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AHQ INSIDER Lake Wateree (SC) 2025 Week 3 Fishing Report – Updated January 15

  • by Jay

January 15

Lake Wateree is at 95.4% of full pool and clarity is pretty normal.  Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-40s. 

The crappie fishing on Lake Wateree has gotten even tougher, andveteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that fish haven’t really moved – they are still pretty much all in open water – but they have gotten very lethargic in the cold. Most of the fish are suspended about 18-25 feet down fairly close to the bottom, and in the river channel near Wateree Creek (a traditional winter spot) they are 22-24 feet down over 25 or so feet of water. They aren’t taking anything very well, but it’s a good bet to have minnows available and try to entice them with minnows, jigs, and jigs tipped with minnows. 

There’s little prospect of dramatic warming in the next week, but when it does eventually warm fish will first move up in the water column – staying in open water. But if it gets really warm they will also go shallower. However, with the temperatures predicted the best bet is that their next move will be even tighter to the bottom and to get even more lethargic. 

In contrast, despite the cold the black bass bite on Lake Wateree is better than normal for the winter. CATT owner Brett Collins reports that usually the fishing gets tough in the colder months, especially when it gets very cold, but right now there is a good bite shallow around docks and rocks with a crankbait and an Alabama rig in less than 6 feet of water. Fish the main lake or very front of creeks. 

He is frankly surprised that anglers are catching anything, but Brett does note that the population of big fish seems to be down and he wonders if the up-and-down water levels of the last several years have hurt the spawns. Regardless there are a good number of 13-14 inch fish around which should be good for the future. 

January 3

Lake Wateree is at 95.4% of full pool and the lake is dingy but not muddy on the lower end, while the upper end is dirtier. Morning surface water temperatures are around 46 degrees. 

The crappie fishing on Lake Wateree has gotten tougher again in the cold temperatures, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that it appears the last cold snap finally pulled the vast majority of the fish off brush and other cover. He did catch one fish yesterday on a stump and saw a very few on structure, but the vast majority of the fish are now out in open water. 

With the cold temperatures they seem to be lethargic, and most of the fish he is marking are right on the bottom. He did catch some suspended 22-24 feet down in about 30 feet of water. Will has been mostly fishing the lower lake, but in the Wateree Creek area they are 22-24 feet down in the river channel over 25 or so feet of water. Particularly with water levels very low there is almost no action inside the creeks. 

While overall Will found a slow bite, he did catch a full limit of good fish with some over a pound and a half yesterday. He only fished jigs and had the best luck with Fish Stalker in Mountain Dew color.  He is casting but you can also tight-line.  

It’s been a decent black bass bite on Wateree, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that the weather may change this but for now the action has been pretty good around docks. It could be that there are still some bream around docks, or that the last of the crawfish have not yet gone into hibernation. The best docks are closer to deep water and a jig has been working. 

The other major pattern is fishing a crankbait around rock, and while fish could be on flat rocky areas the best rock is steeper or at least on a shelf with deeper water nearby. Dearal notes that when rock is getting pressured clay banks, which will also hold heat, can be a good alternative. Clay itself holds heat but Wateree clay also has lots of small rocks in it. 

Finally, The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that the striped bass and catfish fishing remains strong on Wateree. Massive schools of bait are now bunched up in the old river channel and will stay there for around the next 45 days, and the striper are suspended 10-15 feet deep over 40-45 feet of water. The best way to catch them is free-lining live bait early and shifting to down-rods 12-15 feet down as the sun gets up. 

For cats drifting cut perch and shad in the river channel is the best pattern, and they will also take deeper live baits.   

December 19

Lake Wateree is at 95.8% of full pool and the lake is still relatively clear.  Morning surface water temperatures are around 51 degrees. 

The crappie fishing on Lake Wateree has picked up significantly this week, andveteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that in less than two hours he had a limit yesterday. He is still finding a decent number of fish in the lower lake on deeper brush, and while they could be very close to pulling off they are biting very well right now. There is also a very large group of fish that are just swimming around right on the bottom in 15-25 feet of water, and if you manage to locate one of these groups of fish they will feed. That’s not typical and it’s unclear why they are not more suspended. For all these fish he is using Fish Stalker jigs in Mountain Dew color. 

While Will is sticking to the lower lake, there are almost certain to still be lots of fish up the river around Wateree Creek.  A few years ago most anglers would have been tight-lining with a vast array of rods, and that will still work, now other anglers are using forward-facing sonar to cast at fish. Both minnows and jigs are still working but as we come into the winter months having a minnow on your hook often becomes more important.

Will Hinson with a pair of slabs yesterday

The only change with the black bass this week is that the dock bite has improved, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that it could possibly be because of the warmer weather. It could be that there are more bream around docks again, or they could just be getting up there to sun. 
If it’s just weather-related it will be temporary, and overall it’s probably best to look for fish in a typical winter pattern. That means looking especially for rocks and steeper banks where fish can quickly move from deeper to shallow then back to deeper water depending on conditions.

Fishing crankbaits on points is one good pattern, and you can also fish a jerkbait. If you locate some bait then slow-rolling a spinnerbait can be a good pattern. 

Additionally, The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that the striped bass fishing remains strong on Wateree. Fish are on the main lake in 25-40 feet of water suspended 12-15 feet deep. Most fish are either in the river channel or on the flats adjacent to the channel. The best way to catch them is free-lining live bait early and shifting to down-rods 12-15 feet down as the sun gets up. 

Finally, the catfish action is still strong drifting cut perch and shad on main lake flats adjacent to the river channel in 20-25 feet of water, or actually drifting 35-40 feet of water in the channel or on channel ledges. 

December 12

Lake Wateree is at 95.8% of full pool and the lake is still relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped into the mid-50s. 

It’s been a minute since we’ve had a catfish report on Lake Wateree, but The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that the lake is still full of them. On his last trip they caught 25 in three hours, and 10 times had doubles! Everything came drifting cut perch and shad on main lake flats in 20-25 feet of water that were adjacent to the river channel, or actually drifting 35-40 feet of water in the channel or on channel ledges. 

This week with Captain Chris Nichols

Of course they are still catching striped bass too, and Captain Chris reports that the striper are in the main creek mouths in 25 feet as well as suspended over the main river channel. They caught all of them free-lining shad or on down-rods fished 10-15 feet down. The striper bite is very early and very late in the day. 

The black bass are moving further into winter patterns, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that the best action is now on the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. He is looking especially for rocks and steeper banks where fish can quickly move from deeper to shallow then back to deeper water depending on conditions.

Fishing crankbaits on points is one good pattern, and you can also fish a jerkbait. If you locate some bait then slow-rolling a spinnerbait can be a good pattern. 

While there are still some fish on docks, now that the bream have largely moved out fishing the front of docks when there is some brush is usually more productive than flipping to the backs. 

Perhaps 25% of the Lake Wateree crappie are still on brush in 15-25 feet, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that’s more likely on the lower end in the deeper water where it takes longer for the fish to feel that temperatures have cooled. But most of the fish are starting to pull off of brush and roam in about 20 feet of water. Some are running 10-12 feet deep, while others are closer to the bottom in 18-20 feet. As always on Lake Wateree substantial numbers of fish are starting to move up the rivers to the area around Wateree Creek.

While a few years ago most anglers would have been tight-lining with a vast array of rods, and that will still work, now more often anglers are using forward-facing sonar to cast at fish. Both minnows and jigs are still working but as we come into the winter months having a minnow on your hook often becomes more important.

December 4

Lake Wateree is at 95.4% of full pool and the lake is still clear for Wateree. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped into the mid-50s. 

The crappie have finally made their move on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that fish are starting to pull off of brush. There are still fish that can be caught on main lake structure in 15-25 feet, but every day higher percentages of fish are roaming in about 20 feet of water. Some are running 10-12 feet deep, while others are closer to the bottom in 18-20 feet. As always on Lake Wateree substantial numbers of fish are starting to move up the rivers to the area around Wateree Creek.

While a few years ago most anglers would have been tight-lining with a vast array of rods, and that will still work, now more often anglers are using forward-facing sonar to cast at fish. Both minnows and jigs are still working but as we come into the winter months having a minnow on your hook often becomes more important.

The black bass seem to have gotten a little tougher to catch as this cold front arrived, but tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that fish can be found around rocky points. Most of the fish are moving out to the main lake, and they are highly oriented towards following bait schools. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jerkbaits will all catch fish.  

As always on Wateree there are also a decent number of fish around docks, and flipping a jig is a good option. 

While the striped bass aren’t schooling right now on Wateree, The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that it’s still a very exciting to time to catch them. The best place to look for fish is on main lake flats near where the mouths of creek channels intersect with the main river channel in about 20-25 feet of water. The active fish are generally suspended about 10-18 feet deep, and while you will mark some on the bottom in 30-40 feet these are usually passive fish that won’t eat. Key on feeding fish by using your electronics to find them in 10-15-20 feet and then start fishing. 

You can either catch them by fishing down rods about 12 feet down or running free-lines 4-8 feet down. 

Captain Chris Nichols wiht a nice pair of Wateree striper

November 20

Lake Wateree is at 95.8% of full pool and the lake is still clear for Wateree. Morning surface water temperatures are about 65 degrees. 

The crappie fishing is getting better and better on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that there is no doubt fish are feeding better. They are still on main lake structure in 15-25 feet of water, be it brush, stumps, trees, or any other sunken cover. Again this week there are no signs the fish are breaking up into smaller pods, but that will change almost overnight when it does. 

Fish Stalker Slab Tail jigs (2-inch) in Mountain Dew, glimmer blue, and black emerald are working very well.  

Will Hinson with a couple of bigs this week on Lake Wateree

But the most exciting thing going on Wateree is the schooling striped bass, and Will notes that he is seeing them all over the lake but especially on the lower end.  Early and late they are on the surface over the middle of the channel usually in the deepest water, although he has also seen them follow shad into just 18-20 feet. Generally they are going wherever the bait goes. 

At the same time tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that the black bass are doing something similar on Lake Wateree, and while he is still finding them back in the creeks on shad and around grass he is noticing more fish starting to relate to main lake points and the channel. Generally these fish are adjacent to areas where the striper are attacking bait. 

While there is still a place for flipping creek docks or throwing spinnerbaits in the grass, he is now spending more time with crankbaits, shaky heads, and jigs on points. 

November 13

Lake Wateree is at 96.2% of full pool and the lake is still clear for Wateree. Morning surface water temperatures are about 67 degrees. 

The black bass are on similar patterns on Lake Wateree, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that he is still seeing the greatest concentrations of fish shallow in the creeks. They are heavily keying on shad, although they are also eating bream which are still mostly shallow. 

In the tournament Saturday Dearal managed a fair limit fishing grass with spinnerbaits and Texas rigs, but too late he realized that with dropping water levels fish were becoming more point-oriented. When that happens fish are likely to make their way out of the coves and group up on points. 

The crappie patterns haven’t changed this week but the fishing is getting better, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that fish are still on main lake structure in 15-25 feet of water. He is mostly fishing the lower end.  While a week ago it seemed like more fish were starting to roam, for now he is still seeing giant schools of 700 plus fish on brush and they don’t seem to be leaving yet. 

Fish Stalker jigs in Mountain Dew color are working very well.  

November 8

Lake Wateree is at 97.5% of full pool and the lake is surprisingly clear, from the lower end to at least near the top. Morning surface water temperatures are about 70 degrees. 

We have another very fresh black bass fishing report from tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden, on the water right now, who reports that in the post-frontal conditions the fish are not biting particularly well. They are clearly shallow, and Dearal is finding better concentrations of fish in the creeks than on the main lake. But the fish that are biting are often biting short. 

The best catches have come on crankbaits (perhaps because of the trebles for short strikes), but he’s also throwing jigs, swim jigs, and buzzbaits. The buzzbait in particular they are just slapping at.

Conditions should improve soon but it’s useful to know fish are shallow in the creeks around bait. 

Meanwhile the crappie bite has been pretty consistent this week, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that fish are still on main lake structure in 15-25 feet of water. He is mostly fishing the lower end. Just now fish seem to be starting to roam a bit in open water, but there are still plenty of fish on brush, stumps, etc.  There are also a lot of bream stacked up on the same structure, and if you find bream you will also usually find crappie.

Fish Stalker jigs in Mountain Dew color are working very well.  

October 30

Lake Wateree is at 97.7% of full pool and the lake has cleared significantly. Morning surface water temperatures are about 66 degrees. 

The most exciting thing going on right now on Lake Wateree is the striped bass bite, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that, while there are times when they are stacked up on the bottom and won’t bite, in the afternoons he has found them rising up in the water column with some pretty incredible schooling activity. When that happens you can cast at the fish with your favorite topwater, and they will also hit live bait rods. At one point on his last trip Captain Chris had six fish on at once!

Captain Chris Nichols with a haul

Another Lake Wylie guide, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828), hasn’t run into schooling fish as much so far this fall but has been able to entice deep fish to bite by swimming a live gizzard shad over their head. Down-sizing line and hooks, and sometimes using planer boards to get the bait away from the boat, seems to be the trick. They are also catching some seemingly inactive fish right under the boat. 

Meanwhile crappie fishing is fair, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that he is catching fish on the main lake towards the dam. The fish are definitely in a transition phase before they start roaming in open water, and while they are still on structure in 15-25 feet they are in small schools of 5 or 6 fish. Casting Fish Stalker jigs in Mountain Dew color or hair jigs has been catching fish.

While the crappie aren’t roaming yet, the bream certainly are and at times it can be difficult to a get bait through to crappie they are so thick. 

Finally, on the black bass front tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that pretty much all the action is shallow right now but it varies from day to day. Friday the fishing was excellent, but on Saturday with bright sunny skies and a rising barometer fish were hitting short. In those conditions you have to slow down and finesse them with a shaky head or the like.

Generally, they have been catching fish around rocks and docks in the creeks and coves running the banks. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits can be good in low-light conditions (Saturday they were hitting both short), but when the sun rises you usually have to flip into shade right now. 

No one seems to be fishing offshore right now. 

October 16

Lake Wateree is at 97.4% of full pool and the lake is stained but not muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are about 72 degrees. 

The crappie have showed up again, and as he suspected veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt is virtually certain that they were hugging the bottom after Helene with the raging current moving through the lake. That’s because the fish he was catching immediately after conditions settled down all had red, scratched bellies as if they had been on the lake floor.

While they are still on the main lake the fish have moved shallower, and Will is now catching them in 13-18 feet of water around brush, stumps, and other structure. Mostly they are on river ledges out away from the bank, and he has caught fish from about Clearwater Cove to the state park but not yet way up the lake.  That’s coming.  Fish Stalker “hot mess” jigs (pink with a yellow tail) have been his most productive baits. 

Will Hinson with a couple of slabs caught this week

The bass fishing is fair on Lake Wateree, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that the fish are shallow. They are mainly catching them around grass, although his son has caught fish on docks, and they are having the best luck running the banks in pockets off the main lake. Still, Dearal is certain there are also some fish in the creeks. They have caught fish on a spinnerbait and flipping a bream-colored beaver-style bait around the grass, but they have also heard of anglers catching fish on a swim jig and buzzbait around grass. Dearal and his tournament partner couldn’t find any action on topwaters this week, however. 

October 9

Lake Wateree is down to 97.2% of full pool and the lake is still pretty dirty but starting to normalize. Morning surface water temperatures are about 75 degrees. 

Considering that ten days ago Lake Wateree was the second or third highest it’s ever been, and that within week Duke pulled it down around 8 feet and back to normal levels, veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt isn’t surprised that with all that current ripping through the lake the crappie fishing got tough.  But he didn’t realize it would get this hard. On his last trip out, in six hours of fishing he had zero bites and couldn’t mark a crappie, bream or white perch on any of the brush he has been fishing.  On the main lake or in the creeks.  The only thing he could see was the occasional catfish. All Will can speculate is that fish got flat to the bottom in areas off to the sides of the channel where there was some sort of drop or other structure that created a current break. 

With lake levels back to normal and the current gone the fish should start to act more normally, and as soon as Will locates them again he will let us know!

Fortunately the bass fishing news is more positive, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that in part because water temperatures are five degrees cooler than before the storm he thinks the fishing has substantially improved. The fish are spread out and shallow, but they don’t seem to be as far back in the coves and creeks as they were before the water levels rose and then plummeted – pulling them back out.

He has caught fish around grass and docks, and spinnerbaits and buzzbaits have both been working. They might also take a frog. You can probably also catch fish on soft plastics, but in the dirty conditions the reaction bite seems a little stronger.

 
Wild times on Lake Wateree

October 2

Lake Wateree is down to 101.4% of full pool and the whole lake is chocolate milk. 

Wateree had perhaps the most extreme water level rise of any South Carolina lake during Helene, and at its peak it hit 105.7% of full pool Monday night – meaning water was rushing more than five feet over the dam. 

While veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt hasn’t been able to get after them when landings were closed, from experience he knows that as soon as he is able to the crappie will be hunkered tight to the bottom and trying to get out of the worst of the current. With water flying out of the creeks they won’t want to be there either, and instead they will be looking for areas to the side on the main lake where they can get out of the worst of it. 

Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden has been to the lake many times this week, observing water conditions, but hasn’t been able to put a boat in either. However, he also expects the bass to have moved around because of the storm. They should be shallow if the water levels aren’t dropping too fast and they will be looking for current breaks. 

 

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