The striper bite is good with quality fish being caught in 45-55 ft of water. Shop our collection of fishing rods to find the one that best matches your needs. You can also fish soft plastics around trees. January can be really fun. Fish the edges of the creeks. The Santee striper fishing report for early June 2022 is plenty good. 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. When that happens the fish retreat to the first break, and they will set up around some type of structure like a brush pile or tree in 4-8 feet of water. The bream catch is still at best sporadic, but Captain Stevie English reports that they are still catching some nice crappieeven though they are having to work for them. The co-state record largemouth bass was caught out of Lake Marion (16-2 caught in 1949), until 1993 the world record freshwater striped bass came from Santee Cooper (55 pounds), the state record white crappie came from Lake Moultrie (5-0 caught in 1957), and the state record shellcracker (5-7.5 caught in 1998) came from the Diversion Canal. 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. There are also still plenty of fish in the creeks that can be caught trolling jigs and minnows in 8-15 feet of water. After some really good catfish action a couple of weeks ago the bite has gotten tougher on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that it certainly seems like the last cold front put the fish off. Fish the Santee Cooper Lakes! Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm. Live herring and shad will work the best. At times minnows and then jigs are both out-fishing the other so try both. 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 switched over to catching channel catfish, and on dip baits they have been wearing them out in the canal. 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. Usually a slow month for bream, they bit well in deep water in January and February could be more of the same. In this catfish fishing video I am fishing for catfish on Santee Cooper in South Carolina. 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. Light tackle, tiny lures producing great catches during annual run Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s in the shallows. Trolling. Its mostly a soft plastic bite and topwaters still are not producing. 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). The blues were on the deeper end of that range, while when he pulled back to 35 or less feet he encountered more channels. They will be after the bream again this weekend and will report back. 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. Stevie reports that they are still catching some fish shallow at night but the daytime bite has been pretty tough. 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. We don't do this everyday but we do our best to produce fish every day. 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. The catfish action is still a little slow on Santee, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that if you work hard you can still put a nice box of fish in the boat. 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. 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. 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. 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. Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in February drifting deep water is still the best bet, but on very warm days there can be a night/ evening bite in shallow water. Find out which one you need and check out the latest bag and size limits before wetting your line in these waters, too. null . 1000 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201 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. The better fish have been coming from baits set 8-10 ft off of the bottom. We are a family-owned business committed to providing our customers with the best prices and customer service on all of our merchandise. Updates. 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. Learn More Heffington hammers 52-5 for two-day Guntersville victory, umbrella rig and LiveScope does the trick. This page is for all the local clubs and fishermen in the area to share tournament and fishing information. Most detailed Santee Cooper System Updates Mountains Area Lake Jocassee Bass: Tournament angler Joe Anders reports that on Lake Jocassee in February the fish will still be deep, and they are mostly likely to be suspended in the channels. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.2 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Crickets and minnows are the best baits. We are around a full moon now so the next one should bring the biggest wave of spawners. top water and swim baits will work good. Numerous species are spawning at Santee this month. Anchoring on same bars using stink baits have been productive for smaller Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.71 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 72.64 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Crappie: Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in late January crappie started to show up again around deep bait schools, and this month they will get more and more common. shows,5 radio interviews,65 major newspaper . If the lake remains dirty fish will continue to feed best in the muddiest areas. When the fish arent on top they can be caught down-lining for suspended for fish or looking for striper that are stacked up on the bottom. While the numbers of crappie on brush has dwindled, Steve notes that there are some huge groups of bluegill stacked up on the brush. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.89 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 2018-19 SANTEE COOPER COUNTRY. The best bite will be in the middle of the day when the water is warmest. Even though they are seeing a lot of bait shallower for right now there does not seem to be much feeding on them. Even with water temperatures about to drop again on Santee, Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports bass should stay for a while in the creeks as temperatures are in the ideal range. Provided by Captain Joe Dennis with FatherandSonOutdoors Stripers. Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are in the upper 70s in the morning and low 80s by the afternoons. 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. 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. However, many anglers overlook it as an effective method to catch bass. Trolling numbers have been a bit down this week but that will also work. Wigglers,wax,chartreus Bass: Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that in February fish should be coming out of their winter patterns by the latter part of the month, and they should be just starting to make a push shallower towards their pre-spawn areas. There are shad in those areas and the bass are also feeding opportunistically on whatever else is around. Theres not much change in the catfish patterns, although Stevie reports that with lots of panfish up shallow the early anchored bite seems to have gotten even better. Hults takes Strike King co-angler victory on Guntersville. Joseph will have all the gear you need ready . With the lakes still clear Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) is still finding the bluegill and crappie deep. He is starting his drift in about 6 feet of water and then working out to about 20. best baits. 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). The fish they are catching are coming on soft plastics. (Herring)off the Hatchery and Bonneau in 25' to 40' and in front of the The Columbia full-service Licensing and Boat The five major bait species in the lakes are gizzard shad, threadfin shad, American shad, blueback herring, and menhaden, which immigrate and emigrate from the lakes based on seasonal patterns. The fish are on shallow flats in 7-11 feet of water and they are feeding on mussels. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.33 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.29 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are dingy in places but not muddy and morning surface water temperatures are about 51-54 degrees. Cut herring, river herring, bluegill and shad are all working. Catfish are moving into the upper and lower ends of the Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the striped bass bite in the canal, and drifting blueback herring over the rocks has been dynamite. South Carolina freshwater Boat has a full enclosure to stay warm. Darryl Smith. 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. Boat rentals and fish guides are also available. The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is still clear in places. canal, cut bait, herring and gizzard shad are your best baits. Its the time of year when the bass fishing should be starting to pick up again on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that is exactly whats happening. Carolina rigs, shakey heads, and jigs are working the best but occasionally you can pick up a fish on a crankbait. Look for the BIRDS. After a strong spawning wave last week, Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass are starting to get into a bit of a post-spawn lull. 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. They will also feed more willingly. At times minnows and then jigs are both out-fishing the other so try both. Santee Cooper Lake Marion is home to some BIG bass and April is PRIME TIME for the spawn! He will be fishing minnows. Proving that there are catfish everywhere in Santee, Captain Brett Mitchell reports that his boat has been wearing the fish out drifting in 12-14 feet of water. Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. This time of year you will see some of the biggest stripers coming from trolling stretch 25 and Alabama rigs deep in 40-50 ft of water. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Rembert C. Dennis Building A recent stocking of fish for a kids fishing event should have improved trout fishing recently. 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). MLF Santee Cooper South Carolina. We have Highly Recommended Santee Fishing Guides that can accommodate your fishing charter. Give Captain Darryl's Guide Service a call at 803-367-6275. 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. Worms are the ticket. This is Harvest Moon Fishing Charters 2023 winter fishing report for Myrtle Beach SC. In January fish often moved around to escape the mud and worst current, and February could be no different. The lakes are still very clear and morning surface water temperatures are down to the mid-50s. Earlier most of the shallow fish were in the ponds but now they are everywhere. Everything he is catching is coming around scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range. The bass on Santee Cooper are doing exactly what they are supposed to doing, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that they have been catching fish that are chasing shad in the backs of pockets. A lot of times only a 100-yard move will do. gas, RVsitesand lodging if you decide to stay overnight. He has found that small blueback herring are working better than chicken, although both will get bites. I finished in top 10 in serveral tournaments. Information on fishing trends provided courtesy of www.anglersheadquarters.com/, South Carolina's premier These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning. Most detailed Lake Jocassee Morning surface water temperatures range between 85 and 90 degrees. Lots of flounder are also being caught but most are under sized so make sure you know your regulations. USGS 02169500. 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). Bream are moving in shallows setting up to spawn leading Fish are in the creeks or flats off the main lake in just 2-3 feet of water, and Brett has mainly been fishing the upper lake although patterns should hold in Moultrie as well. webmaster@dnr.sc.gov, State The action for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes is very strong right now, and Brett reports that fish have moved a little deeper as water temperatures have dropped. 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). Brett has almost exclusively been fishing shallow around wood with fast-moving baits that imitate shad like crankbaits, spinnerbait and jerkbaits (worked quickly). Throughout the day drifting in 5-15 feet of water has been productive. This morning they caught a handful of good ones in the lower lake before they moved to bream fishing. However, later in the mouth when water temperatures rise fish will push further into the creeks and prepare to spawn in March. Sonny's blood bait and Murrells stink bait are your best baits. Minnows and crickets are out-fishing everything else. They are still biting pretty well, and he is having success drifting both chicken and herring. Some of the fish have already started to spawn while others are shallow looking for spawning areas. The lakes are clear and water temperatures range from about 82 in the morning up to about 85. They are tired, beat up, and trying to recover, and so the bite will likely be off for a few more days. Spinnerbaits, jigs and crankbaits will all work. rentals - Canal Lakes Fish Camp on the Santee Cooper Lakes Nightly, weekly, and monthly rental rates for rooms, cabins, and houses. Warmer water is often found at the very backs of the creeks on Santee Cooper, and as a result Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that a lot of bait is also back there right now. Fish will feed best in the warmest areas and crankbaits and jigs should both be effective. Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. Dennis offers some thoughts on how to target various species that are biting now on the Santee Cooper lakes: Crappie "If I was going crappie fishing, I would be trolling jigs in 20 to 30 feet of . 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. The colder the water gets should make the fishing and fish size better and better. 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. The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58. For shellcracker use worms while bluegill prefer crickets and worms. 141 spots Part of the famous Santee Cooper system and home for trophy stripers. Brett has only been fishing shad-colored crankbaits, but red crankbaits, swimbaits and more should also work. Pinewood. The lower lake has been much better than the upper lake, and a lot of days jigs have been out-fishing minnows. When bass are eating they will push the bait up shallower. Fishing Guides Muddy water made the lake very tough towards the end of January, but if the water clears expect improvement for that reason alone. Santee Park Store NOW OPEN Current Weather Conditions on Lake Marion at Santee State Park Santee State Park offers cabins, camping, biking, hiking, boating and fishing in the heart of one of the nation's best-known outdoors destinations - Santee Cooper Country. The action for both species has been very good, and they have caught some monster crappie and found really large concentrations of bluegill. These differ for residents and non-residents, with discounts for military personnel, too. However, this week the patterns have changed and some cool, windy weather has pulled the fish out just a little. 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). USGS 02148000. Apologies for the lack of bass update last week Brett gave us a post-tournament report but we failed to publish it. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working for his boat. Under the surface there is the reality of varying contour in both lakes.Popular species targeted by Santee Cooper anglers include largemouth bass, a recovering population of striped bass, white and black crappie, bream (most notably shellcracker and bluegill), and several species of catfish. Despite this, a bit of a topwater bite is starting to come on and there are also some bass chasing bait fish. About 3 feet of water has been the magic number for catching these fish. Minnows for crappie and crickets for bream are out-fishing everything else. The bite seemed to die after the morning. The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50s. Fish they are catching are coming on soft plastics day drifting in 5-15 feet water... Need ready Marion is home to some BIG bass and April is PRIME TIME for the of. Do our best to produce fish every day lake Marion is home to some BIG and... About 51-54 degrees are eating they will be in the upper 70s in the warmest areas and bass! However, this week the patterns have changed and some cool, windy weather has pulled fish. For shellcracker use worms while bluegill prefer crickets and worms get bites to feed in. For trophy stripers report for early June 2022 is plenty good on mussels a. 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