Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) fishing conditions · South Carolina

Now until 8 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 80.

Right now: 80 for striped bass, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

803 am
80
80
806 am
80
80
809 am
80
80
8012 pm
80
80
803 pm
80
80
806 pm
80
70
709 pm
70
70
70Tue
70
70
703 am
70
72
726 am
72
80
809 am
80
80
8012 pm
80
80

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 7 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Clear
Air: 57°F
Barometer: Steady
Moon: 100% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are South Carolina regulations for these waters.

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

80Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Striped bass bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Striped bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Carolina statewide: striped and hybrid bass 10 a day combined, no length limit. The Santee system (Marion, Moultrie) is a 3-fish 23–25" slot and closed Jun 16–Sep 30; Lake Murray has a 21" minimum Oct 1–May 31; Hartwell and Thurmond allow only 3 over 26"; coastal rivers are 26" and 3 a day, closed in summer.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Carolina

Season here: Feb–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on striped bass

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

80Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Crappie is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

8" minimum · 20 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Carolina statewide: 8" minimum, 20 crappie a day, within the 40-fish daily game fish total.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Carolina

Season here: Oct–May, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalNow until 8 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Carolina statewide: no length limit, 5 black bass a day combined. Lakes Marion, Moultrie, Murray, Wylie and several others have a 14" minimum; Hartwell, Thurmond and the Savannah River chain allow 10 black bass a day with a 12" minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Carolina

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

68MarginalNow until 8 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Carolina sets no daily or length limit for channel catfish; the state nongame limits cover only blue catfish and American eel.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · South Carolina

Season here: Feb–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalNow until 8 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. South Carolina's nongame size and possession table does not include common carp, so no limit applies. Grass carp are protected; SCDNR: "It is unlawful to take, harm or kill grass carp in public waters."

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer30.36 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:42 am
Sunset today6:42 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Minor solunarToday 7:40 am–8:40 am
Major solunarToday 12:30 pm–2:30 pm
Minor solunarTonight 6:20 pm–7:20 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

South Carolina DNR report, undated

Names crappie, striped bass, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at South Carolina DNR

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The largest Corps lake east of the Mississippi — a 71,000-acre Savannah River reservoir on the Georgia–South Carolina line, a top largemouth bass and crappie fishery with strong striped and hybrid bass and channel catfish over open water. Ramps line both shores.

SC: largemouth 12" minimum, 10 black bass/day. Striped and hybrid bass chase blueback herring on the main lake.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesSouth Carolina
WhereMcCormick County · 33.6600, -82.2000

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Murray60 mi · South CarolinaBest now until 8 pm

80Worth the trip

Lake Hartwell69 mi · South CarolinaBest today 12 pm–6 pm

90Go

Lake Marion107 mi · South CarolinaBest now until 6 pm

98Go

Lake Lanier114 mi · GeorgiaBest today 1 pm–7 pm

78Worth the trip

Santee Cooper (Lake Marion)119 mi · South CarolinaBest today 4 am–6 pm

80Worth the trip

Lake Wylie119 mi · South CarolinaBest today 12 pm–1 pm

90Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)?

Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) have?

Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. SC: largemouth 12" minimum, 10 black bass/day. Striped and hybrid bass chase blueback herring on the main lake.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)?

state agency regulations apply at Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) tidal water?

No. Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.