Fishing in One of Georgia’s Biggest Lakes with Captain James Weeks

A Little Something About Me

I am Capt. James Weeks of Reel N Time Fishing Charters, based in the beautiful city of Thomson, just a few minutes drive away from Athens, Atlanta, and Augusta in Georgia. I’ve been a professional fishing guide for over seven years now, but I’ve been a devoted angler for most of my life, having grown up in a family passionate about fishing. I’ve been fishing out here in Thomson for so many years, and my knowledge of the area is second to none. My goal with every charter trip is to provide a thoroughly enjoyable experience to anglers of all levels. Whether you’re a new angler still learning the ropes of fishing or an expert looking to challenge yourself in a new water body, I’ll make sure you’ll fall in love with this side of Georgia and all its amazing fishing opportunities.

One of my first fishing memories involves fishing for redfish or red drum with my father in Florida. Everyone knows that if you’re going to Florida, you have to go red drum fishing. These fish are the best species to target almost anywhere in Florida because they’re all over the Gulf Coast. East Central Florida is considered the Redfish Capital of the World, so if you’re hunting for some trophy redfish, you should focus on that part of the state. I have a soft spot for this state and redfish because it reminds me of learning to fish with my father.

I’ve been fishing for 30 years, and the experience never gets old simply because there’s no telling what today’s catch will be. Every day out on the water is always a new experience, opportunity, and challenge to test my knowledge of my target catch and my skills. There’s something new to learn every day.

Apart from that, I love getting up in the early morning to fish and witness the sunrise. Like fishing, seeing the sunrise day in and day out never gets old for me, no matter how many times I look at it. And just knowing that there’s plenty of catch waiting for me as the sun rises — it’s always a great way to start one’s day, and I highly recommend it.

Spots That I Like to Frequent

I would say my favorite water body is Clarks Hill Lake. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to call it my home lake and to be able to fish it every day for a living. Clarks Hill Lake is more formally called Lake Strom Thurmond and is located north of Augusta. It’s a man-made reservoir in the Savannah River Basin, dammed at the border between Georgia and South Carolina in the early 1950s. It’s a vast reservoir, and at 71,000 acres, it is considered one of the biggest man-made lakes in the southeast and Mississippi regions. It should certainly be your top freshwater fishing spot if you’re looking to set your personal record or even vie for a state record. The bass fishing lake is quite popular for its record-breaking big fish, constantly producing state records left and right. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which created and operated the lake, is also constantly working to improve the lake as a habitat to make sure it remains a richly nourishing home to bass and other fish species that call its waters home. 

What I find particularly unique about Clarks Hill Lake is its greatly varying depths. Its waters can go from 1ft to 135ft in depth. This attracts all sorts of fish species, such as largemouth bass, striped bass, shellcracker, channel catfish, blue catfish, bluegill or bream, white bass, hybrid bass, yellow perch, and crappie. The different depths make fishing in the lake an exciting challenge - you never know exactly what you’re going to get, so you have to be prepared. It keeps you on your toes and makes you a good angler.

My Charter’s Main Targets and Techniques We Use

My charter, Reel N Time Fishing Charters, specializes in fishing the vast Clarks Hill Lake.

I’ve been fishing this beautiful lake for several years now and have mastered navigating its vast waters so I can take you to my favorite hotspots, which are guaranteed to hold lots of big fish.

My goal with every charter trip is to allow all my guests to experience just what makes Clarks Hill Lake one for the books. It’s an excellent place to fish all year round, but it gets particularly hot during spring when you have big bass, shad, and herring spawning and feeding in the shallow waters. On the other hand, winter is a productive season to hunt for largemouth bass, striped bass, and crappie. However, as someone who has fished the lake for many years, I can attest to its productivity any time of the year. I have a few tricks up my sleeves and will help you catch your fill of striped bass, crappie, and blue catfish, which are my charter’s main target fish species. And if you’re a beginner angler or an enthusiast wanting to improve your skills, I can definitely teach you some of my techniques for bottom fishing, trolling, and spinning with light tackle.

Why Book Your Trip with Me

When you fish with me at Reel N Time Fishing Charters, you’ll hop aboard my 25’ Carolina Skiff, a spacious boat with a center console with ample room for a family or group of six. I make sure that our boat allows all visitors to enjoy a comfortable and relaxing fishing experience. The boat runs on a Suzuki engine with a maximum cruising speed of 40mph. To guarantee safe navigation, I’ve made sure to equip my ride with the latest GPS device. I’ve also installed a Fishfinder to aid the productivity of our fishing trip and a Livewell for our live bait.

If you’re on your family trip, I suggest taking your children out on the fishing charter with you for a day out in nature. I provide rods, reels, and tackles in your booking fee, so there is no need to worry about that–just make sure to acquire your freshwater fishing license. You can choose to release your catch after a photo-op or keep it — we’ll even help you clean and fillet your fish.

Book a fishing trip with me if you would like to experience the best of Clarks Hill Lake fishing. If you want more information on my fishing charter, including our rates, fishing reports, and target catch, you can find them on my website and Facebook page.