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. From 1939 to 1942 the lakes were created in a hydroelectric project by the South Carolina Public Service Authority, commonly known as Santee Cooper.The lakes vary from shallow swamps at the upper end of both lakes (but most famously Lake Marion) to the vastness of Lake Moultrie 14 miles across at its widest point and appearing to be a great, open bowl. Carolina King is located only a short distance . Click here for 30 day free trial! Learn More South Carolina Fishing Reports. Its been good action for both bluegill and crappie on the Santee Cooper lakes, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that both species are stacking up on brush in deeper water. Bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that early in February bass should still be caught deeper in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks around the bait schools where other species including perch are feeding. Santee Cooper Fishing Report by Ray Sedgwick Crappie & Bream Crappie steadily moving into deeper water on creek chanels and brush piles.. Bream and shellcracker are being caught in 12 feet of water in the Canal with night crawlers (cut in small pieces) Catfish The top rated upstate crappie lake in the past few years has been Lake Hartwell and that's predicted to remain the exact 2017. Jim at 912-210-2877 to book your catfishing adventure. with sandy bottomsis the areas to look for. 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. 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. Drifting mid-depths has not been productive, although that could change as temperatures settle into winter patterns. Updates. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.54 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.26 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Give Captain Darryl's Guide Service a call at 803-367-6275. They chiefly used cut gizzard shad and white perch baits on medium-heavy "Mad Cat" fishing rods. 9 reviews #1 of 1 Restaurant in Pineville $$ - $$$ Seafood. We are located in the middle of the Santee Wildlife Refuge. Click here for 30 day free trial! Lots of speckled trout and slot size reds are being caught mainly on live mullet/mud minnows and shrimp under a slip or popping cork. This time of year can be some of the best time of the year to catch alot of fish. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. In contrast, to catch a bigger fish concentrate on shallower water. Water temperatures are in the 60s. Farmer's Market, freshwater
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. Free-lines, planer boards and down-lines could all work depending on where and how deep the fish set up. This page is for all the local clubs and fishermen in the area to share tournament and fishing information. However, for right now the fishing is really good and Brett reports that with water temperatures where they are anglers should look as shallow as possible. If you can catch the beginning of a mayfly hatch the fishing can be very good, but in the middle or towards the end it really slows because it does not take the fish long to gorge and fill up. He's catching his share, including some big ones, among the Santee cypress trees. Striped bass: Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports it was a really good January for striper, and they are hopeful the fish dont get too scattered in February. He has been mainly fishing chicken but shad has also been working. Join AHQ Premier for unlimited Free Shipping & access to the AHQ Report. Reports vary but there are some indications that the upper lake is fishing a little better than the lower lake right now. Fishing is pretty good everywhere, and the new pattern is that there are starting to be a lot of fish caught shallow drifting in 12-15 feet of water on the ledges near deep water. The best shellcracker fishing seems to have already occurred, and while there were some bluegill spawning in shallow water the action was not great. Santee Cooper Lakes CatfishnFool Fishing Guide Service Call or Text Captain Wayne Vining 803-238-0596 captwayne@catfishnfool.com View Larger Map I am an U.S.C.G Licensed Santee Cooper Fishing Guide, with over 40 years of fishing experience. The bass patterns are mostly unchanged on Santee, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that one thing which can create some variation during a generally stable, hot period is a mayfly hatch. While the striped bass do not seem to be schooling right now on Santee Cooper, Captain Steve English reports that in the lower lake they have been catching a ton of fish deep. Made up of Lake Marion to the west and Lake Moultrie to the east, Santee Cooper was not only ranked as the third-best bass fishing lake in the country in Bassmaster's annual list of 100 Best Bass Lakes in 2021, but was also named the 23rd-best lake of the decade in 2020. Trolling. 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. You do not have to move a quarter mile away. The fish are on shallow flats in 7-11 feet of water and they are feeding on mussels. Cut herring seems to be the perfect bait and drifting they are picking up a steady assortment of blues and a few good channels. rightofwaymanagement@santeecooper.com. Look in sandy areas where the fish can fan a bed and fish with crickets or worms. The fish they are catching are still shallow in 5 feet of water or less, and they are holding tight to grass and trees. USGS 02148000. enjoyyour visitwith us. With warm weather and approaching In the lakes he is looking for a ledge or stumps or something else that will provide the fish with a place to hold. Its also a period when anglers pursuing other species will catch trout. 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. Read now. Apologies for the lack of bass update last week Brett gave us a post-tournament report but we failed to publish it. The crappie spawn should be getting close to winding down on Santee Cooper, and for guides who prefer the predictability of brush pile fishing like Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) it couldnt come soon enough! There should also be fish feeding shallower that can be caught on a crankbait. It will also be found up the rivers if there is current there. Surprising bass news from CATT winners - AHQ INSIDER Santee Cooper (SC) 2023 Week 7 Fishing Report Updated February 15, Hewitt and Lawshe break 27 and post a 9.41(!) However, by the end of January many of the better fish were already starting to move off the deep brush, and this month fish should continue to make their move shallower. On a warm trend fish will head into the creeks where they can be caught trolling jigs and minnows in 8-15 feet of water, while another group of fish (so far mostly males) will be up on the banks looking for areas where they will spawn. The bite seemed to die after the morning. raysedgwick8@yahoo.com. Brush in 25-35 feet of water is holding the most fish, with most of the fish about 10-12 feet off the bottom. Everyone over the age of 16 will need a South Carolina fishing license to fish on Santee Cooper. Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. Bass. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working. 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. santee cooper bass fishing reports. Pinewood. Are you in the know? 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. One of these guides is Captain Brett Mitchell, who concurs that there have been good and bad days but has been targeting his efforts in 15-25 feet of water. In addition, some rivers typically supply some fantastic crappie action. 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). Late last week anglers first noted that bucks were moving up, and then Friday and Saturday some big females came up. Our heaviest trip was over 1400 lbs. Cooper Fishing Report Dec 22 2021 GOOD. Artificial lures like small swimbaits and flukes on a Scrounger head will often out-fish herring, and if there is a weak morning bite its often a sign of a strong afternoon bite. The spawn is underway and will continue through the summer. Capt. 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. Herring is his bait of choice. top water and swim baits will work good. Bass: Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that in February fish will still be in steep areas with access to deep water to start the month, but as it gets later they will start to move towards pre-spawn locations and feed up. Wateree at Camden. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.08 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.96 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). CATT Santee Cooper Spring Qualifiertook place this Saturday, and there were some incredible weights at the top. The crappie are starting to move around on the lakes, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that there are not as many fish on the deep brush piles as there were a week ago. 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