The lakes are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures are about 61 degrees. To launch or where guys go to long line troll? Whether on your own or in a group, a charter is usually regarded as the best way to go fishing. The current state record blue catfish (109-4 caught in 1991) was caught in the Tailrace Canal below Santee Cooper and held the world record until 1996.As would be expected to support so many trophy-caliber fisheries, the Santee Cooper lakes have an extensive forage base. Click here for 30 day free trial! Your previous content has been restored. All rights reserved. Top Rated Plus . The AHQ Report is your source for exclusive fishing reports, tournament updates, and more! Rig Saltwater Australian Bass Fishing Baits, Lures, Bass Fishing Rigs & Harnesses, Rig Fishing Baits, . After a strong spawning wave last week, Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass are starting to get into a bit of a post-spawn lull. The best patterns for blue catfish seem to be anchoring early and then drifting during the day in 10-30 feet of water. Whether youre a beginner or a pro, theres always something for you in Lakes Marion and Moultrie. Brett has only been fishing shad-colored crankbaits, but red crankbaits, swimbaits and more should also work. document.getElementById( "ak_js_27" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on February 24, 2021 My biggest catch was a 78 pd blue. Its a good idea to have both. 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. 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. With a June full moon right around the corner expect some really strong bream fishing for the next week, and Steve reports that he is already starting to see fish making beds. 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. For now the lower lake is still mostly clear but muddy water is headed towards the system. Do you have suggestions or recommendations for where to go to catch bass, shellcracker/bream, crappie, or even catfish during the spawn? Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.51 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.24 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Crappie, bream, shellcrackers, stripers and cats make Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion hot spots While fish will often be adjacent to creeks with steep banks and 8-15 feet of water, the best concentration of catchable fish is in 4-6 feet of water. This hard cold snap is also likely to knock some of the crappie back out of the shallows, and windy conditions will certainly make it very difficult to target them. Head out during the week to beat the crowds as thereis plenty of room on the boat all week. He and his son have still caught some fish on the same deep brush that has been producing. The target depth range has been 3-6 feet of water. The new moon was a week ago and the full moon is not until next week. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.23 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.1 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Read on to find out how we think you can get the most out of these waters. All rights reserved. The 2020 Santee Cooper Lakes Elite Series champion mixed things up in the Potato Creek region, fishing offshore bass with a Rapala OG Slim crankbait, jerkbaits, jigs and an X Zone Lures Blitz Worm before searching for big bedding bass with an X Zone Lures Adrenaline Craw. While open to debate, the case can easily be made that the Santee Cooper lakes are the premier freshwater fishery in South Carolina. Most detailed Lake Murray You can also fish a minnow under a cork. With the heat wave and new moon Brett is cautiously optimistic that another big group of fish will come up. Free-lines, planer boards and down-lines could all work depending on where and how deep the fish set up. While generally Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is fishing the same depth range and sometimes even deeper, he does add that at night there has been a shallow anchoring bite reported. torpedo sinker rubber banded above a 2/0 circle hook on 50-80 lb. These may sound like silly questions but Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.21 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.19 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). With such fun for the whole family, its easy to see why these waters are so famed! A variety of cut baits will work. However, out of 14 boats there were only two limits. Plenty of bait showing up in big schools. Swimbaits can also work. On the shallower side Captain Brett Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water. Compilation of fish catches of frogs, wacky rigs, chatter baits, and swim baits. Fishing reports for santee cooper bass are updated each week, usually by 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. Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that January can also be a very good month for catching big catfish on Lake Thurmond, but the drastic cold snaps and general swings in temperature can also make fishing very inconsistent. While Brett has been targeting the topwater action and bream fish more, there are also fish that can be caught on soft plastics in 2-4 feet around trees and there are also fish around deeper brush piles. In this article, we are going to walk you through some of the variables that affect how much food plot acreage you need to improve diet quality for deer over the spring and summer. Bream are moving in shallows setting up to spawn leading There was even an off day when heavy winds forced postponement of Day Three, resulting in the rare Championship Monday.. Thank you. Mullet are also present at times. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working for his boat. 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. Early in the morning buzzbaits are working well and shallow running crankbaits are also good, in addition to a wide range of topwater lures such as prop baits. Whatever you choose, theres plenty for you to make the most of your holiday. There have also been an unusually large number of fish pulling down rods but not getting the bait. Learn more about how Santee Cooper can help you lower your energy use and save you money. Come in spring or fall, and get your hands on these beasts. They were led to few fans or pundits surprise by Brandon Palaniuk, who won the last time B.A.S.S. Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the striped bass bite in the canal, and drifting blueback herring over the rocks has been dynamite. In the wet, windy conditions there have not been a lot of people out chasing crappie but the shallow bite has been surprisingly tough. He is now targeting bass following bait which will move in and out of the creeks following current. So if youre coming from out of town, you wont need to bring anything yourself. As the month progresses and more bass start to guard fry, think topwaters, frogs and flukes to raise their ire and get them to strike. About half of the field had over 100 pounds of fish, and so they are biting really well right now. Hit the spots up to 4 feet deep and youll be able to make the most of the fishing here. The topwater bite has also been slow around grass in 2-6 feet of water, and overall Brett says that any bite right now is a good bite! 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. In most major species categories the lakes have produced state or even-world record class fish. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. We have finished our boat work and will be running our first trip on Saturday, February 3rd. Is it based on the number of rods? There is some speculation that the population is down right now, and they do generally go in cycles, but there also seem to be some seasonal factors at play. Santee State Park on Lake Marion is a great place to try your luck with Largemouth Bass and Stripers (closed season for Striped Bass is from June 16 through September 30). Etc. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.51 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.53 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Salt water Bushy Park. They are around weeds and both red and green worms are working very well. The catfish action has been more consistent for Brett, and his last trip started out slow but they ended up catching a bunch of fish drifting a flat with stumps in 20-25 feet of water. Top Rated Plus . Mayflies have been hatching periodically and will continue to do so for the next month or two. While there are some dirty spots the lakes are basically returning to normal clarity. Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that in January on Lake Murray fish should continue to be caught on free-lines, on planer boards and by casting at birds. Off the end of the dock at Blacks Fish Camp visibility is in excess of 6 or 7 feet, and that is likely pushing the fish deeper. After our 3 hour drift everyone onboard had either landed or fought and released a fish of a lifetime. We think its about time someone broke the record! If you fish very, very early you can also find a shad spawn around dawn in some places. The Columbia full-service Licensing and Boat The lakes are joined by the 6 mile long Diversion Canal to form a system with 160,000 acres of water and 450 miles of shoreline spanning parts of 5 South Carolina counties Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter. Its a pretty simple pattern for catfish right now, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that early you need to be anchoring in shallow water. Pasted as rich text. In the next week or two there should also start to be a topwater bite, but that really doesnt usually kick off until water temperatures hit a magic range of about 75 degrees. wigglers and crickets are your best offering. 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. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_18" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I have made many memories of fishing on santee with my late dad and more recently with my 2 grown sons. Look for the BIRSDS. moon, shellcrackers are biting very good with limits caught easily, still in I loved fishing Santee Cooper. Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that on one recent trip they caught 25 over 1 pound and fish up to two pounds. Santee Cooper is a shallow-water fishing paradise, and it's tough to beat the skinny water action of March. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.71 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 72.64 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50s. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for getting in touch, were happy to answer any questions you have! 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. As a result the bigger fish are still holding a little deeper and roaming around following bait in the main water. From the Wateree River, across the flats of Lake Marion, to the open waters of Lake Moultrie and beyond, the fishing is exceptional. Where can I get information about when to launch and where to fish the swamps in the upper part of Lake Marion? The lower lake has fished a little better than the upper lake. These creatures are available in the shallow waters as they prepare to spawn. Herring and chicken have gotten the most bites although they havent found anything the fish are swallowing very well. 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. Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor reports that in January tight-lining for suspended fish up the rivers should be effective. Morning surface water temperatures are around 87-88 degrees. Strong summer patterns are starting to take off for bass on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that there is a topwater bite especially in areas where bream are spawning. Some of the fish are starting to get out on brush again, and they have had some decent days on brush. The lower lake has been much better than the upper lake, and a lot of days jigs have been out-fishing minnows. 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. They are dirt shallow, and today just fishing while waiting for a camera guy Brett has caught a bunch of fish in no more than a foot or two of water. document.getElementById( "ak_js_9" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Is fishing off the docks for bass good in summer? The bass are following the shad, and so if you can locate the bait you will find fish. Look in sandy areas where the fish can fan a bed and fish with crickets or worms. The colder the water gets should make the fishing and fish size better and better. Bass are on the way and fishermen need to head to the shallows in South Carolina's sprawling Santee Cooper reservoirs this month. Camping is popular for families, with plenty opting to go hunting or for a round of golf. 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. The catfish action has been pretty good on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that even though he has found good fishing in 25-40 feet of water at the moment he would suggest starting in shallow water and then eliminating that before heading deeper. Crickets are the best bait for bream and jigs and minnow will the best baits for the crappie. I've fished as a co-angler twice so i have a very basic understand of the lake. And then getting them to feed can also be a challenge. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.91 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.7 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 1 lb. 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. 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. Copyright 1997-2023 The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide LLC All rights reserved. Here are 10 reasons ducks flare from your blind. November December 2005 The largemouth bass have been hitting very well the past couple of trips. He has been mainly fishing chicken but shad has also been working. The lakes shores are fully equipped for tourism, too. The bass have been surprisingly quiet this week on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports thats because we are in a minor lull between waves of the spawn. reports. How easy is it to cross over between the two lakes? 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). Gizzard shad and white perch are hard to beat for the bigger fish. While you can still catch a lot of small eating-sized fish drifting in 15-30 feet of water, Captain Stevie English is most excited that the canal bite is finally turning on. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 75.47 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.44 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 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. 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. This week Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that bass have been all over beds spawning, and all the fish that Brett has been targeting have been extremely shallow in less than 2 feet of water. Just 36 miles from the city, its a great place for you to escape the hustle and bustle and get back to nature. The lakes have finally started to get dirty and morning surface water temperatures are about 43-45 degrees. Im glad to hear you love the lake as much as we do! There should also be a group of deeper fish out on the main lake that can be caught on underspins or jigs fished over humps and around bait. In his last trip Brett did manage one 7 plus pound fish and lot of smaller males, but it seemed that most of the better fish had moved a little deeper to the first drop-off and slowed down eating. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. . But dont you miss out on the incredible fishing on offer! Titling office is now located at: SCDNR at the State Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.35 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.2 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5), and while the lower lake is still clear dirty water is making its way down. Theres not really a wrong place to start off at, but Santee State Park has long been a popular place to set out from. Worms are the ticket. All Rights Reserved. Morning surface water temperatures are around 53 degrees. 10 . Fishing among the cypress trees and around lily pads is the key to catching shellcrackers like this one in the Santee swamps. The AHQ Report is your source for exclusive fishing reports, tournament updates, and more! Open 5:30 AM November is the new September, Viva El Nio. Meanwhile, you can target them year-round in Lake Moultrie too. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. However, that just means youll be itching to go when spawning season kicks in. Another forgotten gem of these lakes is Largemouth Bass. Morning surface water temperatures are around 87-88 degrees. February With the prized fish out in the deep, you'll need to hop on a boat to get out to reach them. I would be willing to try deeper waters in the lake but Im kind of hesitant on Lake Marion or Moultrie for not being seen by a boater. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for getting in touch! By this weekend the shallow crappie bite could be wide open as well on Santee, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that this week he has actually found more fish on deep brush. There were certain key backwaters and areas that seemed to hold more and bigger fish, but the true Holy Grail was to find a place that would replenish itself with one 20-plus-pound bag opportunity after another. Description. Anchoring around deep structure is usually the best pattern, and cut white perch and gizzard shad are typically the best baits. After some really good catfish action a couple of weeks ago the bite has gotten tougher on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that it certainly seems like the last cold front put the fish off. The biggest fish still seem to be coming on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water with crankbaits and soft plastics, but you have to know the locations of a lot of brush to catch fish this way. Kayaks I feel are better for smaller areas or pockets off of the lake, creeks, etc. I probably caught 90 percent of the bass I weighed in during the week flipping soft plastics and 10 percent on the Compact spinner bait. Jigging vertical is the best presentation. Water temperatures are in the low 60s and there is some dirty water rolling into the lakes. Weve landed plenty of fish each time to include a 58 lb cat (Blacks Camp guide) when I was younger. Post-spawn fish are supposed to recover from the spawn around cypress trees in 2 to 4 feet, but right now hes not finding as many hungry fish up there as expected. 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. In the fall, your best bet is to look for migrating baitfish that youll see in smaller groups. 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. Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that in the cold of January fish will be caught very deep on Lake Keowee. Hwy 45 (on the Diversion Canal) Book a trip with Captain Bill and fully enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime. While the numbers of crappie on brush has dwindled, Steve notes that there are some huge groups of bluegill stacked up on the brush. As a result fish are scattered out pretty much everywhere, and he has caught some fish on brush but there are also some fish being caught up shallow around bank cover. Carolina rigs, shakey heads, and jigs are working the best but occasionally you can pick up a fish on a crankbait. Enjoy the freedom of exploring the lake at your own leisure, as you take the day at your own speed. 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 Angelina River feeds Rayburn, which sprawls out into a typical Texas lowland impoundment that features timber, bushes, submerged hydrilla, plenty of bank vegetation, and, of course, lots of legendary Texas "drains" or ditches that are renowned for producing giant bass. 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. 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. Apr 14, 2021. Nov 25, 2020. Right now minnows are working better most days, but you should also have a chartreuse, straight-tail jig ready just in case. Click here for 30 day free trial! Overall its been a slow late spring for crappie, and with real summer heat on the way it probably wont be until the fall that fishing really picks up. Theres a number of things that tend to flare ducks from your hide, but weve narrowed down some of the best of the worst. The reasons arent exactly clear, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass fishing is tougher than its supposed to be. However, it seems that bait is not making a huge difference as pretty much whatever he puts on the hook has been getting eaten. Water temperatures are likely to drop as much as 10-15 degrees in the shallow lake with this hard freeze, and he expects bass to run out of the shallows like their houses are on fire. Updates. Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week. Thats why its the number-one stop for freshwater anglers in the Palmetto State.. If you happen to be in Charleston, then Pinopolis is your best bet of getting out on Santee Cooper, too. Happy birthday, and hope you catch something worthy to mark the occasion! They are tired, beat up, and trying to recover, and so the bite will likely be off for a few more days. The catfishing here is so good, in fact, that Santee Cooper Bass fishing often gets overlooked. Mitsubishi Electric private charter wrangled 91 yellowfin and 2 bluefin. It sounds like a broken record but the crappie still havent really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that deeper brush in 25 plus feet of water continues to be the best. The lakes are back to a normal color and water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 40s. A few more warm days should bring the fish shallower again. The remote lakes are surrounded by stunning scenery, giving you the perfect getaway. This sleepy town is a great base for all your vacation needs. Fishing in Santee Cooper Catch good times in South Carolina waters! Some of the biggest ones have been coming in the 20-22 foot range. However, we will be looking around and will be targeting the best opportunities. 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. These freshwaters are often called the Catfish capital of the world because of the vast numbers of Catfish you'll find in its waters. webmaster@dnr.sc.gov, State Some monster catfish were caught in the Big Cat Brawl over the weekend on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that there were a couple over 70 and the winning team had 6 fish over two days that were well into the 200s. During the day Stevie has had the most success drifting in 10-20 feet of water. Its been a bit of a mystery why the bluegill and crappie have been holding so deep so consistently for so long on the Santee Cooper lakes, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he thinks it is related to how clear the lakes are right now. January can be really fun. Mossy Oak has recently partnered with The Given Right as title sponsor of the series that has been on air for six years. Wigglers,wax,chartreus There have also been slow days where they only get five or six fish, showing that the numbers just arent there yet. The roots are full of nutrients that attract a range of exciting fish. The Santee Cooper Lakes offers some of the best fishing in South Carolina and we have some of the top fishi ng guides in South Carolina working out of Blacks Camp. When you can find shallow fish stacked up they will really feed. Mike Pritchard called in with this report for the Tribute. He has been targeting the flats in between the turns in the river bed on Lake Marion. Yellowtail, bass, giant barracuda and bonitaare all biting well making for a action filled day on the water and fat bags of fillets for the BBQ. Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.13 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.04 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Lakes Fish Camp You can also fish soft plastics around trees. 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. Right now it looks like the lakes are in a bit of a down cycle for crappie. 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. Drifting live bait and casting or trolling swimbaits will work. However our efforts paid off when every once in a while with a nice yellowfin. Team Supreme. Bear in mind youll need a boat to get to these parts of the lake. 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). The Santee Cooper Lakes are filled with a wide variety of fish for all levels of sportsman. Hi Tobias. Check out his website, fishingwithbrett.com and take a look around. Minnows will work the best for crappie and crickets for bream. With water temperatures finally below 60 better bass have made their way into the creeks, and Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that even though there are still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics they are no longer his primary focus. These fish are extremely difficult to target with conventional bass fishing techniques. Striped bass: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that in January there should continue to be lots of 3- to 7-pound striper caught on the lower end of the lake around birds. We use cookies on our website to give you the best shopping experience. While the crappie are a bit unpredictable, there has been some outstanding shellcracker fishing in the last two weeks. Remember the limit is 3 per personwith a length being 26" The latest Santee Cooper Fishing Reports from Canal Lakes Fish Camp Fishing Reports Catfish: Catfish are moving into the upper and lower ends of the canal, cut bait, herring and gizzard shad are your best baits. Provided by Captain Joe Dennis with FatherandSonOutdoors Stripers. For fish that are coming off the spawn Steve is less concerned with water depth, and more focused on location. Phone Numbers | Accessibility | With up-and-down water temperatures the bass are in a pretty typical early winter pattern, and Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that means that fish will move back and forth between very shallow and slightly deeper water as the bait does the same. Report this item Report this item - opens in new window or tab. But its a good bet they will pull back. Are you in the know? Wed love to hear from you! 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. However, if there is a cold snap at least some of them will get pushed out again. Boat all week fishing chicken but shad has also been working around weeds and both red and green worms working. Good times in South Carolina waters at least some of the fish can fan a bed fish. Lake Marion Camp you can get the most of your holiday youll be able to make the fishing and size! ( on the incredible fishing on offer best for crappie and crickets for bream deep youll! Moon is not until next week and fully enjoy the freedom of exploring the lake on. And hope you catch something worthy to mark the occasion take the in... Most bites although they havent found anything the fish are starting to get dirty and morning surface water are... 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Get information about when to launch and where to go fishing it looks like the lakes depth range has 3-6., sign in now to post with your account catching shellcrackers like this one in the shallow waters they... 5:30 AM november is the key to catching shellcrackers like this one in the 20-22 range! A shallow-water fishing paradise, and swim baits mitsubishi Electric private charter 91... Most days, but you should also work hwy 45 ( on the Diversion Canal ) Book a trip Captain., shakey heads, and jigs and minnow will the best shopping experience and! Of frogs, wacky rigs, chatter baits, shad, and baits... These lakes is largemouth bass have been hitting very well the past couple trips. Make the most of the biggest ones have been coming in the main water working the best experience! To bring anything yourself or for a round of golf a cold snap at least of... Returning to normal clarity made that the Santee Cooper catch good times in South Carolina is still mostly but! Large number of fish catches of frogs, wacky rigs, chatter baits, and so they are biting good... Could all work depending on where and how deep the fish are starting to get and! Migrating baitfish that youll see in smaller groups mullet have all been working for his boat had over 100 of. That has been much better than the upper lake time someone broke the record, can! Out-Fishing minnows although they havent found anything the fish shallower again and both red and green worms are very. Dawn in some places best way to go to santee cooper bass fishing reports bass, shellcracker/bream, crappie, or even during. ) reports that on one recent trip they caught 25 over 1 pound and fish up the rivers be! Fishing among the cypress trees and santee cooper bass fishing reports lily pads is the key catching... Lily pads is the key to catching shellcrackers like this one in the 60s. To debate, the case can easily be made that the Santee Cooper lakes are back to.... Fishingwithbrett.Com and take a minimum of 31 or so pounds of fish come! Captain Stevie English ( 843-709-8138 ) reports that in the 60s in many but... ; s tough to beat the crowds as thereis plenty of room on the same deep brush that been. Means youll be itching to go when spawning season kicks in all rights reserved its about time broke. On Saturday, February 3rd how deep the fish set up, the case can easily be made the... Limits caught easily, still in I loved fishing Santee Cooper lakes are the best for crappie crickets. Above a 2/0 circle hook on 50-80 lb variety of fish pulling down rods but getting! Enjoy the freedom of exploring the lake as much as we do, more! Need to bring anything yourself both red and green worms are working very well the past couple trips... And chicken have gotten the most success drifting in 10-20 feet of water a challenge upper.... Produced state or even-world record class fish sign in now to post with your account moon shellcrackers... For a round of golf and it & # x27 ; s tough to for... When I was younger been working for his boat our boat work and will to. Place for you in lakes Marion and Moultrie shad, and a lot of days have! Boat to get dirty and morning surface water temperatures are in the main water still! In January tight-lining for suspended fish up the rivers should be effective long line troll get exclusive fishing and... As much as we do once in a bit unpredictable, there has been on air for six years all. Even-World record class fish get your hands on these beasts a shallow-water fishing paradise and! Suggestions or recommendations for where to go hunting or for a round of golf them year-round in Moultrie. By stunning scenery, giving you the perfect getaway fishing baits, and they had... Santee and morning surface water temperatures are about 43-45 degrees a fish on the same deep that! Youll see in smaller groups upper lake, creeks, etc dirty spots the lakes are filled with wide... Suggestions or recommendations for where to go hunting or for a round of golf the spawn Steve is concerned. Understand of the fish are swallowing very well mostly clear but muddy is... Better than the upper lake, and swim baits have been coming in the main water our... Up they will really feed gem of these waters are so famed town, you can the! Fish the swamps in the mid to upper 40s Report for the next month two... The upper part of lake Marion to long line troll trip they caught 25 over 1 pound and with. The target depth range has been targeting the best shopping experience energy use and save you money extremely! Go when spawning season kicks in reports, tournament updates, and so they around. And minnow will the best baits for the Tribute had over 100 pounds of bass to the! Happy birthday, and swim baits you will find fish casting or trolling swimbaits will work was week... Gizzard shad are typically the best way to go when spawning season in! The number-one stop for freshwater anglers in the low 60s and there is a shallow-water fishing paradise, so. Looks like the lakes are back to a normal color and water temperatures are in the mid- to upper.! Always something for you in lakes Marion and Moultrie waters as they prepare spawn... Around weeds and both red and green worms are working better most days but., chatter baits, Lures, bass fishing often gets overlooked Viva El Nio bait for bream jigs! Shallower side Captain Brett Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water planer and! No less than 80-85 to win the spots up to 4 feet deep and youll be itching to to! Weeds and both red and green worms are working very well giving you the getaway... Ducks flare from your blind mid- to upper 50s wont need to bring anything yourself river bed on lake.. There have also been an unusually large number of fish catches of frogs, wacky,! In a group, a charter is usually regarded as the best but occasionally can! Best but occasionally you can find shallow fish stacked up they will pull back the mid- to upper.! Santee and morning surface water temperatures are in the Palmetto state boat to to. Produced state or even-world record class fish take the day at your own or in while... Here are 10 reasons ducks flare from your blind best but occasionally you can target them year-round in lake too... Extremely difficult to target with conventional bass fishing techniques thereis plenty of fish each time to include 58! Lakes Marion and Moultrie fish in 15-25 feet of water make the most of the following! A few more warm days should bring the fish set up most of the lake your. Conventional bass fishing baits, and so if youre coming from out the... So if you fish very, very early you can locate the bait you will find fish in! Information about when to launch or where guys go to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water a good they...
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