Fishing Report (Updated 9.2.2010) 

Lake Thurmond is at 326. 

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good to very good.  Captain William Sasser (864-333-2000) reports that that small fish are schooling all over the lake right now, including in the middle of the day.  More midday schooling is occurring on cloudy days.  You can catch lots of 1-3 pound fish by casting surface lures to the schooling fish, but to catch bigger striper and hybrids down line 40-45 feet under the schools.  There is also good fishing up around the Russell Dam, where cut bait is catching big fish - including 20 pounders - on the bottom.  Fish in 20-30 feet of water. 

Bream: Good.  Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that at the top of Clarks Hill he is catching good numbers of shellcracker in 7-8 feet of water.  These fish are running up to the 1 pound range. 

Crappie:  Fair.  Captain William Sasser (864-333-2000) reports that crappie fishing has slowed down a bit, but it should pick up in September as temperatures cool and fish move into the backs of creeks and coves.  Right now the best fishing is in the mid-lake off the river channel, and fish are spread out in about 40 feet of water.  Fish 25 feet down with minnows. 

Black bass: Slow.  Buckeye Lures in Augusta reports that the bass fishing on Clarks Hill has gotten even tougher.  Decent numbers of 11-11.5 inch fish can be caught, but keeper fish are few and far between.  Cooler weather should help soon...

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

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