March 20
Lake Russell water levels are down to 474.00 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is clear with some stain in the back of creeks. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 58 on the main lake to 60 in the creeks.
The crappie bite is good on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that the best way to catch fish is trolling jigs. He is mostly pulling them 6-8 feet down in 10-20 feet of water in the backs of creeks, and while you can catch some on the banks after the water temperatures dropped about five degrees earlier this week there aren’t as many up there. That should change soon.
Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) offers another reason why there aren’t as many crappie on the banks, and with water levels also dropping about a foot in the last few days he doesn’t think that has helped. Neither guide is certain exactly where in the spawn we are, but it seems likely that some fish have spawned but a lot have yet to go. They are catching plenty of fish full of eggs.
Yesterday Luke was fishing a little shallower, and he found the best action 4-5 feet deep trolling 1/16- and 1/32-ounce jigs in anywhere from 6-18 feet of water.
While some black bass are probably already bedding (Lake Russell spotted bass are hard to see as they seem to bed in 5-6 or more feet of water), good numbers of fish are staging in 10-20 feet of water. The best place to look for them is off points, and crankbaits are working well. For shallower fish that may be on beds soft plastics are a better choice.
That’s consistent with the report from Jerry, and yesterday afternoon he found a good bite in 8-10 feet of water with swimbaits. In addition to spotted bass he picked up a nice striped bass back in the creek amongst the bass.
Finally, Luke notes that in their experience right now striper are extremely scattered and they can basically be anywhere at any time. But the best place to target them seems to be about halfway back in the creeks pulling live bait on planer boards and free-lines.
March 13
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.64 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is relatively clear although the back parts of some creeks are stained but clearing. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 55 on the main lake to 57 in the creeks.
We learned many years ago that Lake Russell crappie move fast, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that he has now had two of his best shallow crappie fishing days of what is likely to be the whole spring. One was several weeks ago after a few warm days in the latter part of February when water temperatures in the backs got into the 60s and he could catch fish on jigs around every shallow laydown, and then this past Saturday (when the temperatures were hot but the wind blew so hard) he caught more than 60 crappie just going down the bank and casting a jig in 57-61 degrees water. Some of them were females actually in the process of spawning, and a bunch were big males, and then after the cold came on Sunday and Monday they pushed back out. Tuesday he long-line trolled 6-8 feet down in 10-20 feet, and then yesterday even with temperatures mostly rebounding – and clients who wanted to cast jigs – they found a good but not great bite. It was nothing like Saturday and they caught 23 around the banks, with fish showing a strong preference for jigs over minnows. While fish will continue to be caught around shallow brush and trolling for some time, Jerry fears that each subsequent wave could get smaller and the numbers may not repeat his two best days.
Again, the crappie move fast on Lake Russell in the spring!
While Jerry has spent more time crappie fishing than black bass fishing, the bass fishing has been pretty good in 8-10 feet of water around points in both the creeks and main lake. Shaky heads and crankbaits are both catching aggressive fish that seem to be getting closer to their staging areas.
That’s consistent with the report from Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), who has also been catching bass from about 8-20 feet of water. They are still finding some schools a bit deeper on bait, but also plenty of fish that have pulled up.
They also landed their first striped bass in a few weeks this week, a beautiful 34-inch fish that weighed almost 20 pounds. It was in a creek swirling on bait and took a swimbait. If clients weren’t so interested in crappie they would have more time to target the big striper that have rolled into the creeks following baitfish seeking warmer water!
March 6
Lake Russell water levels are bouncing around 474.80 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is relatively clear although the back parts of some creeks are stained to muddy. Morning surface water temperatures have fallen to about 53 degrees in the creeks and on the main lake with the last two days’ wind and rain.
This week our guides on Lake Russell have mainly been targeting black bass, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that fish are highly scattered. That means you can catch them about any way you want to, and he has caught some fish on the banks and others still out deep. A bunch of different lures are working, from crankbaits and worms to drop shots and spoons. However, he only rates the bite a little above average, and perhaps because of fronts the fish aren’t feeding as well as they should be.
Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) is also seeing fish very scattered, and he and his son Guide Luke Wilson have still found numbers of fish in the creeks in about 28 feet. In addition to tons of spotted bass they have also found some late season yellow perch that don’t seem to have spawned quite yet (perch spawn very early). They caught about 25 fish off one point in an hour and a half yesterday, and probably could have run the pattern much longer if the wind hadn’t gotten too strong.
At the same time they are also catching a decent number of fish off points in about 8 feet of water with shaky heads and crankbaits.
While neither guide has targeted striper, Wendell’s boat has seen occasional fish hit the surface back in the creeks in 15-20 feet of water. They weren’t rigged up for striper one day and tried to throw a jerkbait at the fish, but only caught a bunch of suspended spots that were in the same area.
The crappie action has basically stalled as temperatures have done the same, but Wendell believes that a few of the giant fish are already spawning and they have picked up a few very big females around the banks. At the same time long-line trolling remains good but not spectacular.
For long-lining the best action has come about mid-way back in the creeks, and he is mostly pulling jigs about 6-10 feet down in 20-25 feet of water.
February 27
Lake Russell water levels are bouncing around 474.25 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is relatively clear although the back parts of some creeks are stained to muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 53-55 degrees.
It’s been mostly about the crappie recently for Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860), who reports that long-line trolling is good but not spectacular. The bank bite he was on at the last warm spell a few weeks ago is not as good as it was then, but they are still picking up a handful of fish casting jigs and minnows to shallow brush.
For long-lining the best action has come about mid-way back in the creeks, and he is mostly pulling jigs about 6-10 feet down in 20-25 feet of water.
Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) has been on a similar pattern, and he notes that there are some promising signs that the fishing is about to get really good. Wendell notes that the biggest fish usually spawn very quickly and we may not be too far away from that first wave.
The weather has the black bass pretty spread out right now, and there are some fish at 30 feet on bait and another group that is up shallower in just 7-8 feet. Jerry has caught some just a little off the bank on shaky heads, Texas rigs, and crankbaits.
It doesn’t seem like fish are getting close to spawning yet but the spotted bass spawn is such a mystery that it’s hard to say exactly when to expect fish to stage and then spawn.
There are no reports on striped bass this week but there should be fish in the creeks that can be caught pulling free-lines and planer boards, especially if you avoid the muddiest areas and search for warmer water.
February 19
Lake Russell water levels about full at 475.18 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is dingy in areas that are usually clear and there are some logs floating in the middle. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 51-52 degrees.
Even though it has started clearing in the last few days, Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that as the creeks got muddy all the way out to the main lake (and water temperatures dropped as much as 15 degrees!) the fish completely scattered out. Jerry went from catching crappie casting at the banks, to trolling about 8-10 feet down in 20 feet, to not being able to catch any fish in the orange juice-colored water. It’s still tough, and Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that even though they caught a few crappie trolling jigs tipped with minnows yesterday it’s not a reliable pattern again yet.
Yesterday what struck Wendell the most was just how spread out the bait (and fish) are, and yesterday they found bait in a wide variety of depths. The black bass ranged from about 15-40 feet, but the most dependable group of fish was on 18-25 feet off water off points. While the fish are not really ganged up anywhere, if you hit enough points at that depth range with drop shot rigs or crawling artificials along the bottom you can catch a mess of spotted bass.
Neither guide has seen much sign of striped bass since the lake got dirty but they should show up again soon.
February 12
Lake Russell water levels are right around full pool (full pool is 475.00) and morning surface water temperatures have dropped back to the lower 50s. The main lake is still fairly clear but the backs are getting more and more stained.
The crappie fishing has come on at Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that when water temperatures hit the low 60s in the backs they were catching fish all over the banks casting jigs. The first fish they caught was two pounds, and they caught 31 more up to that size just throwing to shallow cover.
As temperatures have dropped the fish have pulled back out and suspended, and Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that long-line trolling is just starting to get good. There is a lot of bait in 8-15 feet in the backs of certain creeks, and the crappie are now in the same areas. It’s not as good as it should be in a couple of weeks but it’s getting there.
In a similar vein, the shallow black bass fishing was phenomenal during the warm spell over the weekend, and Jerry reports that in about 2-8 feet of water they caught tons of fish in the creeks and the main lake on crankbaits and worms. The cold front seems to have knocked the fish back to brush and deeper areas, but on the next warm spell they should get up there again.
That’s also what Wendell is seeing, and in the last couple of days the bass he has marked have again been mixed between about 15 and 50 feet on the bottom. They are having the best success with drop shot rigs fish around points and humps in 15-30 feet.
On minnows they are also picking up white perch on the deeper end of the same zone.
Finally, both guides are also seeing a bunch of striped bass back in the creeks rolling, and on one trip Wendell only had crappie gear but still managed to catch several. Interestingly when they have had herring the fish have not wanted them, and so perhaps they are on smaller bait right now.
Jerry has also seen a lot of striper at the mouths of creeks like they are thinking about going in.
February 6
Lake Russell water levels are up to 474.73 (full pool is 475.00) and water clarity is very high. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake are 51 degrees.
Water temperatures have risen about 5-6 degrees on Lake Greenwood in the last week, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that if anything the striped bass fishing has gotten even tougher. He is still marking fish 25-30 feet down in trees over deeper water, but these fish are completely uncooperative. Their best shot at a striper has been when they see them rolling on the surface, usually in 8-10 feet of water, but they are moving fast and if you don’t hit them with a pinpoint cast immediately they are gone.
The striper have been no easier for Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) to catch, although again he reports seeing some fish rolling. These were halfway up a creek.
The best action has come with black bass, and Captain Jerry reports that even though they are really scattered they have managed to catch some big spotted bass drop-shotting around brush. The fish have been about 25 feet deep in the creeks, and even though they aren’t biting easily the quality of the fish they are catching has made up for it. Yesterday they had five that went 17 pounds.
And while he hasn’t fished back there Jerry has heard of a few largemouth being caught in the backs of creeks shallow on crankbaits, Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits.
Yesterday Wendell’s boat discovered another pattern for bass, and on points in larger creeks they found spotted bass that had moved up to the 18-20 foot range. They caught them on a drop shot.
One surprise catch was a very large yellow perch that appeared to be spawning in about 14 feet, again on a point in a large creek. It took a minnow.
Neither guide has been trolling for crappie yet but they both anticipate that after this next cold front passes, and maybe as soon as this weekend, it will be a perfect time.
January 28
Lake Russell water levels are at 473.53 (full pool is 475.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake are about 46-47 degrees.
Everything about Lake Russell is a head scratcher right now, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that he had been hoping for a cold front to drop the temperatures and turn the fish on. The cold front came but the water temperatures have remained persistently high – while at the same time the bite has deteriorated.
It's hard to explain what is going on, and while he is marking some striped bass they are just suspended and swimming around in deep water, not feeding. They also are not marking as many as a few weeks ago, and there are very few birds working the surface. It’s as wretched a period for striper as Jerry can remember, and there isn’t even a shad kill to blame.
The news with the black bass is no better, and Jerry reports that they are basically doing the same thing. They aren’t deep on the bottom anymore, and when he tried fishing shallower in 30 feet today he only caught a handful of fish on shaky heads and drop shots. They just can’t seem to find numbers anywhere, and most of what they mark is just roaming and not feeding.
Unfortunately it’s a very similar report from Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), who is also surprised the water didn’t get colder (especially considering that the backs of some creeks froze) and that the birds aren’t more helpful.
They are trying to target spotted bass and yellow perch, but the perch usually feed under the bass and since they also can’t find bass it’s been very tough. The perch should be on the bottom in 30-35 feet in both the creek and the main lake, but right now they can’t find either.
Yesterday in the rain they did see some striper rolling on the surface over about 30 feet of water in a creek, but they wouldn’t take Alabama rigs or anything else.
January 15
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.63 (full pool is 475.00) and the whole lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake are about 49 degrees.
It was a beautiful day on Lake Russell yesterday, and so Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that the striped bass – typically - didn’t do much. It was just a lot of riding and looking, and even though they marked a lot of fish they were not feeding. In “worse” conditions they always seem to feed better.
Overall the action for striper has been good, though, and the pattern is still riding around in deep water with timber looking for fish. But the real key is looking for small holes in the timber where you can actually target them, because otherwise they are just swimming through the trees and virtually impossible to catch.
When you find an opening then you can drop live bait down 30-40 feet to the fish that are generally holding 30-60 feet down in deeper water. Occasionally there are also fish running ten or so feet below the surface that you can target with an Alabama rig, and Jerry says the birds have been pretty useless lately.
Even though the striper weren’t cooperating yesterday, the black bass (spots), white perch, yellow perch, and catfish all continued to bite extremely well. They were in the same areas that they have been – 72 feet deep on the bottom around a drop-off. Everything they caught came on a jigging spoon, and in addition to a limit of bass and lots of perch they managed to catch six 6-8 pound channel catfish and a 12-pound flathead. No birds were in the area.
While there are undoubtedly also spotted bass in much shallower water, Jerry is fishing very similar areas to where Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that they have been targeting. They have found gulls diving over 65-75 feet of water the last couple of times out on the lower end, and dropping minnows down to them they have found yellow perch, a few white perch, and spotted bass. These fish are in the trees but still in fishable area for smaller game.
January 3
Lake Russell water levels have fallen fast to 474.24 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is clear but the backs are a little stained. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake yesterday were 53 degrees.
Yesterday evening Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) unintentionally reminded the author that there is no other lake in South Carolina like Lake Russell, as he reports that he had an “average” day striped bass fishing. His client caught five fish, with the smallest 8 pounds and the largest two both weighing in at 20 pounds. Jerry thinks the bite was “slow” because conditions were sunny and still! There’s no other lake around here that we know of where this would be anything but a banner day – unless you are only interested in numbers!
The pattern for catching the striper is pretty easy to describe even if difficult, and Jerry says that he is riding around in deep water with timber looking for fish. But the real key is looking for small holes in the timber where you can actually target them, because otherwise they are just swimming through the trees and virtually impossible to catch. Jerry says that’s like trying to shoot deer running through the woods with a .30-06!
When you find an opening then you can drop live bait down 30-40 feet to the fish that are generally holding 30-60 feet down in deeper water. Occasionally there are also fish running ten or so feet below the surface that you can target with an Alabama rig, and Jerry says the birds have been pretty useless lately.
Yesterday they were around some black bass in the same areas as the striper but they were not cooperative, although they did manage to catch some bass and white perch on the bottom in 62-63 feet. These came on a drop shot rig and jigging spoons.
Lest one thinks these are all just fish stories, here’s one of yesterday’s 20 pounders!
January 2
Lake Russell water levels are at 475.22 (full pool is 475.00) and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are about 52-54 degrees.
The best fishing days right now seem to correlate with the strongest bird activity, and Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that in general the birds are far more active on cloudy, sometimes windy days. But their last couple of trips have been on sunny, bluebird clear days when the gulls aren’t diving. They have either been sitting on the water or following loons.
Perhaps because of that Wendell describes the bite recently as good but not great, and he reports that the best action they have found has been on the main lake around bait schools holding close to the bottom in about 55 feet. Spotted bass and yellow perch have been loaded up in these areas, and they are catching them mostly on minnows although spoons will also work.
More to follow.
December 19
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.21 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is clear although there may be some residual stain in the backs from last week’s rain. Morning surface water temperatures are about 55-58 degrees.
An angler who has been reading his reports in past winters might predict this, and it’s no surprise to us that Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that as the weather warmed up the winter black bass fishing has gotten tougher. The cold weather groups the spots up near the bottom on Russell in the winter, and a warming trend always seems to scatter them. The fish they are catching are still coming on drop shot rigs and jigging spoons in 20-30 feet of water around standing timber in the creeks and the main lake, but there just aren’t as many fish there. And it’s hard to tell exactly where they have gone, but Jerry’s best guess is they have suspended.
As temperatures drop the fish will eventually head to 50-60 feet around bait on flats, channel swings, drops, and anywhere else that bait congregates. But right now the bait is suspended.
It also seems to be a truism on Lake Russell that colder weather is better for striped bass, and while Jerry’s boat is still marking fish they aren’t biting – minus one 15-pounder this week. This coming cold snap could be the ticket, however.
Taking a different tack, Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that right now they are basically following birds to locate fish. Fish, including a mixed bag of spotted bass, yellow perch, occasional largemouth, catfish, and more are in 20-60 feet of water pretty much anywhere that you can find gulls diving – from the creeks to the main lake. From there it’s as simple as dropping minnows or jigging spoons.
Next week there will be no new fishing reports with the Christmas holiday, but regular reports will resume after the New Year.
December 12
Lake Russell water levels are at 475.34 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake was clear before the rain. Morning surface water temperatures are about 58 degrees.
As always at this time of year the presence of birds can make for some exciting fishing conditions, and Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that their last trip out they followed a bunch of sea gulls on the lower end and found a pretty fantastic bite. The birds were diving in about 36 feet, and even though there weren’t fish busting the surface, underneath them was loaded up with big yellow perch and black bass. They never saw a striper but caught all the perch and spots they could handle on jigging spoons and medium minnows just off the bottom.
Interestingly, even when they located more schools of bait and fish if they got away from the gulls they would not bite.
Wind and rain has limited his trips this week, but Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that it’s still a very consistent bass bite on drop shot rigs and jigging spoons in 20-30 feet of water around standing timber in the creeks and the main lake.
While Jerry has only caught rare striper in his last few trips, he is marking them in the same areas where he is fishing for bass about 20 feet down. He expects them to turn on when it gets colder.
No one we know is pursuing crappie right now.
Finally, remember that on December 14 the 2nd Annual Jacob Lewis Benefit Bass Tournament will take place on Lake Russell out of the Highway 72 Boat Ramp. First place is $2000 and there is a $500 big fish prize. For more information visit: www.beechsprings.org/events.
December 4
Lake Russell water levels are bouncing around 474.9 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 59 degrees.
Even though it hasn’t gotten super cold on Lake Russell, Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that the fish have really turned on. From talking to guides around South Carolina, Lake Russell may be the hottest place to catch numbers of black bass right now.
Yesterday Jerry caught over 100 fish fishing by himself, with most of those spotted bass but also some yellow perch, white perch, catfish, and a lone striped bass. He caught everything on drop shot rigs and jigging spoons in 20-30 feet of water around standing timber in the creeks and the main lake. Most of the fish were on the bottom.
It’s a similar report from Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336), who advises that the winter bite has finally kicked in. Slightly deeper in 30-35 feet they are jigging spoons and fishing medium minnows for yellow perch and spotted bass. They are mainly fishing in the front of creeks towards the mouths, but the real key seems to be finding schools of bait along the edges of the timber. The bait has been holding on flat areas.
While Jerry has only caught rare striper in his last few trips, he is marking them in the same areas where he is fishing for bass about 20 feet down. He expects them to turn on when it gets colder.
Birds have arrived, but for right now they only seem to be feeding around loons.
Finally, remember that on December 14 the 2nd Annual Jacob Lewis Benefit Bass Tournament will take place on Lake Russell out of the Highway 72 Boat Ramp. First place is $2000 and there is a $500 big fish prize. For more information visit: www.beechsprings.org/events.
November 20
Lake Russell water levels are bouncing around 474.93 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 67-68 degrees.
While they still aren’t catching many striped bass on Lake Russell, Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that they are certainly marking more. He saw a good school in the mid-lake area about 15 feet below the surface over deeper water, but he didn’t have live herring and they showed no interest in artificials.
This could change any day, but for now there aren’t birds diving on striper and bait and the only thing schooling has been gar! Most of the time the striper are still pretty hard to locate.
But the black bass fishing is still good, and in 20-25 feet of water they are finding them in both the creeks and the main lake on structure including wood, brush and trees. Some of the fish are suspended and some are on the bottom, but they seem to be concentrated at that depth. In addition to live bait, spoons and drop shots are working well. They are also picking up a few catfish at these depths, but if Jerry wanted to concentrate on cats he would fish the center of coves and deeper humps with cut bait on the bottom in about 20-25 feet.
The yellow perch should be caught for a while on Lake Russell, and Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service(706-283-3336) reports that they are still mixed in with spotted bass in about 22 feet of water about halfway back in the creeks. They are on the bottom around schools of bait, and they are biting minnows and spoons.
After a really good fall the crappie are still a little harder to locate, and Luke reports that they are starting to move off of brush. However, there are still a fair number of fish on brush in 17-23 feet of water back in the creek runs.
Finally, on December 14 the 2nd Annual Jacob Lewis Benefit Bass Tournament will take place on Lake Russell out of the Highway 72 Boat Ramp. First place is $2000 and there is a $500 big fish prize. For more information visit: www.beechsprings.org/events.
November 13
Lake Russell water levels are bouncing around 474.8 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 69-70 degrees.
They still aren’t seeing many striped bass on Lake Russell, although Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that the gulls are just showing up and that almost always makes the fish easier to locate. But fortunately the black bass fishing is still good, and in 20-25 feet of water they are finding them in both the creeks and the main lake on structure including wood, brush and trees. Some of the fish are suspended and some are on the bottom, but they seem to be concentrated at that depth. In addition to live bait, spoons and drop shots are working well. They are also picking up a few catfish at these depths, but if Jerry wanted to concentrate on cats he would fish the center of coves and deeper humps with cut bait on the bottom in about 20-25 feet.
The yellow perch have also made their annual appearance on Lake Russell, and Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that they are mixed in with spotted bass in about 22 feet of water about halfway back in the creeks. They are on the bottom around schools of bait, and they are biting minnows and spoons.
After a really good fall the crappie are getting a little harder to locate, and Luke reports that they are starting to move off of brush. However, there are still a fair number of fish on brush in 17-23 feet of water back in the creek runs.
Finally, on December 14 the 2nd Annual Jacob Lewis Benefit Bass Tournament will take place on Lake Russell out of the Highway 72 Boat Ramp. First place is $2000 and there is a $500 big fish prize. For more information visit www.beechsprings.org/events.
October 30
Lake Russell water levels are bouncing around 474.7 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake has cleared although some areas still have a brownish stain. Morning surface water temperatures are around 69-70 degrees.
The striped bass have completely disappeared recently, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that the action got even better after the recent cold snap but when it warmed back up the fish scattered and vanished. Fortunately the black bass fishing has been pretty good, and in 20-25 feet of water they are finding them in both the creeks and the main lake on structure including wood, brush and trees. Some of the fish are suspended and some are on the bottom, but they seem be concentrated at that depth. In addition to live bait, spoons and drop shots are working well. They are also picking up a few catfish at these depths, but if Jerry wanted to concentrate on cats he would fish the center of coves and deeper humps with cut bait on the bottom in about 20-25 feet.
In addition to bass, Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that they are catching good numbers of crappie right now – while they also can’t seem to find any perch or striper to speak of. They are fishing brush piles in the creeks in 17-20 feet of water and catching about a 60-40 mix of bass and crappie. They also aren’t marking any bass deeper yet.
Most of the fish are coming with minnows on a drop shot but jigging spoons are also producing.
October 16
Lake Russell water levels are well below full pool at 473.41 (full pool is 475.00) and most of the lake looks decent although some of the creeks got dirtier as water levels dropped – more than four feet in a short period. Morning surface water temperatures are around 72 degrees.
Most of his clients have wanted to fish for striped bass recently, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that he is still finding them in both the lower lake and the mid-lake area suspended around timber. Generally they have been about 30-35 feet down near bait schools. As is the norm on Lake Russell they aren’t catching huge numbers of fish, but the ones they are catching are all pretty solid. Down-rods and herring have been the key.
While Jerry hopes that the cooler temperatures will move the black bass deeper, into the same areas the striper are inhabiting, for now he is still finding most of them on brush in 15-20 feet of water on the main lake.
That’s consistent with the depth where Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports they are locating bass, and in the creeks they are finding them chasing shad around brush piles in about 14-18 feet. They have found the same areas loaded with both spotted bass and crappie, but the crappie are holding tighter to the brush and the bass are roaming around it. Jigging spoons, minnows, and crappie jigs have been catching both species.
October 10
Lake Russell water levels are finally below full pool at 474.43 (full pool is 475.00) and most of the lake looks pretty clear again, with only a mild stain in places. Morning surface water temperatures are around 75 degrees.
Lake Russell looks surprisingly good considering it was several feet over full so recently, but Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that even though the bass are still eating well they have definitely changed locations with the dropping water levels. At least the bigger fish have moved out deeper again, and he is now finding most of them on brush in 15-20 feet of water on the main lake. There are also a few fish suspended further down about 30 feet deep over deep water, which is also where the striped bass seem to be right now. Jerry is finding them close to the dam but also in the mid-lake, and they seem to be scattering out.
In a similar vein, Guide Luke Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) reports that he has been catching striper on the lower end. 30 feet down seems to be the magic depth, and they are around bait in open water.
At the same time they are also finding a mixed bag of spotted bass and yellow perch setting up in what is typically a late October/ early November pattern. They are on the bottom in 30-33 feet of water mid-lake around the state park, and right now the best spots have been saddles between points. In addition to about 50 bass and perch, on the last trip they caught a 21-pound flathead on a small yellow perch they dropped down to see what else was around!
Finally, Luke reports that the crappie bite isn’t what it was right after the storm – when they were seemingly everywhere – but they are finding plenty on brush in 17-20 feet about halfway down.
October 2
Lake Russell water levels are several feet above full at 477.97 (full pool is 475.00) and the main water is stained but not muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are around 76-77 degrees.
On the water yesterday Guide Wendell Wilson with Wilson’s Guide Service (706-283-3336) was surprised by just how good Russell looked. Even nearly five foot above normal levels it wasn’t muddy or trashy, and riding all over the lake it actually looked fairly clean. While they couldn’t find much in the way of bass the crappie were very cooperative, and on every piece of structure they pulled up on in the 17-20 foot range, from standing timber to brush to bridges, fish were feeding. They caught fish on baby herring and threadfin shad that they had netted, and also managed to pull some up on a jigging spoon.
They probably didn’t catch more bass because they have gone super shallow, and Guide Jerry Kotal with Jerry Kotal’s Fishing Guide Service (706-988-0860) reports that in the last couple of days he has caught over 70 fish in less than five feet of water – with one largemouth and the rest spots! They are in pockets and on points in the main lake and the front part of creeks, but if you venture far back into the creeks the water is blood red and he hasn’t fished those areas. He has caught everything on a crankbait and shaky head.
