Turner Realty On The Lake

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2009-04-06T00:00:00-05:00

Spring is here and the lake will be the place to be. The lake level is back up as well and we have been working on new regulations to keep it up from now on. The fish are biting and should provide good fishing right on thru the summer and fall. Hybrids and stripers are cruising the shallows and are easy to take on free lined herring. If you are lucky enough to find them under the birds or rolling around in an area you can easily catch them on flukes, top water, bucktails, along with many other artificials. Crappies are on the banks and can be caught on jigs and minnows beneath a cork. Shellcracker should start biting by mid April and fishing worms on the bottom around pebbles and shells will do the trick.

While camping there are plenty of activities going on. April 4^th at Elijah Clark State Parkyou can learn how to make dolls the way the pioneers did. On the same day at Mistletoe Park there will be practice day for golf, ladder golf, disc golf and miniature golf challenge that will be held on Tuesday April 7^th at 10 A.M. Prizes will be awarded.

Also at Mistletoe Park on April 8^th there will be a parent and child mini golf challenge from 10-12 A.M. Also from 7-9:30 they will have a moonlight paddling trip but you must register in advance for this trip.

On April 11^th Elijah Clark will demonstrate how to play the mountain dulcimer, an early American instrument. Also at Elijah Clark on April 18^th from 10-3 pelts of native animals will be on display and spinning will be demonstrated.

On April 18^th at Mistletoe Park from 10-1 you can go on a nature walk on the Cliatt Creek Trail to View wild flowers. Then on April 25^th from 9-12 there will be a walk to look for birds migrating thru and to our area.

Finally on April 30^th from 11:30-10 P.M. at Elijah Clark Park the annual Lewis Family Homecoming & Bluegrass Festival will kick off. There is plenty to do at the lake so come up and join in the fun.

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-04-10T00:00:00-05:00

I've had a few friends come stay with me for the Masters, so I took a few days off to fish. Steve Mills and Lee Ayres, old high school buddies of mine, went Tuesday and fished for crappie. We fished on a windy and cold day and caught no fish in the morning. We changed locations and caught 50 fish in the afternoon. They were all females loaded with eggs. We caught them on minnows and orange and yellow jigs beneath corks.

They were in 4 foot on brush. I'm sure the fish will be spawning in the next few days. Lee Ayres and I decided to fish for striper and on Wednesday , we went with Tommy Dudley who guildes on the lake. The sun came out and in extreme contrast to the day before, Tommy knew where the fish were and we caught a limit by 1:00. The fish were between two and eight pounds. Below is a picture of our catch.

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-04-04T00:00:00-05:00

The big news is the crappie are on the banks and the water has come up five feet over the past two months. I was lucky enough to go Wednesday morning for a half day. I decided to fish for crappie using jigs. I put a cork two feet above a small yellow and orange doll fly. I found the crappie on two spots in three to five foot of water. I didn't have very long, but did catch twenty fish before I had to go.

Black bass fishing has really picked up as well. This is a good time to worm fish. I grew up fishing plastic worms and still love to catch black bass that way. This time of year, you can't go wrong using a pumpkin seed plastic lizard with a chartreuse tail rigged Caroliana style. Hybrid and stripers are slamming free lined herring. The best area is near the dam. However, I have learned over the years you can catch these fish almost anywhere this time of year.

For property at the lake, there simply hasn't been a better time to buy in years. We have lowered prices in Dogwood Ridge down to $50,000 and have just listed three of hte best places on the entire lake.

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....

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

Posted by bonnie at 12:00 AM | Link | 0 comments

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-03-28T00:00:00-05:00

This Saturday Chuck's Lakeside Marine, located near Little River Marina, will have its annual 'in house' Boat Show and Test Drive Event. They will have several pontoon boats, a Norris Craft Bass Boat and at 23 foot Mako there in the water for you to test drive. This truly offers a chance to test performance and style so you can make a good choice on your next purchase.

I took one of my old high school buddies, Terry Norris, and his son, Tyler, fishing. It was very windy. We tried crappie for a few hours and stripers for a few. We only caught a few fish, but Tyler did manage to catch a seven pound striper. See the picture below:

The weather has been up and down; it just depends on which day you go. Overall, fishing wasn't that good last week. The good news is most of the fish have not spawned in the lake yet. So the best fishing is yet to come. Its definitely a good time to hit the lake.

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-03-21T00:00:00-05:00

Did you know that the Corps of Engineers has made 12 fish attractors on the lake? The Georgia Department of Natural Resources had made 13 and the SC Department of Natural Resources has made 10. That gives you 35 excellent crappie fishing spots. They have made a major effort in the past few years to ad brush to these locations. There is a list below:

Thurmond Lake Fish Attractors

US Army Corps of Engineers Fish Attractor Buoys

Scott N 33° 40.559 W 082° 11.051

Catfish Bay N 33° 46.064 W 082° 15.450

Hawe Creek N 33° 50.550 W 082° 20.792

Hickory Knob State Park N 33° 53.500 W 082° 26.572

Fishing Creek N 33° 54.891 W 082° 32.071

Murry Creek N 33° 53.198 W 082° 29.176

Elijah Clark State Park N 33° 49.901 W 082° 23.040

Shriver Creek N 33° 46.720 W 082° 18.749

Bussey Point, Savannah River N 33° 44.054 W 082° 16.046

Bussey Point, Little River, GA N 33° 41.812 W 082° 16.002

Cherokee Creek N 33° 42.567 W 082° 19.595

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Fish Attractor Buoys

Bobby Brown State Park N 33° 58.997 W 082° 34.827

Newford Creek N 33° 57.016 W 082° 34.536

Elijah Clark State Park N 33° 51.530 W 082° 23.756

Soap Creek, Hwy 378 N 33° 50.239 W 082° 25.655

Wells Creek N 33° 49.070 W 082° 21.239

Camp Daniel Marshall N 33° 46.120 W 082° 17.153

Bussey Point N 33° 45.711 W 082° 16.198

Grays Creek N 33° 41.862 W 082° 22.489

Clay Hill/Lloyd Creek N 33° 40.665 W 082° 26.640

Amity N 33° 39.220 W 082° 29.006

Winfield N 33° 39.189 W 082° 24.990

Mistletoe N 33° 39.316 W 082° 22.012

Ridge Road N 33° 40.980 W 082° 15.860

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Fish Attractor Buoys

Russell Creek N 34° 00.40 W 082° 33.77

Hester Bottoms N 33° 57.46 W 082° 31.88

LeRoys Ferry N 33° 54.71 W 082° 28.76

Hickory Knob State Park N 33° 53.19 W 082° 26.59

Savannah River N 33° 52.24 W 082° 23.72

Little River, SC N 33° 52.37 W 082° 21.14

Benningsfield Creek N 33° 49.66 W 082° 18.71

Parksville N 33° 46.47 W 082° 14.63

Modoc N 33° 43.60 W 082° 13.63

Scotts Ferry N 33° 41.42 W 082° 12.47

Each of these is marked with a bouy as a fish concentration spot. Many people overlook thse spots but they acan be very productive. You don't have to have a GPS to find these spots.

The two cold fronts coming thru this week has put the brakes on the crappie and bass. The hybrids and stripers have been on and off near the dam. On Tuesday afternoon , the fish were schooling and the lucky fisherman who were there really caught some good fish on herring and flukes.

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....

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

Posted by bonnie at 12:00 AM | Link | 0 comments

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-03-14T00:00:00-05:00

The good news is the lake is on its way up. It has come up nearly one foot in the last week or so. As far as the fishing, it couldn't get any better than it is right now. Even though I haven't had a chance to go in the last week, I have talked to some who have. Bill Baab was near the dam on Wednesday afternoon casting lures and was catching some real nice hybrids and stripers in the ten pound class.

Every year the blue back herring congregate in this area and naturally the hybrids and stripers move to feed on them. Night fishing will become very productive or simply tying up to the cables will work during the day or night. Early in the morning and late in the evening, try free lining live herring in the shallows. The crappie fishing has really turned on as well. Most people are catching them trolling the coves, however, I have had several people say they have caught some on the banks in the last few days.

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-03-07T00:00:00-05:00

The fishing is red hot on the lake right now. There have been several striper over 40 pounds caught last week. The black bass are eating up crank baits and the crappie are in the coves and creeks in less than 20 feet of water eating everything in sight. Barring a severe cold front, we are set for some incredible fishing the next few weeks.

Below is a picture of Luke and Andrew, a few of my neighborhood fishing buddies. We caught these crappie Monday afternoon on jigs and minnows.

Lincolnton Marine will have its ground opening this Saturday from 9:00AM until 5:00 PM. The ribbon cutting is at 11:00. There will be drawings for free gifts thru out the day. Matt Herring, a bass fishing pro for Skeeter Boats, as well as numerous other factory representatives will be on hand. Kick 99 and Drive 93.9 will also be there. The new location is on Hwy 378 near Soap Creek. Be sure to look for Turner Realty Agents also.

While in Lincolnton, be sure to come by to see me between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM at our office on Humphrey Street behind the library. I'd love to talk fishing or real estate. I'll have a sample of my favorite crappie jigs on display.

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-02-29T00:00:00-05:00

I managed to get out on the lake Sunday. It was windy and tough to fish; however, I saw a few guys that did well on black bass casting shad raps. I was looking for crappie and found them stacked up along the trees which line the river channel outside of Fishing Creek. They are grouped up and in 18 to 22 feet of water. I only caught a few, but I know there were many more there. A lot of the crappie have begun to stage in the creeks in 15 to 20 feet of water.

If you can find a spot where the channel winds down and comes up quickly to 5 feet or so, you have a good stage area. With the water low, the fish will stage in larger schools. Find one of these areas and you can have a ball for the next few weeks.

If you are looking for waterfront property on acreage arourd the lake, there couldn't be a better time than now. Let the experts help you at Turner Realty.

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-02-22T00:00:00-05:00

You haven't heard from me the last couple of weeks because I took a much needed vacation. I went to Costa Rica where I had to sample their fishing. I enjoyed the fresh water fishing for gouloupe and rainbow bass in Lake Arenal. You can actually fish and watch the active volcanos at the same time. From there we went to the coast and caught waboo, dorado, and tuna. We only fished 5 to 10 miles offshore, what a break from running 50 miles off our shore.

Enought of that! The fishing on Clark's HIll is ready to explode. I went out on the lake Wednesday to do some scouting. I saw two guys fishing from the bank with small minnows. They had a cooler full of fish. I was in the S.C. Little River. I continued until the river bends sharply to the left and get real shallow just before Mill Creek. There, I found my own group of crappies. It was 15 feet deep against a shallow area. They are stacked and ready for the water to warm a few more degrees. When it does crappie as well as black bass, we'll go on a feeding frenzy.

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-01-25T00:00:00-05:00

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-01-18T00:00:00-05:00

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-01-11T00:00:00-05:00

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2008-01-04T00:00:00-05:00

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.

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-12-28T00:00:00-05:00

If you're a bird watcher, now is a good time to be on the lake. It is alive with thousands of migrating ducks, geese, loons and a variety of other birds including bald eagles, blue herrons, king fishes and all kinds of sea gulls and terns. I have been able to watch bald eagles as they seperate one duck from a large group. The eagle will make up to 30 attempts to get the one the has separated. The duck will dive under the water each time to avoid the eagle's claws. Eagles are relentless and sooner or later, the duck will tire and come up for a second too long, and the eagle flies off with his meal. This is just one of the wonders you'll see while spending time on the lake.

We, at Turner Realty, again want to thank you for making 2007 our best year ever. The next six months should continue to be a buyers' market and couldn't be a better time to buy acreage and waterfront properties.

Remember, with 1200 miles of shoreline, catching fish is a lot like finding the perfect waterfront property, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-12-14T00:00:00-05:00

The past few weeks have made for some of the most enjoyable and relaxing afternoons I have had on the lake in a while. We have had mild temperatures and moderate winds and the fish have been biting. What more could you ask for? While catching hybrids on herring in Loyd's Creek, we caught a crappie that weighed nearly 3 pounds.

If you like catching catfish, I have learned a new trick for the lake. When the water is down like it is now, many old treetops begin to show above the water. These trees can be in 30' to 60' of water right now. All you have to do is fish worms on the bottom at the base of these trees. While fishing for catfish you can also fish for crappie with small minnows by tossing 1/32 oz jigs around the limbs.

Remember, 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!

Bryant and Kyle Dewberry

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-12-07T00:00:00-05:00

I am continually amazed at the incredible fishing Clark's Hill provides. My longtime fishing buddy, Mike Dewberry and I went fishing a few days ago. We had good reports of nice stripers being caught up the Georgia Little River in the early morning hours. We got on the water a little late and decided to go to Germany Creek where we managed to catch a few hybrids. Around noon my brother-in-law, David "Choo Choo" Youngblood called me on the cell phone and told us to come to Loyd's Creek where we joined him and caught 6 more hybrids.

We knew the feeding charts showed 4:00 to 6:00 to be the best time to fish that day, so we went looking for birds or schooling fish. About half way from Loyd's to Germany Creek, we found some fish chasing bait. We caught many hybrids and stripers on various lures before dark. Mike caught the largest at nearly 25 pounds skipping a spoon across the surface.

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....

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-11-30T00:00:00-05:00

Saturday, December 8th, see how our ancestors celebrated Christmas at Mistletoe State Park. Go to the link below for more information.

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?s=70359.0.1.5

I had a chance to run up Little River looking for fish with a friend for half a day last weekend. Some seagulls, heavily feeding on bait, turned us onto the fish in front of Little River Bridge, near the Cherokee boat ramp. We managed to catch several nice stripers there. We were not as lucky in Germany Creek. We marked plenty of fish, but couldn't get them to bite before the much needed rain ran us off the lake. The hybrids and stripers have definitely moved up both the Georgia and South Carolina Rivers. They should build in numbers over the next few weeks.

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-11-23T00:00:00-05:00

It's time to get in the Christmas spirit. On December 8th at the Robert Toombs Historical Home in Washington Georgia, a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens will be presented. Each room will present different scenes form this classic. Go to the websites below for more information.

http://www.washingtonwilkes.org/Calendar%20of%20Events%20SeptDec%202007.doc

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/events.aspx?s=0.0.1.5&navid=1&monthcount=2&siteid=5&wrapid=1

I haven't been fishing in the last week but I talked to several who have. The hybrids and stripers have made their move up the creeks. I would go up any of the major creeks and free line herring. The area from Loyd's Creek to the pumping station in the Raysville area has heated up. The Germany Creek branch was especially hot earlier this week. Last year around Thanksgiving there were plenty of big fish being caught near the pumping station in Little River. The South Carolina Little River should become red hot in the next few weeks.

The crappie are still feeding heavily and can be found on brush piles in 8 to 25 feet of water. One fisherman caught a limit in Soap Creek near the marina simply easing down the creek channel with small minnows.

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-11-16T00:00:00-05:00

The low water levels continue to provide great fishing. I went out last weekend looking for places to fish when the water comes back up. I found a brushpile barely under the surface in only 8 to 10 feet of water. I backed off and threw a blue and white 1/32 ounce doll fly and was rewarded with a nice mess of crappie. The fish will be in and out of shallow water until it gets too cold. When fishing shallow water, use a 4 to 6 pound test line and a slow sinking 1/32 ounce jig. If you get hung up, simply break off the jig so you don't scare the fish.

There is no reason to avoid the lake when the water is low. The link below provides valuable boating information. There you will find an explanation for what the different bouys mean so you can navigate the lake with confidence.

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

Right now is the best time in years to buy on the lake. I have one lot in particular that is an incredible buy. Give me a calll toll free at 888-805-8087 and let me show you the possibilites.

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-11-06T00:00:00-05:00

There couldn't be a better time of year to be on the lake. The fall colors are beautiful and the fishing is great. The lake level, at 10 feet below pull, doesn't affect the scenery or fishing at all. With a depth finder and map, the lake is not dangerous. You also have an opportunity to explore it in ways that are rarely possible when it is full. I can only remember three other times that I have been able to cruise the lake and note potential fishing spots. Now is the perfect time to take advatage of the low water and walk the shore to find artifacts.

Of Course fishing is my favorite and with the hybrids and stripers everywhere, I'm on the lake as much as possible. Keg Creek is especially hot now; I caught a crappie Sunday afternoon in only ten feet of water in Cherokee Creek. Later on, in the evening, I started throwing hal's flies and caught several hybrids. You simply never know what you might catch.

To keep an update on the open boat ramps click on the link below:

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

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-10-29T14:48:00-05:00

The extended drought has significantly lowered our lake levels. We are now at 10½ feet low. For running fast, you should stay between the main channel buoys marked by red and green. Outside of the main channel, run slower and watch your depth finder. Everyone is wondering which boat ramps to use.

The link below has extremely helpful information that provides a list of the open and closed boat ramps in the area.

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

The lower lake levels, on the other hand, are actually making the fishing better, especially black bass and crappie. This is because the the fish are more concentrated. I have had a lot of reports last week of crappie fisherman doing well. Go the the back of your creeks and ease around dropping minnows and jigs. Keep an eye out for brush and when you catch one, turn around and take a good look at the area before moving on.

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-10-23T09:10:00-05:00

If you enjoy making pottery, you are sure to enjoy cavestone pottery making from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Mistletoe State Park in Appling, Georgia on November 3rd. These pots look like they were hewn right from the wall of a cave, but they're really a mixture of cement, parlite and moss. Class size is limited to 10; children ages12 to17 welcome with a parent or guardian. The pottery will take three days to dry, so bring a large tray or plywood to take your creations home. You may want to bring small shells, tiles, marbles or other items to make your pot unique. Register by October 31. The website below provides further details:

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?c=27725&s=119426.0.1.5

The warmer than normal fall has kept the hybrids and stripers in the same pattern. They are holding in the main lake areas, especially near the mouths of the major creeks. Soon, they will begin to move up those creeks and wind up far upstream during the winter. There are always some fish especially, large stripers, which will stay in the big water. Go look for your fish near the mouths of South Carolina and Georgia Little Rivers as well as Soap Creek and and Keg Creek. Again, look for birds or any breaking fish and watch your depth finder.

Crappie fishing has been on the upswing. They are biting in a variet of spots. They are being caught under some of the bridges and tree tops in deep water. They are also showing up in the creeks in 20 to 35 feet near brush. I actually caught two large crappie on herring in the middle of hypbrid schools. I've never done that before. It shows how much they have been feeding lately. In the next few weeks, you can even find them on shallow brush. I wouldn't go any more shallow than 10 to 12 feet, however.

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-10-11T15:54:00-05:00

Get your taste buds ready on Sunday, October 21, 2007 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for an interesting, dinner made from wild ingredients. For even more fun, search online for "wild edibles recipes" and make a dish to share. Click on the website below for more information.

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?c=27724&s=132783.0.1.5

Since last week's report the fishing has been on and off. On Wednesday and Thursday, with cloudy skies, the fishing was excellent. On Wednesday afternoon Mike Dewberry and I were lucky enough to get on big fish on three occasions. We did manage to catch a cooler full of 3 to 12 pound fish. We also lost 2 fish to the trees. I had one on that was near 20 pounds that had the hook pull free before being able to net the fish. These fish were caught on herring and spoons. The fish are hanging out over tree tops. The magic depth has been on or near 38 feet. You need to put your herring height above the trees and the fish will come up and get the herring. The best areas are near the dam or from Bass Alley to Shriver Creek. The old river channel is lined with trees left standing when the lake was flooded. You must have a good depth finder and a good pair of binoculars. Any schooling fish or birds indicate a spot to investigate. On Wednesday, we had already done well and headed in. I spotted one seagull nearly a mile away. We went to investigate and the bird left us. As we watched the depth finder, it showed a large school beneath us. We immediatley started catching fish.

On Thursday afternoon, I went out for two hours and found a school near Bass Alley and caught and released ten fish that averaged six pounds, my largest was around ten pounds. All these fish were caught on zara spooks, hopkins spoons, and thing poppers. The fish were surface schooling and stayed up for an hour.

As soon as the heat wave leaves us, I expect the fishing to be exceptional until the lake turns over, which should happen before Thanksgiving.

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-10-02T00:00:00-05:00

Mistletoe State Park will be the place to go on Saturday,October 20th from 5:00 to 10:00 PM for a Family Fall Fest. Enjoy music, a pumpkin scavenger hunt, apple bobbing, marshamallow roasting, night hikes, and a haunted shelter. Visit the website below for more information:

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?c=26398&s=661.0.1.5

I can personally attest that the really big stripers and hybrids have finally turned on. There couldn't be a better chance to go than now, especially until the clouds lift. That isn't predicted until Monday. I am writing this Wednesday morning so if you read this, you need to go. Any signs of fish, go to it and watch your depth finder. Tuesday afternoon, Mike Dewberry and I had the lake to ourselves. It was windy and raining on and off. Finally around 4:30 PM, the wind layed down a little. We saw a fish or two three different times and rowed to them and put the troll motor in. (Always stop before you get the fish. I know sometimes its hard to hold back, but you should, especially if no one else is chasing the fish). All three times we grapled hundreds of fish 25' to 45' in the water 70'. They were hanging out over trees that came anywhere from 15' to 40' from the surface. We caught fish from 3 to 15 pounds each time on live herring and hopkins spoons. We also lost 2 fish to the trees and one really large fish to a hook pulled out.

With one hour left, we decided to go home, an 18 mile run, and look for schooling fish. I had just said that we had not seen any seagulls today and immediately spotted one off in the distance. We went o investigate it and again put our troll motor in. The seagull left, but he had given the fish away. The depth finder showed 107' and hundreds of arches from 25' to 60' deep. We dropped to 50 to 55 feet and hooked up the biggest fish of the day just before dark. We also caugh a 3 pound crappie in this spot.

The catfish are still biting real good on worms and liver. Bass are chasing bait aggresively and hitting trick worms over grass beds. Crappie have also started hitting on brushpiles in 20' of water.

If you want to know where we caught the fish, you can call me at 706-284-5796

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-09-25T00:00:00-05:00

This Saturday, September 29th, between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. at Elijah Clark State Park in Lincolnton, Gerald Smith will show how army doctors treated patients in the 18th century by using home grown herbs and medicines. The link below provides more information.

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?c=26924&s=146962.0.1.5

The hybrids and stripers have finally begun to school in earnest. So far this year, all the schooling fish have been small. The big fish have been almost impossible to find. After the full moon and another coudy forecast for the end of the week, we should have some real good fishing. We expect the big fish to join in and feed on the surface as well. This is what all striper fisherman love to see.

The crappie have begun to bite as well. While crappie fishing this past weekend, my neighbor caught catfish on small minnows. He also caught some nice crappie. One catfish was caught that weighted 41 pounds; however, he struck on live herring. I really feel if you targeted catfish, you could have success right now. I don't think many people try this in the fall, but perhaps it is something we all overlook. I really feel the next couple of weeks we will experience some really good fishing. Whether you like crappie, stripers, catfish or black bass, they all should be biting. Either way, you can't catch a fish without wetting a hook.

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-09-17T15:54:00-05:00

Let the cool air get you in the mood to explore primitive camping at Mistletoe State Park. These remote campsites can be reserved for groups of ten or more and are located just 100 yards from Clarks Hill Lake.

Pioneer Camp Ground

Visit this site for more information and to make your reservations. http://www.georgia.reserveworld.com/CampGroundInfo.aspx?i=180&p=D

The stripers are still schooling and will do so until the lake turns over near Thaksgiving each year. Then, they will head up the rivers and creeks chasing shad into areas like Raysville, Soap Creek, and the Carolina Little River. For now, however, I would stay at either end of the lake. Tommy Dudley says to only go on the north end of the lake when they are pulling water at the Russell Dam. The Corps will provide you with those times if you call them. The larger fish have been hard to find but we expect that to change by the end of next week.

The crappie have been biting good on small minnows and a variety of jigs. There are still good numbers under your bridges, but the best action is on brushpiles in 20 to 30 feet of water. To find these spots, you need a good depth finder. Ease along with your big motor down any of your secondary creeks or go to the end of your main creeks and look in the 20 to 30 feet range. Mark your spots and go back with your troll motor and fish it for 15 to 20 minutes, trying various depths and jig colors. If you don't catch anything, move on to another one. Write down each spot so you can try it later that day or on another tirp. Crappie are nomads and they regurlarly change which brushpiles that stay on. If you fish for crappie regularly, you can always take some dog food and bait the spot up for later. The next 2 months can be someof the best crappie fishing of the year. Find a hot spot and it can stay hot for weeks even a month or two at a time. Remember you can't catch a fish without wetting a hook.

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

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-09-11T00:00:00-05:00

The annual Elijah Clark Bluegrass Festival begins this Friday, September 14th at Elijah Clark State Park in Lincolnton, Georgia. You won't want to miss these three fun-filled days of great food and foot-stompin' blue grass. Come on out and bring your lounge chairs; admission is free and parking is only three dollars. For more information, click on the link below.

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?calendarid=26920&s=65830.0.1.5

There are no real changes in my report so I would like to discuss the use of a spoon. If you have never fished a spoon, you are simply missing out on some fantastic fishing. Not only will it outfish live bait at times, but I delieve it catches the biggest fish. I have seen it happen over and over again. The smaller fish always seem to be on top. They have more energy and that's why you'll catch smaller fish on the surface when they are schooling. There are exceptions however, and when the big fish are up, I go to another big fish lure, the super spook. As a general rule however, the large fish stay under the action and take the injured bait and bits and pieces falling to the bottom. Maybe that's why the falling spoon works so well this time of year. Watch your depth finder when you are on a school of fish and use your spoon to drag to the depth you see the fish. I like to go as deep into the school as I can get because I firmly believe thats where the biggest fish are. Simply use sharp jerks up and let it fall, if it stops, set the hook. You better hold on tight when they hit because the big ones actually jerk the rod out of your hands. Last year , one of my fishing buddies actually had a 15 lb striper break his rod into three pieces and he pulled the fish in by hand. About three years ago, another of my friends and I jigged up a limit of 20 stripers that averaged 17 lbs a piece. We jigged some as deep as 65 feet at the bottom of the school. Use a good rod and bait caster reel with 15-20 pound test line. The bait caster can be lowered quickly below the boat. You can also use the spoon on the surface or at various depths. All you do is cast to the school and reel it fast across the surface, pausing the lure several times. You can also let it sink a little and reel it in slowly with a jerk here and there. They will almost always hit it on the fall. I like the 3/4 oz Hopkins spoon with the white and red feather. Other people swear by Berry's flex spoon which can be bent into a slight S shape. No matter which spoon you choose, it won't catch a fish if it doesn't get wet!

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

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

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-09-04T00:00:00-05:00

Lucy Nels will show how Hannah Clark made her own yarn and weaved it into cloth to make her family's clothing. Saturday, September 15, 2007 from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM at Elijah Clark State Park in Lincolnton, Georgia.

For more information, go to:

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?c=26918&s=124029.0.1.5

The fishing on Clark's Hill is ready to really get going. Every year when the super hot days of summer begin to cool a little as we get into September, the fish begin to feed. The last week has been on and off fishing; good one day, bad the next. The hybrid and striper fishing has been good on either end of the lake. You can troll while watching your depth finder to find fish or cruise until you see breading fish. This time of year the breading fish tend to be a bit smaller. Later, as the bait fish get bigger, so will the other fish. Monday, we got into the one to three pound fish on the surface. I had bought some gummy minnow flies from Rivers and Glen, located in Surrey Center in Augusta. www.riversandglen.com I bought them last year because they look just like the small shad the fish like to feed on this time of year. Boy, did they work. I could catch as many as I wanted on it. Other lures will work as well. The little fisher, rooster tails, small grubs, etc. will all work when they are feeding on small minnows.

I've had some good reports of black bass schooling in the northern parts of the lake around standing timber. They were readily taking plugs and zara spooks.

Crappie have just begun to move back onto the brush piles I have in the fifteen to twenty feet range. You need to fish in the brush and often all the way to the bottom. Expect it to only get better in the next few weeks. The 1/32 ounce pink and chartreuse jig has been working real good along with small minnows.

Catfish are also biting live herring around standing timber as well. I anchor or tie up to the top of the trees. Fish deep or even bottom at the base of the trees. You must use 20 pound,or better, line as they will hang up in the limbs a lot.

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-08-28T00:00:00-05:00

Get ready for a foot - stompin', hand- clappin' good time at Elijah Clark State Park in Lincolnton, Georgia when the annual Blue Grass Festival kicks of on Friday, September 14th. There will be three fun-fill days of food and bluegrass. Join the action and bring your lounge chairs and three dollars for parking. For more information, click on the links below.

http://gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx?calendarid=26920&s=65830.0.1.5

http://gastateparks.org/net/go/parks.aspx?LocationID=87&s=0.0.1.5

The fishing report is really just a repeat of the last few weeks. The weather has been almost unbearable; but again, for those who are willilng to be on the lake by 5:00 AM, the rewards have been pretty good. Trolling for stripers and hybrids has been the most productive method. Again, use deep diving plugs in red and white, silver and black, or white and blue. You can also use a variety of bucktails and grubs with a three way swivel and use a combination of the two. They will get a little deeper and attract more attention. For a real big attaraction , use an umbrella rig. You can buy plenty of them alaready rigged or you can buy the bar and make them yourself. I recommend buying a lure retriever to save on the expense when you hang up. Some people use lead core lines to get the lures deeper; others opt to use downriggers. I have seen guys at times using downriggers when they were the only ones catching fish. Play around and change what you are using to fish something that will work. Once you catch a fish, loop back around that area and you may be able to catch fish in that spot all day.

Black bass are also schooling in the secondary coves. I stay more towards the bigger areas for the stipers, but in smaller water for the schooling bass. When crappie fishing in the fall, I always take some topwater stuff for schooling bass. Speaking of crappie, expect them to begin moving into the secondary coves in a few weeks to fatten up for the winter.

Remember, 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!

"On the Lake" with Dale Turner

2007-08-21T12:10:00-05:00

Plan your visit to Mistletoe State Park on Saturday, September 08, 2007 between 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Bob and Jan Perry will demonstrate the life of 18th century hunters and trappers. Visitors can feel the different animal skins and see how traps were set to capture animals that provide food and skins for trading and making clothes. There’s a $3 parking fee. For more information, click on the link below.

gastateparks.org/net/calendar/details.aspx

The fishing on Clark’s Hill for striped bass and hybrids continues to be red hot. You can catch them trolling as I discovered last week; it is the easiest method. You can ride around the lake and look for schooling fish. When you locate some fish, use top water bait until they go down. You can use a wide range of top water lures. I usually have a thing popper rigged. This is the most reliable lure, however, you must reel it in at a steady ‘Herky-Jerky’ motion. If a fish hits at it, do not pause but keep it moving all the way back to the boat. Have faith in this method, it will work. If there are some bigger fish present, I like to ‘walk the dog’ with a number of top water lures. Clear is the best color. When the fish go down, rely on your depth finder to relocate the school; now its time to drop live herring. If you want to go all artificial, then drop a spoon to them. I like to go to the bottom of the school where the bigger fish hang out. Again, any number of spoons will work but I still catch plenty on the reliable ¾ ounce Hopkins spoon dressed with a white and red feather.

For you crappie fisherman, good times are just a few weeks away. I went out on a half day trip last week to check out a few brush piles. I managed to catch a few nice crappie on one-thirty second ounce pink and chartreuse doll fly. The second week in September is usually when we get a little break in the heat; this always brings a lot of crappie back into the creeks where they are a little easier to catch. Fall fishing for crappie can be as good as the spring, there’s only one thing different, there’s no one else fishing for them. I love my striper fishing and most people don’t understand how I could crappie fish when the hybrids are schooling. Well, I like nothing better than fooling a 2 or 3 pound crappie off a brush pile on a jig. I’m sure there are plenty of people who agree.

Remember, 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!