NOEoutdoors Fishing Report Clarks Hill Lake

December 5th

 

Clarks Hill is settling into a steady early winter pattern. Water temps are dropping, bait is pushing deeper into the creeks, and the lake is holding fish in both shallow morning zones and deeper midday structure. Here’s what’s happening with bass, stripers, and crappie right now.

 

Largemouth and Spotted Bass

 

Bass are spreading out but predictable. Largemouth are still using shallow rock, laydowns, and the backs of pockets during the first hour of daylight. Spots are holding closer to bait in the creeks and on deeper main lake structure.

 

What’s working:

• Slow dragging finesse presentations on long tapering points and clay banks.

• Vertical fishing in 20 to 40 feet when the bait stacks deeper.

• A slow-moving bait along rock when wind pushes into the banks.

 

Largemouth have been better in dirty or slightly stained water. Spots are more consistent wherever you see balls of bait on the graph.

 

Three bass tips for early December:

    1.    Hit shallow banks early, then move deep by mid-morning.

    2.    Follow the bait. If you don’t see it, you’re fishing dead water.

    3.    Slow your whole approach down. Winter bass don’t chase far.

 

Stripers and Hybrids

 

The striper bite is picking up. Fish are running the creeks hard, pushing bait around, and shifting depth from hour to hour. Some days they show high in the water column. Other days they’re buried in 30 to 50 feet.

 

What’s working:

• Pulling live offerings at mixed depths around bait schools.

• Casting metal-style baits into quick surface pops.

• Dropping vertical baits when you mark tight groups deeper in the creeks.

 

Gulls and loons are the biggest clues right now. If they’re working an area, there’s a reason.

 

Three striper tips for early December:

    1.    Don’t stay in one creek too long. Keep moving until you find active bait.

    2.    Watch the edges of bait balls. Predators sit off to the side.

    3.    Keep shallow and deep lines out at the same time. They change levels constantly.

 

Crappie

 

Crappie fishing is strong. Fish are grouped tight on brush in 12 to 20 feet. Clearer water means they’re holding just above the structure instead of diving into it.

 

What’s working:

• Hovering small jigs above brush with little movement.

• Dropping minnows a foot over the tops of the piles.

• Casting light jigs past the cover and letting them swing through naturally.

 

Sunny days have produced the best action, especially late morning.

 

Three crappie tips for early December:

    1.    Stay above the pile. The biggest fish sit up high.

    2.    Light line gets more bites in clear water.

    3.    When the bite slows, shift your angle. A small move can fire them up again.