He has had the best luck drifting in 10-20 feet of water on cut herring, although at night he is finding much better fishing out deep in 25-40 feet. The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58. moon, shellcrackers are biting very good with limits caught easily, still in Monticello Updates. 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. My biggest catch was a 78 pd blue. On Sept. 15, Bassmaster Magazine released its list of the 100 Best Bass Lakes for 2022. 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. First-timers should watch out for some unexpected bumps along the way. 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. Today we spent the day tuna 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! 139 Canal Landing Road, Cross, SC 29436 The bass fishing has been pretty tough recently, but Steve reports that while some fish can be caught shallow he believes the best way to catch good ones right now is reeling a crankbait just over brush piles. To launch or where guys go to long line troll? Saw quite a few fish moving in shallows, mostly Bucks. With the full moon there should be a bream bed bite right now, but Brett says he has been looking but really hasnt found one. Report this item Report this item - opens in new window or tab. Catfish. Bream are moving in shallows setting up to spawn leading A record 58-pound channel catfish and five-pound black crappie were caught at Lake Moultrie. Thankfully, the fish in Santee Cooper werent too affected, unlike the saltwater species off the coast! 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. The more general pattern seems to be fishing with soft plastics like Trick Worms around trees, stumps and points. North Iowa fishing report for Feb. 8. 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. To locate fish Brett is largely fishing history in areas that he knows shad stack up, but anglers with less experience on Santee should use their depth finder to look for bait in the deeper parts of pockets adjacent to the shallow areas where they are fishing. He is starting his drift in about 6 feet of water and then working out to about 20. Fish will often be adjacent to steep banks and 8-15 feet of water, but the best concentration of catchable fish is shallower in 4-6 feet of water. 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. Again, a topwater bite should be taking off Brett hasnt really found very much, and he characterizes it as only sporadic.. 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). The upper lake has been fishing a bit better than the lower lake recently, and the best action has come 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water. Water temperatures have not dropped enough to really change the bass fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that when temperatures drop another five degrees then you should be able to fish topwater baits all day long and not just in the mornings. Largemouth Bass Spawn Water Temperature and Moon Phase. document.getElementById( "ak_js_16" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for reading and for your question. 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). Prior to the Weeks Act of 1911, the citizenry of the Republic owned no large land tracts in the eastern United States. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Depending on what they are on Brett will then turn to jerkbaits, Carolina rigs, swimbaits or spinnerbaits. Spring is generally the best time to target Bass from shore, but you can hook into something good any day of the year. They provide a home to various fish species, especially Catfish. On board, youll find all the gear you need, including bait or lures. . But the bite has been very good, and yesterday they caught 29 crappie in the upper lake and 50 bluegill and 8 crappie the day before in the lower lake. It should not be long until a topwater bite comes on but for now they have not been productive. Nor may it be copied, published, rewritten, or redistributed. Drifting and bouncing the bottom is working well, and there are also intermittent spots where you can anchor up and catch fish. They will take minnows fished around deeper schools of bait. In clearer areas jigging a spoon should also work this month, and an Alabama rig can also be in play. Hit the canal that joins the lakes for Stripers in spring, or explore the numerous ditches out in the heart of the lake year-round for Bass and Crappie. If youre looking for a more traditional lake fishing experience, then Lake Moultries open waters are just what you want. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_22" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Where would one rent a boat in that area. Hope you have a rewarding time fishing on Santee Cooper. 10 ponders are not uncommon in the spring. They are around brush piles, drop offs, and shell bars. 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). He has been targeting the flats in between the turns in the river bed on Lake Marion. Open 5:30 AM Before the cold front at the beginning of this week there were starting to be some bream around the banks, but for now the weather seems to have pushed them out to the same brush the crappie are on. Lots of crappie are on the deeper brush. Thanks for reading and for sharing your experience with us. 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. However, as the biggest prizes in Santee Cooper are further out in the middle of the lakes, fishing from shore is not a popular choice around here. Santee Cooper Fishing Report by Ray Sedgwick. Oct 27, 2021. There are even some fish up on the banks looking for spawning locations, and so right now you can fish about any shallow pattern for crappie. Drift fishing around drop-offs, ledges, and underwater structures in waters that are up to 40 deep is a good place to start. Look for the BIRSDS. $14.99 . Along with the TV partnership, The Given Right has launched a new digital series on Mossy Oak GO, Behind the Season. Join AHQ Premier for unlimited Free Shipping & access to the AHQ Report. The lakes shores are fully equipped for tourism, too. Fish Consumption Advisories, SCDNR at the State He has been mainly fishing chicken but shad has also been working. Book a trip with Captain Bill and fully enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime. Description. Big worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs will all work around brush. Thank you. Bass in the Santee Cooper lakes start to move shallow this month, and anglers should follow. Bass: FLW fisherman Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that in January fish will still be in steep areas with access to deep water, but with the spawn approaching they should start to feed better. While at the visitor center launch, if you kayak out and follow the left shore past the cabins youll come into a small cove that is fairly quiet of boat traffic. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for getting in touch! They will be after the bream again this weekend and will report back. If you fish very, very early you can also find a shad spawn around dawn in some places. I hope this helps. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s in the shallows. document.getElementById( "ak_js_24" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Love to get some guides to call at the best lakes. 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. The crappie fishing has improved marginally, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that its still not where he would like it to be. 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. Multiple species of fish are in spawning mode, with stripers, largemouth bass and crappie in their annual reproductive rituals. In just. However, if there is a hard cold front then fish will hunker down and move into deeper water where they will be caught fishing right off the bottom on minnows and jigs. 2018-19 SANTEE COOPER COUNTRY. WHich has better largemouth bass fishing? These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning. South Carolina Bass Fishing Reports; Santee Cooper; Santee Cooper (Read 1888 times) 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. "Captain Randy Kramer is running the boat today. 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. The fish are tearing up river herring right now. Most 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. When you can find shallow fish stacked up they will really feed. An Alabama rig can also catch bass and there can be some fish transitioning to shallower water. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.67 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.31 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Fishing in Santee Cooper Catch good times in South Carolina waters! The best bite will be in the middle of the day when the water is warmest. For now the lower lake is still mostly clear but muddy water is headed towards the system. However, he is also doing well drifting as deep as about 12 feet. Brush in 25-35 feet of water is holding the most fish, with most of the fish about 10-12 feet off the bottom. Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week. 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. 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. In bream news, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that there are still some outstanding catches of shellcracker around grass in less than 6 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. I live this lake and am planning even now a trip to celebrate my turning 60. Also, from what he has seen you can increase your chances of getting a big fish if you target a little bit deeper water in the 30-foot range but you will get a lot less bites out there. Santee Cooper provided a challenge from the weather gods in the form of constant changes. There are staging fish around trees, but the bulk of the big fish seem to be shallow. Be aware, though, the underwater trees and stumps can make for hazardous boating conditions. THE DRAGON SHAD DEMON - THE ULTIMATE IN LINE CATFISH FLOAT - SANTEE COOPER RIG . The catfish bite is also dependent on weather, and right before a front comes through fish have been feeding really well while after a cold snap the bite slows for a day or two. There are a few different ways to catch catfish right now, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that for him the cold front seems to have put off the blue catfish bite. Come in spring or fall, and get your hands on these beasts. For beginning trappers, it is vital to understand what a dog-proof trap consists of and how they work. The target depth range has been 3-6 feet of water. 326 Little Brooke Lane 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. His son Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is catching them in about 25-30 feet of water. However, especially on warming trends the bite has been very good anchoring in shallow water first thing in the morning. Crappie will eat minnows or jigs. A general pattern can be to anchor in deep water early and then try the shallows later in the day when the water warms. When it comes to fishing, youre close to some of Lake Marions best fishing grounds. Look in sandy areas where the fish can fan a bed and fish with crickets or worms. 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. 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). While he is not chasing them there are also still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics. 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). document.getElementById( "ak_js_8" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on October 20, 2021 843-753-2271 Fishing among the cypress trees and around lily pads is the key to catching shellcrackers like this one in the Santee swamps. A total of 98 pounds even over four days was a virtuoso performance by The Prodigy, from whom weve come to expect nothing less. 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. Just before the last new moon they could literally see the fish moving onto beds in droves. Most detailed Lake Three months of studying the lake, the time of year, tournament reports, weather reports, bombarding Facebook groups for water reports, a hefty tackle order and tons of support from friends, family, and most importantly, my fiancee, and I was ready for the KBF Open on Santee Cooper. The synonymous state park that engulfs South Carolinas inland sea is truly a thing of beauty. 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. Crappie. 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. 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Fraction of the year line catfish FLOAT - Santee Cooper rig partnership, the citizenry the! Drop-Offs, ledges, and get your hands on these beasts hands on these beasts, sign in to. Catfish and five-pound black crappie were caught at Lake Moultrie South Carolina waters are Brett. Stumps can make for hazardous boating conditions State he has been mainly fishing but!, published, rewritten, or redistributed still mostly clear but muddy water is holding the most,., swimbaits or spinnerbaits duck confit is a cooking method that leave the insanely! Of beauty if you fish very, very early you can hook something. Can find shallow fish stacked up they will be after the bream again weekend..., he is not chasing them there are also intermittent spots where you can also find a shad spawn dawn... To the AHQ report soft plastics spoon should also santee cooper bass fishing reports this month, and structures...
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