December 4
Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures are around 55-57 degrees.
There have been a pair of black bass tournaments in the last week on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that in the no forward-facing sonar Lake Wylie Winter Trail event it took 16 pounds to win. Meanwhile the Black Friday tournament without that technology limit took 18. Essentially in the first tournament anglers are targeting areas they think have fish, while in the second they are casting at fish they can see.
Fish have clearly gotten into full-blown winter patterns after this Arctic blast, and they are highly related to bait. The primary patterns are fishing Alabama rigs and jerkbaits around points and secondary points, in both the creeks and main lake. 8-15 feet is a good depth range. There are also a lot of people throwing the same baits, as well as flipping jigs, at docks that they know have brush off the corners.
As for the crappie and white perch, The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that now that temperatures have dropped below 60 degrees and seem almost certain to stay there for months both species are moving (with the shad) deeper towards the creek mouths in 20-30 feet of water.
The perch are generally in bigger schools near the bottom, while the crappie are more likely to suspend in smaller schools. Vertical fishing with minnows is hard to beat for both.
On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that again you can catch fish in both the major creeks and the main river channel. In the creeks anchoring in 6-20 feet is working well, particularly in areas where there is a lot of bird activity and other signs of bait. If there is decent wind for a day or two fish will scatter out on the flats on the edge of the river channel. Target your drifts in 15-25 feet of water and in breezy conditions no trolling motor is needed. Cut perch and gizzard shad are both working.
November 20
Lake Wylie is at 97.3% of full pool and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures are around 61 degrees.
The black bass are doing about the same thing as last week on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that he has been able to catch plenty of fish both related to cover and suspended on bait. There are still good numbers of fish around docks, and at the beginning of the week they would take a buzzbait while that may now be shifting to more of a flipping bite.
But probably the easier way to catch fish (for anglers with forward-facing-sonar) is to look for bait suspended in the creeks in 15-30 feet of water. The fish around these schools of shad are aggressive right now and they will take underspins, minnow-style baits on jigheads, and jigging spoons. As temperatures drop the schools are generally in the guts of the creeks.
Interestingly, FFS has been banned for the Lake Wylie Winter Trail this season.
At the same time the crappie and white perch are leaving the creeks, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that by now the crappie have pretty much all pulled off the shallow piers and brush as water approaches 60 degrees. Both species are now grouping up in the creek mouths as they head towards the main channel.
The perch are in big schools at the creek mouths in 25-35 feet, while the crappie are starting to suspend in smaller schools 10-15 feet deep over 20-30 feet of water.
Vertical fishing with minnows is hard to beat.
On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that it is a variable bite depending on weather conditions.
Deep drifting in the main channel in 23-32 feet of water is very productive when there is wind. When the water is moving they are getting some powerful strikes from big fish.
However, in calm conditions Captain Rodger is fishing at anchor in the major creeks on points and ledges in 6-24 feet of water. Look for birds and bait sign before setting up.
A variety of cut baits are catching fish.
November 14
Lake Wylie is at 96.9% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 61 degrees.
On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that they are catching blue cats from 12-32 pounds on two primary patterns. First, deep drifting (aided by the wind) in the main channel in 23-32 feet of water is productive. Second, fishing at anchor in the major creeks on points and ledges in 6-24 feet of water is working. A variety of cut baits are catching fish.
November 13
Lake Wylie is at 97.1% of full pool and water clarity is pretty normal again. Morning surface water temperatures are around 62 degrees.
As water temperatures drop crappie and white perch are transitioning to their early winter patterns, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that they have by-and-large left the creek channels and made their way towards the creek mouths. The vast majority of the fish are now in 25-30 feet of water. If the fish are biting well then they usually suspend about 12 feet down, but when the bite is slower they will hunker down on the bottom.
Use electronics to figure out the appropriate depth. The most efficient way to catch fish is spider-rigging minnows.
The black bass fishing has gotten tougher on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that weights in the low teens are winning big tournaments. As temperatures drop the topwater bite is slowing down.
There are basically two ways to catch fish right now, and one group of fish is oriented to cover and particularly docks. They can be caught on crankbaits, jigs and worms.
Another group of fish is suspended on bait and roaming in open water, particularly in the creeks. At times these fish can be seen boiling on bait, and they can also be located with electronics. Jerkbaits, underspins, and small swimbaits will all catch fish.
Catfish report to follow from Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828).
October 30
Lake Wylie is at 97.2% of full pool and water clarity is pretty normal again. Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 60s.
Without drastic weather changes the black bass patterns are similar on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that fish are basically stuck in early fall patterns. Buzzbaits and topwater lures are still working well in creeks and on the main lake, and particularly in the creeks there is sporadic schooling activity. There is also still a fair amount of current in the lake and so fishing points with crankbaits continues to be productive.
Additionally, as usual on Wylie a good number of fish are being caught on docks.
With still-mild water conditions the crappie and white perch are in similar patterns, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that both are bunched up in the creek channels 20-30 feet deep at the mouth of major creeks – largely because the shad are so thick in there. Most of the fish are suspended 12-15 feet deep, and you can catch them spider-rigging minnows.
Additionally, until the water temperatures hit about 60 you can find them on docks.
In a similar vein, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that he is finding a very good crappie bite in the morning and evening casting 1/32nd ounce chartreuse Charlie jigs to brush in 6-10 feet of water.
Finally, in catfish news Captain Rodger reports that the bite is fair to good using cut bait and particularly gizzard shad. The better bite is in the creeks slow-trolling baits on ledges in 15-25 feet of water, while the action in the main channel is hit-or-miss with fish holding on deep flats in 32-34 feet of water.
October 16
Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool and overall the lake is clearing from the recent floods and most of the debris is gone. Morning surface water temperatures are around 73 degrees on the main lake.
It remains a very good bass bite on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that it’s still as simple as fishing points with a Frittside crankbait or a DT-6, but in the “chalky” water conditions they have also been catching fish on a Chatterbait on pretty much any type of point. You can even catch fish on a shaky head around points because the fish are just there.
The bite is also improving around docks, and casting a spinnerbait or flipping docks is getting productive.
Water temperatures are going to have to drop a few more degrees before the crappie and white perch bite changes very much, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that you can find both species stacked up at creek mouths in 20-25 feet. Crappie have also moved further into the creeks and you can catch them spider-rigging minnows at the same depth. Additionally, casting jigs around docks and brush is a good pattern for eating-sized crappie. Hand-tied hair jigs have been working the best for shooting docks.
The catfish bite has picked up a little on Lake Wylie, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that he now rates the bite fair to good. The best bite is in the major creeks drifting in 14-24 feet of water, but when the wind gets up then the best action can shift to the main channel drifting 32-34 feet of water with the aid of the wind. Fresh cut shad and white perch have been working the best.
October 11
Lake Wylie is at 97.2% of full pool and overall the lake is now slightly stained greenish-brown. Morning surface water temperatures are around 75 on the main lake.
Fresh off a full-day on the water, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that overall the bite is fair. They caught fish up to 20 pounds on fresh cut shad but they had to work for them. Typically the fish feed really hard while the lake is flooding, but after a few days and when water is receding the action can slow down.
Captain Rodger covered water from the middle of creeks out to 40 plus feet on the main lake, and while they marked a ton of bait and fish most of them weren’t biting. The best action came drifting the main channel in 30-35 feet.
The wind will be lighter today and Rodger may try anchoring early.
October 10
Lake Wylie is at 97.1% of full pool and the lake is still dingy but the creeks are clearing as fresh water flows in. The south end of the main lake is dirtier than the north. Morning surface water temperatures are around 77 in the creeks.
It’s still a very good bass bite on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that he has caught some pretty outstanding numbers of bass the last two times he got out. There is so much current that fish are stacked up on the points and waiting for bait to come by, and so cranking pretty much any main lake, secondary or even further back point will catch fish. He has been catching them on a Frittside and a DT-6.
The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) adds that early they will take a topwater on those same points.
With dropping water levels Captain Chris reports that crappie and white perch have returned to slightly deeper water in the creeks, but the fish that left the main lake in the flooding have basically stayed there. You can find both species stacked up at creek mouths in 20-25 feet. Crappie have also moved further into the creeks and you can catch them spider-rigging minnows at the same depth. Additionally, casting jigs around docks and brush is a good pattern for eating-sized crappie.
Expect both species to be creek-oriented until temperatures drop below about 60 degrees.
Catfish report to follow from Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) – on the water today.
October 2
Lake Wylie is at 97.9% of full pool and the lake is a mess with docks, trees and debris floating everywhere. Up-river entire marinas with boats still attached broke loose. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s.
We’re lucky to have reports from a couple of anglers on Lake Wylie since Helene, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that the main lake is a lot muddier than the creeks and coves and so everything moved back that way seeking slightly cleaner water. Shad are thick in the backs of creeks. Perch, crappie and everything else is now in less than 15-20 feet of water, but it’s the bass fishing that has really turned on. With a spinnerbait or Chatterbait you can wear them out around all the trees that have fallen into the water, and Captain Chris even managed this flathead catfish on a Chatterbait. It seems that everything has moved up to eat.
That’s exactly consistent with the report from tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill, who says that in the high muddy water the fish are biting. Reid dropped the trolling motor in the first creek and never left yesterday, finding fish right on the bank eating. He also threw standard dirty water reaction baits like spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and crankbaits, and with so much current fish were congregated around any point or cover that creates a current break.
There is so much debris floating that there is talk that Duke will shut down public ramps.
September 26
Lake Wylie is at 96.6% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures were around 75 degrees on the main channel before the storm.
There are a few different possible explanations for what’s going on, but the catfish bite on Lake Wylie has been pretty tough the last few days. Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that he did manage a few fish in 24 feet of water about 9 miles up the lake yesterday, but there isn’t really a consistent pattern.
There could be a couple of different reasons for that, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that from what he is seeing the lake has started to turn over and that can hurt the bite for the while. Additionally, for about a week they have been sucking the bottom of Lake Wylie to prepare for Helene, and all that current can make fish bite very well for a couple of days (which they did) but then things can slow down as fish lay low.
But Captain Chris reports that the white perch have still bit really well this week, even as everything has moved a few feet deeper with dropping water levels. Perch are on main lake flats in 23-30 feet just off the channel, and crappie are now at about the same depth in the creeks. They can be caught spider rigging minnows or casting at deep piers and brush piles with jigs.
Finally, tournament bass angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that there has been a good buzzbait bite, pretty standard fall fare, and that fish are also being caught around bait in major creeks on spinnerbaits – also textbook.
More to follow after the storm.
September 20
Lake Wylie is at 98.2% of full pool and water clarity is still very high even after recent rains and elevated water levels. Morning surface water temperatures are around 75 degrees on the main channel.
Fresh off the water, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that the bite for 8-18 pound blue catfish remains very good after recent rains. Captain Rodger has found little action in the creeks, but drifting the main channel in 18-34 feet of water with cut bait has been very productive. Target areas near vertical structure and long sloping points.
Perch are in many of these areas, but if bait and fish are present Rodger will target an area regardless of the presence of white perch. Asian clams and snails make up a large part of the catfish diet, and the snails in particular like to live off long points sometimes in deep water.
September 19
Lake Wylie is at 98.3% of full pool. Morning surface water temperatures are around 76 degrees.
A man who can catch (m)any species, The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that as water temperatures cool the Lake Wylie bass are moving shallow following the baitfish that are migrating into the creeks. Fish are now split about evenly between the creeks and the main lake.
Early in the morning topwater lures, floating worms, and flukes will catch fish around shallow cover at the mouths of creeks – or on main lake points. After the sun gets up then fish square-billed crankbaits around rocky points and shaky heads on piers and brush piles. There are also a lot of bass on crappie brush piles which Captain Chris catches on crappie jigs.
Finally, with all the wind recently there has been a good jerkbait bite on windy points.
The crappie are still in the creeks, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that fish can be caught in 20-25 feet of water spider rigging minnows or fishing deep piers and brush piles 15-25 feet deep with jigs. It’s getting to be a fun time for anglers who look to shoot jigs under docks.
White perch are on main lake flats with 20-25 feet of water just off the channel, and the big catfish are also there feeding on them. In the summer white perch and mussel beds make up a big portion of the blue cat’s diet, and so anytime you are fishing around either you should find catfish. For Captain Chris the best way to catch them has been covering a lot of water drifting Santee rigs with perch, bream or shad.
More to follow from Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828).
September 5
Lake Wylie is at 97.2% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 79 degrees.
With cooler weather there has been some improvement in the bass fishing on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that in a recent tournament with three-fish limits an impressive 13 ½ pounds won. That would have been a good result in a five-fish tournament on Wylie a week or two ago! Fish are starting to move up shallower and cruise the banks, and Whopper Ploppers, buzzbaits and walking baits are all catching fish. There’s also a rapidly improving dock bite with shaky heads, big jigs and worms.
The crappie are on the move into the creeks, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that fish can be caught in 20-25 feet of water spider rigging minnows or fishing deep piers and brush piles 15-25 feet deep with jigs. It’s getting to be a fun time for anglers who look to shoot jigs under docks.
White perch are in the same areas on the main lake flats just off the channel, and on those 20-25 foot flats the big catfish are feeding on them. In the summer white perch and mussel beds make up a big portion of the blue cat’s diet, and so anytime you are fishing around either you should find catfish. For Captain Chris the best way to catch them has been covering a lot of water drifting Santee rigs with perch, bream or shad.
Finally, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) rates the bite as “fair” and he is also targeting them drifting (or anchoring) in 15-25 feet of water. However, instead of targeting flats he is drifting vertical breaks and ledges at the same depth. Cut white perch and gizzard shad have been his best baits, and they continue to get some nice flatheads in addition to blues.
August 28
Lake Wylie is at 97.1% of full pool and the lake has cleared significantly. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 82 degrees.
The crappie bite has been good this week on Wylie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that the biggest fish are still suspended about 12 feet down over 25 feet of water at the mouths of creeks and on main lake flats. White perch are in the same areas on the main lake flats just off the channel, and you can wear them out with minnows on a Sabiki rig fished off the bottom.
However, there are also a large number of crappie that have moved into the creeks this week. They can be caught on deep docks and brush in 15-25 feet at the front of major creeks. These fish will take minnows or jigs, and it is getting to be a prime time for a shooting jigs into tight spots. There aren’t as many slabs on this pattern but plenty of good eating fish.
Unfortunately the catfish bite has slowed down after a really hot bite in the aftermath of Debby, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that he now only rates the bite as “fair” as fish have retreated to deeper water. They are mostly catching small to medium blue cats in the 6-8 pound range, with occasional 10-15 pound blues and flatheads up to 25 pounds. Basically the best pattern has been drifting or anchoring on vertical breaks in 15-25 feet of water with cut white perch and gizzard shad.
Finally, the bass fishing is still pretty tough but tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that as days get shorter and water temperatures drop a little a few more fish are being caught shallow. In particular the buzzbait bite has been decent.
There are still plenty of fish offshore but also some signs that better fall fishing is coming.
August 13
Lake Wylie is at 97.4% of full pool and muddy water is moving down the lake. Morning surface water temperatures are still around 86 degrees.
A deluge of water has made for interesting fishing conditions on Lake Wylie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that yesterday on the lake he saw conditions he has never seen before. There was so much rain that lake levels jumped up a couple of feet, but Duke has pulled the water so hard that the dead, unoxygenated water in the channel got pushed up onto the flats. Effectively the thermocline moved from the main channel to the flats, and it may be totally gone in a few days at this rate. This doesn’t usually happen in August.
The basic patterns for white perch and crappie remain the same, and both species are basically still suspended on main lake flats 10-12 feet deep over 20-25 feet of water. Crappie will also be around brush, and perch will also be found on the bottom in the same areas. However, yesterday Captain Chris had to move down the lake to clearer water to catch perch, and he suspects that crappie may move into the mouths of creeks if the whole lake gets very muddy. Both species are seeking cleaner water.
It's a slightly different story for the catfish, and yesterday Captain Chris found them right on the mud line.
At the same time Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that when the water levels peaked right after the rain the fishing for catfish was briefly fantastic, but things have settled down as water levels have returned to normal. Patterns are about the same, and drifting as well as anchoring is catching fish in both the creek channels and the main channel. 10-30 feet deep is still a good depth range in the channels, and both cut shad and white perch are working well.
While the bass fishing is still pretty tough, tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that the muddy water has created an improved shallow bite with Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits – although the rapidly falling water didn’t help in that regards. Jigs have also been working pretty well around docks.
But overall getting bites is still difficult and ten pounds is a respectable bag.
August 1
Lake Wylie is at 98.3% of full pool and with recent rains there is some colored water coming into the lake. Morning surface water temperatures are still around 86 degrees.
Despite the hot weather bass fishing has been decent on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that in addition to shallow bream bed fish, which will be around through September, there has been so much rain and current coming into the lake that that it has made for some pretty decent offshore fishing around humps and other depth changes. The key depth has been 15-25 feet, and crankbaits, spoons and drop shots are all working.
Docks always hold some fish, too, and Reid has picked up bass on jigs and worms.
There is an even better catfish bite right now on Wylie, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that as fish get out of spawning and post-spawn phases things are only improving. Drifting as well as anchoring is catching fish in both the creek channels and the main channel, and they are seeing lots of teenage fish as well as a good number in the 20s. 10-30 feet deep has been a good depth range in the channels, and both cut shad and white perch are working well.
The white perch bite is still ridiculously good, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that fish are still scattered on main lake flats in 20-30 feet of water. You can catch all you want spider-rigging minnows or night crawlers. It’s typical for them to catch 150 fish in an hour or two, 3-5 at a time. Captain Chris also notes that there are lots of big catfish on the bottom in 25-30 feet under the white perch schools.
The crappie are in a pretty consistent pattern, and Chris reports that they are on those same main lake flats suspended 12-18 feet down over 20-30 feet of water. The best way to catch these fish is trolling crankbaits that run 8-12 feet deep or trolling 1/16th ounce jigs.
But there is another group of fish that are around brush, both on the creeks and in the main lake. The LiveScope guys are wearing these fish out in 20-30 feet of water, with most of the fish suspended over top of the brush. They will take both minnows and jigs.
July 17
Lake Wylie is at 96.5% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are around 86 degrees.
It’s a pretty consistent catfish bite right now on Lake Wylie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that they are catching a nice mix of blues, channels and 1-2 flatheads every day. The fish he is targeting are on main lake flats in 25-28 feet of water, and they are catching them drifting white perch. The thermocline is starting to set up around 30 feet and so most of the fish are right above that depth.
Similarly, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that the bite has markedly improved as the spawn is basically over. For his boat drifting as well as anchoring is catching fish in both the creek channels and the main channel, and they are seeing lots of teenage fish as well as a good number in the 20s. 10-30 feet deep has been a good depth range in the channels, and both cut shad and white perch are working well.
The white perch bite is still ridiculously good, and Captain Chris reports that they are scattered on main lake flats in 20-30 feet of water. You can catch all you want spider-rigging minnows or night crawlers. It’s typical for them to catch 150 fish in an hour or two, 3-5 at a time.
The crappie are in a pretty consistent pattern, and Captain Chris reports that they are on those same main lake flats suspended 12-18 feet down over 20-30 feet of water. The best way to catch these fish is trolling crankbaits that run 8-12 feet deep or trolling 1/16th ounce jigs.
But there is another group of fish that are around brush, both on the creeks and in the main lake. The LiveScope guys are wearing these fish out in 20-30 feet of water, with most of the fish suspended over top of the brush. They will take both minnows and jigs.
More to follow.
July 11
Lake Wylie is at 97.1% of full pool and the lake is now super clear. Morning surface water temperatures range from 85-88 degrees.
In catfish news, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that the bite has markedly improved as the spawn is basically over. Drifting as well as anchoring is catching fish in both the creek channels and the main channel, and they are seeing lots of teenage fish as well as a good number in the 20s. 10-30 feet deep has been a good depth range in the channels, and both cut shad and white perch are working well.
July 10
Lake Wylie is at 96.9% of full pool and the lake is now super clear. Morning surface water temperatures range from 85-88 degrees.
It’s not an outstanding bass bite on Lake Wylie, but The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that early they are catching fish on topwater lures off rocky points. It’s also the best time of day to target fish around bream beds with topwaters.
After the sun gets up then fishing deep-diving crankbaits on long points 10-15 feet deep is working. Alternatively, you can fish main lake offshore structure in 20-30 feet with a spoon, deep-diving crankbait, or Carolina rig.
The crappie are also settling into summer patterns, and Captain Chris reports that they are still in the creek mouths and main lake flats suspended 10-15 feet down over 20-25 feet of water. The best way to catch them is trolling crankbaits that run 8-12 feet deep or trolling 1/16th ounce jigs.
Finally, Chris reports that white perch now scattered on main lake flats in 15-20 feet deep. You can catch all you want spider-rigging minnows or night crawlers. While they are moving around there are some giant schools to be found.