Clarks Hill Lake Fishing Report – December 2019

Clarks Hill: Level: 5.8 feet below full. Temp: 55-58 degrees. Clarity: The water is stained in the creeks and rivers and mostly clear on the main lake.

Bass: Tournament angler Josh Rockefeller reports, “Clarks Hill is starting to rise again after the weekly rain, and this is helping the bite up shallow. Running points toward the backs of creeks is producing the fish. Squarebill crankbaits in shad and red-craw colors are the best. Also throwing a Buckeye Lures Goby Sled on the points with rock is catching fish, as well. As December comes, we will see the fish moving into the ditches, and that is when the lake gets hot.”

Linesides: Guide Bradd Sasser reports, “The seagulls have shown up, giving way to where the schools of baitfish are. The majority of the activity has been coming midway back in the creeks in the ditches and creekbeds. For the most part, the larger groups of fish have been showing up 25 to 35 feet deep, but this is the time of year that you will find them throughout the water column. Right now you can pick your poison on which method you prefer to fish. Downlines, planer boards, freelines and trolling A-rigs are all producing. The fish have moved toward more mid- to upper-lake regions and also out Georgia Little River toward Amity.”

Capt. Eddie Mason reports, “Parts of the lake are still turning over, so that’s causing the water to still be really dark in a lot of places. We’re avoiding that problem by avoiding those areas on our lineside trips right now. I’m fishing on long running points, humps and in the main river channels. Fish should be going into the backs of the rivers and the creeks before long. There’s a few seagulls here right now, but as the weather gets colder, there will be more seagulls coming in. Make sure to watch the seagulls because they should help you with where the fish are. I’ve been using mostly downrods, but I have seen a few folks using freelines and planer boards and catching them.”

Crappie: Guide Bradd Sasser reports, “The crappie fishing has been phenomenal with them stacked in structure 18 to 20 feet deep in 25 to 30 feet of water. Jigs and small shiners are both producing.”