April 9

Lake Keowee is at 98.7% of full pool and water clarity is high on the main lake, but with the backs of major creeks stained to muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are now in the mid-60s over most of the lake and the upper 60s mid-lake.   

With black bass in all three phases of the spawn on Lake Keowee, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that therefore a variety of techniques can be used from bed fishing to targeting bass in open water.  An early bite on points with a swimbait or small crankbait is starting to pick up.  Some topwater action is also present throughout the day, particularly in the mid-lake section.  Soft plastics such as a shaky head or Texas rig are working out to 20 feet or so, and fishing around docks with soft plastics or a jig is productive as this is a prime bedding area for many bass on Keowee. 

Fishing remains strong on the lake and should continue to be very good over the next few weeks.

 

April 3

Lake Keowee is at 98.5% of full pool and water clarity is high on the main lake (absent the pollen). Morning surface water temperatures are now in the mid-60s over most of the lake. 

It’s an outstanding time to catch black bass on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that the spawn is in full swing on the lake with an excellent shallow bite underway.  Docks, rocky banks, and spawning flats are all holding fish with more bass moving up every day. Any soft plastic is effective on these pre-spawn and spawning bass.

Some fish can also be found on brush in 15-25 feet of water, where a drop shot is effective. 

In the mid-lake area some bass are chasing bait on the surface at times – look for any birds diving as a good indication of where a school of bass may be located.  A topwater bait or swimbait can be used on these fish. 

Overall, it’s a great time to catch numbers on Keowee!

With a relative absence of shallow cover on Keowee the crappie spawn is a bit of a mystery, but Guide Casey Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that they continue to catch fair numbers and a few very large fish suspended in trees in the creeks.  Minnows are working. Perhaps some fish are currently spawning around floating docks, but regardless decent numbers remain offshore. Some of these fish are full of eggs and so at least some fish are still pre-spawn.  They are picking up relatively few spotted bass, another indicator most spots have gone shallow.

March 27

Lake Keowee is at 98.0% of full pool and water clarity is very high on the main lake, even with pollen concentrations. Morning surface water temperatures have now reached the low 60s over most of the lake with mid-60s found near the nuclear station. 

It remains very good black bass fishing on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that, while some fish may now be post-spawn, the great majority of the bass are either in spawn or pre-spawn stages.  The spawn takes many weeks to unfold on Keowee due to the water temperatures and impact of the nuclear facility, but most fish are now moving toward their traditional spawning areas on the lake such as docks, rocky points, shallow coves, etc. 

An early bite with a spinnerbait or jerkbait is a good place to start, and then using soft plastics around likely spawning or staging areas will produce fish.  Some topwater action, particularly mid-lake, can also be found in the morning.  Fishing windy banks in the afternoon with a jerkbait is working later in the day. 

Overall, fishing is very good on the lake currently and should remain that way for several weeks. 

March 20

Lake Keowee is at 98.0% of full pool and water clarity is very high on the main lake although a lot of pollen is now accumulating as well – and definitely having an effect on forward-facing sonar for the next few weeks! Morning surface water temperatures have inched up to the low 60s over most of the lake with mid-60s found near the nuclear station. 

It's a very good time to fish for black bass on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that fish are in heavy pre-spawn and spawning phase primarily, while some fish mid-lake may have already finished the spawn.  An early bite with a spinnerbait or small crankbait on points is developing and should get stronger in the coming weeks, but that is a good place to start at first light.  A swimbait or jerkbait is working for fish chasing bait on the surface during the morning hours. 

Soft plastics out to 20 or so feet on points and around/between docks is a very consistent pattern currently and will produce all day.  Fishing should remain very strong for the next few weeks.

March 13

Lake Keowee is at 98.9% of full pool and water clarity is very high on the main lake with some stain found in the very back of major creeks.  Morning surface water temperatures have now reached the low to mid-60s in the mid-lake region over the past few days, with most of the lake now in the upper 50s. 

With the water warming quickly this week, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that black bass have now been caught off the bed in the mid-lake area.  Expect to see more significant movement to shallow water in the next week.  However, the spawn on Keowee is always extended and many fish still remain in ditches and creeks in 30 plus feet of water. 

An early bite with a swimbait or jerkbait is producing in areas holding bait.  After the sun gets up, soft plastics around pre-spawn and spawning areas is working in 6-15 feet of water.  Deeper fish can be targeted with a drop shot or similar bait. 

In the last few tournaments, 14 pounds has generally been in the money, but those weights may go up with more fish on the bed being targeted in the coming weeks.

March 5

Lake Keowee is at 98.0% of full pool and water clarity is normal.  Morning surface water temperatures in the low 60s can be found mid-lake with temperatures in the mid- to upper 50s now found throughout the rest of the lake. 

Water temperatures continue to slowly rise on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that black bass continue to move up into shallower water with the warmer weather.  Some fish are now being seen on the bed, particularly mid-lake, in 3-6 feet of water.  Most of the largemouth will be that shallow while some of the spotted bass will be and some will be deeper.  Fish can be targeted with swimbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics as they are making their way to spawning locations. 

Some sporadic surface activity has been seen in the past week – and this will increase in the coming week – so a topwater bait should also be on the deck. 

Fishing depth is largely determined by how one wants to fish now, with a shallow bite in a few feet of water out to 30 feet or so with deeper plastics and swimbaits.  

February 27

Lake Keowee is at 97.6% of full pool and water clarity is very high on the main lake but there is some stain in the back of major creeks.  Morning surface water temperatures remain in the upper 50s on the north and south ends, while temperatures in the low 60s can be found mid-lake. 

With water temperatures on the rise, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that black bass can be targeted a number of ways as the transition to shallow water seems to have begun.  A crankbait bite in the stained water is good with a mid-running bait in shad or red colors.  Soft plastics in the 10-20 foot range are working around docks and rocky points.  Some deeper fish in the 20-40 feet range can be targeted with swimbaits or drop shots. 

Overall, fishing has begun to improve and this trend should continue as fish move into the pre-spawn and spawn.

February 19

Lake Keowee is at 98.8% of full pool and water clarity is normal on the main lake but stained to muddy in the back of the major creeks due to recent rainfall.  Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 50s over most of the lake, with the warmest water at 60 degrees near the power plant.

With the cold weather that has moved back in, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that not much has changed with black bass fishing on the lake in the past week.  While fish continue to transition from deeper water, the process is slow. 

A swimbait, jerkbait, or soft plastics on points are good baits to try right now.  On sunny days, try docks with a shaky head or jig as the floats warm up.  Some deeper fish (40 feet or so) can still be caught on a dropshot. 

Expect to see more fish move up in the next couple of weeks.

February 12

Lake Keowee is at 99.1% of full pool and water clarity is very high on the main lake.  Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 50s on the southern and northern ends of the lake, and low 60s can be found in the mid-lake area. 

After a brief warm spell, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that winter has decided to return this week and water temperatures have dropped a degree or two in places. The black bass fishing pattern has not changed much with the cooler temperatures returning. 

Some fish are continuing to move up in the water column and out of the deeper creeks.   These fish can be targeted with a swimbait or soft plastics in 20-35 feet of water.  Other fish still remain in the creeks with the best depth being 35-50 feet of water.  A dropshot or small swimbait is the best bet for these fish. 

We should continue to see a slow progression of fish moving shallower over the next couple of weeks.

February 6

Lake Keowee is at 98.2% of full pool and water clarity is very high, with visibility more than 10 feet on the main lake.  Morning surface water temperatures are now back to the mid- to upper 50s on the southern and northern ends of the lake, with low 60s in the mid-lake area. 

After a number of very warm days, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that things are rapidly changing as water temperatures are rising.  The deep bite that has been so prevalent over the winter seems to be dying out quickly with fish now starting to move out of the deeper water.  There are still fish in the 30-50 foot range, but the very deep bite has dropped off significantly. 

A shallower bite with soft plastics such as a shaky head and a small swimbait is picking up – expect this trend to continue.  With no really cold nights forecast in the next week, expect to see more fish moving up around points, humps, and docks, especially mid-lake.

 

January 29

Lake Keowee is at 98.6% of full pool and water clarity is very high.  Morning surface water temperatures are now in the upper 40s to low 50s over most of the lake.

Water temperatures are now at or near their winter low on Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that, with the lake colder this year than the past few winters, in the recent BFL event most fish were caught in deep water on drop shots, Damiki rigs, spoons, and more.  For the deep bite, 60 plus feet is still working in areas holding baitfish.  A shallow bite with a shaky head or jig also produced some fish along with a swimbait.  Very few largemouth were weighed in the tournament – an indication of the cold water temperatures. 

This pattern is likely to hold for at least the next couple of weeks until we see some uptick in the water temperatures.  However, expect to see some fish moving up, particularly on sunny afternoons around docks or rocky areas. 

That’s consistent with the report from tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria, who finished second in the BFL event on the strength of a couple of two better fish.  Andy agrees that the vast majority of the fish are out deep right now, but he notes that the few fish which are shallow are often good ones.  Both of his big fish came around docks – and as Charles said, he caught them later in the day!  

January 22

Lake Keowee is at 98.8% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are now around 50 over most of the lake, with 40s back in some of the long creeks. Around the nuclear plant temperatures are in the mid-50s.    

We are having a truly wintery January in the Upstate, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that cold weather has limited time on the lake and the number of black bass anglers practicing for the upcoming BFL has been very low because of the frigid temperatures. 

With the low temperatures, expect a lot of spotted bass to be stuck on the bottom in ditches or around structure in depths from 40-80 feet.  Finding bait in these areas increases the likelihood of spotted bass being nearby.  A drop shot or Damiki rig worked slowly is the best bet for these fish. 

Some fish will chase bait on the surface at times back in pockets so have a topwater handy if they come up. 

Finally, a jig worked slowly or a jerkbait (also worked slowly) is another good wintertime option on the lake.

January 10

Lake Keowee is at 98.6% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are now in the low to mid-50s over most of the lake, although in the backs of some creeks you can find 40s while the area around the power plant remains near 60.  

Water temperatures continue to slowly fall on Lake Keowee, and as they approach their low for the season N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that fish are deep in a wintertime pattern.  A lot of black bass are now in ditches, creek channels and drop-offs in 40 plus feet of water, usually holding close to the bottom.  Finding bait in any of these areas will often mean spotted bass are nearby and can be caught with a drop shot, small spoon, or dragging a jig on the bottom. 

A shallower bite with a jerkbait, shaky head, or small swimbait can be found around docks and points with the best area being mid-lake in the warmer water. 

While there are not a lot of birds on Keowee during the winter, any activity with loons or gulls means bait is present and a good spot to take a look.

January 2

Lake Keowee is at 97.8% of full pool and water clarity is normal.  Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 50s, although in the mid-lake there is still some water in the lower 60s.      

Water temperatures continue to slowly fall on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that as a result winter black bass fishing patterns are now dominant with many fish in deeper water on the bottom or around schools of bait fish.  A dropshot, spoon, or jig in depths from 35-70 plus feet will work in areas holding bait.  Creek channels, drop-offs, and deeper holes are best. 

A shallower bite with a jerkbait or swimbait on points or back in creeks is also an option.

Much cooler weather is forecast over the next two weeks so expect fish to slow down and get even deeper.