Lake Russell

[dawg82]

First off I'm a newbie on the site. I'm planning a camping trip to Calhoun Falls on Lake Russell March 20. Looking for any tips or advice on where and how to fish during this time of the year. I usually fish Clarks Hill but am looking to venture out to new territory. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and I look forward to maybe meeting some of you one day.

[SeaRay]

Welcome to the sire Dawg. You need to put on your calendar to attend the Spring Crappiefest on March 28th. Details are in a sticky at the top of the SC forum. A great way to meet a bunch of the guys and share tips and secrets. Several of them fish Russell and can point you in the right direction.
Unfortunately I have a conflict and will miss this year's event, but you owe it to yourself to attend.
SeaRay

[dawg82]

Would love to attend butt I live the life of a shift worker and only get two weekends off a month. I'll plan better next year now that I know. Thanks for the reply

[gabowman]

Welcome to the boards dawg. Russell can be good or it can be bad. I cannot help much on the SC side of the lake. Word is Rocky River has been producing some if you fish minners to brush. On my side of the lake Coldwater, Pickens, Vans, and Beaverdam are creeks to keep an eye on. When theyre there you can catch 'em. I havent fished Russell since last fall so I dont know what theyre doing. Good luck camping/fishing and have fun.

[dawg82]

Thanks for the info. Hopefully weather will stabilize by mid March.

[STUMP HUNTER]

Welcome to Crappie.com dawg82. You will be in a great location to catch some spawning fish "if" the weather is right near the end of March. Most years the last two weeks in March & first two weeks in April are prime times to be on Russell. You will be camping on the Rocky River leg of the lake and it holds some very nice slab crappie. Russell is a lake that will hurt your feelings quickly, the bite can be on one day and dead the next day. You should be able to find the fish in the 20' to 10' depths at that time. A ton of trees up the Rocky River and the crappie do use them. Try these to catch them, spider rigging around tree tops/brush piles slowly with jigs and live bait, jigging the trees/brush piles with jigs (hand tied or plastics), longlining the flats with 1/16 or 1/8oz jigs. All three methods will work at some point so be prepared to change up when needed.

You will began to see more reports as the bite picks up. Myself and some others will began to fish Russell more as times draws near to the CrappieFest and will be making some reports. We also have a members only board (Moderated SC Fishing Reports Forum) that reports are posted with better details. Get your post count up to 30 and you will be able to read and post there.

I hope this info will help a little, good fishing.

[turk]

I only live a few miles from the state park. Give me a shout when its gets times to camp

[OBRage]

Welcome aboard dawg, I'm relatively new on here too but you will quickly realize that you made a good choice in joining. I've personally never fished Russell but I'm sure someone will help coach you up before you go. There's a lot of good people and advice on here. Good luck and keep your hook in the water.

[dawg82]

Appreciate it. Just don't want to get skunked. Thanks for the help.

[dawg82]

I only live a few miles from the state park. Give me a shout when its gets times to camp

Hey Turk thanks for the response. Do you use mostly use live bait or jigs. I'm thinking about going ahead and buying some jigs but I'm pretty lost on colors that work on Russell.