Clarks Hill Fishing Report – September 2008

Clarks Hill: Level: 14.4 feet below full pool. Temp: 78-81 degrees. Clarity: Clear in center, stained on banks due to high winds.

Bass: Bill Crompton said he found a great bite on Aug. 22 on a merthiolate-colored floating worm in 2 feet of water around wood. As temperatures cool off, look for bass to move back into the pockets and creeks and hold tight to wood cover. Bill likes the floating worm and crankbaits. Don’t overlook main-lake stumps and brush; not every fish will migrate toward the backs, but the majority will pull up. A schooling bite will start in the main lake. Points with 35 to 40 feet of water are good places to see schooling, but bass are subject to school anywhere as they chase bait. Keep a fluke, buzzbait, Sammy or Spook ready.

Linesides: Capt. Dave Willard is fishing up the river where oxygen levels are best. “I recommend Soap, Murray, Fishing and Newford creeks,” said Dave. “We are fishing live herring 24 to 30 feet deep in these areas in or near the river channel and catching some nice stripers. The stripers have been in the 12- to 14-lb. range and slab hybrids are in the 6- to 8-lb. range. I’m also trolling bucktails behind downriggers 18 to 24 feet. This pattern should stay good through September. Go slow,” Dave warned. “There are lots of trees exposed and some that aren’t.” Guide Capt. William Sasser said the middle section of the lake seems to always hold a lot of fish this time of year. “Trolling bucktails 25 to 30 feet deep at 2 m.p.h. works great,” said William. “Search for large quantities of fish with electronics, and expect searching in September to get easier as schooling fish surface chasing threadfin and bluebacks. It’s a great time of year to fish in the evenings below Russell dam for large hybrids,” he added.

Crappie: William said to fish small minnows in 30 to 40 feet of water around brushtops mostly in the evenings. “Try to stay out in the main flow of the lake,” said William. “This year with the water so low the fish will be scattered through the standing hardwoods sticking out of the water all over the lake. Just tie up to a limb, and put the bait down 20 feet. If you don’t get a bite, take the boat paddle and slightly tap the tree with repeated taps. There are numerous treelines out of the water that are great for pulling jigs through. Double jigs on a drop-shot rig is great for trolling 20 feet deep.”

White Perch: “September is the month for white-perch fishing,” said William. Fish 20 to 30 feet deep. Fish small minnows and jigs on the bottom. Look for large numbers of small arches on your depthfinder around the boat on large flats.