spooks, Lucky Craft Sammys and Zoom Super Flukes for schooling fish. If the fish are not breaking, throw Carolina-rigged worms and lizards or jigs on the same places. Usually working these baits a little deeper will produce bites as the feeding slows. Most of this action will be found on points near the main river channels.”

Linesides: Guide William Sasser reports, “All the fish we are cleaning for clients are full of eggs, so the spawn is still yet to come. The stripers are very scattered because of this, but by the first of May it will change. The herring will be up on points spawning, so pulling planers and freelines early in the morning will work. Casting topwater on points and blow-throughs will also work. Hybrids will return to the dam, and the best bite will be in the evenings and at night when fishing with herring.”

Crappie: William reports, “We are catching fish on brushpiles with minnows in 15 to 20 feet of water. The Raysville, Buffalo Creek and Soap Creek areas are great areas to start. Corps fish attractors have fish on them in May and are marked by buoys.”

Shellcrackers: William reports, “Shellcrackers are starting their yearly ritual of bedding on the full moon in May. Locate them at night with lights, and fish them the next morning with Louisiana pinks. Look for them around blow-throughs.”