June 10
Santee Cooper water levels are high at 75.85 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around full in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The water remains clear and morning surface temperatures are around 80.
There’s no doubt that catfish have provided the most exciting action on Santee for the last week or two, and the fishing has gotten so good that Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has
May 27
Inshore water temperatures have shot up to the mid- to upper 70s.
It won’t surprise anyone who has gone outside in South Carolina in the last week, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports
May 26
Lake Wateree is pretty low at 96.8% of full pool and clarity is high for Wateree. Morning surface water temperatures have just hit 80 degrees.
Anyone expecting to find an easy bass fishing bite on Lake Wateree this Memorial Day weekend is likely to be disappointed, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports
May 7
Lake Jocassee is at 97.3% of full pool, and while the main lake is clear the backs of some creeks are dirty. Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 64 or 65 degrees on the main lake but higher in the creeks.
In the last week Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) has caught another trout that weighed more than 6 pounds
April 16
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the mid to upper 60s and pushing 70, and the water is still pretty clear for this time of year.
There’s a lot of good action on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
March 26
Inshore water temperatures have risen to the low 60s and the water is surprisingly clean for the amount of recent rain.
As temperatures warm Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports
February 25
Lake Keowee is at 99.1% of full pool. Water temperatures are on the rise with low to mid-50s in the lower end of the lake up to 60s mid-lake. Clarity on the main lake, particularly the northern end, is very high with 10 plus feet of visibility.
With water temperatures moving up bass are also starting to move, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
February 23
Inshore water temperatures are still in the upper 40s.
It’s a feast-or-famine time of year for catching redfish inshore, but recently Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports
February 18
Lake Hartwell water levels are up to 658.38 (full pool is 660.00). The creeks have gotten muddy and the rivers are getting dirtier as well.
The action for hybrid and striped bass continues to improve on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) is
January 20
Lake Wylie is up to 98.6% of full pool and surface water temperatures are about 49 degrees. Water clarity has improved and the lake is slightly stained with a green hue.
The bass fishing remains brutally tough on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
January 13
Santee Cooper water levels are up to 74.63 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 71.92 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures are around 48-51 degrees and the lake is dingy but fast becoming muddy.
Very low water levels were affecting the bass fishing on Santee Cooper last week, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
January 13
It’s not every weekend that someone catches a 4-pound spotted bass on Lake Keowee, let alone a 5-pounder, let alone a fish that pushes 6! But that’s exactly what AHQ correspondent Joe Anders of Easley and his tournament partner Greg Glouse did last Saturday, January 10 with a 5.71 pound spot! It was part of a monster 18.71 pound bag, good for the win, but on this impressive weekend there were two other bags over 17 pounds weighed! For complete results see www.cattteamtrail.com.
January 8
Lake Jocassee is at 98.0% of full pool and surface water temperatures in the big water are about 55.5 degrees, but cooler up the rivers. Clarity is normal.
The Lake Jocassee trout bite continues to improve, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports
January 7
Lake Keowee is at 98.0% of full pool. Water temperatures are around 55 at the south and north ends of the lake, while the mid-lake is about 60. A lot of rain has fallen this past week and major creeks are stained in the back. Clarity on the main lake is only slightly stained.
Despite some weather, N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
December 20
Surface water temperatures are have dropped into the mid-50s around Hilton Head.
This week it’s a tale of three inshore species around Hilton Head, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
December 20
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.66 (full pool is 475.00) and water temperatures are in the mid-50s.
Winter is usually a great time to fish on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
December 20
Surface water temperatures have dropped into the lower 50s in Murrells Inlet and the water is starting to clear when there is not too much rain or wind. Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live finger mullet (sometimes), live shrimp, blood worms, fresh shrimp, salt clam, and a full range of frozen baits.
It’s very hard to catch them in local waters, but Captain J Baisch (843-902-0356) reports
November 19
Lake Wylie is at 97.2% of full pool and surface water temperatures are in the mid-60s. They are pulling a ton of water through the lake such that the upper end is clearing while the lower end has gotten very muddy.
At this point it sounds like a broken record, but tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
November 19
Lake Wylie is at 97.2% of full pool and surface water temperatures are in the mid-60s. They are pulling a ton of water through the lake such that the upper end is clearing while the lower end has gotten very muddy.
At this point it sounds like a broken record, but tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
November 12
Lake Wateree is way down to 94.8% of full pool and water temperatures are around 66 degrees. Before the rain clarity was normal.
Dropping water levels have made it harder to get a boat in on Lake Wateree, but tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that the crappie fishing
October 23
Inshore surface water temperatures are still about 74 degrees in the main rivers around Beaufort and shrimp, mullet, mud minnows and more are all abundant.
It’s an atypical fall bite around Beaufort, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
October 23
Lake Greenwood is at 438.98 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are around 72-74 degrees.
Even as Lake Murray bass fishing has recovered in the past couple of weeks, it’s quite possible that Greenwood is still out-fishing its big brother to the south. Tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
October 23
Lake Keowee is at 98.5% of full pool and surface water temperatures remain in the mid-70s over most of the lake. Water clarity is normal.
Keowee bass are in similar patterns to last week, as N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
September 25
Lake Murray water levels are down to 356.06 (full pool is 360.00) and water temperatures have dropped into the mid-70s. Up the lake is pretty muddy and there is a lot of current.
A week ago it looked like the offshore suspended/ cane pile bass bite was about to peak, but after the recent rains and lots of moving water veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports