Join AHQ Premier for unlimited Free Shipping & access to the AHQ Report. Level: 07.18.21. 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. Most anything that imitates shad from swimbaits to Alabama rigs to crankbaits to Rattle Traps will work. Copyright 1997-2023 The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide LLC All rights reserved. document.getElementById( "ak_js_23" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on November 25, 2020 Spread them out and different depths and speeds until you get a pattern. santee cooper bass Fishing Reports For up-to-date information, look up the fishing report for the water of your choice. Santee Cooper Lakes fishing can easily keep you busy catching largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white perch. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.03 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.78 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.31 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.57 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Always a great place to fish. Late this month some of the shallower creeks could also turn on. Even though he is hearing those same reports from deeper water, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is still spending more time drifting in shallow water and he is having the best success in 10-15 feet. Do all people on a private boat have to have a fishing license? They may not be grouped up around deep bait as well as they were in late November and December, but the best way to catch fish them is often still with a jigging spoon. 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. My biggest catch was a 78 pd blue. Swimbaits can also work. document.getElementById( "ak_js_6" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on October 27, 2021 Its not uncommon to see some upper 30 pound bags come from Santee in the spring. For fish that are coming off the spawn Steve is less concerned with water depth, and more focused on location. The fish they are catching are coming on soft plastics. And, few lakes in the country can rival the numbers and size that Santee Cooper kicks out. Shallower brush in 14-15 feet of water is still not producing and it has only been the trees in 20-35 feet that have produced. Wanted to plan a trip. Morning surface water temperatures are mostly in the low to mid-70s. Yesterday they tried some brush in 14-15 feet of water with no bites, and it has only been the trees in 20-35 feet that have produced. Often they will be grouped up with other species and on minnows you can catch a mixed bag. 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. March 23, 2021 in Fishing Reports. Come For fish chasing bait flukes, Spooks, Pop-Rs, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits will all work. Salt water Bushy Park. Bedding around bullrush grass, lilly-pads, primrose 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. You can post now and register later. document.getElementById( "ak_js_29" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on October 28, 2020 Brush in 25-35 feet of water is holding the most fish, with most of the fish about 10-12 feet off the bottom. Fishing in Santee Cooper Catch good times in South Carolina waters! Open 5:30 AM Yellow Bass - Fair: Start shallow with a small jig or jigging spoon tipped with several spikes or a waxworm. Went last weekend and the wind was crazy and it was 38 degrees, not good for kayak fishing. 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! Great fishing happening right now at the Coronado Islands aboardthe San Diego fishing out of Seaforth Landing. You. For now the lower lake is still mostly clear but muddy water is headed towards the system. White perch has been completely unproductive. 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). As the underwater forest makes for a thriving ecosystem, you dont want to miss out on all the fun. There are shad in those areas and the bass are also feeding opportunistically on whatever else is around. The catfish action is still a little slow on Santee, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that if you work hard you can still put a nice box of fish in the boat. He is fishing soft plastics in and around spawning coves, and pitching baits at shallow structure. 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. Get out on the water and hunt the swampy bottoms and backcountry where monster Catfish and Bass love to feed. The water temperatures have still not dropped quite enough to really change the bass fishing, and Brett reports that everything he is catching is coming around scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range. As for launching, Packs Landing out of Rimini is the most northern starting point youll find, while Summerton, St. Pauls, and Adams landing are all great spots. Drift fishing around drop-offs, ledges, and underwater structures in waters that are up to 40 deep is a good place to start. Now that fall is near Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) is back after the crappie, and even though he has had a few good days there are also times when the fishing is slow. Drop live baits or throw swim baits into the bait schools. Channel catfish and flatheads will be close to dormant. We will do our best to make sure that does not happen again. Waste or Abuse to SC Inspector General | On the shallower side Captain Brett Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water. WHich has better largemouth bass fishing? The lower lake has fished a little better than the upper lake. 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. Big worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs will all work around brush. 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. Crickets and minnows are the best baits. Look for crappie on brush in 12-25 ft. On Lake Marion and 28-35 ft on Lake Moultrie. The blues were on the deeper end of that range, while when he pulled back to 35 or less feet he encountered more channels. Luckily, they also bring some of the best bass fishing of the year, so stay tuned for more tips and reports from our Mossy Oak team. Look for the BIRSDS. its no surprise that fishing on Santee Cooper is among the best in the state. Luckily the catfish bite has been really good on Santee Cooper, and both Steve and his son Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) report that they are filling boxes with fish pretty quickly. Titling office is now located at: SCDNR at the State While there are tons of little fish out in very deep water, the best action has generally come drifting Santee-style in 25-35 feet of water. Pretty much everything has come on soft plastics this week. If youre a semi-proficient sight fisherman, bring craws and creature baits for the fish you can see among the pads and cypress knees. document.getElementById( "ak_js_7" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Took my first trip to Santee with friends who have been coming every year since around 2010. Be aware, though, the underwater trees and stumps can make for hazardous boating conditions. Brian Cope Bass Fishing, Breaking News, Fishing Tournaments, Newsletters Santee will host Bassmaster Elite anglers March 17 - 20 The Bassmaster Elite Series has released its 2022 schedule, and the tour will make two stops in South Carolina next season. One fish reigns supreme in the Santee Cooper lakes, and that's Catfish. 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. Capt Ryan Checking in on there way back from 3/4day offshore trip. Sonny's blood bait and Murrells stink bait are your best baits. Bass: Tournament angler Joe Anders reports that on Lake Jocassee in January the fish will be deep, and they are mostly likely to be suspended in the channels or off deep points. If youre headed to Santee this month, plan on bringing a Mossy Oak Fishing Hoodie for the drastic weather changes, and also a Mossy Oak Elements Long Sleeve Tech tee it blends into the sky, which makes it great for sight fishing. Enjoy the freedom of exploring the lake at your own leisure, as you take the day at your own speed. Come in spring or fall, and get your hands on these beasts. Carolina rigs, shakey heads, and jigs are working the best but occasionally you can pick up a fish on a crankbait. Its a good idea to have both. Sorry for the mistakes! Indulge in the stunning surroundings of the towering pine trees around the lake, or head out onto the heart of the lake and get your fill of Catfish, Bass, and delicious Panfish. Paste as plain text instead, If those arent working then Brett suggests looking a little deeper with Ned rigs and shakey heads in the same areas. January Fishing Report. 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. With a professional guide, youll get to the sweet spots with ease, and may even reach some secluded spots that nobody else knows about. AHQ INSIDER Santee Cooper (SC) 2023 Week 1 Fishing Report - Updated January 6 January 6 Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.15 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.44 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 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. Jigging vertical is the best presentation. 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Schedule: Arkie Division Feb. 25 Lake Ouachita, Mount Ida, Ark. That's why we offer energy saving solutions for your home and business. Updates. For now the lower lake is still mostly clear but muddy water is headed towards the system. The reports are compiled by an outside contractor who receives the 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. Another forgotten gem of these lakes is Largemouth Bass. The bite can be decent if you locate a group of fish on electronics or otherwise, but thats the tricky part. It sounds like youve had some great times in Santee Cooper! In the cold weather the bream fishing has really slowed down, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that they are still catching some nice crappie even though they are having to work for them. Provided by Captain Joe Dennis with FatherandSonOutdoors. West Columbia, SC 29172. 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. Thurmond Updates. The upper lake is slow but they are catching fish around brush in the lower lake in 25-30 feet of water. The Santee Cooper Lakes are filled with a wide variety of fish for all levels of sportsman. document.getElementById( "ak_js_30" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Typo in opening sentence inlcuding. January can be really fun. However, he is also doing well drifting as deep as about 12 feet. Farmer's Market Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s. I was fishing a flat and spotted a brush pile off to the side of my boat. They dont all rush to the bank at once, however. Cut perch and chicken have both been working about the same for him. His best performance was Day Three, when he sacked 27 pounds 7 ounces to claim a good spot in the top 10, although he never brought less than 21-10 to the scales. 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). Good to hear they are getting shallow there. In another sure sign of spring, while Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) has caught a ton of bluegill on deeper brush he reports that there have been some outstanding catches of shellcracker around grass in less than 6 feet of water. Catfish are moving into the upper and lower ends of the After that its more of a drift bite in 20-30 feet of water. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.90 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.48 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Minnows will work the best for crappie and crickets for bream. The are no hills like that. 267 sold . document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for getting in touch! Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s and while the mud is coming its still only dingy in the lakes. To fill a cooler with eating size catfish Captain Stevie reports that his boat is drifting with herring in 15-30 feet of water, and they have found a pretty fast bite for channels and smaller blues. Cut herring are good for numbers while white perch will work to try for a bigger one. When fishing on Santee Cooper, youll want a boat to get to the most productive fishing grounds. Updates. Anglers looking to explore north Lake Moultrie and the canal will be hard-pressed to find a better spot. Captain Bobby Winters (843-751-3080) reports that there are times, however, after it gets very cold when the only bites he can get from big fish are in shallow water anchoring around structure like mussel beds. However, if there is a cold snap at least some of them will get pushed out again. Mitsubishi Electric private charter wrangled 91 yellowfin and 2 bluefin. There are still a ton of striped bass in the canal, and drifting blueback herring has been the preferred technique. Overall the catfish are just eating really well right now, although they are displaying a strong preference for herring. This weekend will be a totally different situation, however, and with temperatures dropping into the mid-20s and 25 mile per hour winds out of the north he expects that many fish will abandon their beds. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below. Oct 20, 2021. 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. He is starting his drift in about 6 feet of water and then working out to about 20. Just 36 miles from the city, its a great place for you to escape the hustle and bustle and get back to nature. Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are around 80 in the morning. The new moon was a week ago and the full moon is not until next week. Saw quite a few fish moving in shallows, mostly Bucks. While the topwater bite should be taking off Brett hasnt really found very much, and he characterizes it as only sporadic.. We have one but cant pull camper and boat at the same time. 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. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.81 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.51 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). We dont really catch alot but the memories made far outway the small stringers. Updates. We have finished our boat work and will be running our first trip on Saturday, February 3rd. Come enjoy a day on the water with Daisy and Capt Mark !! Crappie: Veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that, depending upon water conditions, in January most of the Wateree crappie should be caught tight-lining minnows and jigs along the river channel. He is a friend of mine and wins virtually every tournament he fishes there. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. The Sunday Showdown Series had their first tournament of the season yesterday on Santee Cooper out of Black's. They were led to few fans or pundits surprise by Brandon Palaniuk, who won the last time B.A.S.S. Overall its a good bet to have a wide selection of cut bait as well as chicken available. While there are some dirty spots the lakes are basically returning to normal clarity. Hope you have a rewarding time fishing on Santee Cooper. 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. Morning surface water temperatures are around 73 degrees. Bream are moving in shallows setting up to spawn leading 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. Under the surface there is the reality of varying contour in both lakes.Popular species targeted by Santee Cooper anglers include largemouth bass, a recovering population of striped bass, white and black crappie, bream (most notably shellcracker and bluegill), and several species of catfish. Again, a topwater bite should be taking off Brett hasnt really found very much, and he characterizes it as only sporadic.. The fish have been coming from 10-15' of water around drop offs and creek channels. Thursday morning. Crappie: Captain Bill Plumley reports that in January fish should continue to be caught around deep docks and bridges in both the creeks and on the main lake. If youre looking for a more traditional lake fishing experience, then Lake Moultries open waters are just what you want. The AHQ Report is your source for exclusive fishing reports, tournament updates, and more! 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_14" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for reading and for your comment. He and his son have still caught some fish on the same deep brush that has been producing. 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. 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. Most detailed Lake Wateree Wed love to hear from you! 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. This time of year, the Santee Cooper lakes are a great choice for Crappie long line trolling. The weather is very nice and they are having good kelp fishing, with a good sign of Bluefin. data-event-category="Navigation header guest". 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. The smaller lake still offers some swampy spots, but the waters get deeper quicker. 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. Its very difficult to search the upper and lower lake of Marion with a kayak for vegetation, grass, etc where you would most likely find bedding areas. But dont you miss out on the incredible fishing on offer! And then getting them to feed can also be a challenge. They will usually stop at brush coming out from spawning areas where they can rest before going deeper. He is now targeting bass following bait which will move in and out of the creeks following current. Shop our collection of fishing rods to find the one that best matches your needs. Throughout the day drifting in 5-15 feet of water has been productive. When temperatures are cold and the water is relatively clear a jigging spoon can be effective. updates. While the numbers of crappie on brush has dwindled, Steve notes that there are some huge groups of bluegill stacked up on the brush. You can still catch some crappie on deep brush in 20-35 feet, but the numbers are dwindling. Morning surface water temperatures are around 87-88 degrees. In general anchoring on deep structure is the most consistent way to catch large blue and flathead catfish this month. This material may not be posted on another website. Hi Tobias. A few more warm days should bring the fish shallower again. In most major species categories the lakes have produced state or even-world record class fish. The crown jewel of the nearly 50 publicly accessible green tree reservoir hunting area is the famed George H. Dunklin, Jr. Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area (WMA) south of Stuttgart. The striper bite is still going pretty good even with the colder weather coming in. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. 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. "Weeds, brush, trees and pads are all good places. We will be fishing the Coronado Islands. 10 ponders are not uncommon in the spring. Jerkbaits and Alabama rigs could also work. If anything it has picked up in the past week. New . Captain Ryan Bostian called in with an announcement. Fishing is good, going today and I expect it to be off the chain. Here's a constantly-updating list on what we think is going to be the best of the best in 2023. document.getElementById( "ak_js_20" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Im coming down in March to fish for largemouth bass. Its an interesting bite for catfish on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the fishing is kind of feast-or-famine. After flirting with going back-to-back he ended up third overall. Even though its not wide open the crappie fishing has really picked up, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are catching fish 10-22 feet down over brush in 30 plus feet of water. Late last week anglers first noted that bucks were moving up, and then Friday and Saturday some big females came up. (known as gator grass) in 2' to 4' of water in the protectivebackwaters This week the shallow morning bite at anchor has still been the best thing going, but during the day drifting 20-30 feet has turned on. 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. Get to grips with a rod and reel as you cast for them. Starting to see some real nice stripers coming from trolling stretch 25 and Alabama rigs deep in 40-50 ft of water. Water Tmp: 10.04.20. He has found that small blueback herring are working better than chicken, although both will get bites. 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). 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. 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 Santee Cooper lake system includes not one, but two lakes, including South Carolinas Inland Sea and the states third-largest lake. 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. 10 . We couldnt get the new depth finder to work 2 years ago and still left with plenty of fish and variety being confined to the bank and familiar water near the house we rented. We hope to have many more vacation there in the future. 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. . We are a family-owned business committed to providing our customers with the best prices and customer service on all of our merchandise. Weve landed plenty of fish each time to include a 58 lb cat (Blacks Camp guide) when I was younger. 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! Are you in the know? Drifting mid-depths has not been productive, although that could change as temperatures settle into winter patterns. Chartreuse, straight-tail jigs are working the best. 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. But its a good bet they will pull back. The upper lake is getting dirty, while the lower lake is relatively clear once you get away from the mouth of the canal. Areas to visit, Lake Murray in the Russell Flats area. He will be fishing minnows. You can cross between the two lakes using the canal between the two, and Bass fishing is excellent on both. Most Herring is his bait of choice. document.getElementById( "ak_js_31" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for reading and for your eagle-eyed observations! Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. Whether on your own or in a group, a charter is usually regarded as the best way to go fishing. 13.0 in. While the fish are still pretty deep, Steve expects them to start to move into the creeks this week and he will be expecting to find them in 10-20 feet of water. At the April full moon it should be gangbusters again, while this week they have caught decent numbers and a few big fish but nothing has been hot. Santee Cooper provided a challenge from the weather gods in the form of constant changes. Hello everyone, A general pattern can be to anchor in deep water early and then try the shallows later in the day when the water warms. Brett Mitchell agrees that the deep bite is good during the day, but he also notes that first thing in the morning there have been good reports of fish caught shallow.