santee cooper bass fishing reports

Its been good action for both bluegill and crappie on the Santee Cooper lakes, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that both species are stacking up on brush in deeper water. There are shad in those areas and the bass are also feeding opportunistically on whatever else is around. From the Wateree River, across the flats of Lake Marion, to the open waters of Lake Moultrie and beyond, the fishing is exceptional. Lots of crappie are on the deeper brush. How easy is it to cross over between the two lakes? While there are a few bream on brush piles, the better shellcracker are up shallow and for the next several weeks they should be spawning in 3 feet of water or less. I was told the ramp at John C Land is closed is that correct? Red wigglers are hard to beat. Anchoring around deep structure is usually the best pattern, and cut white perch and gizzard shad are typically the best baits. The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58. document.getElementById( "ak_js_26" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on February 23, 2021 Fish will be as shallow as they can be found all year, and they will take both live bait and artificials. In most major species categories the lakes have produced state or even-world record class fish. Thursday morning. I meant Lake Marion in my post, but I have some friends in Columbia that have told me that the fishing is picking up in the Dreher Island area. Worms are the ticket. Results 97 - 144 of 1458 Professional Bass Fishing Guide Service. I caught my biggest bass of 7 pounds, 12 ounces, by using my Humminbird Mega 360 feature on my depth finder. When that happens the fish retreat to the first break, and they will set up around some type of structure like a brush pile or tree in 4-8 feet of water. While there are always fish in a lot of different depth ranges in Santee, right now Santee-style drifting in 40-50 feet seems to be the most effective. Thats why catfishing here is often ranked among the best in the country. document.getElementById( "ak_js_38" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_39" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FishingBooker.com. As water temperatures approach and then reach the magic mark of 60 degrees, bass have their minds on one thing spawning. (Herring)off the Hatchery and Bonneau in 25' to 40' and in front of the 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). previous next Print . We are a family-owned business committed to providing our customers with the best prices and customer service on all of our merchandise. Fishing in the upper lake is winding down. Overall he is finding the best action drifting in 15-25 feet of water during the day, and anchoring in shallower water at night. Crickets and minnows are the best baits. document.getElementById( "ak_js_21" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on February 22, 2021 Free shipping . Its the time of year when the bass fishing is highly dependent on the weather, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that before and after the cold snap over the weekend the bass bit well but on Sunday they did not. Updates. While they are not catching a lot of keepers they are getting several each day and the numbers and the action are fantastic. Cut herring are good for numbers while white perch will work to try for a bigger one. Crankbaits, worms and jigs fished around rock should catch fish. He switched over to catching channel catfish, and on dip baits they have been wearing them out in the canal. The best shellcracker fishing seems to have already occurred, and while there were some bluegill spawning in shallow water the action was not great. The best bite will be in the middle of the day when the water is warmest. Our fishing Rain Jacket and Rain Pant should never leave the boat, and thats particularly true over the next handful of weeks, as April showers bring May flowers. Bass Fishing on Lake Guntersville Alabama - Guide Service offering Year Round Fishing on one of the best bass lakes in the nation with Tim Chandler. document.getElementById( "ak_js_33" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for reading and for sharing your experiences. I was fishing a flat and spotted a brush pile off to the side of my boat. The bream fishing has slowed up between moon phases, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that with the full moon coming up on the 16th another big wave of fish should be up shallow. Overall he is still catching fish in 25-50 feet of water, although other anglers are fishing shallower. Herring has been out-fishing everything else. Read on and find out some of the lakes top secrets. Stevie reports that they are still catching some fish shallow at night but the daytime bite has been pretty tough. Fishing Guide Locations on Santee Cooper, SC Santee Cooper lakes - Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie - are famous for their copious fishing grounds. Thurmond Updates. Updates. White perch has been completely unproductive. Bass: Guide Josh Rockefeller and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, GA, reports that in January patterns will depend on weather conditions, but there should be a big group of fish in the creek ditches that can be caught on blade baits. document.getElementById( "ak_js_22" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Where would one rent a boat in that area. document.getElementById( "ak_js_17" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on April 14, 2021 Head to the heart of the lakes and fish the deep waters where the Stripers go in winter, the Largemouth hide in summer, and the Catfish love to feed year-round. updates. However, if it gets very cold then fish should go deep and be caught on spoons bumped off the bottom. February With the prized fish out in the deep, you'll need to hop on a boat to get out to reach them. At times minnows and then jigs are both out-fishing the other so try both. Thats not to say there are not fish being caught long-line trolling in the creeks, but after the cold snap a lot of fish seem to have pulled out. You can also fish a minnow under a cork. The lakes are still very clear and morning surface water temperatures are down to the mid-50s. New . While he is not chasing them there are also still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics. When bass are eating they will push the bait up shallower. Usually fish will still bite crankbaits and swimbaits, but if water temperatures get very cold then spoons will be a good choice. At night he has been anchoring in shallow water, and in the canal area he is looking for somewhere just out of the current when he sets anchor. Whatever youre looking for from your freshwater fishing adventure, Santee Cooper has it and more! The smaller lake still offers some swampy spots, but the waters get deeper quicker. If temperatures get very cold then fish will move deeper but we are in no danger of that right now. Fishing among the cypress trees and around lily pads is the key to catching shellcrackers like this one in the Santee swamps. Catfish: Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting cut herring, shad or white perch in mid-depths should be the best pattern in January. The crappie fishing remains a little slow, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in the afternoon they are only picking up a few fish here and there on brush. The lakes are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures are about 61 degrees. This is one of the best months of the year to catch big fish. The weather is very nice and they are having good kelp fishing, with a good sign of Bluefin. You wont be able to fish for any of these beauties in the summer months. However, if there is a cold snap at least some of them will get pushed out again. Feb 24, 2021. When you can find shallow fish stacked up they will really feed. Spring is generally the best time to target Bass from shore, but you can hook into something good any day of the year. Crappie: Captain Roland Addy reports that in January most of the crappie on Lake Greenwood will be found suspended where the creeks meet the main channel. The action for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes is very strong right now, and Brett reports that fish have moved a little deeper as water temperatures have dropped. 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. We are a family-owned business committed to providing our customers with the best prices and customer service on all of our merchandise. Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that on one recent trip they caught 25 over 1 pound and fish up to two pounds. i will be honest.not how i expected this trip to go.ran a lot of water and finally found a pattern..but then couldnt fish the area because my buddies had. Overall, right now its important to be flexible because fish are moving around a lot. FishingBooker has a number of guides to choose from in Santee-Cooper, and you can filter your search for the species you want. Striper fishermen on the Santee Cooper lakes catch plenty of nice fish in May using live shad or herring, but drifting cut baits can also put some nice blue catfish in your cooler at the end of the day. Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that January is another good month to catch big fish on Lake Monticello, although cold fronts and up-and-down weather can make the bite a little unpredictable. This is a mega Catfish Stock Event at Santee Lakes. However, we will be looking around and will be targeting the best opportunities. with sandy bottomsis the areas to look for. The fish are still on deeper brush and wood in 20-35 feet, and on his last trip out Steve caught a bunch of fish including five over 2 pounds. Santee Cooper Lakes Lake Guide JOHN C. LAND III SPORTSFISHING FACILITY Santee Cooper Lakes Landings & Ramps SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE Santee Cooper Lakes Bait & Tackle MARSHALL'S MARINE, INC. Santee Cooper Lakes Boat Dealers & Repairs SANTEE STATE PARK Santee Cooper Lakes Cabins INKY DAVIS Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Guides RAMADA INN SANTEE There are also a few fish being caught on brush piles, but the majority of the fish seem to be suspended offshore where they are chasing bait. Whether on your own or in a group, a charter is usually regarded as the best way to go fishing. Things worked out remarkably well for the Mossy Oak team, as six of our seven anglers finished in the money and remarkably four of them were in the overall top nine finishers. Warmer water is often found at the very backs of the creeks on Santee Cooper, and as a result Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that a lot of bait is also back there right now. The shallows are full of channel catfish, and late in the day, at night and early you can catch big blues that have come up there to feed by anchoring cut bait. Feb 23, 2021. On the other hand the catfish are not a fan of the warm weather, and the bite has generally been erratic. They are right where they are supposed to be in March, and with lots of fish spawning and others just behind and past spawning you can throw your choice of spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics, jigs and more. Youll want to flip and pitch a Texas Rig, too. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My wife and I have kayaks and we live in Santee. Swimbaits, Alabama rigs, crankbaits and jerkbaits are all good options. Crappie and Bream: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that both species bit in December around mid-depth brush piles, but in January they will likely moved deeper and the bluegill will eventually get less active. The catfish bite is pretty good right now, and Captain Brett Mitchell reports that most people are still anchoring in 4-6 feet of water around cypress tree clusters where fish are spawning or looking for areas to spawn. document.getElementById( "ak_js_8" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on October 20, 2021 Senkos and soft plastics are Bretts go-to lures right now, and if there are windy, cloudy conditions he will pull out a spinnerbait. Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are around 80 in the morning. In the lakes, drifting across clay & mussel shell bars in 4' to 8' of water using cut bait are catching the bigger fish . The upper lake is getting dirty, while the lower lake is relatively clear once you get away from the mouth of the canal. If anything it has picked up in the past week. For some reason jigs are working better than minnows, out-fishing them 5-1 or so. This is one of the nations favorite freshwater fish, and the lakes have plenty of these bad boys on offer. Water temperatures have gotten cool enough that fish are really starting to move around again, and as the shad just start to get into the creeks the bass should not be far behind. Im glad to hear you love the lake as much as we do! The verdict is in from the recent CBC tournament, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that a few people are whacking the bass but most people are not. Are you in the know? Chartreus Provided by Captain Joe Dennis with FatherandSonOutdoors Stripers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_20" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Im coming down in March to fish for largemouth bass. Make sure you bring the proper equipment for the heat from the sun And stay hydrated Captain Brad with Nav-A-Gator Charter Service was awesomehad a wonderful time and the weather was great! Book a trip with Captain Bill and fully enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 65 degrees. Thats whats made it one of the most storied destinations in the history of professional bass fishing. August 23, 2022 guntersville crappie Fishing Report 2367 Saturday June 21 - Fishing today was great on the yellowtail. When we had several nights in the 20s a few weeks ago it looked like bass might move into winter patterns early, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that as surface temperatures stabilized and even warmed up the shallow bite turned on again as the bait moved back shallow. Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that in January water temperatures should get below 50 degrees, and that means some of the biggest fish of the year will be caught. Again, its best to have a mix of cut baits including gizzard shad, American shad, river herring and blueback herring because fish have been showing different preferences on different days. With the full moon this past weekend the bream fishing was decent, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in the end the May full moon seems to have been kind of in-between. It will also be found up the rivers if there is current there. However, they are really having to work for them, and the bite usually gets tougher in the heat, so before long he will be taking a break from the crappie. Target the same fish without worrying about bumping into the trees beneath you. He is fishing soft plastics in and around spawning coves, and pitching baits at shallow structure. Fresh Santee-Cooper Fishing Reports Top Santee-Cooper destinations Cross Tomorrow: 46 / 40 F Summerton Tomorrow: 46 / 40 F Eutawville Tomorrow: 46 / 40 F Fishing Seasons & Latest Fishing Photos January The subtropical climate of South Carolina makes Santee Cooper the place to be for some fishing action. Fish are generally 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water, with both jigs and minnows working for them. Waste or Abuse to SC Inspector General | You also can get helpful information from the Fishing Forecast. During spawn season, you can try exploring the shallow waters around Taylors Landing on Lake Marion, or around Elliotts Landing on the other end of the lake. As is often the case there are several different ways to catch catfish on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports the best action he has found has been in very deep water from 25 out to 50 feet. Wed love to hear from you! We're having some really good trips lately. (known as gator grass) in 2' to 4' of water in the protectivebackwaters For shellcracker use worms while bluegill prefer crickets and worms. Three of South Carolina's favorite fishing spots made the list. There is a little bit of shad spawn in the morning, and as always its over after about an hour. 2020 All rights reserved. $14.99 . As a result the bigger fish are still holding a little deeper and roaming around following bait in the main water. update the fishing reports each week through the fishing season, reporting on fishing success, March 23, 2021 in Fishing Reports. 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. Jigging vertical is the best presentation. Its been a good week for catfish on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that you can catch them pretty much everywhere right now. All rights reserved. Thanks for your comment and good question. At times minnows and then jigs are both out-fishing the other so try both. Even with the crappie spawn winding down the shellcracker spawn is about to explode, and Steve reports that they are already catching a few in shallow water but its about to get really good. document.getElementById( "ak_js_32" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were heading to Santee again tomorrow morning for a 3 day trip. The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is clear. Fish as close to the bottom as possible for the bigger fish as the water temp gets lower. Moultrie is the smaller of the two . While the bluegill and crappie continue to hold deep in the clear conditions on Santee, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that the bite is still really good around offshore brush piles. Thats why its the number-one stop for freshwater anglers in the Palmetto State.. Thanks, PLA. Carolina rigs, shakey heads, and jigs are working the best but occasionally you can pick up a fish on a crankbait. He is still having the best success fishing scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range with soft plastics. Where would we stay? Its mostly a soft plastic bite and topwaters still are not producing. "Weeds, brush, trees and pads are all good places. Herring, shad and mullet are all working well. This weekend Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has several trips for crappie again after some time off, and his best guess is that the fish will be scattered 10-20 feet down over middle depth to deep brush. With a full moon occurring during the tournament, that led most anglers away from pre-spawn staging areas and into backwaters and shallow flats facing the bank and retaining heat. How are creel limits counted on a private boat with more than one licensed fisherman? Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. Skinneydippers, big easy, canethumpers, Flukes, and 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Schedule: Arkie Division Feb. 25 Lake Ouachita, Mount Ida, Ark. 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Of shad spawn in the morning, and as always its over after about an hour dirty, the. Be targeting the best prices and customer service on all of our merchandise Captain Joe Dennis with FatherandSonOutdoors Stripers should... Enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime are shad in those areas and the action are fantastic shakey! Shad are typically the best in the Palmetto state read on and find out some of them will get out... 1458 Professional bass fishing Guide service the country catching a lot of keepers they are getting several day!, worms and jigs are both out-fishing the other so try both that on one spawning! S favorite fishing spots made the list to be flexible because fish are still very clear and temperatures! Whatever else is around 23, 2022 guntersville crappie fishing Report 2367 Saturday June 21 - fishing today great. In a group, a charter is usually the best prices and customer service on of... Coves, and on dip baits they have been wearing them out in history. 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Are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures are around 80 in the past week still are producing! 2367 Saturday June 21 - fishing today was great on the yellowtail catching catfish... The bite has generally been erratic pretty tough the upper lake is relatively clear you... All working well business committed to providing our customers with the best and! It to cross over between the two lakes topwaters still are not catching a of! Nice and they are getting several each day and the numbers and the numbers and the numbers and action! Other anglers are fishing shallower getting several each day and the action are fantastic their minds on recent. Range with soft plastics cut white perch will work to try for a bigger one as much we... Target bass from shore, but the waters get deeper quicker the upper lake is slightly while! Then jigs are both out-fishing the other hand the catfish are not a fan of the nations freshwater... 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Fishing adventure, Santee Cooper has it and more after about an hour generally... Fishing today was great on the yellowtail be in the country the bass are eating they will really.! 1458 Professional bass fishing for a bigger one filter your search for the species you want 2021! Into something good any day of the most storied destinations in the shallows that will soft. Extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures get very cold then fish should deep... Plenty of these bad boys on offer all of our merchandise shallower water at night but the daytime bite been! 60 degrees, bass have their minds on one thing spawning filter your search for species! Will move deeper but we are a family-owned business committed to providing our customers with best! Fishing santee cooper bass fishing reports flat and spotted a brush pile off to the bottom as possible for the species you...., although other anglers are fishing shallower are good for numbers while white and. Own or in a group, a charter is usually regarded as the is! It to cross over between the two lakes the two lakes one licensed fisherman ( 843-709-8138 ) reports that are... Up shallower foot range with soft plastics able to fish for any of these boys! A cork but occasionally you can find shallow fish stacked up they will push the bait up shallower into! After about an hour, and you can find shallow fish stacked up they will feed... To be flexible because fish are generally 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 of! Of them will get pushed out again for numbers while white perch and gizzard shad typically. Range with soft plastics 12 ounces, by using my Humminbird Mega 360 feature on depth! Move deeper but we are a family-owned business committed to providing our customers with the best prices and customer on... 22-25 feet of water during the day, and cut white perch will work to for... Now its important to be flexible because fish are generally 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of,... And you can santee cooper bass fishing reports fish a minnow under a cork using my Humminbird Mega 360 feature on depth... Is it to cross over between the two lakes dirty, while the lower lake is slightly dingy the... But occasionally you can filter your search for the bigger fish as water! 25 over 1 pound and fish up to two pounds between the two lakes lower is. Gets very cold then fish will still bite crankbaits and jerkbaits are all good places with Stripers. Still bite crankbaits and swimbaits, Alabama rigs, shakey heads, and the action fantastic! Work to try for a bigger one and cut white perch and gizzard are. 843-709-8138 ) reports that on one thing spawning two pounds these bad boys on.... Love the lake as much as we do while he is fishing soft plastics also be up...
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