May 15

Lake Jocassee is at 95.0% of full pool and water clarity is normal on the main lake but the creeks are a big dingy. Morning surface water temperatures are still around 70 degrees on the main lake but a good bit warmer in the rivers. 

The trout fishing is still tough on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that they are still struggling to catch fish but picking up a big one every now and then. They are marking the most fish in the dam area and so that is where they are concentrating their efforts. Even though surface temperatures have not changed the whole column is gradually warming, and so they are now pulling spoons in about 40-75 feet. Any shallower than that and they pretty much only hook carp, and Sam notes that in the target range they are generally picking up 2-3 bass each trip. 

Bass report to follow. 

May 9

Lake Jocassee is at 95.6% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 70 degrees on the main lake. 

Finally able to spend some real time on Lake Jocassee, veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs reports that he has found a really good bass bite. There are still a lot of fish on beds, but it appears that most of the bigger fish have already spawned and are started to feed up again to recover.  It should only get better in the next few weeks as the post-spawn feeding binge intensifies.

The best way to catch fish right now is around any sort of wood cover like treetops or blowdowns. They will take a pearl white fluke or a Spook, although they are more likely to just hit at the topwater bait and miss it. There are also some fish schooling over humps but so far they seem a bit finicky about what they will eat. Perhaps they are on small bait. 

Right now the shad spawn is spotty, but if you can find it going on early there are bass around. 

Given that it’s unsurprising that the bass that are starting to carry the trout fishing guides on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that the fishing is still really tough. Occasionally they will pick up a big fish, but numbers of trout are just non-existent right now. With temperatures warming the trout that are there have moved a little deeper and they are mostly from about 25 feet down to about 65-70, with most trout appearing to be near the dam and in the main part of rivers. Luckily there are plenty of spotted bass in that range now and they are also picking up some carp and usually very small catfish. 

May 1

Lake Jocassee is at 95.0% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 65-66 degrees on the main lake. 

In last weekend’s trout tournament on Lake Jocassee, Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that out of 24 boats only 2 fish were weighed. A nice 6-pound trout won, but second place went to a small “stocker.” There is no doubt the population of fish is way down, most likely as a result of an unsuccessful stocking this winter.

For now they do continue to pick up some big fish, like the 7-pounder pictured below, but they are few and far between.   For a bit longer fish can be anywhere in the water column before it gets hot. No depth or area has a lot of action, though.

Meanwhile some carp up to double digits are showing up and giving anglers a thrill, and they are also getting some catfish up to 10-12 pounds. Unless something changes it looks like this summer they will be trying to go after a mix of trophy trout and other species, and live bait could play a bigger role. 

Veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs hopes to fish for bass on Jocassee tomorrow and if so will report back afterwards, but for now spawning fish should be in sandy areas as far as back as they can get – usually less than 10 feet of water. Other fish are forced to spawn on rock. In contrast pre-spawn fish are most likely to be found in laydowns a little out from the spawning areas, and they can be caught on a swimming jig, shaky heads, and they will even come up to hit a topwater. 

April 25

Lake Jocassee is at 95.2% of full pool and water clarity is normal although up the rivers it has been a bit dingy. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake are around 65 degrees but as high as the 70s in the rivers.

While there’s no cause for panic with the trout fishing on Lake Jocassee, Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that the fishing continues to be slow enough that it’s hard to have any explanation besides that more of the fish stocked this winter did not make it than is typical. A few 15-16 inch stocked fish are showing up, but not many. They do continue to catch some big fish, but they are marking few enough fish on electronics that when they see a big one now they are circling back and trying to entice it.  It could be a tough summer!

The best fishing is still coming in 45-50 feet, although we are still (albeit only for a bit longer) in the period where fish can tolerate water temperatures from the surface down. Spoons continue to out-fish live bait.    

We are back online with some bass reports, and veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs reports that his last trip was really tough because of much stronger-than-predicted winds. But on this full moon there are good numbers of fish spawning, generally in about 10 feet of water in sandy areas as far back as they can get. Some fish are also forced to spawn on rock. In contrast pre-spawn fish are most likely to be found in laydowns a little out from the spawning areas, and they can be caught on a swimming jig, shaky heads, and they will even come up to hit a topwater. 

Chip has also picked up a few fish on crankbaits and jerkbaits on the first break. 

April 11

Lake Jocassee is at 94.9% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake are around 58 degrees.

There’s been some improvement with the trout fishing on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that with a tournament this weekend it will be interesting to see how the fish cooperate. It couldn’t be worse than last month’s where exactly zero fish were weighed.

While numbers still aren’t where they should be some nice 5- and 6-pound fish are being landed, and while fish can still theoretically be anywhere in the lake from the surface down they are marking the most fish in the big water at a range of depths. Sam also landed a good one at the Three Rivers split. They are marking fish as deep as 65-70 feet now, but the biggest fish his son Guide Casey caught this week came just beneath the surface (at the dam). 

Trolling spoons continues to out-produce live bait, and Sam’s biggest fish came on a spoon pulled right beside a large shiner. 

While they are still only picking up occasional bass, they are catching a bunch of good yellow perch back in the Toxaway River.  

We apologize for the prolonged hiatus in bass reports and hope to have new information next week.  However, if there is anyone who readers recommend we speak to for regular reports we are always open to suggestions at 803-563-2443 or jay@usfishingreport.com! 

March 28

Lake Jocassee is at 93.4% of full pool and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake range from about 53 or 54 in the morning to 57 during the day. 

It’s honestly getting to the point where it’s a little hard to explain why the fishing on Lake Jocassee is so tough, and Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that there still isn’t any good news with the catch. There’s no doubt things will turn around because they are still marking tons of fish and bait, and even watching trout follow their lures on LiveScope, but nothing from spoons to plugs to live bait is generating bites. 

They aren’t even catching bass in the rivers right now, and while you can watch loons diving on bait there aren’t obvious fish feeding around them. The bass boats seem to be pounding the banks, but they aren’t having much success either. It’s too early to use the bass spawn as an excuse.

The author’s theories are that all the freshwater coming into the lake may have thrown things off, as, around the state – in freshwater and saltwater – captains have been reporting unusually finicky fish due to the volume of incoming freshwater off-and-on all spring. To that point Sam reports that all the waterfalls are raging. Relatedly, the fact that water levels have dropped so fast may not be helping. But fish need to eat and there’s no doubt they will start again – at some point.  

March 21

Lake Jocassee is at 98.3% of full pool and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake range from about 53 or 54 in the morning to 57 during the day. 

This happens every now and then with the trout fishing on Lake Jocassee, but Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that the fishing has gotten very tough. Most people feel lucky to get a fish right now, and in the recent Jocassee Outdoor Center tournament not a single trout was caught by some of the best anglers on the lake! They are still marking plenty of bait and fish in 20-50 feet (with the greatest concentrations in 30-40), but they just have lockjaw right now. Sam has even turned to live bait with no success. 

Even the bass fishing has slowed down, and while they are still getting a few good fish nothing is guaranteed right now. There are still bass on the river flats in areas like the Toxaway, but the bait and fish aren’t as thick as they were a few weeks ago. With these water temperatures they don’t think bass have gone into pre-spawn mode so it’s unclear exactly where they area. 

March 6

Lake Jocassee is at 98.4% of full pool and before today’s rain water clarity was high. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake range from about 52 in the morning to 55 during the day. 

It’s gotten into an unpredictable stage for trout fishing on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters(864-280-9056) reports that there have been some monster fish caught, including a 9 ½ pounder a friend of his landed. At the same time it’s pretty rare to catch multiple fish right now, and there have been days when the fish just won’t bite. 

That’s probably a result of the fact that fish are extremely spread out, and they can live literally anywhere in the lake with cool water temperatures. People are fishing all over the place, and that big one was caught by the dam but Sam has hooked his biggest fish in the back of the Toxaway River. 

Overall the best pattern is still trolling spoons about 20-55 feet deep, and while Sam has tried live bait he hasn’t found it any more productive. He has noticed that they are most likely to get bites in areas where loons are diving on bait. 

While the bass haven’t been terribly consistent, either, they still seemed to be stacked up in the backs of river flats like the Toxaway. Again, the loons are back there.

More information to follow.

February 23

Lake Jocassee is at 98.8% of full pool and most of the lake is clear but there is some dingy water in the very the backs of creeks. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake are around 51 degrees. 

It’s continues to be an outstanding period for trout fishing on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters(864-280-9056) reports that they are still catching plenty of big fish – like the 6-pounder below. At the same time it’s also a time of year where the fish don’t eat every day or at least all the time, and there are still plenty of times when they have to watch the fish follow their baits on electronics but they just won’t commit.

Overall the best fish are still being caught trolling spoons about 25-45/50 feet down, and Sam is having the best results right around 35 feet. There are some occasional big fish being caught at the dam, but for him the best results have been coming at the mouths of rivers or up them a ways. 

But if you want to find the bass you have to go way up the rivers, as the fish (and bait, and loons) are stacked up on the flats at the very back. The Toxaway has been particularly good. There are also a few trout back there but trolling spoons on flats in 25 or less feet of water has been very productive for all types of bass.  

As for conventional bass fishing techniques angler are having a lot of success fishing vertically with spoons and drop shots, and veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs (who hopes to be back on the lake very soon) reports that he is also hearing good reports dragging a worm in the backs. 

February 12

Lake Jocassee is at 98.4% of full pool and most of the lake is clear but there is some dingy water in the very the backs of creeks. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake are around 49 degrees. 

It’s an outstanding period for trout fishing right now on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that Nate Leslie won Saturday’s Jocassee Outdoor Center trout tournament with an 8.80 pound fish. There was also a fish in the 10-pound range caught recently, a bunch of fish in the 6-7 pound range have been caught, and a ton of fish over five pounds.

As for patterns the fish are literally all over the lake, and Sam’s biggest came way up a creek recently. At the same time that there have also been giants caught at the dam. The common denominator is that fish are from the surface down to about 30 or 45 feet, and they are mostly being caught on spoons although live bait has also been productive again for some anglers.

   

 

 

There’s not a long of change with the best bass patterns, and veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs reports that right now he advises concentrating on the lower end and the Bad Creek discharge (where warmer water comes into the lake when power is being generated). Fishing swimbaits around the long points as well as bluff wall ledges has been productive. 

February 1

Lake Jocassee is at 98.3% of full pool and the backs of creeks are dirty. Morning surface water temperatures on the main lake are around 52-53 degrees. 

With some stained water coming into the lake, veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs reports that one of the best bass patterns going is to head way back and fish a crankbait, flashy spinnerbait or something with rattles in the very backs of creeks. While the water isn’t muddy back there, it has gotten kind of milky. 

Chip’s other primary pattern right now is to go to the area where the Bad Creek discharge sends warm water into the lake. Bait goes in there and the bass follow it, and at times the fish are in just a few feet because there is so much shallow rock to hold heat. They can get out as deep as 30 feet, and there are several humps below that area that hold fish. For the shallow fish crankbaits and three-bladed spinnerbaits both work, while for the deeper fish Chip will use a worm or drop shot. 

Out on the water after the trout right now and then again tomorrow after a couple of days off, Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) will report back with any changes.  However, from everything he has heard fish can still be anywhere in the lake and the best action is coming 30-50 feet down in the big water or the main sections of rivers. Fish are still pretty spread out, and trolling spoons seems to be the most effective technique. They are catching lots of 3-6 plus pound fish right now. 

For some reason live bait seems to be mainly catching bass and yellow perch. 

January 23

Lake Jocassee is at 98.0% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are down to about 52 degrees. 

The trout fishing has been very good recently on Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that even with temperatures cool enough that fish can be anywhere in the lake the best action is coming 30-50 feet down in the big water or the main sections of rivers. Still fish are pretty spread out, and trolling spoons seems to be the most effective technique. They are catching lots of 3-6 plus pound fish right now. 

For some reason live bait seems to be mainly catching bass and yellow perch. 

While veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs hasn’t been on the water much this cold month, he reports that with the warm raining coming in the second half of the week he would suggest heading to the very backs of creeks where there is freshwater inflow to look for bass. There is likely to be some stain in the backs, and he would throw a half-ounce spinnerbait or bladed jig. Make long casts to avoid spooking fish.

The main point bite should also still produce, as the water never gets dingy in those areas. A swimbait remains a good bet although if there is some wind you can also fish the spinnerbait or bladed jig. 

January 4

Lake Jocassee is at 97.9% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 50s. 

It still hasn’t gotten cold on Lake Jocassee, but Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that temperatures are cool enough where the trout can be about anywhere they want and so fish are scattered literally all over the lake. A decent number of 5- and 6-pound fish are being landed, and they are all coming from different places. The deepest fish seem to be in about 50 feet, and they can be found up to the surface.

The one group of trout that are easy to pattern are the 11-13 inch stocker, which generally race to the waterfalls after they are dumped in the lake!

Up the rivers they are wearing out the bass and yellow perch fishing minnows and trolling small Rapala plugs in 40-50 feet of water around bait schools, but at this time of year veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs actually spends more time fishing the deeper water towards the dam with a drop shot off points. Sometimes he will throw a swimbait when you can see fish up in the water column, and like the river fish they are mostly following the balls of bait. 

One other winter pattern can be fishing up towards Bad Creek, and when there is a warmwater discharge you can even get surface action. Slow-rolling a spinnerbait in the rocks can also be very good.