Thread: Looking for retirement advice

someone said it already but being able to fish during the week will be great. Even really crowded lakes look different on a week day

Gill point ramp is good, along with hesters ferry. Although crooks can show up anywhere these 2 ramps have always worked for me. Lot of people use the broad river ramp. It is safe but unusable when the lake drops below 5 ft.

Thanks to everyone for the great advice. Never fished the Hill, but you folks are giving some great pointers! Any preferences on overnite lodging with boat parking?

Call Anglers Retreat on Bobby Brown Park Road (706-283-1642). I've had friends stay there and they said it was a good place at a reasonable price. There's lots of fishing opportunities from there as it's between the lower end of Russell and the upper end of Clarks Hill.
I almost forgot to mention the Yurts at Bobby Brown Park campground. I haven't stayed in one but they look really cool. The park also has a cabin they rent. (From their website: For reservations, please call the Park office at (706) 283-5500)
Both of those spots are close to several safe ramps. If you need more info send me a PM for my # and we can discuss in greater detail.

Chris

One thing to keep in mind if you don’t have a lot of experience on Clark’s Hill is the standing timber just under the surface in some sections. Be very cautious when fishing from Murray creek up to Russell Dam. Inside Murray Creek and Fishing Creek you don’t have much to worry about but the main lake is a mine field. Pay close attention to the markers and stay to the Georgia side of the markers. The one exception to staying to the Georgia side in that section is up around the mouth of the Broad river. There are several bad tree tops right in the mouth and a few more just down river of the mouth on the Georgia side.
Russell Creek and Benningsfield Creek both have lots of trees just under the surface so be very careful in those. The upper end of Ga Little River is a mine field of timber as well above the bridge at Amity. Outside the mouths of Lloyds and Greys Creeks has some nasty trees as well. You won’t be able to see much of this with the lake full but once the lake gets 4.5 to 5 feet down there is a world of trees just under the surface in the areas I’ve mentioned. When the lake gets to 6.5 to 7 feet down you start to see them sticking out of the water everywhere.

I spent a day with the lake down earlier this winter running around in my jet boat and marking any stumps in marked boating lanes and laying down safe running trails to follow when the lake is at higher levels than when I marked.

I might be wrong, but think that anything with trees on the savannah river. May be the south carolina border. I have fished all the areas at one time or another. And just my opinion but that part of the lake, pistol, newford, fishing, and cooter were completely bulldozed of timber but the south carolina creeks were left for the most part with timber. I am not an expert in this knowledge of timber from fishing creek northbound, but my experience makes me be cautious. Someone with experience can chime in but i started fishing this area in the early 70's and usually drop my trolling motor when entering the south carolina portion above fishing creek.
I have seen this lake real low maybe 16 or 17 feet, while fishing bass tournaments in the late eighties and saw foundations of buildings pop up and a a concrete pad for a ferry on broad river point along with bricks where they once made bricks there too. The lake is pretty safe when its full but it only takes but a few feet of lake level lowering to become dangerous.

Forgot to mention, but there are several large submerged trees right in front of what is commonly called the big rock. Where broad and savannah meet.

I have put in at the ramp by Fishing Creek and HWY 79. I have a lot of friends that have put in there with no issues. Fishing Creek has some great fishing. I enjoy fishing that area so much that I’m in the process of purchasing some land there. I find that fishing up that way is not as crowded with pleasure boaters. If you get on the Navionics app it will show where most of the flooded timber is. Once it warms up some more I will be spending a lot of time up there. Like others have said fishing during the week is way better. If you have any questions about fishing between 378 and Russell dam just let me know. I know the area decently and know of several areas for you to get started fishing.


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