July 17
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.04 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around 74.9 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 80s.
Basically it’s a great time to fish for catfish on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that while he targets shallower water during the day at night he is finding his best success drifting deeper water. You can also anchor up shallow at night, but that’s not his preferred method. In 25-30 feet he has caught some big fish, with flatheads up to 40 pounds (the first bite of the night a couple of days ago) to go with lots of fish in the 20s.
Consistent with that, Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that during the daytime there are still a lot of fish in shallow water, and anchoring in around 6 feet of water near mussel beds, islands and stumps is still productive. There could be some fish closer to the banks at night, but he has been having better luck with this pattern in the morning away from the banks.
But the even better bite for Captain Bobby’s boat this week has again been drifting flats in 15-25 feet of water, but targeting slight depressions, gentle hills, or stumps on the flats. He is having the best luck with bluebacks, but Bobby is also hearing good reports on chicken and bream.
With more males showing up the last few trips that’s usually a sign the spawn is done, and each year when the spawn ends he finds some fish very deep. Soon he will target them on steep structure (hills, ledges) in 40 feet.
While there are still some crappie 15-20 feet down over brush in 25-35 feet of water, Captain Stevie reports that it’s so slow that he and his father Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) can’t justify the amount of time it takes to catch them right now.
On the bass front the fishing is about right for mid-July, and Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that right now the lake really fishes like two separate lakes. Above the I-95 bridge fish live relatively shallow, and the best way to target them is in about five feet of water around deeper cypress trees with soft plastics. Early and late you can also find a surface bite with topwater lures or buzzbaits.
On the lower end of Marion and Lake Moultrie you can also find beds of eel grass and hydrilla on 3-8 foot flats which will hold bream and bass, but the best thing going is still the offshore bite. Lots of bigger fish are out in the brush piles and ledges around bait in 10-20 feet of water. These fish don’t really set up well until the sun is up, and you can definitely catch them in the heat of the day. Big Texas rigged worms, Carolina rigs, jerkbaits and crankbaits will all work.
No bream reports but as the full moon approaches (July 21) we will let you know what we hear.
July 10
Santee Cooper water levels are down to 74.99 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around 74.80 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are 84-87 degrees on the main lake.
As the catfish spawn winds down there is a very good bite on Santee, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that you can catch them several different ways. There are a lot still in shallow water, and anchoring in around 6 feet of water near mussel beds, islands and stumps is still productive. There could be some fish closer to the banks at night, but he has been having better luck with this pattern in the morning away from the banks.
But the even better bite for Captain Bobby’s boat this week has been drifting flats in 15-25 feet of water, but targeting slight depressions, gentle hills, or stumps on the flats. He is having the best luck with bluebacks, but Bobby is also hearing good reports on chicken and bream.
Finally, with the spawn winding down there should be some fish heading back super deep. Bobby’s boat hasn’t fished this way yet, but on steep structure (hills, ledges) in 40 feet each of the last six years at this time it’s been productive.
In a similar vein Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) feels pretty certain that you can catch some big fish deep, but he has been having the best luck drifting just 8-10 feet of water for numbers of 3-10 pound fish. He is also targeting slight drops on flats, and while he would go deeper if his clients were looking for fewer, big fish he is picking up some 20s on this pattern.
While there are still some crappie 15-20 feet down over brush in 25-35 feet of water, Captain Stevie reports that it’s so slow that he and his father Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) can’t justify the amount of time it takes to catch them right now.
On the bass front the fishing is pretty stable, and Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports fish are pretty well set in their summer patterns. First thing there is still a good topwater frog bite around shallow vegetation and lily pads, but then all day long you can catch fish around eel grass and hydrilla on 3-8 foot flats which are holding lots of bream and bass. They will position differently in the weeds at different times of day.
But the best thing going is still the offshore bite, and lots of bigger fish are out in the brush piles and ledges around bait in 10-20 feet of water. These fish don’t really set up well until the sun is up, and you can definitely catch them in the heat of the day.
Outside of the topwater bite, big Texas rigged worms, Carolina rigs, jerkbaits and crankbaits are all working.
June 27
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.34 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around 75.15 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are 84-87 degrees on the main lake.
Until speaking with Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) yesterday evening we expected this report to say that Santee Cooper fishing is all about the catfish, but Captain Kyle actually reports very strong bass fishing as they transition to their summer patterns. First thing there is still a good topwater frog bite around shallow vegetation and lily pads, but then all day long you can catch fish around eel grass and hydrilla on 3-8 foot flats which are holding lots of bream and bass. They will position differently in the weeds at different times of day.
But the best thing going may be the offshore bite, and lots of bigger fish are out in the brush piles and ledges around bait in 10-20 feet of water. These fish don’t really set up well until the sun is up, and you can definitely catch them in the heat of the day.
Outside of the topwater bite, big Texas rigged worms, Carolina rigs, jerkbaits and crankbaits are all working.
But the catfish bite has also been pretty outstanding, and with striper illegal to target Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that he is focused on them. Captain Bobby thinks the best way to catch fish right now is by anchoring in around 6 feet of water first thing near mussel beds, islands and stumps. Even though it’s shallow he is not fishing near the banks for this early bite. Herring has been his number one bait but chicken, bream and white perch will all work.
In the mid-day he has had the best success drifting in about 20 feet of water, which is consistent with how Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is catching them. He is mainly drifting flats with herring. While he has also tried anchoring in the canal, there hasn’t been a ton of water moving so it hasn’t gotten good yet.
But you can also catch fish anchoring in the lakes during the day, and Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that he is anchoring cut bait on the sides of ledges in 10-15 feet besides where it drops off into deeper water.
At the same time there is not much good news to report with the crappie fishing, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) advises that the best place to fish is 15-20 feet down over brush in 25-35 feet of water. But the fishing has been so slow that he is basically taking a break from them.
The bream fishing has also been slower than expected recently.
June 12
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.82 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around 75.6 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are roughly 80-84 degrees.
As water temperatures rise the bass have gotten further into summer patterns on Santee, and Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that there is a really good frog bite around lily pads and other shallow vegetation right now.
At the same time there are a lot of fish reaching their summertime areas be those brush, ledges or offshore grass. You can target these fish with deep-diving crankbaits, hair jigs, Carolina rigs and Texas-rigged worms.
Finally, keep your eyes peeled all day, and have a topwater bait ready, for fish busting on on top that are feeding on roaming schools of shad.
While there are only three days left before the striped bass fishery closes for the season at midnight on the 15th, Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that he is still finding an excellent night bite fishing down-rods with herring in 45-60 feet of water in front of the Moultrie Dam. He is putting out lights to draw in bait and fish, which is a pattern you can follow in the deep water of Moultrie even away from the dam.
At the top of Marion Captain Steve Pack with Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that the striper have mostly gone to the lower lake, but in addition to the usual action they are finding an incredible bite for channel catfish in the 1-5 pound range right now. They are tearing up dip baits. Blues are also doing well on frozen shad and herring, with the bite a little better most days on the flats than in the river right now.
In the lower lake Captain Bobby notes that the blues seem to be feeding really heavily on mussels right now, and so he is having the best success drifting small pieces of cut herring. Fishing in less than 20 feet in the vicinity of mussel beds generates the best action.
While the crappie fishing has been incredibly slow in both lakes for his boat this week, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are catching some really big bream up shallow on beds in open areas with sandy bottoms. There are also tons of bluegill on brush but they are almost exclusively small.
May 29
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.71 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around 74.5 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are roughly 78-81 degrees and the lakes remain fairly clear.
The bass are definitely getting into summer patterns on Santee, and Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that fish are mixed between shallow and deep – but more are getting offshore every day.
You can still catch fish shallow around bream, and there is a good bite fishing a frog, but even bream-eaters are more likely to be hanging in deeper water. They are hanging around river ledges, brush piles, and offshore grass, and Captain Kyle notes that the increase in aquatic vegetation over the last couple of years has dramatically improved the fishing.
Numbers are good right now fishing deep, and catching 20-30 fish on crankbaits and big worms is very doable. Suspended fish will eat a jerkbait.
The night bite for striped bass remains very good, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that he is having the best success fishing down-rods with herring in 45-60 feet of water in front of the Moultrie Dam. He is putting out lights to draw in bait and fish, which is a pattern you can follow in the deep water of Moultrie even away from the dam.
At the top of Marion Captain Andy Pack with Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that there continues to be a good cut and live bait bite for striper with decent numbers coming both in the river and on the flats. The post-spawn bite action continues to be improved over earlier this year when there was so much water flow.
They are also catching a ton of catfish on the same pattern – and Captain Bobby notes that big cats will also move through under the lights at night in the lower lake.
In the lakes the shallow catfish bite has slowed a little, but Captain Kyle reports that he expects for it to come on again in a week or two. But for now he is catching the most fish drifting the flats in 15-20 feet, although they are having to work for them. Getting two or three bites on a long drift is pretty common. Herring is the best bait right now.
It seems that with so many fish spawning right now it’s a little tougher.
It’s been a fair bite for bream, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that around the full moon they found a decent number of big shellcracker but had the best success with big bluegill spawning in slightly deeper water. They were mostly in 4-6 feet and you could barely make out the edges of beds.
Finally, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he has found several brush piles that have good numbers of crappie on them. The best cover has been in 15-18 feet of water, and each day more darkly-colored fish are showing up – indicating they have been fairly shallow. They are catching them all on minnows.
They should stay on brush at this depth for a few more weeks before heading deeper.
May 23
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.69 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around 74.7 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are around 75 degrees and the lakes remain fairly clear.
This week the striped bass fishing has been night-and-day different in the lakes at different times – depending on whether you are fishing during the day or at night! Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that the action is pretty terrible during the day, but at night they are doing really well. While you can fish down-rods with herring in 45-60 feet of water out in front of the Moultrie Dam, he is having the best action further up the lower lake (but still within view of the dam) putting out lights and drawing in bait and fish.
At the top of Marion Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports they have had a surprisingly good striper bite on the flats, and with a may fly hatch they could actually see fish eating the mayflies as they fell into the water.
At the same time the catfish bite remains phenomenal at the top of the lake in shallow water, while Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he is drifting in less than 20 feet of water with blueback herring in both lakes. Mostly he is targeting shallow flats, and about 6-11 feet of water seems to be the most productive. Most of the fish are in the 3-15 pound range but they do get the occasional 30-pounder.
Captain Bobby is fishing a similar pattern, and he notes that – while you can anchor once you find a concentration of fish – with water temperatures in the 70s he usually finds the fish active enough that drifting is most effective. Bobby also notes that, in addition to shallow flats, both ends of the canal can be good when they are pulling water, and you can also drift it when there is current.
There’s not too much change with the bass bite, but Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that the topwater bite has picked up with a frog in 1-3 feet of water. They are also finding some schooling activity around points, shoals, and high spots between depressions.
Outside of that the best action he is finding is still around eel grass and hydrilla in 5-7 feet of water in both lakes, and the fish that are up there are gorging on bream. They will take a bladed jig and a jerkbait, but when conditions are calm then a plastic worm on a drop shot is most effective.
There is also the very tail end of a shad spawn going on in the morning around trees that is drawing in some fish.
Pack’s reports that with the heat the bream bite has slowed this week, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) expects that they expect there to be plenty of fish on beds with this May full moon. In the Russellville area there have been both bluegill and shellcracker bedding in the same areas.
Finally, Captain Steve reports that he is still finding a few crappie on 15-18 foot brush in both lakes.
May 16
Santee Cooper water levels are at 76.17 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.62 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are around 77 degrees, and even though they are pulling a lot of water the lake is pretty clear.
Out on the water today, Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that all the bass he is catching are post-spawn. The best action he is finding is around eel grass and hydrilla in 5-7 feet of water in both lakes, and the fish that are up there are gorging on bream. They will take a bladed jig and a jerkbait, but when conditions are calm like this morning then a plastic worm on a drop shot is most effective. There is also the end of a shad spawn going on in the morning around trees that is drawing in some fish.
May 15
Santee Cooper water levels are up to 76.19 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.60 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5).
Even though they mostly feed on the bottom it’s hard to lead off with anything but the catfish report this week, as from the swamp to Lake Moultrie the shallow bite is on fire.
Captain Steve Pack with Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that, while the action has been good all spring, rising water flowing into the system really turns them and in the headwaters they are being caught both on the flats and in the river. It’s a similar report from Captain Steve English (843-729-4044), who had planned to target other species this morning but with the rough conditions instead drifted in 7-10 feet of water and had a full box before 10:22.
And Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that he is catching big fish in less than 10 feet of water, marking an incredible number of blues. One day this week he ran across a spot where all six rods went down at once and for 30 minutes did not stop. And he actually expects the bite to keep getting better through Memorial Day. Choice of bait doesn’t seem to make a big difference right now, but herring have been working for about everyone.
Finally, Captain Bobby notes that the canal bite is really good right now with so much current.
The striped bass fishing has also been good, although it remains an early, late, and night bite. Captain Bobby has been having the best success by the Moultrie Dam in 45-60 feet of water, and there is so much current in that area you don’t need to put out lights. In other deep spots lights help to draw in the bait and then fish. Herring on down-rods are working the best.
The crappie bite is pretty stable on Santee, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he is finding a few fish on 15-18 foot brush in both lakes. However, many of them are small and the numbers are way down.
Reports indicate that the most big crappie are being caught in open water just swimming around (by anglers using forward-facing sonar), but that’s another sign that the population is down.
Finally, there are some scattered reports of bluegill and shellcracker spawning, including in the Russellville area. Pack’s reports that the shellcracker were doing really well before the water levels rose so fast, but they are expecting a really good spawn on this May 23 full moon if conditions have normalized.
Bass report to follow.
May 9
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.89 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around 75.5 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are fairly clear with 2-3 feet of visibility and morning surface water temperatures have hit the mid- to upper 70s.
It’s getting to be pretty standard post-spawn bass fishing on Santee Cooper, although Captain Kyle Austin with KA Guide Services (843-209-3726) reports that there are still a few fish on beds. At first light there is a still a reaction bite anywhere you can find a shad spawn, with bladed jigs, swimbaits, topwaters and most anything else that resembles a shad all working. After that the best pattern is fishing in 3-4 feet of water around cypress trees, stumps, and areas where bream are bedding with Texas rigs and jigs.
There are also fish offshore on brush piles but Captain Kyle is not targeting them right now with so many fish still shallow.
The striped bass fishing is improving on Santee Cooper, and Captain Bobby Winters with Bob’s Guide Service Encore (843-751-3080) reports that early in the morning at the Moultrie dam he has caught solid keepers recently. The fishing gets tough during the day, but early and at night you can catch fish deep with live bait in 45-60 feet of water. At night shining lights helps to draw the bait in. Through June 15 it’s also worth fishing the canal as there continue to be some good-sized fish migrating through.
There are also still a few striped bass being caught at the top of the lake, but Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that the catfish action has actually been better recently. Anglers are catching fish both anchored in shallow water on the flats and setting out lines.
In both lakes Captain Bobby reports that he is starting to find more good catfish in shallow water again, particularly on flats in about 10 feet of water. He is having the best success drifting with herring.
It’s also worth noting that the diversion canal can be excellent at night and even during the day when they are pulling water. You can either anchor with cut bait or bounce baits along the bottom moving with the current.
In a similar vein Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he is drifting flats in 5-12 feet of water and finding a pretty good bite.
The crappie bite has also picked up on Santee, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that as fish return to brush they are catching more fish in both lakes. The best depth has been in 15-18 feet of water, and on anything deeper they either finding nothing or only small bluegill. The better bream are shallow.
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.