Catching Bait at The Hill

Saltwater Striper Fishing
1

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Curious as to how to net a few herring for some night fishing for stripes/hybrids??

Have a 16’ Jon Boat rigged up with LED’s, so lights aren’t a problem.

NN

2

Most of the bait guys set up from the mouth of Russell’s Creek to the ropes at the dam on the Elberton end. With just LED’s, steer clear of the bait boats. Their sodiums will draw the bait away from you.

Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer

3

Should have gotten more specific. Clarks Hill Dam to Little River Bridge.

Also, don’t underestimate the LED’s. Really just want a few for a nights fishing. Herring Hut closes at 6pm.

Thanks,
NN

4

The bait down at Clarks Hill Dam is really deep right now. There is a strong thermocline around 80 feet and the herring are 60 to 80 feet down during the daytime. Not sure if they come up any at night very much or not. Most of it is in the savanah river channel because of the Oxygen lines at Modoc. I don’t think there are tons and tons of herring in Ga Little River but I could be wrong.

However you do have some options to buy bait once the Herring Hut closes. Watson’s bait in McCormick is self serve and open 24 hours. His # is 864-554-9920. Text him to make sure he has bait and get his address. I have also heard there is a little store just past the herring hut that sells herring supplied by the herring hut until around 10PM or so but I have never bought there. Good luck.

5

LED’s are good, but not sodium good.:smiley: That is unless you’ve got an obscene amount of light arrays. Your best chance of catching bait on the lower end right now would be the first cove up on the SC side from the dam. Otherwise,you’d need to buy bait ahead of time. Doesn’t sound like a viable option with 91Tiger’s comments.

Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer

6
quote:
Originally posted by Fogman

LED’s are good, but not sodium good.:smiley: That is unless you’ve got an obscene amount of light arrays. Your best chance of catching bait on the lower end right now would be the first cove up on the SC side from the dam. Otherwise,you’d need to buy bait ahead of time. Doesn’t sound like a viable option with 91Tiger’s comments.

Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer

It’s not you’re just fighting one boat with sodium lights either. I have seen then stretched all the way across from Murrah ramp all the way to Russell creek. I was coming from the Russell dam and couldn’t hardly see for all the lights. I’ve known people to walk to the fishing area behind the dam on the Ga. side and throw a cast net and catch what they needed as well.

Carolina Skiff 218 DLV
140 Suzuki

7

Thanks again all for the advice. Will see what we come up with.

NN

8

I fished Clarks Hill Sunday and there are two distinct thermoclines forming. One around 30 feet with tons of threadfin balls just above it. The other varies from 60 to 80 feet depending on where you are on the lower end. Still lots of bait that I assume is herring down on that deeper thermocline in the Savanah River channel.