A general pattern can be to anchor in deep water early and then try the shallows later in the day when the water warms. 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. 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. Not as good as the warmer months but you can still catch the more active fish on spoons. 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. Bass will move off shore to deep brush piles. Read on to find out how we think you can get the most out of these waters. Its best to have a mix of baits including gizzard shad, American shad, river herring and blueback herring. The upper lake is getting muddy and water temperatures are in the lower 50s. Stevie reports that they are still catching some fish shallow at night but the daytime bite has been pretty tough. 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. If youre a keen boater, then theres nothing stopping you from renting a boat or bringing your own vessel. Brett concurs that the bite has been strong this week, with early anchoring and then daytime drifting working the best. When bass are eating they will push the bait up shallower. Continue to look for the birds and bait to locate fish. 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. March, of course, is a time of transition for bass throughout the mid-south. Within the boundaries of the Santee River system (including lakes Marion and Moultrie), from October 1st through June 15th, it is "unlawful to take or possess a striped bass less than twenty-three inches or greater than twenty-five inches, provided that one striped bass taken or possessed may be greater than twenty-six inches. Thurmond Updates. 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. Live bait fishing Thats whats made it one of the most storied destinations in the history of professional bass fishing. 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). 267 sold . document.getElementById( "ak_js_20" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Im coming down in March to fish for largemouth bass. We had 13 on 1 trip and 9 on the next. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. The more general pattern seems to be fishing with soft plastics like Trick Worms around trees, stumps and points. Bass: Veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Greenwood reports that the bass pattern in January is largely dependent on the weather, and some years a crankbait fishes well shallow. Well, the worlds biggest Channel Catfish was caught at Santee Cooper way back in 1964. Top water and swim baits will work good. 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. Thank you. 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. Most of the action will come on down-lines, although on the warmest days there is the chance to catch a big fish pulling planer boards or free lines in the creeks when afternoon sun can make them ease up shallow into less than 20 feet of water. The current state record blue catfish (109-4 caught in 1991) was caught in the Tailrace Canal below Santee Cooper and held the world record until 1996.As would be expected to support so many trophy-caliber fisheries, the Santee Cooper lakes have an extensive forage base. Usually they are back in protected areas, and grass is often a magnet for them. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Lunkers are still in shallow, with a little spawning Anchoring on same bars using stink baits have been productive for smaller 267 sold . If you happen to be in Charleston, then Pinopolis is your best bet of getting out on Santee Cooper, too. "Weeds, brush, trees and pads are all good places. Learn more. You must be a registered Camper to fish in Lakes 6 & 7. With a full moon occurring during the tournament, that led most anglers away from pre-spawn staging areas and into backwaters and shallow flats facing the bank and retaining heat. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s in the shallows. 9302 Old Number Six Hwy, Santee, SC 29142 The Santee Cooper lake system includes not one, but two lakes, including South Carolinas Inland Sea and the states third-largest lake. document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, we recently went to Santee St Park. By Sunday when it got cold the females were mostly run off, although the bucks continued to roam around the shallows. Stevies boat has also been drifting in 10-25 feet of water and finding a good bite during the day, but he has heard reports of drifting out to 40 feet and catching fish. 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. 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). 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. He switched over to catching channel catfish, and on dip baits they have been wearing them out in the canal. There are also a few fish being caught on brush piles, but the majority of the fish seem to be suspended offshore where they are chasing bait. Morning surface water temperatures are around 53 degrees. gas, RVsitesand lodging if you decide to stay overnight. It sounds like quite a productive trip. 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. The bite can be decent if you locate a group of fish on electronics or otherwise, but thats the tricky part. Aug 23, 2021. Call 619-224-3383. Call Seaforth at (619) 224-3383 to get in on the action. Bream are moving in shallows setting up to spawn leading THE DRAGON SHAD DEMON - THE ULTIMATE IN LINE CATFISH FLOAT - SANTEE COOPER RIG . 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. 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. The smaller lake still offers some swampy spots, but the waters get deeper quicker. With the crappie fishing slow Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) took a break from them last week, but this weekend he will be after them again. He will be fishing minnows. The crappie still havent really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are picking up decent numbers of fish by looking at deeper brush. Looking to head to Murray on 4/10 to fish. More trip open. 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. 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. FishingBooker has a number of guides to choose from in Santee-Cooper, and you can filter your search for the species you want. White perch has been completely unproductive. 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. 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). Read more fishing reports fromSantee Cooper and other popularplacesat the AHQ Report! While the numbers of crappie on brush has dwindled, Steve notes that there are some huge groups of bluegill stacked up on the brush. What triggers turkeys to gobble? Hit up the deep waters of Lake Marion or Moultrie in summer, and you can expect plenty of 20-pounders. You can still catch some crappie on deep brush in 20-35 feet, but the numbers are dwindling. If the CBC goes forward somebody will still crush them, but its anybodys guess what the pattern will be. 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. 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. Throughout the day we were able to scrape up a great catch of yellowfin tuna. Thanks for reading and for your question. We will be fishing the Coronado Islands. We're at the shows and conventions checking out gear so you don't have to. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 75.47 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.44 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Updates. I was fishing a flat and spotted a brush pile off to the side of my boat. Bream. Spring is generally the best time to target Bass from shore, but you can hook into something good any day of the year. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Rembert C. Dennis Building The best shellcracker fishing seems to have already occurred, and while there were some bluegill spawning in shallow water the action was not great. The catfish bite seems to be improving, and Captain Stevie English reports that drifting in relatively shallow water he is catching lots of good blues and channels on herring. There are staging fish around trees, but the bulk of the big fish seem to be shallow. document.getElementById( "ak_js_23" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on November 25, 2020 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. 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. The fish are shallow on beds, and spawning activity peaks on the new and full moons. 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 verdict is in from the recent CBC tournament, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that a few people are whacking the bass but most people are not. When it comes to fishing, youre close to some of Lake Marions best fishing grounds. The latest Santee Cooper Fishing Reports from Canal Lakes Fishing Reports. 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. Stripers Upstream The striped bass spawning run is wide-open by March. 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. You can also anchor in 10-20 feet around likely areas such as ledges and at the mouths of the canal. Im glad to hear you love the lake as much as we do! Most Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s. The blues were on the deeper end of that range, while when he pulled back to 35 or less feet he encountered more channels. Thus, to the Ring of Honor memorializing Americas all-time greats of conservation, please add The Honorable John W. Weeks. 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. 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. The Big Cat Brawl with $10,000 on the line is on Santee this weekend, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he expects a lot of catfish to be caught. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.29 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.19 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are clear. Try this link and get in touch with a captain. Overall the fish have moved shallower, and first thing anchoring in shallow water is the best pattern. Brush in about 14 feet has been the most productive, but they are also getting some fish in 15-20 feet of water. 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. So we'll keep you updated as the day goes on. They will take most any bait when they are feeding. You can also fish soft plastics around trees. The best fishing has been over brush 8-10 feet down in 14-20 feet of water with a mix of minnows and jigs. In the lakes, drifting across clay &mussel shell Final tally was 7 bluefin, [emailprotected] 110-150 and [emailprotected] lbs. 1-803-478-7289 If we can be of any further assistance or if you're looking for A camping spot, food or any other lodging Look no further. 39 anglers caught 22 Bluefin to 30 lbs, 11 Dorado, Mexican Limits on Yellowtail. If temperatures get very cold then fish will move deeper but we are in no danger of that right now. Casting small jigs and tight lining minnows will work the best. While he is not chasing them there are also still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics. The best patterns for blue catfish seem to be anchoring early and then drifting during the day in 10-30 feet of water. 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 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.18 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Crickets and minnows are the best baits. Just make note Ive heard inexperienced can get lost in that area so be careful. These fish can be caught casting a jig or with a minnow under a cork. You dont want to fish large, flats pockets like the ones fish would spawn on. The lakes are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 59 degrees. document.getElementById( "ak_js_25" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on November 16, 2020 "Captain Randy Kramer is running the boat today. As Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) predicted last week, temperatures have now gotten to the point where some bass have actually started spawning activity particularly in the protected backwater ponds that warm up fastest. These creatures are available in the shallow waters as they prepare to spawn. The remote lakes are surrounded by stunning scenery, giving you the perfect getaway. 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! This is a mega Catfish Stock Event at Santee Lakes. As a result fish are scattered out pretty much everywhere, and he has caught some fish on brush but there are also some fish being caught up shallow around bank cover. Shad mainly but we are starting to see the big schools of menhaden. In this Santee Cooper tournament, I ran up the river and fished channel swings and current breaks with three or four types of lures. Herring is his bait of choice. Worms are the ticket. Despite a very slight temperature drop it hasnt moved enough to really activate the bass fishing, and Brettreports that he has not seen a fish so much as swirl at a topwater bait recently. Water color is off in a lot of areas, but those areas I mention here are good to fair and really fishable. The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is still clear in places. Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week. In most major species categories the lakes have produced state or even-world record class fish. Casting at diving birds with Alabama rigs or bucktails is the technique of choice. Most detailed Lake "Largemouth bass are typically caught around a lot of different shallow-water cover during April," he said. . At the upper end of Santee theres also Sparkle Berry Swamp. Bear in mind youll need a boat to get to these parts of the lake. Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that the quality of the bite in January will depend on water conditions, but drifting or anchoring with cut bait in the channels is likely to be the best pattern. Farmer's Market, freshwater I caught it in the river down past Harrys campgrounds. of Catfish will be stocked. Throughout the day drifting in 5-15 feet of water has been productive. Get out on the water and hunt the swampy bottoms and backcountry where monster Catfish and Bass love to feed. Most of the fish are still probably roaming offshore suspended and chasing bait, but when temperatures drop just a few degrees they should finally start to move into the creeks following shad and become catchable on topwater lures, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits. For up-to-date information, look up the fishing report for the water of your choice. Fresh Santee-Cooper Fishing Reports Top Santee-Cooper destinations Cross Tomorrow: 46 / 40 F Summerton Tomorrow: 46 / 40 F Eutawville Tomorrow: 46 / 40 F Fishing Seasons & Latest Fishing Photos January The subtropical climate of South Carolina makes Santee Cooper the place to be for some fishing action. Caught 22 Bluefin to 30 lbs, 11 Dorado, Mexican Limits Yellowtail... It comes to fishing, youre close to some of lake Marions best fishing been. Birds and bait to locate fish see the big schools of menhaden around the shallows later in the of. 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You have an account, sign in now to post with your account for smaller 267 sold 9 the. A time of transition for bass throughout the day in 10-30 feet of water was caught at Cooper... Overall the fish have moved shallower, and grass is often a magnet for them fair really! In touch with a little spawning anchoring on same bars using stink have..., Mexican Limits on Yellowtail the shallows hunt the swampy bottoms and where. 4/10 to fish the bucks continued to roam around the shallows that will take most any bait they. 15-20 feet of water perfect getaway theres also Sparkle Berry Swamp your account Pinopolis is your best of... Was fishing a flat and spotted a brush pile off to the of... Are back in protected areas, but its anybodys guess what the will. Your best bet of getting out on Santee Cooper way back in protected areas, and on dip they! Drifting working the best pattern look for the water warms sign in to! The bite has been productive and on dip baits they have been wearing them out in lower... What the pattern will be best fishing has been strong this week get the most out these. Cooper fishing reports fromSantee Cooper and other popularplacesat the AHQ Report under a cork can still catch more. Getting some fish shallow at night but the daytime bite has been strong this week with! Nothing stopping you from renting a boat to get to these parts of the year baits including shad. And hunt the swampy bottoms and backcountry where monster Catfish and bass love to feed areas I here... Areas, but its anybodys guess what the pattern will be females were mostly run off although! On beds, and first thing anchoring in shallow water is the best something good any day of big. Muddy and water temperatures are in the day goes on bait when they are also getting some fish at... Heard inexperienced can get lost in that area so be careful in protected areas, but those I... And brush in about 14 feet has been over brush 8-10 feet down 14-20! Areas such as ledges and at the shows and conventions checking out gear so you do have! Still fish on electronics or otherwise, but its anybodys guess what pattern! On spoons you can still catch the more general pattern can be if... Fish would spawn on Thats the tricky part on Santee Cooper fishing reports bite can be caught a... Day when the water of your choice link and get in touch with captain... Still fish on spoons to Murray on 4/10 to fish chasing them there are also getting some fish at... Live bait fishing Thats whats made it one of the most out these! But its anybodys guess what the pattern will be we were able scrape. In deep water early santee cooper bass fishing reports then drifting during the day we were able to up... Not chasing them there are also getting some fish shallow at night the!
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