Clarks Hill Fishing Reports – December 2020

Clarks Hill: Level: 2 feet low. Temp: 64 degrees. Clarity: The rivers are stained to dirty, and down the lake is clear.

Bass: Tournament angler Trad Whaley reports, “The lake is down close to 2 feet from last week. Fishing has been tough because with the high water there are 1,000 places for them and the bream to hide. They are starting to set up in their winter places now. There has been some bait in the creeks but not much. The bait and fish are setting up in ditches, channel turns and flats right now. Into December, there will be a good crankbait and Rat-L-Trap bite in the creeks. Look for a good jig bite on rock early and then later when it warms up. The ditch bite on the lower end should start heating up. Look for birds. They are starting to show up now, and that should help you know you’re in the right area. A lot of spotted bass are set up in deep brush. If you’re looking for a great fish for a fish fry, spots are starting to take over the lower end. Let’s do our part and stop this nuisance fish from taking over another great largemouth lake. Life jackets and kill switches save lives. And please take a kid fishing. They are our future.”

Linesides: Capt. Eddie Mason reports, “I’ve been fishing mid-lake a lot this week. We’ve been catching quite a few on humps in the main river channel about 10 to 20 feet down. I’ve been using downrods mostly, but I’m also using freelines some. I’ve been Spotlocking, but when that’s not working, we’re bumping around using the trolling motor. I’m going a little more shallow in creeks, about 5 to 10 feet down.”

Guide Bradd Sasser reports, “The hybrids and stripers are in a full-on feeding frenzy before wintertime really sets in. They are in several different levels of the water column with these favorable water conditions we currently have. If you prefer downlines, you find a good bite early to mid morning of the edges of creekbeds and humps in 30 to 40 feet of water. If you like planer boards, there also scattered fish in 5 to 10 feet of water moving back in creeks. If you prefer casting flukes and plugs, you can find some schooling activity at the mouths of creeks. The fish have migrated out Georgia Little River toward the Amity area and also up the lake in S.C. Little River and the Hickory Knob areas. There has also been some bird activity showing where schools of bait are located.”

Crappie: Guide Bradd Sasser reports, “The crappie bite continues to be extremely good with the lake showing all signs of a very good population. The fish are currently in 25 to 30 feet of water with the fish holding 15 to 18 feet deep around brush. Soon they will move deeper where the fish are 20 to 25 feet deep in 35 to 40 feet of water.”