santee cooper bass fishing reports

You can also fish soft plastics around trees. 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. If you do fancy going out on foot, your best bet is to hit the canal between the two lakes. It took 10 pounds to win the 3-fish limit Sunday Showdown Series tournament this weekend. They continue to pick away at the crappie on Santee, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that the bite in both lakes is pretty much tracking and fish are only sporadic. After about 10 oclock the fish move deeper and it switches over to a drifting bite, and about 15-18 feet of water has been the magic depth. Drifting and bouncing the bottom is working well, and there are also intermittent spots where you can anchor up and catch fish. With the heat wave and new moon Brett is cautiously optimistic that another big group of fish will come up. Crappie have spawned and moved out of shallow water to deeper Canal May is a great time to fish these lakes, with the warmer weather combined with active Bass making for perfect conditions. The crappie still havent really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are picking up decent numbers of fish by looking at deeper brush. We drive like 12 hours one way to come to this beautiful place. 10 . During the day Stevie is having the best success drifting in 15-25 feet of water with 20 feet the key depth. 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. Some of the biggest ones have been coming in the 20-22 foot range. 10 ponders are not uncommon in the spring. I hope this helps! Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.08 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.96 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Its a pretty good crappie bite right now on the lakes, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are catching some good fish on deep brush about 22 feet down over 38 feet in the lower lake. The fish are already starting to spawn in shallow water around grass but numbers are about to go way up. Hope this helps, you can also find more information about regulations here. Youre right Hurricane Hugo had a devastating effect on the area, and I think power was out for quite a while! document.getElementById( "ak_js_12" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); July is a very productive time on lake Marion the Catfish bite can be excellent in summer. Thanks for reading and for your good question. 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. The more general pattern seems to be fishing with soft plastics like Trick Worms around trees, stumps and points. While he is still fishing soft plastics around trees right now, very soon fish should start to follow shad into the creeks and he will be getting on more of a shad bite. The synonymous state park that engulfs South Carolinas inland sea is truly a thing of beauty. Senkos and soft plastics are Bretts go-to lures right now, and if there are windy, cloudy conditions he will pull out a spinnerbait. Captain Brett Mitchell agrees with that, and Brett reports that the majority of anglers after a big blue are anchoring in 4-6 feet of water around cypress tree clusters. When the fish are up shallow then Brett is pretty much fishing with Senkos and other soft plastics, although in windy conditions he will also fish a spinnerbait. Fishing with a jigging spoon is probably the best way to catch them. Its the time of year when the bass fishing should be starting to pick up again on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that is exactly whats happening. 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. Thank you. The feat has become a growing trend among the turkey hunting community in recent years with hunters across the country making the Super Slam a lifelong hunting goal. Theres a number of things that tend to flare ducks from your hide, but weve narrowed down some of the best of the worst. Some of the fish have already started to spawn while others are shallow looking for spawning areas. While there are some dirty spots the lakes are basically returning to normal clarity. West Columbia, SC 29172. Nor may it be copied, published, rewritten, or redistributed. While many anglers love flipping a big jig or creature baits around the cypress trees or flooded timber, anglers have tremendous success throwing a squarebill. The smaller lake still offers some swampy spots, but the waters get deeper quicker. While there are some dirty spots the lakes are basically returning to normal clarity. These include around grass, trees, and wood. Water temperatures have dropped enough that smaller bass are starting to move into the creeks, but Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that things are running behind this year and so there has not really been a rush of bait in there yet. During the day Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) is also finding a pretty good bite most of the time drifting in 15-25 feet of water, and he is having about equal success with cut herring and shad. Mike Pritchard called in with this report for the Tribute. Etc. It seemed that some of the biggest fish came on Lake Marion, but there were also a lot of people who struck out in the upper lake. A large number of crappie are spawning on Santee, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that certainly not all of them are. Hi Tobias. It sounds like youve had some great times in Santee Cooper! Pasted as rich text. A cagey few mixed in some pre-spawn action and by the end of the tournament a few competitors were even targeting fry-guarders. 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. We know there is Wahoo around and we will be trying for them tomorrow. In the lakes he is looking for a ledge or stumps or something else that will provide the fish with a place to hold. 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. The Santee Cooper Lakes are filled with a wide variety of fish for all levels of sportsman. Whether you opt to search for feeding fish by throwing artificials or covering water by pulling herring on free-lines and planer boards, following the birds is key. 267 sold . Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. Well, the worlds biggest Channel Catfish was caught at Santee Cooper way back in 1964. About 3 feet of water has been the magic number for catching these fish. Shop our collection of fishing rods to find the one that best matches your needs. Fish may even start fanning beds, and there could be females thinking about laying eggs in spawning pockets before temperatures drop. 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! Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor reports that in January tight-lining for suspended fish up the rivers should be effective. Top water and swim baits will work good. Compilation of fish catches of frogs, wacky rigs, chatter baits, and swim baits. Everything he is catching is coming around scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range. Hello everyone, fish. Within the boundaries of the Santee River system (including lakes Marion and Moultrie), from October 1st through June 15th, it is "unlawful to take or possess a striped bass less than twenty-three inches or greater than twenty-five inches, provided that one striped bass taken or possessed may be greater than twenty-six inches. In colder conditions they will move deeper and towards the bottom, while in warmer conditions they often move more towards the creeks and shallower. (803) 854-2131 The lakes are dingy in places but not muddy, about right for this time of year, and morning surface water temperatures are about 52-53 degrees. The catfish bite has dramatically improved on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he has caught a pile of fish drifting over all different kinds of structure in 45-55 feet. After flirting with going back-to-back he ended up third overall. Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the. In contrast, to catch a bigger fish concentrate on shallower water. document.getElementById( "ak_js_38" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_39" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FishingBooker.com. Its not the way he prefers to catch them, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass on Santee Cooper have moved deeper and hes now having to target fish in 8-15 feet. Shallow-water bass fishing means different things to different people, but on Santee-Cooper, shallow water can mean really shallow water, even in the dead of winter. Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are around 80 in the morning. Privacy Statement. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.87 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.75 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Lots of blues of all sizes (especially the good eating size at 3-5 lbs) mixed in with channel cats being caught. So, get in the kitchen and try something new. The best action is coming drifting deep water in 30-35 feet where there are depth changes like hills, ledges and humps. Target the same fish without worrying about bumping into the trees beneath you. Top Rated Plus . Crappie and perch: Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in January he will not target crappie, but white and yellow perch will be caught in excellent numbers. 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. Minnows and crickets are out-fishing everything else. Come enjoy a day on the water with Daisy and Capt Mark !! Blue Catfish are the most common catches, and they respond well to a variety of cut bait, like perch, shad, and herring, while Flathead prefer live bait. Or, stay onshore and hit up the Santee-Cooper Country Club for a round of golf, or just take in the wonders of the green forest against the contrast of the azure lake. All rights reserved. The tournament features a 3-fish limit and goes every Sunday through their April 5 final, all in support of the SC High School Bass Challenge. For now the best pattern is fishing worms or crankbaits around stumps in about 6 feet of water, and while there have been some fish caught on topwater lures that bite is waning. I know personally of a few boaters who go out on the lake with a 200 HP engine, so you should have no trouble with a 5 HP one. 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 son of Bass Pro Tour pro Marty Robinson, it looks like the younger Robinson has a good dose of his dad's fishing talent. The target depth range has been 3-6 feet of water. When most people think of fishing, they imagine sitting by the side of the lake with someone close and relaxing as they cast away. Looking to head to Murray on 4/10 to fish. Head out during the week to beat the crowds as thereis plenty of room on the boat all week. Waste or Abuse to SC Inspector General. Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that in the cold of January fish will be caught very deep on Lake Keowee. document.getElementById( "ak_js_34" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I have traveled to Santee Cooper lakes and rivers several times and had good luck every time. Growing to larger-than-usual sizes, youll need to make sure youve got a dish big enough to cook up this popular Panfish at the end of the day. With warm weather and approaching These fish are still loaded up with eggs and they expect it to be a few more weeks until the spawn is played out. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.54 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.26 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). On the other hand Captain Brett Mitchell is fishing shallower in 15-25 feet of water, drifting over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. Pretty much everything has come on soft plastics this week. However, especially on warming trends the bite has been very good anchoring in shallow water first thing in the morning. Morning surface water temperatures range between 85 and 90 degrees. Even between moons they have picked up some bedding bream, and they have generally been on deeper beds in more than five feet of water. Its a similar story from Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029), who also reports that the best cat action is coming in about 30 feet. Right in front of Blacks there has been some good fishing in 10 feet and at the same depth anywhere out of Russellville the same is true. Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that in January some blue catfish should be catchable that have moved out of the deep timber, and they should begin to be found in the creek channels. Just make note Ive heard inexperienced can get lost in that area so be careful. It sounds like quite a productive trip. raysedgwick8@yahoo.com. Catfish: Santee Cooper Lakes Hwy 45 (on the Diversion Canal) 139 Canal Landing Road, Cross, SC 29436 Open 5:30 AM 843-753-2271 Santee-Cooper Fishing Report - FishingBooker Great savings on Santee-Cooper, United States fishing charters. Fish the edges of the creeks. In the lakes, drifting across clay & mussel shell bars in 4' to 8' of water using cut bait are catching the bigger fish . 5. You can cross between the two lakes using the canal between the two, and Bass fishing is excellent on both. Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week. Does that sound like wishful thinking? 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. The five major bait species in the lakes are gizzard shad, threadfin shad, American shad, blueback herring, and menhaden, which immigrate and emigrate from the lakes based on seasonal patterns. Known together as the Santee Cooper lakes (formally the Santee Cooper Hydroelectric and Navigation Project), Lakes Marion and Moultrie are located in the outer coastal plain to the southeast of South Carolina between the cities of Columbia and Charleston. The reasons arent exactly clear, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass fishing is tougher than its supposed to be. The area doesnt seem to make a whole lot of difference with smaller fish very spread out, and he is just going. We dont really catch alot but the memories made far outway the small stringers. 4/10 to fish has been very good anchoring in shallow water around but. The bottom is working well, the worlds biggest Channel Catfish was caught at Santee Cooper back. Going back-to-back he ended up third overall spawning pockets before temperatures drop whole lot difference! New moon Brett is cautiously optimistic that another big group of fish for levels! 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