May 1

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.62 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around 75.45 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are fairly clear with 2-3 feet of visibility and morning surface water temperatures are generally in the low 70s.   

It’s still not a great bite for striped bass, but Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that they are starting to catch some fish in deep water near the Lake Moultrie Dam in about 50 feet of water. Running a thumper and fishing live bait near the bottom (or higher in the water column if he marks fish there) is the best pattern, but so far it’s been hard to catch keepers. The better fishing seems be very early or at night. A few are still being caught in the canal, but the big water is producing better. 

There are also still some striped bass being caught at the top of the lake, and Captain Andy Pack with Pack’s Landing(803-452-5514) reports that they are skinny, post-spawn fish. A 29-inch fish could be only 10 pounds. 

By now the bait of choice is threadfin shad and blueback herring, with about half caught on live bait and half on cut bait. The river is producing better than the flats. 

The catfish bite is also still good around Pack’s, and in the lakes Captain Bobby reports that as far as he can tell the best fishing is in shallow water. He has tried drifting in 55 feet just to see what is out there, and he can only find small fish. The better action is in at most 30 feet, and mostly much less. For now he is drifting flats and picking up good eating-sized fish but no giants. He thinks the biggest fish are intent on spawning right now. Cut gizzard shad is working but he is mostly fishing blueback herring. 

In a similar vein Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he is drifting flats in 10-15 feet of water and finding a pretty good bite. However, the best action he is seeing is coming at night anchoring in the trees. If you can get your hands on them he still thinks river herring are the best bait, but otherwise he is fishing with blueback herring. 

The crappie bite has picked up on Santee, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they have finally started to find fish stacking up on brush. The last trip they caught twenty-five fishing over the top of brush in 14-20 feet of water, and fish were shallow enough that they had better luck casting jigs or minnows under a float than sitting on top of them. 

Pack’s reports that we in the process of transitioning from shellcracker spawn to a bluegill spawn, and while Captain Steve agrees he reports that between moon phases he is only seeing empty beds. Fish have pulled out a bit deeper and while you can still find some in the trees, they are not on beds in the grass. There should be at least one more good shellcracker spawn and then bream will spawn through the summer. 

Finally, the bass fishing is still very strong on Santee Cooper, and Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that this is the best time of the year for most shallow patterns. The spawn is still going on albeit winding down, every morning there is a shad spawn, and there are lots of post-spawn fish hanging shallow and feeding up on spawning panfish. Most of the bass in the lake are between 1-10 feet of water, and eel grass, hydrilla, and trees in 5-6 feet are all loaded up with fish.

For shad spawn fish bladed jigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits and anything else that resembles a shad will work. For fish feeding around spawning panfish topwater lures including poppers and frogs are very good, as well as Senkos and Texas rigs. And then around cover bladed jigs, swimbaits and big worms are working well. 

April 25

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.60 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around 75.35 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are fairly clear with 2-3 feet of visibility and morning surface water temperatures are generally in the low 70s.   

The bass fishing is very strong on Santee Cooper, and Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that this is the best time of the year for most shallow patterns. The spawn is still going on, every morning there is a shad spawn, and there are lots of post-spawn fish hanging shallow and feeding up on spawning panfish. Most of the bass in the lake are between 1-10 feet of water, and eel grass, hydrilla, and trees in 5-6 feet are all loaded up with fish.

For shad spawn fish bladed jigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits and anything else that resembles a shad will work. For fish feeding around spawning panfish topwater lures including poppers and frogs are very good, as well as Senkos and Texas rigs. And then around cover bladed jigs, swimbaits and big worms are working well. 

Yesterday Captain Kyle also had a banner day with the catfish, and fishing in just 2-3 feet of water along wind-generated mudlines the fish were eating all over the lake. Bait gets in the mudlines and the catfish gravitate to them.

April 24

Santee Cooper water levels are down to 75.61 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.40 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are fairly clear with 2-3 feet of visibility and morning surface water temperatures are generally in the low 70s.   

The striped bass fishing at the top of the lake has significantly improved, but Captain Andy Pack out of Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that most of the fish seem to have spawned out by now. It doesn’t seem like they went very far this year, perhaps because of water levels, and the action up around Columbia and in the Wateree River never got very good. But they are catching plenty of skinny, post-spawn fish.

By now the bait of choice is threadfin shad and blueback herring, with about half caught on live bait and half on cut bait. 

In a similar vein Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) is catching a few striped bass in the canal on live and cut bait, but he is looking for a deeper bite near the Lake Moultrie Dam to turn on soon in about 50 feet of water. He will be running a thumper and fishing live bait near the bottom or higher in the water column if he marks fish there. 

The catfish bite has also been good around Pack’s, and in the lakes Captain Bobby notes that he is catching fish in 30 feet of water down to a few feet drifting flats. Fish are around mussel beds as they feed up for the spawn, and drifting cut herring has been his best pattern. 

Overall the shellcracker bite has been very good for bedding fish, including at the top of Marion, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that the last two days the cold weather has pushed them out to deeper water. The upper lake dropping has also not helped. However, very soon they should be caught in their traditional beds again, particularly around grass on worms.  

The crappie have still not set up on brush very well. 

April 11

Santee Cooper water levels are up to 76.11 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.03 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes had cleared before last night’s rain and morning surface water temperatures range from about 62-65 degrees. 

The bass fishing is really picking up again on Santee Cooper, and Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that with fish at all three stages of the spawn pretty much all the patterns are shallow right now. Early in the day, when there is a small shad spawn going on in some areas, the best pattern is fishing a spinnerbait or bladed jig around cypress trees. You can also fish a topwater lure around shallow grass, and then when the sun gets up a little fishing a weightless stick bait or Texas rig in 2-4 feet of water is the best bet. 

The striped bass fishing at the top of the lake has still not turned on, and Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that so far this is the worst year in 20 years. In contrast, last season was the best in 20 years! The pattern remains fishing on the flats or the shallow sides of the river in 4-10 feet of water with sections of cut herring (about six steaks plus the preferred head), but they are catching very few fish besides catfish.  

It's a similar story in the lakes, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that really nowhere in the system is producing. A few fish are being caught at the Moultrie dam, but the best of bad options is the diversion canal when they are pulling some water. Anchoring or drifting with live or cut bait is the best pattern, and sometimes the fish will want to be in the strongest current and sometimes they will want to be just out of it.

At the same time the shellcracker bite is coming on at Pack’s and all over the lakes, and in some areas the fish seem to be starting to spawn while in other places they are sitting in little depressions waiting to move up. Pre-spawn fish seem to be holding in about 8 feet of water, like this monster 2.62 pound fish caught this week by Captain Bill Plumley on worms!

There are also bluegill on all the brush piles right now, even as the shellcracker have left, but the crappie have not really arrived there yet. Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that water temperatures usually need to hit about 70 before they show up well on brush, and besides a few fish being caught by bass fishermen around the banks the reports have been really thin. Long-line trolling has not been very productive, and they are not yet seeing white crappie in the upper lake. 

Overall the catfish seemed to have spread out a bite more, and fish are being caught shallow in 6-12 feet of water as well as in 10-20 feet. Captain Bobby is having the best success anchoring outside the current at the mouths of the canal, but he notes that at night fish can be found very shallow. Cut gizzard shad has been hard to beat. 

March 28

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.17 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.59 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are as clear as they have been all year and morning surface water temperatures range from about 58-63 degrees. 

Right now we are between waves of spawning bass on Santee Cooper, and Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that cooler weather and lower water levels are keeping fish from wanting to go super shallow. Right now there are lot of fish staging on “deeper” trees in 3-5 feet of water that are getting ready for the next wave of the spawn when temperatures get right. They are very close to spawning areas, and they can be caught on Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits on windy days. On calm days Texas rigs and weightless stick baits are both good choices.      

The striped bass fishing at the top of the lake is picking up just a little, and Captain Steve Pack with Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that they are catching more fish but it’s still a little slow for this time of year. The pattern remains fishing on the flats or the shallow sides of the river in 4-10 feet of water with sections of cut herring (about six steaks plus the preferred head).

In the lakes Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that the fishing in the canal is also improving as more fish arrive, and slow trolling river herring, blueback herring, or anchoring cut bait on the sides of the canal or at the mouth are all working. In the vicinity of the Moultrie dam they are feeding better, too, and with the water clearing the fish have moved a little deeper in the water column. 

The catfish continue to bite very well at the top of the lake, and Pack’s reports that setting out herring on the flats and the sides of the river channel are both working. 

Captain Bobby reports that he is also still doing well in the lakes anchoring shallow, but with the cold fronts he has down-sized his baits to smaller pieces of gizzard shad or American shad. Eight feet of water or less remains the best place to look, and he is still targeting the branches off the major channels that lead to shallow flats.  When temperatures warm fish will want bigger baits again.  

Meanwhile Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that drifting the shallow flats is also producing, and they are pulling river herring in 9-12 feet of water. The lower lake has been best for them. 

It’s a mixed report on the crappie and bream, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that both species but particularly the crappie should be in shallow water right now – but they have been hard to locate. In the upper lake the crappie spawn seems to be further along and some people are catching them with forward-facing sonar, but there aren’t enough right now that you can just go down the banks – and long-line trolling hasn’t been particularly effective. The fishing will get easier once fish show up on brush again, but right now even the shellcracker and bream that were on brush piles have disappeared. 

March 20

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.44 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.19 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are clearing and less water is now coming through the system, and morning surface water temperatures are down to about 60 or 61.    

It’s an extremely late start with the striped bass fishing, and Woods Pack with Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that the fishing is still slow at the top of the lake. The typical pattern is fishing on the flats or the shallow sides of the river in 4-10 feet of water with sections of cut herring (about six steaks plus the preferred head), but neither area has been producing. One theory is that there may have been some sort of striper kill, and there have been reports from anglers seeing dead striper floating in the lakes. But the real answer may be that they have been running so much water through the lakes that they haven’t braved the Diversion Canal yet, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that he’s not sure even striper could have swam through the canal the way it was running recently. 

In the lakes the bite hasn’t been great either, and Captain Bobby reports that he has been marking a lot of striper high in the water column in the vicinity of the Moultrie dam but they are not biting well. The canal has seen a little more action, particularly early at the mouth of the canal. You can slow troll river herring, blueback herring, or cast cut bait to see what fish want on a particular day. 

Fortunately the catfish are biting well at the top of the lake, and Pack’s reports that setting out herring on the flats and the sides of the river channel are both working. There are also some surprisingly good catches on stinkbait right now. 

Captain Bobby reports that he is also still doing well in the lakes anchoring shallow. Eight feet of water or less remains the best place to look, and he is still targeting the branches off the major channels that lead to shallow flats. 

It's also been a fair bite for crappie, and after a tournament was won with 15 pounds (seven fish) this past weekend there’s no doubt the lake still has some big ones it. The prevailing pattern is fishing shallow, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he has had the best success fishing in shallow water casting jigs around trees and in backwater ponds. In the tournament anglers were using forward-facing sonar to target shallow fish, turning it sideways in less than 3 feet of water in “perspective” mode. 

A lot of fish have already spawned but they do not seem to have returned to brush yet, and on brush in 12-15 feet Captain Stevie is just catching a lot of big bream right now. 

Finally, Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that bass remain mixed between different stages of the spawn.  A large number of fish are in spawning mode in less than four feet of water, and when you can’t see them blind fishing with spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits or any Texas rig are good options. In clearer water he likes a weightless Senko for sight-fishing. 

There are also still a lot of fish that are staging in 8-10 feet of water before they move up to spawn. For these bass he prefers to look around brush piles, stumps, or hard bottom areas such as mussel or other shell beds. Carolina rigs, lipless crankbaits, shallow-diving crankbaits or big, high-profile spinnerbaits are all good choices. 

March 14

Santee Cooper water levels are at 76.11 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.40 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Marion changes color every day and by area but is generally at least stained, while Moultrie has far more color than usual. Morning surface water temperatures are generally in the mid-60s.  

On the water right now, Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that a large number of bassare in spawning mode in less than four feet of water. With relatively low visibility blind fishing for these fish with spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits or any Texas rig are good options. Sight-fishing he likes a weightless Senko. 

But even though he sees 67 at the moment, it’s not even the middle of March and a lot of fish are still staging in pre-spawn mode in 8-10 feet of water. For these bass he prefers to look around brush piles, stumps, or hard bottom areas such as mussel or other shell beds. Carolina rigs, lipless crankbaits, shallow-diving crankbaits or big, high-profile spinnerbaits are all good choices. 

Captain Kyle notes that the lake would be even dirtier but all the grass now present helps filter the water. 

The striped bass fishing has turned on at the Moultrie Dam and in the canal, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that right now he is catching fish in both areas. Instead of anchoring in the canal right now he is fishing at the mouth of the canal on the Moultrie side and slow-trolling baits in about 10 feet of water, and by the dam he is fishing live bait high in the water column due to the dirty water.  Live river herring are the key, and even at $28 per dozen they are so durable that you can use them all day even after they have been hit. 

 

At the top of the lake, Captain Steve Pack with Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that they are catching one or two fish but it’s not like last year – yet. Inconsistent weather certainly isn’t helping, and tons of trash in the water has made for some challenging conditions. However, the lake has settled down today and the water looks good. 

About equal numbers of fish have been coming in the river and on the flats. The typical pattern is fishing on the flats or the shallow sides of the river in 4-10 feet of water with cut herring.  Most people steak the bait into about 6 sections, with the head the best section but the steaks also working well. 

They continue to catch plenty of catfish this way, and Captain Bobby reports that he is also still doing well in the lakes anchoring shallow. Eight feet of water or less remains the best place to look, and Bobby is still mostly targeting the warmer north or west side of the lake, which receives the most sunlight, and then looking for the branches off the major channels that lead to shallow flats. Right now he is exclusively anchoring gizzard shad for bait. 

At the same time Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is also concentrating on the shallows, but for better numbers and more action he is drifting for a mix of channels and blues up to about 15 pounds. He is targeting all sorts of areas in less than 10 feet of water but shallow flats have been the most productive. He is exclusively fishing with river herring.  

Finally, while the population is down the crappie fishing has picked up a little more and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he is catching some good fish in shallow water early and late around the banks and in backwater ponds. The fish are very close to spawning and he is getting everything casting jigs around cover, but you could also long-line troll in the creeks as the fish are moving around. 

Captain Steve keeps checking brush and they are not there right now. 

March 8

Santee Cooper water levels are at 76.23 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.58 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Most of the lake is muddy. Water temperatures have risen several more degrees and afternoon temperatures in the mid- to high-60s are now common. 

Day 1 of the Bassmaster Open on Santee is in the books, and leading with 30-6 is local angler Mark Hutson of Monck’s Corner. Hutson reports that he found bass scattered between shallow and “deep” water and caught them everywhere from 2-10 feet, and from what he saw most of the fish are in pre-spawn staging mode. The other main trend he noticed was that fish were way less aggressive Thursday after the weather that came through on Wednesday, and whether they were taking moving baits (he caught most of his fish on spinnerbaits) or worms bites were very subtle.

Second place angler William Holmes (27-13) concentrated on shallow fish, and he reports that they were in 1 ½ feet of water and very close to spawning. He was mainly fishing depressions with lily pads with reaction baits. 

It sounds like the top anglers were saving fish for the later stages of the tournament and didn’t catch as much weight as they could have. 

March 6

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.99 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.61 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Most of the lake remains dirty to muddy and may get worse. Water temperatures are up to 55 or more degrees in the morning, rising to about 60 in the shallows in the afternoons.

At the top of the lake, Captain Andy Pack with Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that commercially available river herring have arrived but so far it’s a mixed bag with the striped bass. A few fish have been caught, but they have just not really turned on yet. Any day now they should come alive throughout the system. 

The typical pattern is fishing on the flats or the shallow sides of the river in 4-10 feet of water with cut herring.  Most people steak the bait into about 6 sections, with the head the best section but the steaks also working well.  

Even though the striper haven’t really turned on at the top of the lake they are catching plenty of catfish this way.

They are catching a few early striper in the canal and at the Moultrie dam, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that right now blueback herring have been accounting for the fish he is seeing but it can vary day to day. 

Fish are in the Diversion Canal because striped bass in the lower lake have no choice but to pass through to make their way up the Santee River. Anchoring on either side of the canal a little out of the current with live bait on the bottom is can’t-miss.

The other major group he targets is ocean-running fish that will swim up through the locks from the Cooper River and spawn in the vicinity of the Moultrie Dam. When the water is muddy like now they can’t see very far and so he likes to fish high in the water column with baits about 10 feet under the surface.  

Back to the cats, overall the best catfish bite all over the lakes remains in shallow water, and Captain Bobby reports that part of that is due to other gamefish moving shallow as they prepare to spawn. Particularly the bigger catfish follow them in to eat them!

Eight feet of water or less remains the best place to look, and Bobby is still mostly targeting the warmer north or west side of the lake, which receives the most sunlight, and then looking for the branches off the major channels that lead to shallow flats. Right now he is exclusively anchoring gizzard shad for bait. 

While the population is down the crappie bite has picked up a little, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he is catching some good fish in shallow water early and late. He can’t get them to bite a minnow and they are catching them on shallow flats in 4-5 feet of water casting jigs. You could also long-line troll. 

It seems that pretty much all the fish have moved off deeper brush and he is only marking bluegill on his brush piles. 

More to follow. 

February 29

Santee Cooper water levels are up to 75.30 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.54 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The whole lake remains dirty to muddy (except for some backwater ponds) and everyone expects it to stay that way for a while. Water temperatures are up to about 55 degrees in the morning. 

The best catfish bite remains in shallow water, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that they still aren’t getting a ton of bites but they are pretty much catching all good ones between 10 and 20 plus pounds. Right at dawn they are getting a bite every 15-20 minutes, but by late morning it slows way down. He’s hearing of a few fish caught in deep water, but the best bite has been shallow in around 8 feet of water or less. 

Captain Bobby is targeting the warmer north or west side of the lake, which receives the most sunlight, and then looking for the branches off the major channels that lead to shallow flats. Right now he is exclusively anchoring gizzard shad for bait. 

At the other end of the lake, Captain Andy Pack with Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that the area should come alive with catfishermen (and striped bass guys) this weekend as river herring become commercially available, but the main pattern has been stump-jumping – anchoring baits around different structure until they figure out what depth the fish are holding. 

It’s still not a wide-open bite for crappie, probably mainly because the population is down, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that – also early in the morning – there have still been a decent number of fish caught in the backwater ponds casting jigs or fishing minnows shallow under corks. While these areas warm up the fastest, fish may also be in there because they are less muddy than much of the lake.

The other major pattern right now is long-line trolling in the creek channel runs as more fish start to move up in preparation for the spawn. This bite hasn’t gotten really good but picking up a half-dozen fish is reasonable. 

At the top of the lake Pack’s Landing reports that a few striped bass are being caught anchoring big roe shad in the river channel, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) is also optimistic that fishing in the canal and lower lake is about to turn on. When daytime water temperatures hit about 60 degrees then fish will go into spawning mode, and there are essentially two ways he likes to target them. One group of fish will make their way up the Wateree River – and to get there fish in the lower lake have no choice but to go up the Diversion Canal. Anchoring on either side of the canal a little out of the current with live bait on the bottom is can’t-miss.

There is another group of ocean-running fish that will swim up through the locks from the Cooper River and spawn in the vicinity of the Moultrie Dam. When the water is muddy like now they can’t see very far and so he likes to fish high in the water column with baits about 10 feet under the surface.

As for the bass, for those who didn’t see the MLF results power fishing around cypress trees and aquatic vegetation with baits like Chatterbaits was probably the most popular technique. However, unsurprisingly to anyone who has been watching the evolution of bass fishing over the last few years, Jacob Wheeler won looking at forward-facing sonar and throwing a swimbait.  He caught his fish off of mid-depth brush piles in about 15 feet. 

One wonders if that technique would have carried the day if the spawn had been a little closer or underway.  

February 22

Santee Cooper water levels are up to 75.02 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.54 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The whole lake is dirty to muddy (except for some backwater ponds) and will stay that way for a while. Water temperatures are still about 52 degrees in the morning. 

The best catfish bite remains in shallow water, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that even though numbers were a little down today all the fish they caught were good ones between 10 and 20 pounds. He’s hearing of a few fish caught in deep water, but the best bite has been shallow in around 8 feet of water or less. Some people are catching fish so shallow you can see the swirl before your rod bends. 

Captain Bobby is targeting the warmer north or west side of the lake, which receive the most sunlight, and then looking for the branches off the major channels that lead to shallow flats. Right now he is exclusively anchoring gizzard shad for bait. 

Bobby also notes that fish are feeding best in low light conditions, and this morning he had three fish in the first fifteen minutes before it slowed down. There should be a corresponding bite an hour both sides of dark. 

At the other end of the lake, Captain Andy Pack with Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that the area won’t come really alive with catfishermen (and striped bass guys) until after March 1 when river herring become commercially available, but the main pattern has been stump-jumping – anchoring baits around different structure until they figure out what depth the fish are holding. 

It’s still not a wide-open bite for crappie, probably mainly because the population is down, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that – also early in the morning – there have been a decent number of fish caught in the backwater ponds casting jigs or fishing minnows shallow under corks. While these areas warm up the fastest, fish may also be in there because they are less muddy than much of the lake.

The other major pattern right now is long-line trolling in the creek channel runs as more fish start to move up in preparation for the spawn. This bite hasn’t gotten really good but picking up a half-dozen fish is reasonable. 

At the top of the lake Pack’s Landing reports that a few striped bass are being caught anchoring big roe shad in the river channel, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) is also optimistic that fishing in the canal and lower lake is about to turn on. When daytime water temperatures hit about 60 degrees then fish will go into spawning mode, and there are essentially two ways he likes to target them. One group of fish will make their way up the Wateree River – and to get there fish in the lower lake have no choice but to go up the Diversion Canal. Anchoring on either side of the canal a little out of the current with live bait on the bottom is can’t-miss.

There is another group of ocean-running fish that will swim up through the locks from the Cooper River and spawn in the vicinity of the Moultrie Dam. When the water is muddy like now they can’t see very far and so he likes to fish high in the water column with baits about 10 feet under the surface.

As for the bass, it doesn’t seem like the patterns have changed a whole lot from James Gibbons’ winning weight last week in the CATT. A mix of techniques are catching fish in the MLF event on Santee, but one of the strongest patterns has been power fishing with Chatterbaits around big patches of eel grass and hydrilla in 3-8 feet of water. A substantial number of anglers are also targeting cypress trees with both moving baits as well as jigs and soft plastics, and while there are plenty of big fish being caught it’s certainly not “easy”. Today’s winner said he was doing his best work in dirty water that had warmed up. 

Finally, anglers like Alton Jones, Jr. are Scoping offshore with swimbaits so that is also in play.

February 14

Santee Cooper water levels are down to 74.75 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.43 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water levels have presumably been dropped preparing for a fresh influx of water, and the whole lake remains brown. Water temperatures are up to about 52 degrees in the morning. 

We are on the verge of some really exciting striped bass fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that when daytime water temperatures hit about 60 degrees then fish will go into spawning mode. There are essentially two ways he likes to target them, and one group of fish will make their way up the Wateree River – and to get there fish in the lower lake have no choice but to go up the Diversion Canal.  Anchoring on either side of the canal a little out of the current with live bait on the bottom is can’t-miss.

There is another group of ocean-running fish that will swim up through the locks from the Cooper River and spawn in the vicinity of the Moultrie Dam. When the water is muddy like now they can’t see very far and so he likes to fish high in the water column with baits about 10 feet under the surface. 

At the other end of the lake, Captain Andy Pack with Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that any day now they expect striper to show up at the top of the lake. Once river herring are commercially available on March 1 they expect to get a flood of customers and that’s when the catching should really begin. 

While it’s not a wide-open bite for crappie, especially with the population down, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that one group of fish has been flooded out of the lake and are being caught in the old river behind the Marion dam. In the lakes themselves brush piles have not been very good but with some warm, sunny days there are starting to be some fish caught shallow. There have been some fish caught in the Hatchery in 4-6 feet of water on jigs or minnows under a float, and the same pattern is also working in some of the backwater ponds. You can also follow the creeks and troll in the backs with jigs. 

There has been a good catfish bite in shallow water, and Captain Bobby reports that he caught about fifteen nice fish on his last trip in 8-12 feet of water. He caught them all anchoring in the backs of coves where the warmest water could be found, and a variety of cut baits were working. Cut river herring, American shad, blueback herring, and gizzard shad will all work.

At the top of the lake Captain Andy reports that the main pattern has been stump-jumping, anchoring baits around different structure until they figure out what depth the fish are holding. 

Finally, we caught up with James Gibbons who, with tournament partner Jonathan Sutton, brought an incredible 30.84 pounds of bass to the scales in Saturday’s CATT. James is fishing the CBC on Murray this weekend and didn’t mind sharing his winning pattern. They caught one 3 ½ pound fish on brush with a worm when they needed to get rid of a 15-incher, but everything else came out on the main lake throwing at big patches of eel grass and hydrilla with a Chatterbait. The fish were in 3-8 feet of water, and it seemed to clear to him that these were fish which were moving up and into pre-spawn mode. This winter he suspects, based on forward facing sonar, they were just swimming around in open water. They also threw a Rattle Trap but didn’t get bit on it, and they caught seven fish all day. 

February 1

Santee Cooper water levels are up to 75.57 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.79 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Basically the whole system is muddy and water temperatures are around 50 degrees. 

The only new report we have so far this week is from Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029), and he doesn’t have much good to say. A few bass are being caught, but basically the fishing is really tough right now. The fish that are being caught are mostly coming on flats around wood and grass in 4-6 feet of water, with some as deep as 8 feet. Crankbaits and swimbaits are both catching fish, and in the muddy water spinnerbaits can be effective. Everything has to be fished very slowly.

When conditions improve then it will be possible to fish a little faster and use baits like Rattle Traps, but for right now it’s really a grind. 

While very few people appear to be fishing for catfish right now, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that if he were to target them he would look around bait schools in deep water and drift in 30-50 feet. Slow drifting is probably more effective, and his preferred baits would be mullet or herring. 

This weekend our guides will be back after the crappie, and we hope to have good striper news soon. 

January 25

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.04 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.42 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The upper half of the lower lake is muddy while the lower end has decent clarity. 

The striped bass have not been biting for Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080), and while he marked a lot of fish in 30-40 feet of water this week they didn’t show any interest in live bait. Perhaps umbrella rigs could have generated a reaction strike, but it doesn’t seem the fishing is very good right now. 

They did manage to pick up a couple of catfish while fishing deep on the bottom with live bait, but Bobby also points out that you can catch a big fish anchoring in shallow water right now.   

January 22

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.36 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 72.79 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The whole lake is muddy and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40s. 

Tomorrow Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) will be on the water and hopes to give us an update with the striped bass and catfish, but from all reports the fish are still hanging around in deep water. It’s been so cold and windy that not many people have wanted to go, but there have still been some good reports drifting or anchoring for cats in 50 feet of water under big schools of bait in lower Lake Moultrie, and anchoring in 40-45 feet along the main channel in the upper lake.  

You would have to be a glutton for punishment to go out after the crappie and bream right now, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in his experience on Santee the crappie do not bite in very cold, muddy water this time of year. Even in good conditions the bream fishing slows to a crawl in January. 

It’s similar with the bass, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that at least for him the bite has been very slow recently. About the only way he can get bit is working a crankbait very slowly around shallow cover, with 4-6 feet the target depth range. 

More to follow. 

January 4

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.36 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.08 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to around 49 or 50 degrees and they are pulling so much water through the lake that it is clearing surprisingly fast. 

There’s really only one species worth talking about right now on Santee, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that the catfish bite is about as good as it gets.  While his boat is catching fish in 50 feet of water dragging lines under big schools of bait in lower Lake Moultrie, there are similar reports anchoring in 40-45 feet along the main channel in the upper lake as well as anchoring by the Moultrie dam in 35 plus feet. But then there is also a really good bite drifting or anchoring in 20 feet, and Captain Bobby knows that there are also fish being caught in as little as 5 feet. The fish are just turned on and feeding right now with all the current.

Bluebacks have been working well, and mullet has been another popular choice, but it’s hard to go wrong with most any cut fish or even non-fish protein. 

Cold as it is, the best striped bass action right now seems to be early and late at the Moultrie dam. Fish are in deep water 30-40 or more feet down, although in the right spots where the water drops off sharply you can catch them casting deep-diving plugs in the evening. 

The bass are very much in winter mode on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports they will be there for some time. The ones he is seeing are locked down on wood in 8-12 feet of water, but they show very, very little interest in biting. Either fishing soft plastics very slowly or wobbling a crankbait in their face is probably the best way to catch fish.  

It’s the very tail end of the crappie and bream fishing, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that the last time they fished for what may be a little while they caught four crappie off one brush pile in the lower lake and couldn’t find many cooperative bream. The bream that are still biting seem to be small.

Both species are on deeper brush with the crappie suspended a little higher and the bream down in it.