Planning to hit up Clarks Hill Monday do some striper fishing for the first time. I know nothing about the lake other than there are supposed to be bigger fish and more fish than Murray. The plan is to put in at Modoc and fish coves creeks shallow. I’m not looking for specific spots but would like any suggestions for the trip concerning where fish are generally right now and what they are biting.
Thanks!
I think the notion that there are more and bigger fish on the Hill than Murray is a myth based on what I’ve seen in the past few weeks. Anyway, I would put in at Dorn and try creeks above and below the 378 Bridge. I wouldn’t bother with Modoc and below. Pull planers, corks, and downrods with herring and/or gizzards. I would even consider as far up as the Fish Bowl-- the area where the the Broad, Savannah, and Pistol and Newford Creeks come together. Be careful and follow the channel markers.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
They are slaying the hybrids from 5-10# at the lower cable. Should be this way for another few weeks. Put in at Scott’s ferry and look for all the boats tied up to the cable. Using downrods. Heard the bite was better in the evenings.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
If your looking for big fish i would be hitting murray right now. But if your set on the hill i would be up by Amity in the GA little river. All creeks from Cherokee to above amity will hold big fish right now. Pull 8"+ gizzards shallow.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Thanks for the info guys. Murray has been good for me this year so far but I want to take advantage of the more liberal regs Clarks Hill has for keeping fish. Murray slowed down a bit towards the end of last week probably because of this shot of cold we are having. I am ready for some warmer weather!
21 BX Pro Sea Hunt
Yamaha 150 4 Stroke
Wow Chip! 5-10 pound hybrids? I might have to take a ride down there over spring break next week. That’s almost Cherokee quality.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Thats the report i got james. I never knew they gathered by the dam in the spring. Knew tgey ran up the broad in late spring, but this is a new one for me. My source said they do it every year. Said it looks like murray at the towers in the summer time with boats
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
I can tell you there’s not too much going on in baker crk and sclr. Water cooled off 4 dg and scattered em. About the rope at the dam yep they are there for a while. Also in bait cove (1st cove on sc side) pretty much can be found anywhere next to the rocks on the sc side. I’ve caught my biggest down there last wk at 9.5# surprised me too. They usually don’t come that big down there. Have usually caught my biggest pulling herring deep behind boards in front of the rocks but quantity is on the downrods. Also saw a lot of birds working in front of west dam last week for a long time but never went to ck em. Good luck.
84 HYDRA SPORT 1800SS
89 Yamaha 150
‘BAD HABIT’
89 TRACKER 17 TX
MERC 50
‘OL LEAKY’
I can tell you there’s not too much going on in baker crk and sclr. Water cooled off 4 dg and scattered em. About the rope at the dam yep they are there for a while. Also in bait cove (1st cove on sc side) pretty much can be found anywhere next to the rocks on the sc side. I’ve caught my biggest down there last wk at 9.5# surprised me too. They usually don’t come that big down there. Have usually caught my biggest pulling herring deep behind boards in front of the rocks but quantity is on the downrods. Also saw a lot of birds working in front of west dam last week for a long time but never went to ck em. Good luck.
84 HYDRA SPORT 1800SS
89 Yamaha 150
‘BAD HABIT’
89 TRACKER 17 TX
MERC 50
‘OL LEAKY’
Update:
Buddy and I drove to Clarks Hill yesterday morning to be met with rain and a cold wind. We hit the Huddle House for breakfast and sat in the truck to wait things out. The rain finally stopped about 10am and we put in and tried to find the fish. Needless to say the morning and mid afternoon were not pleasant, however, the clouds broke around 3pm and the afternoon turned out nice. We found fish around the dam and were able to limit out in about an hour yesterday afternoon. Thanks to everyone for their input. I will be making a return trip soon. My big takeaway was the serious drop offs compared to Murray. It was not uncommon to be 15 yards off the shore and be in 30 or 40 feet of water.
21 BX Pro Sea Hunt
Yamaha 150 4 Stroke
In the summer you can beach the boat there in several places. Let the family have fun, cook out and cut bait in 50-70’ of water…ha
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
quote:
Originally posted by MurrymakerIn the summer you can beach the boat there in several places. Let the family have fun, cook out and cut bait in 50-70’ of water…ha
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
I would be interested in knowing how the lake ended up like that. I can’t imagine the Army Corps of Engineers dug the whole thing out that deep.
21 BX Pro Sea Hunt
Yamaha 150 4 Stroke
I don’t know for sure, but I would doubt they did any digging. I would imagine it’s just due to the natural terrain of the area before it was flooded when they built the dam.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
actually bait cove and the surrounding areas near the dam on the carolina side was the diversion around the construction of the dam so it was dug out. that why those big mountains of clay are in between the visitor center and clarks hill park ramp. but it is a natural valley through that area. pretty cool if you ever get a chance to go to the visitors center there .they have preconstruction pics blown up on the wall.
84 HYDRA SPORT 1800SS
89 Yamaha 150
‘BAD HABIT’
89 TRACKER 17 TX
MERC 50
‘OL LEAKY’
PB, thanks for the info., very intresting!