Lake Greenwood is cold and the water is stained to muddy, particularly in the upper half, but that doesn’t mean that fish can’t be found up shallow and willing to eat a crankbait. Veteran tournament bass angler Stan Gunter reports that – just as on Lake Wateree – fish can be caught in 3-7 feet of water around secondary points and rocks. They moved shallow when the water got very muddy, and even as it starts to clear a lot of feeding fish have stayed there. Bass are around the banks in the front of creeks as well as on the main lake. As always in the winter proximity to deep water is a plus, and steep, 45-degree banks are some of the best areas. In dirty conditions Stan recommends chartreuse colored Shad Raps, and as the water clears he suggests going with more shad colors. Crawfish colors are also a good option at this time of year and anglers should experiment to see what the fish want.
With water temperatures in the mid- to low-40s, and dropping, another good option is to throw an Alabama rig. Always a good bait on Greenwood in the winter, the Alabama rig is getting even better as the water clears. Stan suggests throwing it around docks, creek channel swings and down boat ramps. Aiming for docks with about 10 feet of water in front of them is a good depth range, and if fish get really deep throwing it over brushpiles or underwater ridges in 15-18 feet of water will work.
Stan says it’s hard to beat Keitech swimbaits on the Alabama rig, and he likes to go with shad colors such as Sexy Shad or Tennessee Shad. He will fish smaller baits on the outside and then a bigger bait on the middle hook.
Finally, Stan points out that it’s probably cold enough to fish a jerkbait right now.
Overall Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 435.6, and as mentioned above the lake is clearing but is still heavily stained to muddy in the upper half. Water temperatures are in the lower 40s.
Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that water conditions continue to make catfishing difficult, and if anglers are intent on targeting catfish then anchoring on humps around large schools of baitfish is the best pattern – or drifting through the same areas. However, if anglers want to get their line pulled the best bet is to tight-line minnows at the depth that you are marking fish and bait, which some days is very close to the bottom. Diving loons are a good way to locate the schools of baitfish, and the clearer lower half of the lake has been the best place to look. Fishing minnows vertically anglers can catch a mixed bag of crappie, white bass, white perch, largemouth, striper and even a catfish or two. Jigging ½ ounce chartreuse spoons will also work, but with all the mud minnows have been much more effective.
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