May 23

Lake Russell water levels are still high at 474.73 (full pool is 475.00) and water clarity is pretty normal. Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 77 degrees. 

This week Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that the herring spawn seems to be about played out – and so is the shallow point fishing for bass. Now he is finding fish in 15-20 feet of water around brush on the main lake and out towards the mouths of creeks. For Jerry the location of the brush doesn’t really seem to matter, and it could be in the middle of a cove or off a point.

While they are catching most of their fish on live bait, a drop shot or shaky head will also work. 

It’s a similar pattern for Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), who reports that he is also fishing in 15-20 feet of water. However, Wendell is mostly targeting main lake points. Instead of brush he is fishing standing timber, but in the clean areas beside it. 

While they are mostly catching spots, Wendell’s son did catch a nice 4 ½ pound largemouth on a wake bait fished shallow in a cove. 

Both guides are catching some striped bass on the spotted bass pattern, but Jerry thinks the majority of the striper are out in deeper water in the main channel. Wendell doesn’t disagree but also thinks you can catch plenty of striper on main lake points in 15-20 feet as long as you keep moving to cover water and pull baits on free-lines and planer boards.   

The crappie fishing has also been pretty good, and Jerry reports that his boat caught a couple of limits in a creek around brush in 16 feet of water. Wendell’s boat has also been fishing brush at about the same depth, but they are finding the fish very high in the water column just 2-4 feet down over brush in 12-15 feet of water. You can throw jigs or fish minnows under a float for these fish. 

Finally, the consensus is that the catfish action is the best thing going right now – almost to the point that they are a nuisance when targeting other species. Jerry is finding them all over the place from coves to points in 10-12 feet of water fishing cut bait, while Wendell is getting them as a by-catch off the main lake points. 

May 15

Lake Russell water levels are still above full at 475.28 (full pool is 475.00) and water clarity on the main lake is good while the very backs are muddy. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to around 74 degrees. 

The bass (and striped bass) have moved quite a bit deeper on Lake Russell this week, and Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that the herring spawn seems to be about over and yesterday they saw only a very few baitfish up. They are now catching most of their fish in about 15-20 feet of water off flat points and offshore humps, either on the main lake or the very front of creeks.  The productive points are basically the deeper ends of the same ones that the herring were spawning on. 

For bass soft plastics on drop shot rigs are working well, while both species will take swimbaits or live bait. You can either put out herring on down rods or pull planer boards and free lines. 

The crappie are also in relatively deep water but suspended pretty shallow, and in the standing timber back in the stained areas of creeks they are finding them ganged up only three feet below the surface. All sizes seem to be mixed together and taking minnows and jigs. They are also on isolated brush piles, but if these are in clearer areas they will be at least 8-10 feet down. 

The catfish are also feeding very heavily as they prepare to spawn, and Wendell reports they are catching tons of them off the same points and humps where they are catching bass and striper. There are also plenty of catfish back in pockets in 5-15 feet of water. They will take live bait but cut bait, worms or about anything else will catch them. 

May 9

Lake Russell water levels are above full at 475.09 (full pool is 475.00) and water clarity was high before two inches of rain fell last night! Morning surface water temperatures are around 75-78 degrees. 

This week Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that they are still catching some bass in 4-6 feet of water on live bait as well flukes, swimbaits and topwater lures, but the herring spawn is about over and it also appears that the shallow bite for bass (and striped bass) is winding down. The fish already appear to be starting to make their next move into 10-20 feet of water over humps and off the ends of points that have brush on them. A drop shot and deep running crankbait work well for these fish. 

Sharing the assessment that the shallow bite is dying down is Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), and the fish they are catching around bridges are starting to get deeper outside of a very early window. 

But the crappie are still relatively cooperative and shallow for Luke, who reports that they are still finding some schools of fish suspended in the middle of coves as well as around shallow brush in about 12 feet of water. By now more of the fish are 8-10 feet down closer to the bottom. It’s a fair to good bite long-lining with jigs or casting minnows to the brush.

At the same time it’s a very good bite for channel catfish, and Jerry is catching them on cut bait anchored over humps and in pockets in 5-15 feet of water. He is fishing the main lake and middle to front of creeks, but while he has not been to the very backs the fish should be there, too.

May 1

Lake Russell water levels are above full at 475.04 (full pool is 475.00) and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures are around 71-73 degrees in the mornings. 

It’s a weird late spring for the bass on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that – perhaps because of high water levels – the herring are not in the usual places this year. They are not on the banks like normal, and instead they seem to be in 12-15 feet of water. Nonetheless they are still catching fish in 4-6 feet of water, but not as many as a week ago. Another oddity is that there are places the bass always go that they aren’t catching them this year, and then others where they have not caught them in years that have been productive this year. 

Casting topwater lures, flukes and swimbaits will still catch bass as well as striped bass, and both bass and striper will take live bait pitched to the fish. You can also pull free-lines and planer boards across the points.  

It’s a similar report from Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), and they are catching most of their fish free-lining herring just 2-4 feet deep around main lake points and bridges – both the riprap and pilings. However, the catch is that the fish they are after could be as deep as 20 feet of water. They are staying high in the water column all day. 

The crappie are still relatively cooperative, and Luke reports that they are finding some schools of fish suspended in the middle of coves as well as around shallow brush in about 12 feet of water. In addition to fish a couple of feet below the surface, like last week, now they are also finding them 8-10 feet down closer to the bottom. It’s a fair bite long-lining with jigs or casting minnows to the brush, but should improve until it gets very hot.  

At the same time it’s a very good bite for channel catfish, and Jerry is catching them on cut bait anchored off points and in the backs of coves in 10-15 feet of water. He is fishing the main lake and middle to front of creeks, and while he has not been to the very backs the fish could be there, too.

April 25

Lake Russell water levels are still very full at 474.95 (full pool is 475.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures got as high as the 70s but have dropped back to the low to mid-60s on the main lake after the cool mornings. 

It’s still a really dynamic time for fishing on Lake Russell, but Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that the herring spawn is still at best sporadic.  He is just not seeing many herring around riprap, banks or boat ramps. Nonetheless they are catching bass and striped bass off the points where herring should be in about 4-6 feet of water. Casting topwater lures, flukes and swimbaits will still catch everything, and both bass and striper will take live bait pitched to the fish. You can also pull free-lines and planer boards across the points.  

Yesterday Jerry caught 27 fish with the majority of them on flukes. For one day there were no striper, but most days they get at least one or two. 

It’s a very similar report from Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), who reports that there is just a trickle of spawning herring right now but the bass are shallow on main lake points in 4-15 feet of water. They are also hooking two or three striper up to 15 or more pounds each day, although landing them is another matter!

The crappie fishing has picked up substantially, and Wendell reports that they are still finding some good fish (mostly males on the banks spawning) that you can cast jigs or minnows to. There are also a fair number of fish ganging up on shallow brush in about 12 feet of water in the creeks. For now they are mostly smaller, but already more good post-spawn fish are feeding again and they will only get bigger as we get into May. The fish are just 2-3 feet below the surface and will take minnows and jigs. 

April 11

Lake Russell water levels are still above full at 475.09 (full pool is 475.00), and the lake was clear as of yesterday afternoon. Morning surface water temperatures are around 61-63 degrees at the front of creeks. 

The fishing is getting into one of the most exciting period of the year on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that even though the herring spawn hasn’t really taken off yet the bass and striped bass have grouped up on the points where they know to look for herring. Most of the fish are in 5-6 feet of water, and even though they aren’t on all the points yet they are starting to move up in good numbers both in the creeks and on the main lake. 

Casting topwater lures, flukes and swimbaits will catch everything, and both bass and striper will take live bait pitched to the fish. You can also pull free-lines and planer boards across the points.   

It’s a very similar report from Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), and they are finding lots of 3-4 pound spotted bass particularly on long points. The middle of the day has actually been better than the mornings the last couple of days, and jerkbaits have also been very productive. 

At the same time both guides report that the crappie are just frustrating, and even when Wendell’s boat marks schools they have been unusually spooky. The fish have been holding just below the surface in the creeks, and there are others that are on brush in 17 feet. They don’t seem to want to bite either, and it seems like a classic post-spawn lull.

Jerry also has had very little luck with the shallow crappie, and the couple of pre-spawn fish that he has caught in 10 feet have been smaller. It seems the better ones have mostly done their thing. 

March 28

Lake Russell water levels are very high at 475.73 (full pool is 475.00), and the main lake and creeks are clear although yesterday’s rain is muddying up the very backs. Morning surface water temperatures are around 57-58 degrees. 

Finally it’s a purely upbeat report on the bass fishing, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that the fishing has been really good. He fished the first tournament he has entered in a long while and had about 17 pounds, and they found the fish much shallower than they have been. Some were off secondary points and others were in the back of coves, in the main lake and the creeks, but the common denominator was 3-10 feet. They believe the spots are spawning from the way they were acting and their appearance, and you can catch them on about anything from spinnerbaits to shaky heads to jerkbaits. 

It’s also a positive report from Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), but they report that there is still another groups of fish holding deeper. They have found hungry spots on offshore humps in about 25 feet of water, and then another group in 16 feet on a flat. Overall the consistent message is that the fish are feeding!

The crappie bite has been a little less predictable, but Jerry reports that they have been catching fish trolling jigs. Some days 7-8 feet is the best depth, and other days they are at 20 feet.  It does not seem like there are as many fish on the banks right now, perhaps because of fluctuating water levels. 

But the striped bass have finally showed up again, and to Jerry’s surprise it was tournament bass fishing that they found them! Fish were on the banks in less than five feet of water first thing, and he caught them on jerkbaits and spinnerbaits. It doesn’t seem like any herring were up there with them yet, but they should be coming soon.

To target striper the best pattern is probably to pitch live baits at these same points early, and then to back out a little deeper in the same areas with baits on down-rods once the sun gets up. 

While there are undoubtedly still some catfish in deeper water, the channel catfish that they have been catching are very shallow in about two feet. Wendell’s boat is stumbling across them fishing with minnows while targeting crappie, but of course they will take other baits. 

March 20

Lake Russell water levels are still very high but down to 475.66 (full pool is 475.00), and the water remains a little colored on the upper end and the backs of some creeks – but it’s clear again on the main channel. Morning surface water temperatures range from the low to mid-50s. 

With water temperatures of 51 degrees yesterday morning on the main channel, it’s no wonder that Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that he is still finding bass on the main lake in 18-25 feet of water. They are on the bottom off points and in the center of coves, and fish are feeding pretty well. They will take drop-shot rigs and live herring.

There is another group of fish that have moved shallower, and Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that he is finding fish in small creeks and coves just off the main channel. They have moved up to 8-12 feet of water and they are on shallow, sloping banks. Shad raps, swimbaits and drop shot rigs are all catching fish.

On warmer days Wendell notes that you can find schools of shad in shallow pockets, and they have also picked up some largemouth throwing spinnerbaits around the banks in dirtier water where they are crappie fishing. 

Wendell and Jerry both report that they are catching big crappie up to about 2 pounds on the banks in the stained water back in the creeks, and while the numbers are not great it seems to be the bigger fish that have moved up right now into spawning pockets. It’s unclear whether they are actually spawning because the fish are in such small groups whereas they usually catch larger numbers when they are actually bedding, but it could be a first wave. Casting minnows under a cork or throwing jigs are both working.  

Still neither guide has seen any sign of striped bass recently.

March 14

Lake Russell water levels are up to 476.92 (full pool is 475.00). It’s murky on the upper end and the backs of major creeks are muddy, while the front of creeks and the mid-lake down on the main lake are fairly clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 55 degrees on the lower end. 

The water conditions are pretty terrible on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that when they opened the Hartwell floodgates it was like a bomb went off there was so much trash floating around. As a result of this the crappie fishing has gotten pretty tough, and it’s really difficult to troll or cast in the areas where crappie want to be. 

While nothing is good, the biggest concentration of fish that Jerry is finding are in the creeks 10-12 feet down in 15-20 feet of water. But it’s not unusual to run through a school of fish and only catch one. 

And whether it’s a result of the rapidly rising water or something else, they aren’t really around the banks right now. 

The bass fishing is better but they aren’t shallow either, and Jerry reports that they are still catching fish off main lake points in 10-20 feet of water. The creeks are so messed up that they aren’t doing much good back there. 

The pattern has been similar for Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), and Wendell reports that they are also fishing off points in 15-20 feet of water. In addition to a lot of spotted bass they have picked up a few big largemouth, which again indicates the bass aren’t very excited about the creeks right now. Eventually they have to go back there where they should take spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits. 

They are catching some fish on live bait but jerkbaits and drop shot rigs are also working. 

Neither boat has seen or heard of any striper in some time. 

March 7

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.83 (full pool is 475.00) and – as of yesterday afternoon – the lake had cleared significantly. But with the rain that may have already changed. Morning surface water temperatures were as high as 60 degrees, but after the rain plummeted to the mid-50s.   

Things are changing really, really fast on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that in the last few days water temperatures spiked and got as high as 65 degrees – before falling temporarily.  That put the crappie on the move, and while fish haven’t gotten right on the banks yet they have been catching them in the backs of the creeks in 3-4 feet of water casting jigs at shallow cover. They have also been catching fish long-line trolling 6-7 feet down in 10-15 feet of water. Any jig with some chartreuse on it has been working really well.

However, Jerry is concerned that a fresh influx of very muddy water may push the fish out of the creeks until things clear again.  There was so much trash in the water by yesterday that it was already making trolling more difficult.

The pattern has been similar for Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), and Wendell adds that he doesn’t think the first wave of females are that far away from coming up to spawn. They usually do it very fast, with the biggest fish coming up first, and when they are ready they seem to go almost regardless of weather conditions!

The bass fishing is also changing, and Wendell’s boat has starting catching small spotted bass around the banks. Throwing small crankbaits in the backs of creeks you will catch a mixed bag of spots, crappie and even hybrids, but for some reason the bigger spots and largemouth have not moved up yet. Jerry reports that fishing hard in the creeks he has yet to catch a largemouth, and Wendell has only picked up a small one to go with buck spots.

The bigger fish seem to still be on the main lake or at least in deeper water, and Jerry is having the best luck targeting fish in 20-25 feet of water at the mouths of creeks and around main lake humps and deeper points. In the afternoon fish are sliding up into 10-15 feet of water on the points.

Of course, between rising air temperatures and changing water conditions expect things to change very soon.

February 29

Lake Russell water levels are at 473.76 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake has cleared significantly. Morning surface water temperatures are about 54 degrees in most places. 

Even though temperatures are starting to rise, both Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) and Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that the bass continue to seem closer to winter patterns than spring ones. Certainly you can catch some fish shallow, but overall they have been hard to find up there – particularly as the water has cleared. At the same time, Wendell has had some banner days jigging a spoon and fishing live bait in 25-28 feet of water off gently-sloping points where fish are hugging the bottom. These fish are around bait, and they are still mixed in with yellow perch, white perch, and more. They even caught a 7-pound flathead catfish on a jigging spoon!

The crappie fishing is less consistent than either guide would like to see, but Jerry is having some good days long-line trolling. He is still finding the fish about halfway back in the creeks and they have been suspended 6-10 feet down in 20-25 feet of water.  They have not made any significant move towards the banks yet, and they are not feeding great every day. 

Both guides report it has been the longest run without running into striped bass that they can remember. 

February 23

Lake Russell water levels are down to 473.42 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is clearing while the creeks are still fairly dirty to muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are about 52-53 degrees. 

Lake Russell certainly looks more fishable than a week ago, and both Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) and Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) report that they are turning some of their attention to crappie fishing. Yesterday Jerry marked a ton of fish on LiveScope and tried to throw at them, but the only way he could get them to bite was long-line trolling. He found the fish about halfway back in the creeks and they were suspended 6-10 feet down in 20-25 feet of water.

At the same time Wendell points out that fish are stacked up in some creeks, particularly those with timber in the back, but other areas (like Beaverdam where he fished yesterday) just are not holding many fish. The middle part of the lake on both sides seems to be producing better to him. 

As for the bass, Jerry reports that you can still find spotted bass deeper on the main lake off points, other structure, and bait schools, but the largemouth definitely seem to be moving up in the creeks. Secondary points and cuts in the creeks are producing fish on crankbaits and spinnerbaits, and in addition to having moved back fish are shallow in the very dirty conditions. 

As for the striped bass there are certainly some fish scattered in different places, and back in a creek Jerry had one strip has reel before pulling off this week. But if you want to target them then the best bet is to head to the clearest water down by the dam and fish herring on down-rods. 

February 15

Lake Russell water levels are up to 474.52 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is very muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are about 50-52 degrees. 

The lake is as messed up as Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) has seen it in the last twenty years, and Jerry reports that even the cleanest water down by the dam is very stained. The creeks are completely blown out after 4-5 inches of rain from Sunday night to Monday night, when the lake came up about two feet in 48 hours.

All that has made for a really tough bite, and while they are marking some striped bass in 20-60 feet of water over the channel on the main lake they will not bite. The only thing they can convince to eat is some spotted bass and perch, and they have to “beg” them to bite. They are suspended off the side of the channel in 20-30 feet of water just swimming around bait, and they will only take minnows. Nothing will eat a herring and artificial lures have been even slower.   

Jerry hasn’t personally been crappie fishing, but a friend who knows what he’s doing spent all day long-line trolling and caught two fish. He suspects it will be another week until water conditions calm down enough for the crappie to eat. 

February 9

Lake Russell water levels are down to 472.84 (full pool is 475.00) and most of the lake is dirty. Morning surface water temperatures are about 48-49 degrees. 

As Lake Russell water levels have dropped a couple of feet this week it has pulled muddy water out of the creeks, and as a result Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that pretty much the whole lake is stained to muddy. The upper end below the Hartwell dam is about the only clear water, although there are some randoms pockets of cleaner water that can be found.  With another three inches predicted for this weekend, to go with the ten inches in the last couple of weeks, it may get worse before it gets better.

There are some bass that can be caught shallow on crankbaits and spinnerbaits, but the deep bite has gotten pretty tough. The fish are scattered, and Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that frankly they are also doing a lot more fishing than catching. Occasionally they will have a good day when they find fish ganged up in 23-30 feet in the creek channels that will feed, but most of the time they are seeing fish that won’t eat. The only good part is that when you find a group of fish that will eat the bite is pretty good, and yesterday they caught 50 bass and yellow perch when they found an active school.  They are getting a few bass on soft plastics and spoons but most are coming on live bait. Of note the bait is very scattered right now. 

Both guides report that the crappie fishing is very slow, and they are only rarely picking up a crappie that will feed. 

Before the last round of rain Jerry found some good striped bass last Friday, but they have basically disappeared since then. 

January 31

Lake Russell water levels are up to 474.35 (full pool is 475.00) and the creeks are muddy while the main lake is fairly clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 50-52 degrees. 

Most of this week the fishing has been decent, although Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that the action for striped bass as well as spotted bass has definitely slowed down since all the rain. But today the bite was terrible, and they only caught one bass, one white perch, and one hybrid.  The front may have had something to do with it, or the fact that fish don’t need to eat every day in the cold, but they still marked a ton of fish. They just would not bite.

Jerry has not been messing with the creeks as muddy as they have gotten, and most of the fish he is marking have been in 50-60 feet of water on the main lake around timber. Some fish are on the bottom, but most of them have been suspended 15-30 feet down. Most days they have been able to pick up a mix of striper, bass, and white perch on live bait and spoons, but today they wouldn’t take either and the striper wouldn’t even taken an Alabama rig.  

January 22

Lake Russell water levels are at 473.67 (full pool is 475.00) and up the river is muddy while the lower end is clear. The creeks are also muddy, especially at the mouths, although the very backs may be starting to clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 48 degrees. 

The fishing has been hit-or-miss on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that some days (like today) they don’t crack double digits, while there have also been some fantastic days.  In fact, today was the worst day this year, and they only caught two striped bass and six bass. But this weekend they had banner days.  It may just be the time of year when fish don’t necessarily have to feed every day, and today they saw a bunch of fish but they wouldn’t bite for any of the boats after them.  

Overall they are still catching fish the same way, off main lake points and at the mouths of creeks in 30-60 feet. Bait is not helping, and in the areas where they mark a ton of bait they don’t get bit. In contrast, if they mark fish but not bait getting bites is almost a certainty. It may be that feeding fish disperse the bait, while if it’s just sitting it means the fish aren’t eating.

In addition to striper and spots they are also picking up a good number of white perch and yellow perch on medium minnows, and they did have a five-pound largemouth today. Alabama rigs have been working as well or better than live bait for bass and striper, while the areas they have been fishing have so much timber that you can only fish a jigging spoon very carefully. 

Finally, Jerry has no idea what the birds are doing because they are not helping at all this winter. 

January 4

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.02 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 52-53 degrees. 

The striped bass bite has turned on in a big way on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that even though the birds aren’t consistently helpful the fish are feeding very well. They are scattered all over the lake, and yesterday they caught fish mid-lake while Tuesday they caught 16 big Russell striper up the lake. They have found the fish in both the creeks and the main lake, suspended over about 30 feet of water in the creeks but over water as deep as 60-70 feet on the main channel. Some of the fish are coming on Alabama rigs, more on bait fished on down-rods, and some on in-line spinners. Generally they are finding them by marking them on electronics.

Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) has found a similar improvement in the striper bite, and even on 24 degree mornings there have been times where they see the fish swirling on the surface under gulls. They have tried throwing Alabama rigs at the fish but often found them just hitting at the baits with their mouths closed, and gizzard shad (herring are hard to get) have been more consistent for fish up to 15 pounds. Mid-lake creeks have been the best for Wendell. 

Jerry’s boat is catching bass in the same areas as the striper on live bait, and they are also taking jigging spoons. Overall his primary depth has been 30-40 feet for bass, but he notes that for tournament largemouth bass fishing the better approach is to head into the creeks where there is muddy water and throw a crankbait. 

Wendell notes that when you find striper and bass there are usually perch on the bottom around them, and fishing in the trees they are pulling up nice yellow perch up to about 14 inches. Spotted bass up to 3-4 pounds have been suspended over the trees, and but when they start feeding and tearing up bait it seems to be chum the perch into feeding on the bottom in about 60 feet. 

While Wendell is picking up rare crappie on the bottom in deep water, Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that he has been finding fish in open water chasing bait. He is finding more fish up the river in the main channel, and they are at a variety of depths from 5-30 feet. Right now he thinks they are biting better with minnows or jigs tipped with minnows. 

December 21

Lake Russell water levels are at 473.74 (full pool is 475.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 54 degrees. 

The birds are still totally useless on Lake Russell, as they concentrate almost solely on bait that loons are running, but Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that they are picking up a few more striped bass mixed in with the bass. And occasionally they will see one swirl on top and catch it with an Alabama rig, but they are doing a lot of running and looking without seeing much. For that bite to really take off Jerry thinks it needs to get cooler. 

The bass are still in the same areas, and they are finding most of them in 30-35 feet of water on long, rounded points and flats on the main lake and at the mouths of major creeks. Most of them are tight to the bottom, and about as shallow as they have seen them suspended is 25 feet. While live bait is still working well a jigging spoon is getting much better. 

Further back in the creeks Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that that they are still catching a mixed bag including yellow perch, spots and a few white perch on flats halfway back in 27-32 feet. If there is bait on the flats then fish will be there too. The best action is in the middle of the day once the water warms a little. 

This pattern should get better once temperatures drop a few more degrees, fish group up tighter, and shad get more stressed. 

December 14

Lake Russell water levels are at 473.70 (full pool is 475.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are about 57 degrees. 

Even as it’s gotten cooler the bass are more scattered that expected, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that there are also more suspended fish than he would have predicted.  He is still catching them in 30-35 feet of water on points and flats on the main lake and at the mouths of major creeks. In addition to live bait the fish will take drop shot rigs and they are also starting to bite a spoon better. 

Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) continues to be more creek-oriented, and Luke reports that that they are catching a mixed bag including yellow perch, spots and a few white perch on flats halfway back in the creeks in 27-32 feet. If there is bait on the flats then fish will be there too. The best action is in the middle of the day once the water warms a little. 

Luke has seen a few striped bass but they are moving fast and not biting well, and even though the birds have showed up they are not helping as much as they would like. Jerry concurs and reports that the birds he has seen are only around loons and cormorants, but he has picked up a couple of random striper on main points 15-20 feet down in about 30 feet of water. He would fish these same areas with cut bait if he were trying for catfish. 

While neither guide targets crappie as much in the winter, Jerry’s boat did catch a decent number fishing with minnows 20-22 feet down around brush in 27-28 feet at the mouth of a creek. 

November 30

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.02 (full pool is 475.00) and clarity is normal. Even after some extremely cold nights, morning surface water temperatures are still about 59 degrees. 

The bass are getting deeper on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that he is catching them in 30-35 feet of water on points and flats on the main lake and at the mouths of major creeks. Sometimes they are around bait school and sometimes they are not, and most of the fish are within five feet of the bottom although occasionally they will see groups of suspended fish. In addition to live bait the fish will take drop shot rigs and they are also starting to bite a spoon better.  White perch and occasional crappie are mixed in with the bass, but no striped bass so far. 

Also fishing fairly deep is Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), and Wendell reports that they have targeted most of their fishing at one really good flat in Beaverdam Creek. In 26-30 feet they are catching spotted bass, white perch, yellow perch, crappie and the odd small striper. Interestingly there is not much bait in the area and most of is further up the creek, and Wendell wonders whether the fish have thinned out the bait. 

While the crappie aren’t biting great most of the day for about 30 minutes in the late afternoon they seem to be feeding well each day. There are also some crappie on brush if you want to target them more specifically. 

Jerry notes that he has seen some striper on his depth finder but they are suspended and moving fast and will not bite. For right now the birds aren’t related to fish and so they aren’t helping.

November 17

Lake Russell water levels are up to 473.97 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is extremely clear. With no rain, even areas way up the creeks that are usually stained have high visibility. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 64-65 degrees. 

It’s a positive report from Lake Russell, with both of our experts Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) and Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reporting that the fishing continues to improve.

Jerry’s boat is still fishing in big groups of bass 20-30 feet down off main lake points and now also at the mouths of creeks, and in addition to live bait they are now showing more interest in a jigging spoon. They are also picking up yellow perch in the same areas. 

They did hang one big striped bass but on bass tackle it was impossible to turn as it headed into the timber. 

Wendell agrees that the fishing is better for almost everything, and he’s most excited by the improvement in the yellow perch bite – mostly for their table fare. The spots are also ganging up in bigger schools, and they are catching them in 25-30 feet of water at the mouth of large coves in creeks just off the main lake. A few crappie were in the same areas last week, and you could see the tight schools of crappie briefly, catch a couple, and then they would swim off while the other species remained. The crappie were about 15-20 feet down, while the others are related to the bottom more. But these last few days the crappie have disappeared. 

Wendell’s boat has had a little success with the striper, finding some in Coldwater Creek Saturday around bait and then some more in the lower lake yesterday.  They are moving a lot but always around bait schools, and with the birds just beginning to show up they are getting easier to find. Cloudy days are the best because they stay on the surface longer and give away their locations. 

If you want to concentrate on catfish it’s a pretty simple formula to put cut bait on the bottom off the same main lake points where Jerry is finding bass.

November 9

Lake Russell water levels are down to 474.34 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is extremely clear. With no rain, even areas way up the creeks that are usually stained have high visibility. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 65-67 degrees. 

Even though it’s gotten warmer again, Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that the bass are still pretty concentrated. He is finding big groups of fish 20-30 feet down off main lake points. The only catch is that the fish aren’t showing a bunch of interest in artificial lures, or at least spoons, and they are catching most of the fish on live bait. Drop shot rigs could be a different story.

They are also picking up a few catfish and white perch in these areas but striped bass have been conspicuously absent. 

Meanwhile Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that they are having success for bass back in the creeks, also drop-shotting minnows, in 16-24 feet. The fish are about halfway back in the creeks, where there is a ton of bait, and they are having the best luck right off the side of the channel on the flats. In addition to bass they are picking up a few crappie, yellow perch and white perch. 

Wendell’s boat is also targeting crappie, but they are finding the crappie are really moving a lot. They are near timber in 20-something feet on clean bottoms, and they will see tons of crappie on the screen and catch 2-4. But then they will be gone again and they will have to find another school – or where that school went. It seems clear that the fish are related to bait right now and not holding on any particular structure. 

Jerry’s boat has had similar results with the crappie, although they did find a few schools that were stationary around brush in the creeks. However, they could only catch one or two out of them before the fish stopped feeding – even though they could see dozens more just holding and inactive. The biggest schools seemed to be suspended about halfway down in 15-20 feet of water. 

If you want to concentrate on catfish it’s a pretty simple formula to put cut bait on the bottom off the same main lake points where Jerry is finding bass, but Wendell says to only go striped bass fishing right now on Lake Russell if you really want a challenge.  The last ones they spotted for sure were in a creek around bait, but they are here-today-gone-tomorrow.  However, that will all change later this month when it gets colder and the gulls show up, and by the end of the month you will be able to find the fish by following the birds. 

November 2

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.73 (full pool is 475.00) and the turnover is pretty much finished. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped several degrees into the mid-60s.

There’s at least one guide we talk to who loves the cold weather, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that if it could stay this temperature all year he would be happy. Not us! Unsurprisingly, he has figured out how to make the bass bite in these conditions, and today Jerry’s boat got a limit of spots fishing off the end of main lake points in 20-30 feet of water. They were mostly fishing vertically with live bait, but what was most noticeable was how the fish were bunching up. Jerry thinks the bite is about to get really good.

  

But it’s a different story in the creeks, and Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that – fishing the last two days – they have found a much worse bite since it got cold. He’s surprised by how much the front has affected the fishing, as generally fall fronts don’t curtail the bite the way that a March or April front might do. Perhaps it’s a location thing, and they are still marking good groups of fish. They were just biting short or not eating. 

Neither guide has been on the striped bass in the past few days, although first thing Jerry has seen a few breaking the surface chasing shad.  

For both guides the crappie fishing continues to be really tough, and after the cold front Wendell says they have only picked up one or two randomly and aren’t even marking them. It seems like the crappie have gone deeper. 

And while nobody has been targeting the catfish, Jerry believes they are off the same points as the bass. To catch them fish cut herring on the bottom. 

October 26

Lake Russell water levels are up to 475.11 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is still turning over but bubbling less than a week or two ago. Morning surface water temperatures are around 68 degrees, rising to 70-71 by the end of the day.   

The bass bite is still pretty good on Lake Russell, but Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that one group of fish seems to be moving deeper. He is catching those fish on points and flats and in 20-30 feet of water, both in the main lake and in the creeks. 

At the same time the best bass action Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) has found has been halfway up the creeks, and when they find the fish they seem to be ganged up in pretty tight groups. Sometimes they are in 14-17 feet, but at times they are finding them as shallow as 7 or 8 feet. Fish are highly related to bait schools, and even when they find them around structure such as a point there has always been bait there. 

Drop shots and live bait are both working, and at times there has even been some schooling action. They hooked two big striped bass when the bass were schooling in a creek this week. 

That’s consistent with the report from Jerry that he is finding the striped and hybrids very spread out, which is common at this time of year when water temperatures are mild. He did manage one big hybrid while bass fishing on the main lake. 

The crappie fishing is still pretty tough, and Luke reports that they are still marking a few in the backs of creeks where they were catching them but more of the fish seem to have moved. They appear to be heading out towards the front half of creeks or main lake coves and getting on brush in those areas. 

Jerry’s boat is still picking up some catfish while bass fishing, but if he were to target them he would fish cut herring on flats in 15-25 feet in both the main lake and creeks. If those didn’t produce he would get into the pockets and coves. 

October 19

Lake Russell water levels are at 473.29 (full pool is 475.00) and the turnover appears to be nearing completion although the whole lake is still pretty brown. Morning surface water temperatures are around 70-71 degrees.   

The bass bite is finally picking up on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that they are catching more fish this week. Some of them are as shallow as 5-10 feet, while another group of fish is in 15-20 feet. They are on flats, points, and around brush, with about equal numbers on the main lake and in the creeks. Shakey heads and live bait are both working. 

At the same time, Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) also reports a significantly improved bass bite. They are fishing around timber in the creeks in 14-18 feet of water and catching 95% spotted bass on drop shot rigs. Interestingly, a few days earlier they were catching tons of crappie in the same areas but the spots seem to have completely run them off – or the crappie just decided to leave. 

Jerry is now finding a very slow crappie bite, and even when he marks them on brush (usually about 8 feet down over 20 feet mid-way back in creeks) he will catch one and then they will disappear. For some reason it seems the crappie are moving around a lot right now. 

At the same time the hybrid and striped bass bite is still pretty good, and Jerry reports that they are catching some nice ones fishing 15-20 feet down over trees in 40-50 feet. From what he is seeing the fish are really starting to scatter out. 

Wendell has also picked up some big fish up to about 36 inches on the lower end over deep water, but agrees they are scattering.  

Jerry’s boat has picked up some catfish while bass fishing, but if he were to target them he would fish cut herring on flats in 15-25 feet in both the main lake and creeks. If those didn’t produce he would get into the pockets and coves. 

October 5

Lake Russell water levels are down to 473.36 (full pool is 475.00) and clarity is generally normal although the lake is turning over. Morning surface water temperatures are stable in the mid-70s. 

The best bite on Lake Russell is still for striped bass, and Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that they are still catching fish on the lower end about 30 feet down suspended around bait. They are mostly over clean bottoms in over 100 feet of water, and down-lined herring are working the best. They have not seen any schooling activity at all.

While Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860)  agrees it’s the best thing going, from what he is seeing the numbers on the lower end are just starting to drop off. However, he is still catching several good ones in the 10-16 pound range on each trip. 

Even though they are biting a bit better at times, Jerry reports that the bass are still not good. Now he thinks it’s the turnover that’s slowing the bite, and in the creeks the water is clearly bubbling up.  Fish are mostly on brush in 15-20 feet of water, and in the creeks they are finding the most catchable fish. While they are on similar cover in the main lake, even fishing with live bait the bass will run up to it, look, sometimes kill it but rarely eat it. The same thing happens about this time every year.  

Luke reports that the best bass fishing comes when fish are visibly active, and in 15-25 feet of water in the creeks they will sometimes see fish swirling at bait.  Then they will take a variety of baits including swimbaits and Rattle Traps.  

Unfortunately the crappie fishing has really deteriorated as the lake turns over, and both Jerry and Luke report the action has been at best hit-or-miss. They are still marking plenty of fish in the backs of creeks in 12-14 feet of water, sometimes on brush and at other times just related to bait, but getting them to bite has gotten difficult. They don’t seem to want minnows or jigs, and yesterday Jerry could only catch two before he had to change species.