December 20
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 435.86 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are 54-56 degrees. The upper end is dingy to dirty but the mid-lake down is pretty good and the lower end is clear.
Even though Lake Greenwood is not yet as cold as you might expect after some chilly weather, tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda 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
December 20
Water temperatures are in the lower 50s, but the water has not yet gotten to its typical gin clear winter color.
Even though the weather has been pretty tough recently, when they can get out on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
December 20
Lake Wateree is down to 94.4% of full pool and water temperatures are in the lower 50s.
With water levels extremely low there has been limiting fishing activity on Lake Wateree, and tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports
December 20
Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool and surface water temperatures are down to 51-53 degrees. The lake has been dirty but the lower end is the clearest section.
It’s still pretty brutal out there for bass on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
December 18
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 658.08 (full pool is 660.00) and water temperatures are down to about 56 degrees. The lake is clear in most places but some of the creeks have color.
Right on schedule, Guide Brad Fowler reports
December 18
Lake Murray water levels are down to 354.51 (full pool is 360.00) and surface water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50s. Clarity is pretty good.
It’s still a tale of deep and shallow on Lake Murray, and B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
December 18
Clarks Hill water levels are down to 326.98 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures have dropped 3 degrees to about 56 in the last couple of days. Some areas are clear but most of the lake has a decent stain.
With most all the hybrid and striped bass up the lake and in the backs of the river and creek arms on Clarks Hill, William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
December 17
Santee Cooper water levels are down to 73.90 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 72.56 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-50s and the canal is dingy but not muddy.
The bass are in a cool weather pattern on the lakes, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
December 13
Lake Keowee is at 98.2% of full pool and surface water temperatures have now dropped into the low to mid-60s over most of the lake, and 50s can even be found in the very back of some creeks. Water clarity is normal.
The bass fishing continues to be good on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
December 4
Lake Keowee is at 98.3% of full pool and surface water temperatures have dropped to the low 60s on the southern end of the lake and in the back of creeks. Water clarity is normal.
The bass fishing continues to be good on Lake Keowee, with N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reporting
November 25
Surface water temperatures are around 66 at Hilton Head and clarity is pretty decent.
Unless you want to count a random lizard fish, it’s a tale of two species for Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) right now.
November 25
Lake Wylie is at 96.9% of full pool and surface water temperatures are about 65 degrees. As predicted the lake is clearing from the recent rains and already getting less stained.
The bite has been upgraded to good to very good for catfish on Lake Wylie, and Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports
November 25
Lake Keowee is at 98.4% of full pool and surface water temperatures are now in the mid to high 60s over most of the lake. Water clarity is normal.
The bass fishing continues to be very good on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
November 24
Lake Jocassee is at 95.4% of full pool and water temperatures are down to 65 degrees. Clarity remains normal.
While fishing is still a grind, it’s promising for trout fishing that water temperatures are finally starting to fall on Lake Jocassee. Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports
November 24
Lake Wateree is at 99.2% of full pool and water temperatures are in the lower 60s. From dam to dam the lake is dirty/ muddy.
It seems a while ago that we were reporting that dropping water levels were making it hard to get a boat in on Lake Wateree, but last week tournament bass angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden 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 24
Inshore surface water temperatures around Charleston reached 68 yesterday, and while there is still some bait around shrimp are getting much harder to find.
You can scroll back through old reports to see that he is willing to call a spade a spade, but right now Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) advises
November 24
Lake Murray water levels are at 356.17 (full pool is 360.00) and morning surface water temperatures range from the low to mid-60s, hitting 67 or 68 on sunny afternoons. The river is no very dirty and the lake is generally getting fairly clear again.
Fresh off a first place finish in the TBF winter trail tournament Saturday out of Shull Island with his father Steve, B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
November 24
Lake Monticello water temperatures are in the mid to upper 60s, and the water is typically clear but a bit stained around the banks. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.
Warmer temperatures still have the bassa little behind schedule on Lake Monticello, and B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
November 24
Clarks Hill water levels are down to 327.64 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures are around 65 or 66 degrees. The water is pretty stained.
The hybrid and striped bass have started moving further and further up the lake and back into the river and creeks arms on Clarks Hill. William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
November 24
Lake Russell water levels are close to full at 474.78 (full pool is 475.00) and water temperatures are about 65-67 degrees. The water is pretty clear.
Even though they have not gotten stacked up in deep water the bass fishing is still strong on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
November 24
Lake Greenwood is at 437.52 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are in the mid-60s. Up the lake is dirtier while the water down the lake is cleaner.
It’s one of those tougher times on Lake Greenwood when some anglers are catching fish but many are not, and tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports