SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 · CLARKS HILL (J. STROM THURMOND LAKE)
Heat is high, cloud cover helps, early topwater on offshore structure then drag deep brush through midday
WATER 86°FAIR 72°FWIND 3 MPH SSEASON SUMMERPOOL -3.9 FT
Water sitting at 86 degrees in true summer heat, lake still running about 4 feet below full pool. Clarity is good on the main lake. With nearly complete cloud cover today and new moon phase, the shallow bite can stretch past the normal narrow dawn window. Before the pressure starts rising tomorrow, the fish are feeding. The pattern splits into two parts: fast topwater over offshore humps and points in low light, then a slower grind dragging jigs and soft plastics around deep brushpiles once the sun climbs. Bass are grouped tight in summer schools around deep structure in 20 to 25 feet, suspending over brush, relating to herring. Shade and depth are what they want right now.
The day's game plan
EARLY MORNING · 7:15 AM to 8:45 AM
Main-lake points and humps in 15 to 20 feet
Chrome or white walking topwater bait like a topwater plug, worked with short twitches and pauses to trigger surface strikes from schooling fish
Cloud cover and new moon mean the shallow bite window is stretched longer than usual. Schooling bass are pushing herring to the surface over high-spot structure. If the clouds break and sun gets strong early, the window shrinks fast, so cover these points hard first.
MORNING · 8:45 AM to 11:00 AM
Same offshore points and humps, now transitioning to the brushpiles and deep docks positioned on those structures in 20 to 25 feet
A 3/4-oz football jig in peanut-butter-and-jelly or dark color with a rubber trailer, hopped and dragged along the bottom structure, or a Zoom Trick Worm in green pumpkin or watermelon on a Texas rig, worked slowly through the brush
Once the sun rises and topwater bites slow, the schooling fish drop tight to cover. The brush on these main-lake humps is holding the majority of fish. You need to pick apart the dense cover and work it vertically or with short hops. Sonar is your friend here to confirm fish and brush before you commit.
MIDDAY · 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Deep brushpiles on main-lake points and humps, 20 to 25 feet, or the first break off offshore structure; also any deep docks adjacent to main-lake points with brush nearby
A 3/4-oz to 1-oz football jig with a peanut-butter or dark rubber trailer, dragged vertically or hopped slowly; or a big Zoom Old Monster worm in plum-apple or dark watermelon, Texas-rigged, let fall and drag on bottom
Sun is high, water is hot, fish are locked on brush and deeper structure. The shade and depth keep them comfortable. This is methodical work, not a covering-water game. Make precise casts into and around the brush, feel the jig bump cover, and slow your retrieve. One good brushpile can hold several fish.
LATE AFTERNOON · 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Same deep offshore structure, brushpiles in 20 to 25 feet, or begin rotating back to secondary points and the first drop-off on creek-arm structure where brush or wood is positioned
Switch to a flutter spoon like a 3/4-oz lipless crankbait or flutter spoon in shad colors, pitched and worked vertically with a sharp jig-style cadence, or continue dragging jigs if the brushpile bite is still producing
Pressure is still rising into the evening. Fish are starting to get a bit more active as the light angle changes, but they are still grouped on deep structure. A spoon drops fast and can be worked vertically to trigger fish that are suspending over the brush or holding on the bottom. If clouds thin and sun gets brighter, go deeper. If clouds hold, the transition to more active fish happens a bit earlier.
EVENING · 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Main-lake points, secondary creek-arm points with brush, and the first transition from deep water up onto shallower structure in 15 to 18 feet
A Zoom Super Fluke in herring-imitating colors (natural shad, pearl, smoke), cast and worked with a slow sinking presentation, letting it glide and flutter through the water column; or a small chrome topwater plug for any surface action
The sun is dropping, light is softer, and fish are beginning to feed more aggressively and move shallower. Herring-pattern baits match what they are feeding on. This is a transition window where suspended fish are willing to chase, and any shallow topwater play can pop off a few quick strikes before dark.
DUSK · 7:00 PM to 7:50 PM
Shallower structure, secondary points, inside creek points with cover, and any shade lines where docks, overhanging trees, or rock meet shallow water in 8 to 15 feet
A small topwater bait like a Crock-O-Gator buzzbait or a small walking plug in black or white, fished fast around cover; or a Zoom Horny Toad worked around any shade in shallow water
Sunset is the trigger. Low light and falling water temperature bring a brief aggressive window. Bass are feeding on the move. Speed matters now, and cover concentration matters more than depth. Hit docks, shade, any wood, quickly and move. The buzzbait or topwater covers water fast.
NIGHT · 7:50 PM to full dark
Shallow creeks, docks with nearby brush or wood, shaded banks with access to deep water
A Crock-O-Gator buzzbait in black, fished fast, or a Zoom Horny Toad in dark colors worked slowly around docks and shallow cover if you want to stay safer; or continue with a topwater bait if conditions allow
New moon provides darkness, and bass will feed shallow when light disappears. Focus on any cover with nearby deep-water access. Bass use shallow water at night to hunt, but they want a quick escape route to depth. Docks and creek wood give both.
Where to fish
- Main-Lake Points in 15 to 20 feet — 15 to 20 feet on the slope, 8 to 12 feet at crown · Hard bottom (clay and gravel), adjacent brush, close proximity to deeper drop-off into river channel
Staging area for schooling bass feeding on herring. Points funnel fish movement and concentrate baitfish. Proximity to deep water gives bass escape route when sun gets high. - Offshore Humps and Brushpiles in 20 to 25 feet — 20 to 25 feet · Submerged brushpiles, rocky humps, any high-spot cover with adequate depth nearby for suspended fish
Summer heat drives bass to depth and structure. These humps hold large schools. Brush provides both shade and ambush point. Electronics required to confirm fish presence before committing time. - Secondary Creek-Arm Points with Structure in 12 to 18 feet — 12 to 18 feet · Points with brush, dock pilings, wood, or rock with immediate deep-water access (10-foot ditches nearby)
Transition area as the day cools. These spots hold feeding fish as light angle changes. The combination of shallow structure and nearby deep water makes them prime evening targets. - Deep Docks and Creek Shade in 15 to 20 feet — 15 to 20 feet of water nearby, docks in 8 to 12 feet · Docks with pilings, planted brush nearby, trees overhanging water, seawalls with shade
Shade concentrates shallow fish all day in heat. Proximity to deep-water sanctuary makes these spots reliable. All daylight hours can produce, especially if clouds stay thick and sun is muted.
What to throw
- Chrome or White Walking Topwater Plug — 5 to 6 in · Chrome, pearl white, or white · n/a (Early morning and dusk in low light, or if clouds stay thick)
Cast over structure, twitch with short rod snaps and brief pauses, let it walk side-to-side, focus on the top of points and humps - 3/4-oz Football Jig with Rubber Trailer — n/a · Peanut-butter-and-jelly, dark brown, black, or plum · 3/4 oz (Midday when sun is high, or anytime on deep brushpiles and humps)
Cast into and around brushpiles, hop and drag along the bottom, feel the jig bump and roll through cover, work vertically when sitting on dense brush - Zoom Trick Worm or Zoom Old Monster Worm — 5 to 7 in · Green pumpkin, watermelon red flake, or plum-apple · Texas-rigged, 1/2 to 3/4 oz (Midday through late afternoon on deep structure and brushpiles)
Texas rig on a 1/2 to 3/4-oz weight, cast into brush, work it down the slope with slow hops and drags, pause often to let it settle - 3/4-oz Flutter Spoon or Lipless Crankbait — 2 to 2.25 in · Shad silver, pearl, or white · 3/4 oz (Late afternoon into evening when pressure starts rising, or when topwater slows)
Pitch vertically or cast and drop, work with sharp upstroke cadence to create flutter and flash, pause on the bottom to let it settle - Zoom Super Fluke or Small Topwater Plug — 4 to 5 in · Herring shad, pearl, smoke, or white for flukes; pearl or white for small plugs · 1/2 oz (fluke); topwater plugs n/a (Evening and dusk when fish are moving shallower, or anytime if you are targeting suspended fish around secondary structure)
Fluke: cast and let it sink with slack line, work with occasional twitches and glides through the water column. Topwater: cast around cover and twitch with short snaps.
How to work it
- Vertical Jigging on Deep Brushpiles — Midday and early afternoon when fish are grouped tight on cover and water is hot · Main-lake brushpiles and humps in 20 to 25 feet
Position the boat directly over the brushpile using sonar, drop the jig straight down, work it with short 6 to 12-inch hops, pause for 2 to 3 seconds on bottom, repeat - Slow Dragging on Bottom Structure — Midday through late afternoon, anytime the fast bite slows · Points, humps, and channel edges in 18 to 25 feet
Cast beyond the target, slowly drag the jig or worm across the bottom with a tight line, feel for contact with cover and bumps, pause periodically, repeat with controlled retrieves - Topwater Search — Early morning in low light, or extended window if cloud cover holds thick · Main-lake points and offshore humps in 15 to 20 feet
Cast over the crown of points and humps, work the bait with short twitches and pauses, stay alert for subsurface rises and boils, follow schooling activity if you see it on the surface
Pro tips
- Use sonar to confirm fish and brush before you cast. In summer heat a dry hole is common, so save time and move to a spot that shows marks on electronics.
- When cloud cover holds thick like today, shallow patterns extend longer into the morning and start earlier in the evening. If skies clear suddenly, go deep and drag jigs immediately.
- The difference between a fair day and a good day in this heat is precise cover fishing. One dense brushpile can hold 3 to 5 fish. Spend 10 minutes working it methodically rather than 2 minutes and moving on.
If conditions change
If a cold front moves in tomorrow and pressure rises sharply, expect the bite to tighten significantly. Go smaller, go slower, and stay on the densest brush available. Finesse worms on shaky heads become the primary play. If wind picks up from the north, the shallow early bite dies fast and you go straight to deep structure. If the lake pushes stain from summer thunderstorms, go to darker jig colors (black, junebug) and switch topwater to white or chartreuse for better visibility. If clarity improves and sun breaks through hard, bass will push into deeper water (25-30 feet) on offshore humps, and the spoon becomes your first bait choice.
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