Low water, no problem on Clarks Hill
APPLING, Ga. – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine South Carolina Division is heading into its home stretch, with the fourth event of the season set for Clarks Hill on June 13. Water levels throughout the region are low and will affect fishing on the sprawling Savannah River impoundment, but the fishing should still be very good with several ways for anglers to catch them.
What to expect
Jason Burroughs of Hodges, South Carolina, has eight BFL wins, including one on Clarks Hill at nearly the same date on the calendar in 2024. That was with normal water levels, so the fishing will be a different story this time.
“The biggest thing this year is the water level, and all of the lakes around here are definitely low,” he said. “That means a lot of stuff that would normally play is not in the water. The offshore fishing will still be a factor, and guys will catch suspended fish, but even with the lower water levels, I think the shallow bite will be the way to win.”
Burroughs believes the better-than-average fish will be shallow, stalking spawning bluegill beds or cruising.
“This time of year, you can actually see those wolf packs of fish swimming up and down the bank looking for bream beds,” he said. “That’s a real good pattern down there this time of year, and with the lake down, I still think it will be a major factor.”
One thing he doesn’t think will be a major factor is forward-facing sonar, though it will undoubtedly catch some fish for those who use it. The issue is that the average fish there tends to skew smaller than the shallow bluegill eaters.
“There will be some offshore places that have some fish, and I think a lot of checks will be cashed with forward-facing sonar, but this is a tournament you can win without using it at all,” he said. “I won’t be fishing this one, but if I were, I might try to have a place or two I could run to and use it if I got in trouble and needed to catch one, but I would spend most of my time on the bank.”
Baits to bring
Expecting a bluegill spawn, a popping frog would be Burroughs’ top choice for the shallow bite, and he says plenty of fish will be caught with a fluke-style bait offshore. A sign of the times, he says an urchin bait is another must, because it seems to be working everywhere right now.
What will it take?
Most recent local events have taken north of 20 pounds to win, and that’s what Burroughs pegged as the goal weight for this one – somewhere in the 21- to 22-pound range. To cash a check, a weight in the low teens should be enough due to the sheer number of quality keepers in the fishery right now.
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