"The Spook can be a real productive lure in a case like this on occasion. The clear water does sometimes make shallow-water fishing tough, but when you get the right conditions, like discolored water from heavy rains in the creeks or windswept points in the main lake, you can often make big catches in shallow water on this lake," he said.

Jackson adds, however, that deep water is often the key, but not the only recipe, for success during July, and throughout the summer, on Lake Russell.

Another great tactic is nocturnal fishing. At night, the fish do migrate into more fishable depths if they have been deep and tough during the day. As the summer progresses, this can become more important, not only from the perspective of putting your baits in front of active fish, but also from the perspective of putting yourself out of the way of recreational boaters and watercraft.

There are certainly other excellent places for summertime bass fishing in the Palmetto State. But these two fisheries give you options and diversity in your largemouth bass fishing opportunities. Pick one . . . or better yet, try both this summer to spice up your fishing opportunities.