By Wendell Wilson
Bass – One thing we have noticed is the standard pattern is always using drop shot rigs and shaky head worms on main lake points in 20-25 feet of water, and if you can find a brush pile on those points then so much the better. Another thing we have noticed is the large mouth are showing up a little more. They are a totally different pattern. You can catch some of them early in the morning or late afternoon with topwater lures and swim baits around the grassy coves. They are still fairly shallow early and late in the day.
Stripers – Stripers are mostly still baiting on the lower half of the lake using live herring on down rods and fishing in 20-50 feet of water. There are a few people catching some fish on the upper end of the lake in the Hartwell tailrace below the dam using free-line herring on planer boards.
Crappie – Look for the crappie to be biting on brush piles using small minnows. Fishing 12-14 feet down in 20-25 feet of water will produce the best results.
Water temperature:
High 80s to 90 degrees
Lake level:
6 inches below full pool
Clarity:
Very good
Wendell has been a full time guide since 1990. In his almost 20 years of guiding, Wendell has welcomed fishermen of all ages and experience levels. Wendell is intimate with the finshing conditions on Lake Russell on a daily basis. He authors magazine articles and provides fishing reports for other websites. Wilson’s Guide Service / 706-283-3336.