Clark's Hill never ceases to amaze me.  Just when you think nothing is going on, you hear about all kinds of fish being caught.  Fish don't bite all the time and some days you just can't catch a fish.  If you go very often and do things halfway right, you will catch fish on this lake.  I have said for many  years, Clark's Hill fishing is often all or none.  When you find fish on the lake, you can often catch many times your limit.  I personally keep few fish anymore.  I do take some, however, especially those that probably  won't survive. I know it would never work, but I would like to see our lakes undergo a period of time where no fish could be removed.  Could you imagine how good the fishing could get.  It was done on the Savannah River for striped bass for years and now the striper fishing is tremendous.  I sure wish we could do it on the lake.

Crappie fishing has been very good lately.  My good friend, Mike Dewberry, wore the big ones out on one of our brush piles we made two years ago.  I've seen several coolers full from night fisherman as well.  The hybrids are beginning to school a little better now and will continue to get better.  I saw a large school while showing property by boat near the mouth of Fishing Creek.  I have had reports of schools from all over the lake.  Many lures will take these fish ...  zara spooks, gunfish, pointers, thing poppers, spoons, rooster tails, grubs, little fishes and flukes ... just to name a few.  Trolling will start to come into play though the dog days of late July and August.  You can use redfins, rebels, bucktails, and umbrella rigs.  They will all catch fish.  While trolling, you can watch your depth finder and look for schooling fish.  It is a good way to find some fish. 

Remember, you can't catch a fish without wetting a hook and with 1,200 miles of shoreline, catching fish is a lot like finding the perfect waterfront property to buy, you gotta know where to go ....

And we know, Turner Realty is your Lakefront Property and Lifestyle Resource.   Hey ...  we'll see ya on the lake!

Have you ever been to the J. Strom Thurmond Dam?  If not, its quite impressive.  It took more than 100 million yards of concrete during construction.  They have a nice visitors center on the South Carolina side.  There is also a park just below the dam with a ramp to the river.  For more details, visit http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/dayuseinfo.htm#belowdamday . 

If you're planning on camping this summer, make your reservations now as the camps fill up fast.  Of course, that's no problem if you live here like we do.......

This is the time of year for night fishing.  Really for all species.  Bass will feed in the shallows at night.  You can use the same tactics you use during the day.  Mornings are better than afternoons in general because the fish are more comfortable after the water has cooled at night.

For crappie, I would go to the back of any creek until I got to 30 feet and anchor there.  Use lanterns to attract the baitfish and crappie.  Use small minnows and a small hook with just enough weight to keep the line tight.  I like to use a #4 and even a #6 hook.  Most people use too large a hook, in my opinion.  If you fish during the day, try standing timber. There are a lot of trees submerged on the lower end of the lake.  They are all along the Savannah River and also up the Georgia Little River.  In the upper portion of the lake the trees weren't cut and are visible now.

Catfish are on a tear right now.  Fish live bream, perch, or herring on bottom at night for the big flatheads.  For the smaller fish, use worms, liver, or cut herring.  Be patient for the big fish; most nights you will get a few shots at fish over 15 pounds.  Fish over 20 pounds are regularly caught and  I'm sure there are some  over 80 pounds. 

Those who are trying to catch the big are doing so.  I, personally, feel they are underfished and have some concerns for our bream populations.  I am catching more and bigger catfish while fishing for striper in the last few years.

Remember, you can't catch a fish without wetting a hook and with 1200 miles of shoreline, catching fish is a lot like finding the perfect waterfront property to buy, you gotta know where to go....

And we know, Turner Realty is your Lakefront Property and Lifestyle Resource.   Hey' we'll see ya on the lake!

If you like hiking, the Bartram Trail at the lake is a good one.  The eight mile trail is well marked with yellow blazes.  The lake springs spur splits off where a day use facility is located.  There's an old abandoned air strip being used as a wildlife food plot.  Select this site  for a map and other information.http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/dayuseinfo.htm

The fishing has continued to be as hot as the weather.  Ther striper and hybrids are surface schooling in the mornings.  I've had good reports from both ends of the lake, especially below the Russell Dam where some really big fish were taken week. 

 This a a 28.5 pound catfish caught while fishing with Dale Turner last week.

 If you're looking for that monster catfish, now is the time to go.  I would use live bream at night.  I suggesst fishing the Raysvile area or in the South Carolina Little River area.  See the sites below for fishing regulations.

South Carolina Fishing        http://www.dnr.sc.gov/

Georgia Fishing                     http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/

I can tell you the fishing has been real good last week and I see no reason next week shouldn't be as good.  I like to use the solunar tables to help me decide when to go.  It can tell which days of the month are best and which hours of the day should be best.  July 11th thru the 16th are the best rated days of  this month.  Mornings are always good this time of year and will be until the cooler weather starts to arrive in September.  So, definitely fish the mornings.  I would usually quit by lunch, but these days show the middle of the day to be excellent.  I would stay a little longer this week, you could see some good fishing at or around noon.  I have heard a few people seeing some schooling fish at 10:00 to 11:00 in the morning lately.  I may be wrong, but I predict some strong schoolng actively later in the day.  This feeding time is good for all species.

Black bass fishing should be red hot fishing humps.  You can try a clear gumfish early, then go to small plastics later.  Try some 4" lizards or 4" chartreuse worms rigged Carolina style.  Last year at this time, there were many catches of 30 fish per day.  This pattern should last for a few more weeks.

Shellcracker and smaller catfish are still on a tear off points on worms.  Don't stay on one point more than thirty minutes if you're not catching fish.  Move from point to point until you get some action.  There couldn't be a better time to catch these montser flatheads than now.  Go at night and fish either the Raysville area of the South Carolina Little River area.  Take either live bream (and don't be afraid to ace a big one) or herring.  Anchor up the front and back of the boat and chum the area with herring if possible.  Put out several rods and with some patience, you will be rewarded. 

Remember.........You can't catch a fish without wetting a hook. And....with 1200 miles of shoreline at the lake, catching fish is a lot like finding that perfect waterfront property, you gotta know where to go..and WE KNOW! Turner Realty is your lakefront property and lifestyle resource....and Hey, we'll see you at the lake!

Bring chairs and a blankets to Elijah Clark State Park this Saturday and watch the annual Thunder over Thurmond fireworks show, sponsored by Lincoln and McCormick Counties.  Beginning July 3rd there are activites scheduled throughout the week including a concert  featuring Confederate Railroad at the American Legion Post 194 fair grounds in Lincolnton.  Please go to turnerrealtyonthelake.com for a link to more information.

If you're a new boat owner and wondering where to launch, we have a complete list of launching ramps as well as swimming area  information about corps day use on both Georgia and South Carolina sides.  It's all on our  web site for your convience. 

We are definitely in the summer pattern now.  The water is warming up fast.  The spawn is basically over for the year.  However, there are always a few late bedders to be caught.  The shellcracker and catfish will still do a little bedding but usually to a  lesser degree than in previous months.

The crappie will begin to orient towards the creek channels.  Standing timber is a good place to look for  them.  Also look for deep brush in the creek channels.  If you see a lot of small arches anywhere, try it.  Sometimes you can really find a good group this way.

Shellcracker and catfish can always be caught this time of year fishing worms on sandy and rocky points, especially if there are plenty of muscle shells there as well.  It is essential to use two anchors to keep the bait still.

I have had excellent reports from several bass fisherman who say they have caught 20 -  30 bass on their last few outings fishing humps with small plastics.

Hybrids and stripers are schooling but on an inconsistant basis.  The early morning bite has been far better than in the late afternoon.  Expect trolling to become one of the better methods in the weeks ahead.  You can also jig a hopkins spoon just above any fish spotted on the dept finder.

The bottom line is no one ever caught a fish sitting at home.

Remember with 1200 miles of shoreline at the lake, catching fish is a lot like finding the perfect water front property to buy - you gotta know where to go.

... And we know - Turner Realty is your lakefront property and lifestyle resource.

Hey' we'll see you at the lake