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

September 24

Inshore surface water temperatures have dropped to about 76 in the main rivers around Beaufort and the water is very dirty. Shrimp, mullet and menhaden are all abundant.

Really big high tides have made for an outstanding flood tide bite in Beaufort, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports

September 16

Water temperatures are still in the low to mid-80s in Murrells Inlet. Mullet and shrimp are both everywhere and early indications are that it is a good baiting season.

Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live finger mullet, live shrimp, live fiddler crabs, blood worms, fresh shrimp, salt clam, and a full range of frozen baits. 

It’s not that the fishing is bad on the south end of the Grand Strand, but Captain J Baisch (843-902-0356) reports

August 28

Lake Jocassee is at 96.8% of full pool, and water temperatures are around 83-84 degrees. Clarity is very high except there is some slight stain in the backs of creeks. 

A few weeks ago the night bite was sometimes the best thing going on Lake Jocassee, but now tournament bass angler Joe Anders of Easley reports

August 27

Lake Monticello water temperatures are in the mid-80s, and the water is typically clear. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.

As expected seasonal cooling has improved the bassbite on Lake Monticello, and FLW angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports

July 29

Lake Wylie is at 96.5% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. The lake is clear with a relative absence of significant rain. 

As with most everywhere in South Carolina, bass fishing has really slowed down on Lake Wylie right now. Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports

July 28

Lake Jocassee is at 98.2% of full pool, and water temperatures range from the mid-70s to mid-80s. Clarity is normal. 

Water temperature is a funny thing on Lake Jocassee, and out on the main lake by the dam water temperatures are around 79 or 80 degrees. Back in the creeks they get warmer and often hit the mid-80s. However, if you go way back into some of the creeks and rivers the mountain water inflow is much cooler, and you can find temperatures as low as the mid-70s or even less. 

Due to this temperature differential, tournament bass angler Joe Anders

June 18

Inshore surface water temperatures have dropped all the way to 73 after several cool days in Beaufort, and water clarity varies. In areas where the water is dirty it is muddy because of wind and the water is not tannic. There are lots of tiny shrimp in the creeks. 

Water temperatures are moving the wrong direction, but Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports

June 17

Inshore surface water temperatures around Georgetown have dropped to about 77 degrees from 82 last week, and with all the recent rains Winyah Bay is very brown again. North Inlet is cleaner because of the water coming in and out from the ocean but still a little murky.  

There was a flash of summer normalcy last week, and Captain Fred Rourk (843-241-4767) reports

June 16

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.21 (full pool is 475.00), and before the cold snap water temperatures were 79-80 in the morning and 83-84 in the afternoon. Water temperatures have dropped several degrees but should quickly rebound. The lake is relatively clear. 

It’s a little unclear whether it is the very, very tail end of the herring spawn or whether bass are just still hanging around in the same places, but Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports

June 5

Lake Keowee is at 98.5% of full pool. Warm weather this week has moved the temperatures up into the high 70s over most of the lake, although the area around the Jocassee dam is the coolest spot on the lake with temperatures in the low 70s.  Water clarity is back to normal. 

More consistent summer-like weather has been a boon for bass fishing on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports

May 29

Lake Monticello water temperatures range from about 73 to 78 degrees, and even with recent rains water clarity remains fairly normal.

In the Lake Murray Seniors Bass Club tournament yesterday it took about 13 pounds to win, but B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports