Even though temperatures are getting cooler, Captain William Sasser (864-333-2000) reports that the best bite for Clarks Hill striper has still been coming early and late.  Between 5 and 7 a.m. his boat has been filling up the box with striper by fishing the lower four miles of the lake with down-lined herring on the bottom.  They are concentrating on humps and points in about the 30-foot range, and even thought the fish are staying in the same areas during the day the bite drops off after the early morning.  Then around the same time in the evening the same pattern will kick in for another couple of hours.

William reports that there has also been some good schooling activity, particularly around the Shriver Creek area in the middle of the day and into the evening.  This pattern is just beginning and will get better and better, and some largemouth can be found mixed in on top with the striper and hybrids.

Overall, Clarks Hill is down to 324.91 and the bite for other species is also improving as water temperatures drop.

Crappie: Fair to good. Captain William Sasser reports that with the water cooling a bit the crappie bite is improving.  Not a lot of fish are being caught yet, but some really good sized crappie are biting.  The best bet is fishing in the backs of tributaries abound 15 feet down with minnows over tree tops/ brush in about 25 feet of water.

Black bass: Fair.  Buckeye Lures in Augusta reports that the bass bite is starting to pick up, and fish are being caught suspended over deeper humps on lures such as flukes.  These bass are generally in the 1-3 pound range, and the best humps have been rising to within about 10 feet of the surface and are surrounded by 50 or more feet of water.  A few nice fish have been caught on buzzbaits around the banks, and as noted above schooling activity is picking up.

DHEC Fish Advisory: Only one meal per week of largemouth bass.