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
May 12
Lake Murray water levels are at 358.03 (full pool is 360.00) and visibility is stained mid-lake and clearing down the lake. Morning surface temperatures remains in the upper 60s.
Water temperatures have continued to hold steady or even drop, and as a result Lake Murray bass fishing patterns have not changed very much. The fish have, however, been a little finicky. Veteran tournament angler Captain Doug Lown reports
April 30
Surface temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the upper 60s. The Cherry Grove area is very clear because of the lack of river inflow, while Little River is darker because of the freshwater.
The flounder continue to headline inshore fishing on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
April 29
Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are in the upper 60s and overall the water is pretty tannic because of freshwater inflow.
While access to boat ramps has improved even as beaches and tourism are basically still closed, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports
April 15
Surface temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are around 66 degrees in the surf.
The biggest change inshore this week is with the flounder, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
April 1
Lake Wylie is at 97.3% of full pool and water temperatures are in the lower 60s. Up the rivers the lake is stained but water color generally varies.
Spring bass fishing continues to be strong on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
February 26
Lake Russell water levels are even further above full pool at 479.33 (full pool is 475.00). Except for the inflow from Lake Hartwell, the whole lake is stained as far down as the dam, and the backs are muddy. Water temperatures are around 53 degrees.
Back on the water, Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
January 30
Clarks Hill water levels are down to 327.64 (full pool is 330.00) and surface temperatures are about 51 or 52 degrees. Most of the lake is muddy to dirty, even including the deep water on the lower end of the lake.
Despite the absence of relatively clear water on Clarks Hill striper and hybrids are biting well, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
January 10
Inshore surface water temperatures are approximately 54 degrees in Beaufort. The water has cleared up nicely and visibility is good.
After a few slow days the redfish bite has improved in the Beaufort area, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
December 11
Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston have dropped into the low to mid-50s, and water clarity is very good.
The troutfishing continues to be outstanding in Charleston, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports
December 9
Inshore surface water temperatures are approximately 54 or 55 degrees in Beaufort. The water is clear and will stay that way for a while.
The redfishknow that at some point what little bait remains in the Beaufort area will be gone, and as a result Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that fish are
November 27 - Lake Keowee is at 98.3% of full pool. Surface water temperatures continue to slowly fall on Keowee and now range from about 62 on the lower and upper ends of the lake to around 66 mid-lake near the...
