The lake has come up two feet;  although that's a significant increase, we are still 12 feet below normal level.  Please click below for direct links to this information  as well as for which boat ramps are usuable.  I have had to check the list myself lately.

http://water.sas.usace.army.mil/home/indexDU.htm

http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/Thurrampstat.htm

The weather has been so bad, I haven't talked to a sole who has been fishing in the past week.  One thing for sure, there are plenty of ducks and sea gulls flying around the lake.  The same pattern of fishing the birds will continue for the next several months.  Jerkbaits, flukes, spoons, and bucktails are the lures of choice for hybrids and stripers.

For black bass, I would fish firetiger colored crankbaits, blade baits, and weighted flukes in the ditches or creek beds.  Catch on and you could find a good group of  fish.

Crappie should be feeding on or nesar the treetops and bridge pilings.  My best color in the winter seems to be red and white or orange and yellow.

 Remember,  with 1200 miles of shoreline, catching fish is a lot like finding that perfect waterfront property to buy, you gotta know where to go....

Sunday, I decided to lay down the rods and cruise the lake looking for future fishing spots since the water is so low.  I found a good many spots that I will definitely fish when the water comes up.  I also had the chance to talk to several fisherman who were having some success. 

While I was in Germany Creek, I watched a guy black bass fishing with a crank bait.  He was fishing a small point with a clump of grass on it.  After ten minutes, I talked with him before moving on.  He was using a crawfish colored little earl and was nipping the grass bed with the carnk bait.  He had found a pattern that was working well that partiuclar day.  A little later up the Georgia Little River arm, I found a couple of guys drifting the channel near the Holiday Park area with small minnows while casting doll flies. Although I didn't see them catch any fish, they showed me a cooler of a dozen or so nice size crappie.  Two hotspots for hybrids and stripers last  week were Parksville and Mosely creek.

Remember,  with 1200 miles of shoreline, catching fish is a lot like finding that perfect waterfront property to buy, you gotta know where to go....

If  you are not real familiar with Clark Hill Lake, the Army Corps of Engineers has a map on line for you to view.  You can even print one for your use.  It has all kinds of information on it.  You can even print maps off of it for their campgrounds, day use areas, and boat ramps.  So, you don't even have to buy a map.  Simply click the link below.

http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/maprack.htm

The hottest  fishing action last week has actually been just below the damn in the river.  You can fish off the platforms below the damn or launch your boat there.  Stripers and hybrids have been hitting a variety of lures.  Bucktails and large rapalas as well as live bait have been doing the trick.  You can also catch a nice string of perch on shellcracker fishing any deep hole in the river or Betty's Branch.  Fish small minnows and jigs for the perch and worms on the bottoms for  the shellcrackers.

  Remember,  with 1200 miles of shoreline, catching fish is a lot like finding that perfect waterfront property to buy, you gotta know where to go....

This year the lake has been full of gulls and terns, they make the fishing for stripers so much easier.  They are here to eat shad and herring; so naturally, when you see them feeding, you know there's bait around.  You'll be surprised how many times you'll see the birds diving for bait in a day's time.  When you see the action , ease up to the spot with your troll motor and if you see any fish swirling, You should be able to catch them.  I would throw a weightless fluke in white or white ice colors.  I would also try any good jerk bait in yellow with a brown back in dirty water.  In the clearest water, I would use more natural color.  If you don't see any fish on the surface, you may see some deeper on your depth finder.  Drop a spoon to those fish.  Bill Baab caught a 25 pound fish this week on a spoon.  You can cruise any part of the lake, but going up the bigger creeks is the best bet.