April 1

Inshore surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the upper 60s, but the water is fairly dirty.  

Just as public boat ramps have closed and it has become possible only to access the waterways and beaches from private access points, Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports

April 1

Lake Russell water levels are around 473.75 (full pool is 475.00) and water temperatures have fallen bank into the mid-60s. The creeks are muddy but the main lake is good. 

Getting on the water is becoming tricky, but Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports

April 1

Inshore surface water temperatures around Hilton Head are about 70 degrees, and there is still a lot of freshwater coming in from the rivers and making for stained/ dirty conditions. Still, overall the water is normalizing and better than it was. 

For those who can fish in Hilton Head there is some good news, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports

April 1

Lake Wateree is down to 96.7% of full pool, and up the lake the water remains muddy. Water temperatures are in the mid to upper-60s.

It continues to be an outstanding time to bass fish on Lake Wateree if you can get access, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden 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

April 1

Water temperatures are up-and-down in Murrells Inlet, but generally in the mid-60s. 

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

The early flounder bite continues to get better, and Captain J Baisch (843-902-0356) reporting

March 31

Santee Cooper water levels are at 76.25 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.43 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lower lake is dirtier than the upper lake. Water temperatures have gotten as high the low to mid-70s in places. 

The bass fishing is wide open and pretty fantastic right now on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

March 31

Lake Hartwell water levels are only slightly above full pool at 660.12 (full pool is 660.00) and surface water temperatures are up to the mid-60s in the morning. The lakes have cleared substantially but some creeks are still dirty. 

We are in an excellent period for bassfishing on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler reports

March 31

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are in the mid-60s and visibility is very good.

Even though access has been limited, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that

March 31

Clarks Hill water levels have risen to 331.67 (full pool is 330.00), and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper-60s. Clarity has improved but there is a significant amount of debris in the water. 

The spawn is very much still underway and you can certainly catch bass on Clarks Hill by running the banks with soft plastics like a floating worm, but tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta

March 31

Lake Murray water levels are at 357.16 (full pool is 360.00) and most of the lake is stained but not muddy. Morning surface temperatures are in the mid-60s.    

Access to Lake Murray continues to be limited, but veteran tournament angler Captain Doug Lown reports

March 27

Lake Jocassee is back up to 95.4% of full pool, and overall the lake is typically clear and most of the floating debris is gone.  Water temperatures are about 57-60 degrees. 

Trout fishing has picked up again on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports

March 27

Inshore surface water temperatures are in the mid-60s around Beaufort, and there is so much freshwater around that the color is a tannic brown. 

It has been some unusual conditions for redfish around Beaufort, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports

March 27

Lake Monticello water temperatures range from about 62-70 degrees, and the lake is still more stained than usual. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.

With warm temperatures at the end of last week one might have expected Lake Monticello bass to be further along than they are, but B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports

March 27

Lake Greenwood water levels have shot up to 439.45 (full pool is 440.0) and water temperatures are in the lower 60s. The lake had cleared a good bit before the recent round of rain, but after rising two feet in as many days the whole lake is getting muddy again. 

Things change fast in the spring in the South, and veteran tournament bass angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports

March 27

Inshore surface water temperatures in the morning around Edisto Island are 65-66 degrees, and the water in both rivers has cleared. It is a pretty green.

This continues to be a time of rapid change around Edisto Island, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports

March 27

Inshore surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are around 63 degrees, and the water is clear.  

Spring inshore fishing is getting good in the Little River area, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports

March 27

Lake Russell water levels have just fallen below full pool to 474.62 (full pool is 475.00) and water temperatures have risen into the lower 60s.  In the backs of creeks the water is muddy and trashed, while the main lake is fairly clear on the lower end. The channel gets dingy about mid-lake but they are pulling so much water it should clear quickly. 

The bass bite is wide open on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports

March 27

Inshore surface water temperatures around Hilton Head have gotten into the upper 60s and even hit 70, and the water had cleared until recent winds got up. 

It’s a tale of two tides for redfish in the Hilton Head area, and Captain Dan “Fishin’ Coach” Utley (843-368-2126) reports

March 27

Lake Wateree is at 99.0% of full pool, and up the lake the water is muddy. Water temperatures are as high as 65-67 degrees.

This is most people’s favorite time of the year to fish for bass on Lake Wateree, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports

March 27

Lake Wylie is up to 98.8% of full pool and water temperatures are in the lower 60s. Conditions are slightly stained after recent rains.

Spring bass fishing is officially no longer stalled on Lake Wylie, as tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports