Clarks Hill Lake Fishing Report

July 17

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Clarks Hill is settled into a typical summer pattern, and the fish have become predictable. Water temperatures are warm, and the best bite is happening early in the morning before the heat and boat traffic build. Once the sun gets high, most fish are moving offshore and relating to brush, timber, and schools of bait. If you have good electronics and don’t mind fishing deep, you can still put together a great day on the water. 

Bass

The bass bite has been solid, especially for anglers targeting offshore structure. Large schools of bass are holding on humps, long points, and submerged brush in 15 to 25 feet of water. Spotted bass are feeding heavily on blueback herring, and they’ll occasionally push bait to the surface early in the morning.

Don’t forget about the largemouth. Some of the better fish are staying shallow around docks, seawalls, overhanging trees, and bream beds. If you see bluegill spawning around shallow cover, it’s worth making a few casts because big largemouth are taking advantage of an easy meal. 

Bass Tips

• Be on the water before daylight with a walking bait, fluke, or swimbait ready for schooling fish.

• Once the surface bite slows down, move offshore and fish brush piles with a shaky head, drop shot, or finesse worm.

• If you’re looking for a bigger largemouth, target shallow bream beds around docks and shade during the morning hours.

 

Crappie

Crappie have moved into their summer pattern and are holding on deep brush piles, standing timber, and submerged cover. Most fish are suspended in 15 to 25 feet of water and are staying close to structure throughout the day.

Live minnows continue to be one of the best producers, but small jigs fished vertically through the brush are catching plenty of fish. Once you find an active brush pile, there’s a good chance you’ll catch several before moving on. 

Crappie Tips

• Focus on deep brush piles and standing timber instead of fishing the banks.

• Keep your bait just above the fish. Crappie almost always feed upward.

• If one brush pile isn’t producing after a few minutes, move until you locate an active school.

 

Striper

Stripers are following schools of blueback herring and threadfin shad across the lake. Early mornings continue to be the best time to catch them, especially before the lake gets busy. Fish are holding over creek channels and deeper sections of the main lake where large schools of bait are present.

Live blueback herring remain the top choice, but anglers are also catching fish on spoons, bucktails, and paddletail swimbaits when stripers push bait toward the surface. 

Striper Tips

• Spend your time searching for bait before you ever make a cast. Where the bait is, the stripers usually aren’t far away.

• Fish at the depth you’re marking on your electronics instead of guessing.

• Always keep a spoon or swimbait tied on because schooling fish can come up fast and disappear just as quickly.

 

Overall Outlook

Clarks Hill is fishing well for the middle of July if you’re willing to fish the summer pattern. An early start, good electronics, and staying mobile will make a big difference. Bass are grouped up on offshore structure, crappie are holding on deep brush, and stripers are staying close to schools of bait. Find the bait, fish patiently, and you’ll have a good chance of putting together a solid day on the water.