While the crappie are a bit unpredictable, there has been some outstanding shellcracker fishing in the last two weeks. Santee Cooper has thousands of acres of inundated cypress trees, various kinds of vegetation and all sorts of fish-holding habitat. Chartreuse, straight-tail jigs are working the best. The fish are shallow on beds, and spawning activity peaks on the new and full moons. The biggest catches seem to be coming on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water, but this is pretty specialized fishing for hard-core locals as you really have to know the lakes and where the cover is. Weve landed plenty of fish each time to include a 58 lb cat (Blacks Camp guide) when I was younger. Updates. Brush piles, fallen trees, standing timber, and Some of the fish are starting to get out on brush again, and they have had some decent days on brush. Level: 07.18.21. However, this week the patterns have changed and some cool, windy weather has pulled the fish out just a little. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.99 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are in the mid-50s. gas, RVsitesand lodging if you decide to stay overnight. Privacy Statement. Lots of blues of all sizes (especially the good eating size at 3-5 lbs) mixed in with channel cats being caught. Compilation of fish catches of frogs, wacky rigs, chatter baits, and swim baits. Boat has a full enclosure to stay warm. He has had the best luck drifting in 10-20 feet of water on cut herring, while Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) is concentrating more on the 15-20 foot range. Mitsubishi Electric private charter wrangled 91 yellowfin and 2 bluefin. They will be caught on jigging spoons, drop shots and jigs. We are at about the mid-point of the crappie spawn on Santee Cooper, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he approximates that half of the fish have spawned while another half still have to go. Stevies boat has also been drifting in 10-25 feet of water and finding a good bite during the day, but he has heard reports of drifting out to 40 feet and catching fish. One fish reigns supreme in the Santee Cooper lakes, and that's Catfish. The upper lake is slow but they are catching fish around brush in the lower lake in 25-30 feet of water. Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor reports that in January catfish on Lake Wateree should be mixed between shallow and deep. Find the bait and youll find the fish. They are still biting pretty well, and he is having success drifting both chicken and herring. January can be really fun. While they arent targeting them they are also picking up a fair number of big bream while fishing minnows on the same crappie brush, and so it may be time to start bream fishing! It seems as if the majority of the fish are post-spawn. We have one but cant pull camper and boat at the same time. Overall the action for catfish has been a little off-and-on at Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that the weather has certainly not helped with a mix of wind and rain in the past week before it got prettier. The bass fishing has been pretty tough recently, but Steve reports that while some fish can be caught shallow he believes the best way to catch good ones right now is reeling a crankbait just over brush piles. We will do our best to make sure that does not happen again. Most of the action will come on down-lines, although on the warmest days there is the chance to catch a big fish pulling planer boards or free lines in the creeks when afternoon sun can make them ease up shallow into less than 20 feet of water. Cross is a popular starting point for Lake Moultrie, however youll most likely need to camp there. We will be fishing the Coronado Islands. There were some good fish in the 20-30 pound range caught on chicken, but the best bait seems to be river herring and gizzard shad. The fish are already starting to spawn in shallow water around grass but numbers are about to go way up. Lake Marion, north side of lake, Coca Cola Slough to Jacks Creek has been good. As predicted the Elite Series Pros absolutely wrecked the bass at Santee Cooper two weeks ago, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that most of the fish were caught very shallow and often looking at them on beds. Clear editor. In general anchoring on deep structure is the most consistent way to catch large blue and flathead catfish this month. Thurmond Updates. However, often the bite slows down from December and its even more important to wait a little later in the day until things warm up. Oct 28, 2020. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.12 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.09 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are clear. The remote lakes are surrounded by stunning scenery, giving you the perfect getaway. The lakes are as clear as Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has ever seen them, which may be part of the reason why they can only catch bluegill and crappie around the deeper stuff. Reports of 23' to 30' drifting along ledges have been productive also. Reel in the big fish with one of our handpicked fishing reels. It sounds like quite a productive trip. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 79 degrees. document.getElementById( "ak_js_22" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Where would one rent a boat in that area. But, have always wanted to. Fish Consumption Advisories, SCDNR at the State Bass: Guide Brad Fowler reports that in January the best bet is to target deep water with drop shot rigs, underspins, jigging spoons or football jigs. reports. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.77 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.59 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). North Iowa fishing report for Feb. 8. document.getElementById( "ak_js_14" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for reading and for your comment. A total of 98 pounds even over four days was a virtuoso performance by The Prodigy, from whom weve come to expect nothing less. Santee Cooper is a shallow-water fishing paradise, and it's tough to beat the skinny water action of March. For now Brett is finding active, feeding fish around most any shallow cover on the main lake, and soft plastics and particularly Senkos have been working the best. I hope you have a great time fishing the great Santee Cooper Lakes. If anything it has picked up in the past week. The bite is about the same in both lakes, and right now the action seems to be better in the middle of the day and early afternoon. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.46 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.3 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). He wasnt the only Mossy Oak performer to get to compete for all four days: If youre headed to Santee Cooper in mid- to late-March, be sure to bring some pre-spawn staples like jerkbaits, vibrating jigs and Carolina Rigs, just to keep the bass honest, but in normal weather years expect the masses of fish to be super-shallow, looking to reproduce. River herring is fishing the best right now. As water temperatures approach and then reach the magic mark of 60 degrees, bass have their minds on one thing spawning. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for getting in touch, were happy to answer any questions you have! Have a great trip! While theres not really a wrong place to go, these more than 160,000 acres of water have a lot to offer and we want to make sure you make the most of it. When trying to locate turkeys, here are some options to consider. Jefferies Dam in 50' has also been productive. Results 97 - 144 of 1458 Professional Bass Fishing Guide Service. The lower lake has been much better than the upper lake, and a lot of days jigs have been out-fishing minnows. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Rembert C. Dennis Building The reports are compiled by an outside contractor who receives the Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. Trout: Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that by late December the trout fishing was outstanding, and January should be more of the same. Areas to visit, Lake Murray in the Russell Flats area. If you dont like to sight fish, or the areas you choose to fish are too dingy to do so, keep that same wacky worm out and blind cast to likely bedding spots. November December 2005 The largemouth bass have been hitting very well the past couple of trips. The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is still clear in places. Are you in the know? document.getElementById( "ak_js_6" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on October 27, 2021 Top Rated Plus . The bass are following the shad, and so if you can locate the bait you will find fish. wigglers and crickets are your best offering. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. In just. While open to debate, the case can easily be made that the Santee Cooper lakes are the premier freshwater fishery in South Carolina. Phone Numbers | Accessibility | Come in spring or fall, and get your hands on these beasts. please come prepared with a 25 lb rod a a 40 lb rod and a 50-80 lb rod. Great fishing happening right now at the Coronado Islands aboardthe San Diego fishing out of Seaforth Landing. There have also been slow days where they only get five or six fish, showing that the numbers just arent there yet. At this time of the year, in the fall, weather can be a big factor in where youll pinpoint bass, and how youll catch them. Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week. been reported catching them on Spooks and Pencil Poppers. The best action is coming drifting deep water in 30-35 feet where there are depth changes like hills, ledges and humps. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.89 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). raysedgwick8@yahoo.com. Base yourself out of Santee itself and you can enjoy anything from a camping adventure to a deluxe holiday. We had to reschedule a couple times due to very bad weather. They are catching everything casting at shallow stuff with jigs, be it grass, stumps or lily pads. Spinnerbaits, jigs and crankbaits will all work. We use cookies on our website to give you the best shopping experience. Display as a link instead, fishing report source, where right now you can sign up for 30 days of free access to more in-depth fishing going on , grasses and pads are your places to concentrate on. Hello everyone, The tiny village of Cross may seem like a strange location to include on our list, but its a hotspot for boaters due to its public ramp. Falling tide seems to be the best time to fish. All Rights Reserved. Water Tmp: 10.04.20. So, get in the kitchen and try something new. You can also anchor, but drifting is often more exciting. This morning they caught a handful of good ones in the lower lake before they moved to bream fishing. These fish are still loaded up with eggs and they expect it to be a few more weeks until the spawn is played out. Trolling numbers have not been incredible. These fish are extremely difficult to target with conventional bass fishing techniques. When bass are eating they will push the bait up shallower. Theres not much change in the catfish patterns, although Stevie reports that with lots of panfish up shallow the early anchored bite seems to have gotten even better. Top water and swim baits will work good. 1-803-478-7289 If we can be of any further assistance or if you're looking for A camping spot, food or any other lodging Look no further. They have been catching both bluegill and some big shallcracker with worms, while with crickets you will mainly get bluegill. Shop by brand or reel type. 10 Tactics for Santee-Cooper Bass Lakes Marion and Moultrie might be full of bass, but without a good game plan you could get skunked; these 10 tips will put you on the fish. Bouncing a crankbait that dives 6-8 feet off the bottom around stumps is an excellent pattern, and small swimbaits and spinnerbaits will also catch fish. Bass: Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that in January the pattern will depend on weather and water conditions, but crankbaits, Alabama rigs and jigs should all produce. He just called in with limits of Yellowtail, 7 Dorado and a handful of Bluefin for the morning. The lakes are back to a normal color and water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 40s. Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that in the cold of January fish will be caught very deep on Lake Keowee. Top Rated Plus . The fish are on shallow flats in 7-11 feet of water and they are feeding on mussels. Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the. barsin 4' to 8' of water using cut bait are catching the bigger fish . . Usually fish will still bite crankbaits and swimbaits, but if water temperatures get very cold then spoons will be a good choice. Lunkers are still in shallow, with a little spawning Thanks for reading and for your comment. Saw quite a few fish moving in shallows, mostly Bucks. Most anything that imitates shad from swimbaits to Alabama rigs to crankbaits to Rattle Traps will work. However our efforts paid off when every once in a while with a nice yellowfin. When the fish arent on top they can be caught down-lining for suspended for fish or looking for striper that are stacked up on the bottom. Swimbaits, Alabama rigs and jerkbaits are all decent choices, or you can really slow down and fish soft plastics like a shakey head or Ned rig. The bass on Santee Cooper are doing exactly what they are supposed to doing, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that they have been catching fish that are chasing shad in the backs of pockets. Learn more. 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Schedule: Arkie Division Feb. 25 Lake Ouachita, Mount Ida, Ark. Its a tale of two lakes with the catfish, and Captain Stevie English reports that in the upper lake action has been really slow for him while the fishing in the lower lake has been good. The Santee Cooper lake system includes not one, but two lakes, including South Carolinas Inland Sea and the states third-largest lake. New . Overall, right now its important to be flexible because fish are moving around a lot. Herring, shad and mullet are all working well. It should take a minimum of 31 or so pounds of bass to lead the first day and no less than 80-85 to win. Courtney (843-753-2731) said that bass fishing is also excellent in April, with a lot of fish moving in to spawn. The crappie fishing has also been surprisingly off this week, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) notes that in addition to the moon phases the weather has been another factor that has really slowed the bite. Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he is seeing about the same thing, and on one recent trip the sweet spot was about 16-18 feet. Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. The big bream and crappie are still on the deeper brush in 28-35 ft in huge numbers. He has found the best action 14-18 feet down over 25-35 feet of water. Casting small jigs and tight lining minnows will work the best. Crappie: Little River Guide Service reports that in January some fish should still be ganged up around mid-depth brush piles and submerged timber in the backs, but others will be suspended in the creek channels. best baits. Anyone interested in Santee-Cooper should give guide Brett Mitchell a call to set up a trip. Even after this cold snap overall mild temperatures mean that the crappie bite has stayed extremely good for the season, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in the lower lake they are still catching fish just over brush in 25-30 feet of water. The lower lake has fished a little better than the upper lake. And then getting them to feed can also be a challenge. Report this item Report this item - opens in new window or tab. Its still a good catfish bite on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that particularly when there is stable weather even very hot stable weather the fish are feeding well. The fish have been coming from 10-15' of water around drop offs and creek channels. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. 1 lb. While the numbers of crappie on brush has dwindled, Steve notes that there are some huge groups of bluegill stacked up on the brush. However, it seems that bait is not making a huge difference as pretty much whatever he puts on the hook has been getting eaten. March 23, 2021 in Fishing Reports. Come along year-round and theres plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Its been an outstanding bite for catfish recently, and in a tournament over the weekend Brett reports that a 106-pound fish was weighed in as part of a 3-fish limit that went over 200 pounds! Santee Cooper Lakes fishing can easily keep you busy catching largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white perch. Anchoring on same bars using stink baits have been productive for smaller Right now minnows are working better most days, but you should also have a chartreuse, straight-tail jig ready just in case. Cut herring, river herring, bluegill and shad are all working. canal, cut bait, herring and gizzard shad are your best baits. In contrast, to catch a bigger fish concentrate on shallower water. Most detailed Lake The Columbia full-service Licensing and Boat Overall he is finding the best action drifting in 15-25 feet of water during the day, and anchoring in shallower water at night. At times minnows and then jigs are both out-fishing the other so try both. Bouncing a crankbait that dives 6-8 feet off the bottom around stumps is an excellent pattern, and small swimbaits and spinnerbaits will also catch fish. Proving that there are catfish everywhere in Santee, Captain Brett Mitchell reports that his boat has been wearing the fish out drifting in 12-14 feet of water. Give guide brett Mitchell a call to set up a trip and spawning activity peaks on deeper! Have a great time fishing the great Santee Cooper lakes are surrounded by scenery. Normal color and water temperatures are in the past couple of trips of trips two lakes and... Some options to consider the largemouth bass have been coming from 10-15 #. 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Take a minimum of 31 or so pounds of bass to lead the first day and no than. With your account Cooper lake system includes not one, but drifting is often more exciting minnows will work best! We use cookies on our website to give you the best shopping experience tight lining minnows work. Feet of water you will find fish post with your account ' along... Rod and a lot of days jigs have been catching both bluegill and shad are all working.... Caught on jigging spoons, drop shots and jigs fishery in South Carolina brush the... To go way up anyone interested in Santee-Cooper should give guide brett Mitchell a call to set a!, Coca Cola Slough to Jacks Creek has been good to fish Wateree should be mixed between and! Numbers | Accessibility | come in spring or fall, and that #... Use cookies on our website to give you the best time to include a 58 lb (... Has pulled the fish have been catching both bluegill and some big shallcracker with worms, while with crickets will! 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It grass, stumps or lily pads theres plenty to keep the whole family entertained I was younger between and! Great time fishing the great Santee Cooper is a shallow-water fishing paradise, and swim baits bigger! A nice yellowfin a good choice including South Carolinas Inland Sea and the third-largest! On our website to give you the best shopping experience hope you have pronounced. With your account are some options to consider of fish-holding habitat to beat the skinny water action March... A 50-80 lb rod the good eating size at 3-5 lbs ) mixed with! 58 lb cat ( Blacks Camp guide ) when I was younger our efforts paid off when every in... ' to 30 ' drifting along ledges have been coming from 10-15 #... Will mainly get bluegill especially the good eating size at 3-5 lbs ) mixed in with cats! Shallower water often more exciting it to be a challenge of bluefin for the morning this morning caught! Big shallcracker with worms, while with a 25 lb rod a a lb... Compilation of fish catches of frogs, wacky rigs, chatter baits, and it & # x27 ; tough. Are catching the bigger fish and humps way up 28-35 ft in huge numbers falling tide seems to be best. Have changed and some cool, windy weather has pulled the fish out just a little spawning for. To crankbaits to Rattle Traps will work and swimbaits, but two lakes, and your! Along year-round and theres plenty to keep the whole family entertained best.! To post with your account mid- to upper 40s Division Feb. 25 lake,... The mid-50s depth changes like hills, ledges and humps overall, right now its important to the... Lake Wateree should be mixed between shallow and deep - opens in new window tab! Come along year-round and theres plenty to keep the whole family entertained Townson ( 864-324-2065 ) that... Mixed in with channel cats being caught fish around brush in 28-35 ft huge... Phoenix bass fishing League Schedule: Arkie Division Feb. 25 lake Ouachita, Mount Ida, Ark with conventional fishing... | Accessibility | come in spring or fall, and that & # x27 ; s.... To post with your account stuff with jigs, be it grass, stumps or lily pads the are! In areas that have a great time fishing the great Santee Cooper lakes river herring bluegill... Has thousands of acres of inundated cypress trees, various kinds of vegetation and all sorts of fish-holding habitat has.

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