Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) Water Level
USGS gauge 02193900 · near Plum Branch, SC
Latest reading Oct 26, 5:45 PM · elevation
Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) is 11.2 ft below full pool today (318.84 ft vs 330.00 ft) — much lower than normal for late October. It has fallen 0.09 ft since yesterday and is down 0.57 ft over 7 days.
Water level chart
ft above sea levelFull pool (330.0 ft) is 11.2 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 6:49 PM ETWater 71°F, lake 11.2 ft below full pool and steady, light NE wind — excellent fall fishing day (8/10), best window 7:45 AM–8:45 AM (moonset near sunrise).
Water 71°F, lake 11.2 ft below full pool and steady, calm wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 7:05 PM–8:05 PM (moonrise near sunset).
- Water temp71°Fmeasured Oct 26, 5:45 PM · this gauge
- Air temphigh 77°F / low 43°FSunny
- WindLight NE2–7 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 15
- Level11.2 ft below full poolLevel steady (−0.09 ft in 24 h)
Official South Carolina fishing info: South Carolina DNR — Fishing info
Best fishing times today
Today is an excellent fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
8/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:43 AM · Sunset 6:42 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:09 AM–2:09 AM
- Moon underfoot12:36 PM–2:36 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:45 AM–8:45 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:20 PM–7:20 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 8/10Excellent | Major 12:09 AM–2:09 AM · 12:36 PM–2:36 PM Minor 7:45 AM–8:45 AM · 6:20 PM–7:20 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:05 AM–3:05 AM · 1:35 PM–3:35 PM Minor 8:59 AM–9:59 AM · 7:05 PM–8:05 PM Calm wind 0–4 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 2:05 AM–4:05 AM · 2:37 PM–4:37 PM Minor 10:12 AM–11:12 AM · 8:00 PM–9:00 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 3:09 AM–5:09 AM · 3:42 PM–5:42 PM Minor 11:21 AM–12:21 PM · 9:03 PM–10:03 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 4:14 AM–6:14 AM · 4:46 PM–6:46 PM Minor 12:22 PM–1:22 PM · 10:12 PM–11:12 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:16 AM–7:16 AM · 5:46 PM–7:46 PM Minor 1:13 PM–2:13 PM · 11:24 PM–12:24 AM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:14 AM–7:14 AM · 5:41 PM–7:41 PM Minor 12:55 PM–1:55 PM · 11:34 PM–12:34 AM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the lake level is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · level within ±0.25 ft in 24 h +1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 3 |
| Today | 8, rounded | 8/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page; water temperature measured at this gauge. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 33.84, -82.34 (moon times from astronomical equations, Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) local time).
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
6/10
Waning gibbous · 97% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:44 AM · Sunset 6:41 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead1:05 AM–3:05 AM
- Moon underfoot1:35 PM–3:35 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset8:59 AM–9:59 AM
- Moonrise7:05 PM–8:05 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 27 | 6/10Good | Major 1:05 AM–3:05 AM · 1:35 PM–3:35 PM Minor 8:59 AM–9:59 AM · 7:05 PM–8:05 PM Calm wind 0–4 mph |
|---|---|---|
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 2:05 AM–4:05 AM · 2:37 PM–4:37 PM Minor 10:12 AM–11:12 AM · 8:00 PM–9:00 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 3:09 AM–5:09 AM · 3:42 PM–5:42 PM Minor 11:21 AM–12:21 PM · 9:03 PM–10:03 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 4:14 AM–6:14 AM · 4:46 PM–6:46 PM Minor 12:22 PM–1:22 PM · 10:12 PM–11:12 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:16 AM–7:16 AM · 5:46 PM–7:46 PM Minor 1:13 PM–2:13 PM · 11:24 PM–12:24 AM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:14 AM–7:14 AM · 5:41 PM–7:41 PM Minor 12:55 PM–1:55 PM · 11:34 PM–12:34 AM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
| MonNov 2 | 4/10Fair | Major 6:07 AM–8:07 AM · 6:31 PM–8:31 PM Minor 1:30 PM–2:30 PM Calm wind 0–4 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the lake level is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonrise × sunset +1) | 1 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 1.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · level within ±0.25 ft in 24 h +1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 2 |
| Today | 6, rounded | 6/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page; water temperature measured at this gauge. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 33.84, -82.34 (moon times from astronomical equations, Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) local time).
Weather & wind at Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Tonight43°Partly CloudyWind NE 2 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday77° / 46°SunnyWind NE 0 to 3 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday76° / 55°Mostly SunnyWind NE 6 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 33.842, -82.345 (grid CAE), issued Oct 26, 2:21 PM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
October 26 in history
18 years of level records- Today318.84 ft
- Same date last year326.04 ft2025
- Median324.87 ft
- Normal range321.73 ft – 328.55 ft25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 2006330.81 ft2022
- Lowest since 2006314.29 ft2009
Last 10 days
| Date | Level (ft) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 318.83 | −0.18 |
| Sun Oct 25 | 319.01 | −0.19 |
| Sat Oct 24 | 319.20 | −0.07 |
| Fri Oct 23 | 319.27 | −0.08 |
| Thu Oct 22 | 319.35 | −0.07 |
| Wed Oct 21 | 319.42 | −0.07 |
| Tue Oct 20 | 319.49 | +0.04 |
| Mon Oct 19 | 319.45 | −0.15 |
| Sun Oct 18 | 319.60 | −0.15 |
| Sat Oct 17 | 319.75 | −0.06 |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Plan your trip to Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)
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Nearby lakes & rivers
- Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)15 mi · Lake318.84 ft−9.61 ft vs full pool
- Savannah River near Evans21 mi · River13.96 ftstage 13.96 ft
- Richard B. Russell Lake24 mi · Lake · Calhoun Falls473.94 ft−1.06 ft vs full pool
- Savannah Rvr at Stevens Creek Dam near Morgana26 mi · Lake · Stevens Creek Dam near Morgana184.61 ft−0.27 ft vs normal
- Butler Creek Reservoir32 mi · Lake · Fort Gordon27.39 ft−0.05 ft vs normal
- Lake Greenwood34 mi · Lake · Chappells438.67 ft+1.45 ft vs normal
Guides
All guides →About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 02193900 — Thurmond Lake Near Plum Branch, Sc
- Location
- 33.8417, -82.3450 · South Carolina
- Measures
- Reservoir water-surface elevation above datum
- Daily statistics
- 2006–2025 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 5:45 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 6:49 PM ET
- Full pool
- 330.00 ft — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.