However, they are really having to work for them, and the bite usually gets tougher in the heat, so before long he will be taking a break from the crappie. Boat has a full enclosure to stay warm. 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. This morning they caught a handful of good ones in the lower lake before they moved to bream fishing. Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.05 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.03 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Live herring and shad will work the best. 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! Already have an account? 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). Its also a period when anglers pursuing other species will catch trout. 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. The fish can be a little finicky in February, but they do still eat, and by the end of the month the bite is often improving. Even between bream spawns there are fry and small bream hanging around the beds which they will use repeatedly, and those are primarily what the bass are eating. Generally the fish are 8-10 feet down. On the shallower side Captain Brett Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water. Joseph will have all the gear you need ready . Despite recent rains the lakes remain relatively clear and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. 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. Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week. Connected by the Diversion Can . Very soon, if they have not already, some male fish should get around the banks. The bluegill bite is still phenomenal, and using crickets you can catch all the fish up to about a pound that you want on the same brush. The lakes are clear and water temperatures range from about 82 in the morning up to about 85. 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! While the topwater bite should be taking off Brett hasnt really found very much, and he characterizes it as only sporadic.. We will do our best to make sure that does not happen again. SUMMERTON -- Strong winds and inclement weather forced MLF tournament officials to cancel Day 3 of competition Saturday, April 9, at the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. 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). 110,600 acres View Map Premium Mapping Find Local Fishing Spots on the Interactive Map! 326 Little Brooke Lane
This week the sweet spot has generally been 14-18 feet down over 20-35 feet of water. 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. 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. Cable television in all units. Provided by Captain Joe Dennis with FatherandSonOutdoors. At approximately 2789 feet 850 meters above sea level and pierced with sundry. 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). 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: Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that in February fish will still be concentrating on shad, but what lures they will be willing to eat will depend on water temperature. 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. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 79 degrees. One tree along the edge of the old river channel was absolutely loaded with bluegill and they eventually left them biting. 9890 Pack's Landing RD, Pinewood, SC 29125 (803) 452-5514. The action for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes can still be really good, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that right now the fish seem to be unusually particular about what bait they will eat. While he hasnt found the bass out that deep Brett is also finding that largemouth have moved out that way, and from what he has seen the best action is coming in about the 10-15 foot range. This weekend Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has several trips for crappie again after some time off, and his best guess is that the fish will be scattered 10-20 feet down over middle depth to deep brush. Live bait fishing We don't do this everyday but we do our best to produce fish every day. 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. He is starting his drift in about 6 feet of water and then working out to about 20. 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. USGS 02169810. Water temperatures are in the 60s. Morning surface water temperatures range between 85 and 90 degrees. Among catfish the current world record channel catfish was caught in Lake Moultrie (58 pounds caught in 1964) and the current state record flathead was caught in the Diversion Canal (79-4 caught in 2001). Cut white perch and gizzard shad are typically the best baits. The catfish bite has been pretty good this week on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he continues to find the best action in deep water. Updates. 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. The South Carolina Crappie Association had its secondtournament of the yearSaturday onSantee, and with 17 teams fishing four bested a 2-pound average! Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s and while the mud is coming its still only dingy in the lakes. Again, a topwater bite should be taking off Brett hasnt really found very much, and he characterizes it as only sporadic.. The upper lake is getting dirty, while the lower lake is relatively clear once you get away from the mouth of the canal. 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. 3/4/23. During the day Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) is also finding a pretty good bite most of the time drifting in 15-25 feet of water, and he is having about equal success with cut herring and shad. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Overall the bass are generally still deeper in 8-15 feet around brush piles, drop offs, and shell bars. South Carolina Santee Cooper Lakes fishing charters, fishing guide, Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie. Its mostly a soft plastic bite and topwaters still are not producing. On the other hand the catfish are not a fan of the warm weather, and the bite has generally been erratic. 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. 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. 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). 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. They are marking a few fish on deep brush but they may just be bluegill. Updates. The fish they are catching are still shallow in 5 feet of water or less, and they are holding tight to grass and trees. 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). Water conditions will determine whether fish are in the creeks or main lake. 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. Santee Cooper is a shallow-water fishing paradise, and it's tough to beat the skinny water action of March. That's what's made it one of the most storied destinations in the history of professional bass fishing. Swimbaits, Alabama rigs, crankbaits and jerkbaits are all good options. These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning. Most of the fish should stay shallow for at least another month and it wont be until June and July that large numbers go deep. The lakes are as clear as Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has ever seen them, which may be part of the reason why they can only catch bluegill and crappie around the deeper stuff. Book a trip with Captain Bill and fully enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime. They will take most any bait when they are feeding. He is still having the best success fishing scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range with soft plastics. Fishing live bait on Santee-Cooper is an excellent wintertime tactic. Crickets and minnows are the best baits. With over 20 years guiding experience fishing the Santee Cooper Lakes, we offer a 100 lb. Depending on what they are on Brett will then turn to jerkbaits, Carolina rigs, swimbaits or spinnerbaits. Salt water Bushy Park. The bass are following the shad, and so if you can locate the bait you will find fish. Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. You dont want to fish large, flats pockets like the ones fish would spawn on. They are right where they are supposed to be in March, and with lots of fish spawning and others just behind and past spawning you can throw your choice of spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics, jigs and more. These corks make it quick and easy to adjust your depth, which is critical this time of year. Fishing Reports; Fishing Articles; Fishing Tournaments; Fishing Organizations; Explore Lakes; About Omnia. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.65 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.5 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Anchoring on same bars using stink baits have been productive for smaller The best range for drifting right now is in 25-40 feet, and on cooler days they will move towards the deeper end of that range. If the CBC goes forward somebody will still crush them, but its anybodys guess what the pattern will be. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working for his boat. Inky has been promoting "Santee Cooper Country" and its bass fishing for many years. Crappie and Bream: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that January continued to produce a few good crappie on minnows around deep brush, and early February should be the same. 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. 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. Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that there will be a number of variables that affect the bite in February, but as of the beginning of the month low water levels and muddy conditions have somehow combined to create an outstanding bite both shallow and deep for several weeks. Striper and hybrids: Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that during February fish will still move around a lot, and one day you could find a big school in one area but then overnight it could be 5 or 6 miles away. Farmer's Market
Santee Cooper Lake Marion is home to some BIG bass and April is PRIME TIME for the spawn! been reported catching them on Spooks and Pencil Poppers. The best brush has been in the 20s, and the fish are 10-12 feet down. Warming weather will get them shallower and more aggressive again soon, and the new moon this weekend will also help to get another group of fish up looking and then on beds. When the fish are up shallow then Brett is pretty much fishing with Senkos and other soft plastics, although in windy conditions he will also fish a spinnerbait. Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. 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. 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). Look in sandy areas where the fish can fan a bed and fish with crickets or worms. Carolina King is located only a short distance . The crappie fishing is basically fair right now, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that while they did catch 6 or 7 nice fish off one brush pile generally they are picking up fish in ones and twos. Thurmond Updates. creek channel ledges are the areas to fish. 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. Herring has been out-fishing everything else. Brush in about 14 feet has been the most productive, but they are also getting some fish in 15-20 feet of water. 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. When water temperatures hit about 50 degrees then the creek bite should really turn on. 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. At night he has been anchoring in shallow water, and in the canal area he is looking for somewhere just out of the current when he sets anchor. 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. Pretty much everything has come on soft plastics this week. Morning surface water temperatures range between 85 and 90 degrees. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.55 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.68 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Click here for 30 day free trial! 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. Big worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs will all work around brush. 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. Santee Cooper 30 January, 2023 Read more By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. 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). Bream are biting crickets. Crickets are the best bait for bream and jigs and minnows will be the bet baits for the crappie. You can also anchor in 10-20 feet around likely areas such as ledges and at the mouths of the canal. The lakes are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 59 degrees. Hwy 45 (on the Diversion Canal) A few more warm days should bring the fish shallower again. Apologies for the lack of bass update last week Brett gave us a post-tournament report but we failed to publish it. In the wet, windy conditions there have not been a lot of people out chasing crappie but the shallow bite has been surprisingly tough. Flats, hills and about anything in the 10-20 foot range is worth drifting. There are only a very few feeding fish on brush right now, and the vast majority of the fish are in less that 6 feet of water. While the numbers of crappie on brush has dwindled, Steve notes that there are some huge groups of bluegill stacked up on the brush.