Clarks Hill Lake Fishing Report – July 2024

Clarks Hill: Level: 1 foot below 330. Temp: Mid to upper 80s. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide and tournament angler Trad Whaley with BoneFinzoutdoors reports, “Summer is here, but the fishing is also hot. Last month, we spoke of fishing your strengths. The same applies in July. Right now the brushpile bite is going on. I’d fish from Parksville to the dam and up to the mouth of Little River. There should be a decent topwater fluke bite. As it gets hotter, a big worm and drop shot will get you some bites on humps and points.

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D.J. Hadden, with Hadden Outdoors, says July is a tough month of extremes for bass fishing at Clarks Hill. “You can catch bass either 2 feet deep or 20 feet deep,” he said. “Fishing dock lights at night is a great way to beat the heat and catch some really large bass. Use Texas-rigged big worms, like the Zoom Ol’ Monster, in junebug color, around docks with lights. Crankbaits and swimbaits will also catch dock-light bass. For daytime fishing, work banks early in the morning with a buzzbait, popper or floating worm. As the sun gets up, drag a worm in brush and rocks 18 to 25 feet deep. Also, try looking for bream beds around the full moon the week of July 21 and fish a topwater prop bait or floating worm over them. The water usually starts dropping in July. As it drops, find the last piece of shallow cover still in the water and fish it carefully.”