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Fishing Report (Updated 9.2.2010)

Lake Russell water level is at 473.

Crappie: Good.  Guide Wendell Wilson reports that he has had some good crappie fishing trips mid-lake around the golf course at Richard Russell State Park. Fish are holding in coves around brush in 18-25 feet of water, and while they are pretty spread out 3 or 4 good fish can be taken off of each spot. Fish up to 1.5 pounds and better have been common. Use a slip float rig or fish a plain minnow behind a split shot, and work it very carefully around the top of brush. Fish are not aggressive and will take the bait when it is eased around the brush.  Some white perch are also mixed in with the crappie, as well as some small spotted bass.

Bream: Good.  Guide Wendell Wilson reports that bream are shallow, but finding good size fish is difficult.  Fish worms on a split shot rig or under a cork, or fish micro jigs under a cork.    

Catfish: Good.  Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the best catfish pattern is night fishing cut herring and nightcrawlers on the bottom in 12-15 feet of water off long, main lake points.  Anchor and fish several rods on the bottom. 

Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair to good.  Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that the best pattern for catching good largemouth is flipping visible timber in 20-40 feet with Texas rigs or Spot Removers for bass suspended 12-15 feet down.  3/16 or ¼ ounce weights will get the bait down to where it needs to be.   For spotted bass, fishing main lake points in 15-20 feet with a Carolina rigged finesse worm or a Spot Remover remains a good pattern.  Small spotted bass are starting to move into the coves following schools of threadfin shad.  For now the spots are around 10-11 inches, but soon bigger spots will be vulnerable to drop shot rigs. 

Striped bass: Fair to good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the biggest striper will be found in the cool water below the Hartwell Dam.  Free line trout or large herring and hold on!  The current state record was caught in Russell, and there are plenty of 30-40 pound fish swimming around.  

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

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