CLARKS HILL LAKE
At the other end of the spectrum is Clarks Hill Lake, an impoundment of the Savannah River straddling the Georgia-South Carolina border near Augusta. Officially named Strom Thurmond Reservoir, Clarks Hill is at 71,000-plus acres the largest reservoir in the state and the second-largest east of the Mississippi River.

Ed Bettross, the WRD biologist assigned to Clarks Hill, describes the lake as having a fairly stable crappie fishery. “Most crappie fisheries are somewhat cyclical, but Clarks Hill seems to be more stable than others,” he said. Gill-netting surveys in this lake dominated by black crappie indicate that the average fish here slightly exceeds 8 inches. While most fish are under a pound, crappie in the 1 1/2- to 2-pound range are not at all unusual, and fish between 2 and 3 pounds are boated occasionally.

Bettross said that here, as at most lakes in the area, the peak season for crappie action is from late March through mid-April most years. The timing depends on the weather, of course, but that range is pretty dependable. He recommended that prior to the spawn, jigs and minnows should be trolled in deeper water out from typical spawning areas. As the fish get on the beds, start casting jigs and minnows to brush on shallow flats.

The gill-netting data for Clarks Hill over the last several years indicate a consistently strong population, with the average fish size increasing slightly in the last couple of years.

LAKE RICHARD B. RUSSELL
One of Georgia’s newest reservoirs (completed in 1984), Clarks Hill’s 26,000-plus-acre upstream neighbor also bestrides the Georgia-South Carolina line, similarly impounds the Savannah River, and likewise boasts a significant crappie population.

Russell is a bit more isolated than is Clarks Hill, so creel data show it getting a little less fishing pressure. The lake’s crappie population consists mostly of black crappie, and though the fish are less densely concentrated than they are at Clarks Hill, they tend to on average to be larger. Angling results are pretty good, with slightly over one crappie caught for every angler-hour of fishing.

Again, trolling during the pre-spawn season followed by close-in fishing near brush on the flats should prove productive. Creel data indicate that the middle section of the lake is best when it comes to crappie catch rates. * * * These lakes that we’ve covered are just a small sampling of what’s available for crappie fishing in the Peach State this year. The outlook’s good for another excellent year of angling for papermouths -- so grab the rods, a few jigs and head to the lake of your choice. The water’s warming, and the crappie are ready to start feeding during their most active time of the year.