He mixed in a variety of soft plastics and even a hollow bodied frog to become one of just three anglers to weigh in at least 20 pounds every day of the tournament. Provided by Captain Joe Dennis with FatherandSonOutdoors Stripers. 8 ft to the bank, Sunday I even caught top-water with water temps in low 50s. Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week. 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. Updates. The lakes are back to a normal color and water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 40s. Chartreus fishing report source, where right now you can sign up for 30 days of free access to more in-depth fishing 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! With so many panfish up shallow its no surprise that the catfish are in the same areas, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that first thing anchoring in shallow water has been producing very well. There are also still plenty of fish in the creeks that can be caught trolling jigs and minnows in 8-15 feet of water. I live this lake and am planning even now a trip to celebrate my turning 60. That's why we offer energy saving solutions for your home and business. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. Bouncing a crankbait that dives 6-8 feet off the bottom around stumps is an excellent pattern, and small swimbaits and spinnerbaits will also catch fish. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.24 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.82 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Get to grips with a rod and reel as you cast for them. And the added bonus? Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are around 80 in the morning. Herring is his bait of choice. 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. River herring is fishing the best right now. Fishing with a jigging spoon is probably the best way to catch them. Field staff update the fishing reports each week through the fishing season, reporting on fishing success, lake levels, water temperatures, and other important information. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. document.getElementById( "ak_js_38" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_39" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FishingBooker.com. Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that the pattern in January will depend on water conditions, and if the water is dirty then throwing a crankbait around the banks is likely to be the most effective pattern. 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. You may have a very effective predator control program but if your neighbors and their neighbors dont, the results will be temporary, at best, and could ultimately do more harm than good. Still havent made up your mind about going fishing on Santee Cooper? Ive learned that when I fish my style of bassing, I usually can place in the money in a tournament. Whether on your own or in a group, a charter is usually regarded as the best way to go fishing. Santee Cooper Lakes This includes spinnerbaits, swimbaits and crankbaits. Brett has almost exclusively been fishing shallow around wood with fast-moving baits that imitate shad like crankbaits, spinnerbait and jerkbaits (worked quickly). 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. In fact, they stayed within the state of South Carolina. document.getElementById( "ak_js_36" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What is the smallest size motor you would take out I see people on kyaks but everyone says not our 5 hp for around the banks. Shad mainly but we are starting to see the big schools of menhaden. Shop by brand or reel type. Minnows for crappie and crickets for bream are out-fishing everything else. The crappie fishing has still been pretty slow on Santee, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in the upper lake they are picking up a few fish 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Call 619-224-3383. You can post now and register later. The shad are spawning around lily pads, grass and clusters of trees, and when you find fish feeding on them they will eat anything that imitates a shad. In the lakes, drifting across clay & mussel shell bars in 4' to 8' of water using cut bait are catching the bigger fish . This heat wave over the next few days is likely to get some fish thinking about spawning, but as happens every year they will get run out when temperatures drop. The water temperatures have still not dropped quite enough to really change the bass fishing, and Brett reports that if anything it seems likes the fishing has gotten tougher. wigglers and crickets are the best baits. Worms are best for shellcracker while bluegill will also take crickets. Most detailed Lake Jocassee Remember the limit is 3 per personwith a length being 26" Santee Cooper provided a challenge from the weather gods in the form of constant changes. The weather is very nice and they are having good kelp fishing, with a good sign of Bluefin. Fish will be as shallow as they can be found all year, and they will take both live bait and artificials. Your previous content has been restored. So if youre coming from out of town, you wont need to bring anything yourself. In the fall, your best bet is to look for migrating baitfish that youll see in smaller groups. For some reason the catfish bite has gotten really tough, and while there are some fish being caught its not unusual for anglers to strike out right now. From the Wateree River, across the flats of Lake Marion, to the open waters of Lake Moultrie and beyond, the fishing is exceptional. Pasted as rich text. 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). 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. January can be really fun. However, on warmer afternoons they will sometimes come up to 12-14 feet on the shallower end of the depth range. 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 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.18 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). lake levels, water temperatures, and other important information. Paste as plain text instead, Crappie. Casting at diving birds with Alabama rigs or bucktails is the technique of choice. Free shipping . Thank you for sharing! 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. It shouldnt be long until fish start to move into the creeks following shad and become catchable on topwater lures, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits. Wigglers,wax,chartreus This sleepy town is a great base for all your vacation needs. 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. You dont want to fish large, flats pockets like the ones fish would spawn on. Usually fish will still bite crankbaits and swimbaits, but if water temperatures get very cold then spoons will be a good choice. 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. The upper lake is slow but they are catching fish around brush in the lower lake in 25-30 feet of water. 843-753-2271 Mossy Oak Fishing Report: Bassmaster Elite Series Santee Cooper, 49 - The Pursuit of a Turkey in Every State Across the Country, Bill Lowen Fishes Various Lures at Santee Cooper Bassmaster Tournament, Brandon Palaniuk Catches His Biggest Bass in the Santee Cooper Tournament, Brandon Palaniuk's Preparation for the Santee Cooper Bass Tournament, Bill Lowen Explains His Lures and Equipment for the Santee Cooper Tournament, John W. Weeks: Conservation Legend, 20-Million-Acre Man, Mossy Oak Joins The Given Right as Title Sponsor, Launches New Digital Series, The History of the Legendary Bayou Meto WMA, A Comprehensive Guide to Buying Rural Land. Well, the worlds biggest Channel Catfish was caught at Santee Cooper way back in 1964. Springtime spells crappie in South Carolina's Low Country. Canal Lakes Fish Camp Santee Cooper Lakes Hwy 45 (on the Diversion Canal) 139 Canal Landing Road, Cross, SC . 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. I caught it in the river down past Harrys campgrounds. 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. 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. His son Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is catching them in about 25-30 feet of water. Crappie, bream, shellcrackers, stripers and cats make Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion hot spots Catfish: Guide Jerry Kotal reports that January is not a month when very many people will be targeting catfish, but if you concentrate on deep water you can pick up channel catfish around bait schools. 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. Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm. We will be fishing the Coronado Islands. Today we spent the day tuna fishing. If youre coming in March, youll get to experience some of the best Bass fishing Lake Marion has to offer. It went from cold to hot, from calm to windy and back again. Bouncing a crankbait that dives 6-8 feet off the bottom around stumps is an excellent pattern, and small swimbaits and spinnerbaits will also catch fish. Shop by brand or reel type. Their depth will vary, and the best way to target them is with a double minnow rig fished vertically. Herring and chicken have gotten the most bites although they havent found anything the fish are swallowing very well. One day the fishing will be good and the next day it will be slow, but overall the best fishing is coming in the upper lake. Between the full moon, rising water temperatures, and rising water levels from recent rains everything is combing to push the fish towards the banks. If you do fancy going out on foot, your best bet is to hit the canal between the two lakes. Fishing Resources Get the latest fishing reports, hire fishing guides and more to help you make the most of your fishing trip in South Carolina. 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. 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. webmaster@dnr.sc.gov, State Mossy Oak has recently partnered with The Given Right as title sponsor of the series that has been on air for six years. You can also anchor in 10-20 feet around likely areas such as ledges and at the mouths of the canal. Fish are starting to pull up in the creeks where they can be found in 10-20 feet of water pulling jigs. 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. Fish the edges of the creeks. New . Come and take advantage of the Largemouth and Striped Bass bite in the deeper waters. It should not be long until a topwater bite comes on but for now they have not been productive. Compilation of fish catches of frogs, wacky rigs, chatter baits, and swim baits. Marshall Robinson - 34 - 4 (10) The big riser of the day, Marshall Robinson waylaid 19-3 to rocket up the leaderboard after catching just 15-1 on Day 1. document.getElementById( "ak_js_35" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for reading and for sharing your experiences with us! The key to locating bass is finding bait, and they will take Alabama rigs, jerkbaits, small jigging spoons and more. Drift fishing around drop-offs, ledges, and underwater structures in waters that are up to 40 deep is a good place to start. 10 ponders are not uncommon in the spring. Santee Cooper (Lake Marion & Lake Moultrie) Fishing Report. Usually they are back in protected areas, and grass is often a magnet for them. 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. He has been targeting the flats in between the turns in the river bed on Lake Marion. 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. Drifting and bouncing the bottom is working well, and there are also intermittent spots where you can anchor up and catch fish. 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. Meanwhile, you can target them year-round in Lake Moultrie too. 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. 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. Right now it looks like the lakes are in a bit of a down cycle for crappie. You also can get helpful information from the Fishing Forecast. The crappie fishing has been really tough again this week, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports they arent exactly sure why. A few more warm days should bring the fish shallower again. Flats, hills and about anything in the 10-20 foot range is worth drifting. You'll find it at Inky Davis Web Site. However, if it gets very cold then fish should go deep and be caught on spoons bumped off the bottom. Here's a constantly-updating list on what we think is going to be the best of the best in 2023. Spinnerbaits, jigs and crankbaits will all work. With the warm front this bite may slow a bit as the shad may start to spread out more and fish may also start to roam, but they should still be in the same general areas. Very soon, if they have not already, some male fish should get around the banks. 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