J. Strom Thurmond Lake (Clarks Hill Lake)

Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie & Wilkes Counties, Georgia

A large Corps of Engineers lake on the Savannah River along the Georgia and South Carolina line, north of Augusta. Called Clarks Hill Lake in Georgia, it is known for striped and hybrid bass, largemouth bass and spring crappie.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Surface area71,100 acres

Max depth139 ft

Shoreline1200 mi

Boat motorsUnlimited horsepower

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Largemouth Bass●●●●○

Coves, points and fish attractors. Harvest any spotted bass you catch; they are invasive here.

Striped Bass●●●●○

Stripers and hybrids roam open water after bait. Live herring and topwater when fish are schooling.

Crappie●●●●○

Best in spring. Brush piles and fish attractors with minnows and small jigs.

Bluegill●●●○○

Bluegill and shellcrackers bite well in spring on beds in shallow coves.

Channel Catfish●●●○○

Channel, blue and flathead catfish are all present. Cut bait on channel edges.

When they bite

Month-by-month activity for each target species.

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Largemouth Bass
Striped Bass
Crappie
Bluegill

SlowFairGoodHot

Boat launches

5 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Wildwood ParkFee
Columbia County. 6-lane ramp, daily entry fee, campground and tournament weigh-in stationDirections ↗
Mistletoe State ParkFee
Georgia State Parks. Three boat ramps and shore fishing on the Big Creek arm; park pass requiredDirections ↗
Elijah Clark State ParkFee
Georgia State Parks near Lincolnton. Ramp, fishing pier and campground; park pass requiredDirections ↗
Deer Run Boat RampPublic
US Army Corps of Engineers. Open year-roundDirections ↗
Amity Boat RampPublic
US Army Corps of Engineers. Open year-roundDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Minimum size and daily limit for each species in J. Strom Thurmond Lake (Clarks Hill Lake) are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (official eRegulations) ↗

Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (official eRegulations) before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.

Search more bait shops near J. Strom Thurmond Lake (Clarks Hill Lake) ↗

Local tips

Georgia and South Carolina honor each other's licenses on this lake under a reciprocal agreement; check current rules before you go.
Many Corps campgrounds and day-use areas close in fall, but most Corps boat ramps stay open year-round.
Spring is prime time for crappie, bluegill and shellcrackers in the coves.

Angler reports

Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about J. Strom Thurmond Lake (Clarks Hill Lake).

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