Even between moons they have picked up some bedding bream, and they have generally been on deeper beds in more than five feet of water. Whether on your own or in a group, a charter is usually regarded as the best way to go fishing. A large number of crappie are spawning on Santee, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that certainly not all of them are. The fish are tearing up river herring right now. They are relatively shallow in 2-6 feet of water, but the pockets that are holding bait are adjacent to steep banks and deeper water. document.getElementById( "ak_js_17" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on April 14, 2021 Starting to see some real nice stripers coming from trolling stretch 25 and Alabama rigs deep in 40-50 ft of water. Fresh Santee-Cooper Fishing Reports Top Santee-Cooper destinations Cross Tomorrow: 46 / 40 F Summerton Tomorrow: 46 / 40 F Eutawville Tomorrow: 46 / 40 F Fishing Seasons & Latest Fishing Photos January The subtropical climate of South Carolina makes Santee Cooper the place to be for some fishing action. "Weeds, brush, trees and pads are all good places. He has been targeting the flats in between the turns in the river bed on Lake Marion. Have a great trip! Reports of 23' to 30' drifting along ledges have been productive also. You can also fish dip baits in the canal to catch a lot of fish. If December is any indication they will continue to move around a lot, and one day you could find a big school in one area but then overnight it could be 5 or 6 miles away. Not to mention Moultrie can get pretty violent if the winds pick up out of no where. Hope you have a rewarding time fishing on Santee Cooper. This adds a real sense of mystery when fishing, especially at dawn or dusk. Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in January drifting deep water is usually still his best bet, and cut herring, shad or white perch will all work. Late this month some of the shallower creeks could also turn on. On the other hand the catfish are not a fan of the warm weather, and the bite has generally been erratic. Bass: Tournament angler Joe Anders reports that on Lake Jocassee in January the fish will be deep, and they are mostly likely to be suspended in the channels or off deep points. This time of year, the Santee Cooper lakes are a great choice for Crappie long line trolling. Bass: Tournament angler Eric Enlow of Union reports that January can be a difficult month to catch bass on Lake Monticello, and fish are in something of a transition period. Updates. The upper lake is getting muddy and water temperatures are in the lower 50s. Look for the BIRSDS. Is there someone to help guide a beginner? On the shallower side Captain Brett Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water. Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.13 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.04 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). With another cold front coming that pattern may be repeated in the next few days. It went from cold to hot, from calm to windy and back again. Today we spent the day tuna fishing. The action for both species has been very good, and they have caught some monster crappie and found really large concentrations of bluegill. Chartreus If it gets very cold then fish should group up in deeper areas. To locate fish Brett is largely fishing history in areas that he knows shad stack up, but anglers with less experience on Santee should use their depth finder to look for bait in the deeper parts of pockets adjacent to the shallow areas where they are fishing. Its been a good week for catfish on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that you can catch them pretty much everywhere right now. Wigglers,wax,chartreus The fish are shallow on beds, and spawning activity peaks on the new and full moons. He has had the best luck drifting in 10-20 feet of water on cut herring, while Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) is concentrating more on the 15-20 foot range. However, if there is a hard cold front then fish will hunker down and move into deeper water where they will be caught fishing right off the bottom on minnows and jigs. Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that the pattern in January will depend on water conditions, and if the water is dirty then throwing a crankbait around the banks is likely to be the most effective pattern. Generally the fish are 8-10 feet down. Book your campsites NOW! On the last trip they managed a couple of 40-pound fish, a 30-, and so on. Or enjoy Free Shipping on orders over $50! The bass have been surprisingly quiet this week on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports thats because we are in a minor lull between waves of the spawn. The catfishing here is so good, in fact, that Santee Cooper Bass fishing often gets overlooked. Morning surface water temperatures range between 85 and 90 degrees. And he found plenty. Head to the heart of the lakes and fish the deep waters where the Stripers go in winter, the Largemouth hide in summer, and the Catfish love to feed year-round. outside structure 15' to 25'. Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. At the next moon there could be another bream bed, but on the last full moon it was surprisingly slow. The bite seemed to die after the morning. The crappie fishing is basically fair right now, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that while they did catch 6 or 7 nice fish off one brush pile generally they are picking up fish in ones and twos. Pretty much everything has come on soft plastics this week. Saw quite a few fish moving in shallows, mostly Bucks. While the fish are still pretty deep, Steve expects them to start to move into the creeks this week and he will be expecting to find them in 10-20 feet of water. The photo under the title Cross is not a picture of Cross SC. Great fishing happening right now at the Coronado Islands aboardthe San Diego fishing out of Seaforth Landing. On a warm trend fish will head into the creeks where they can be caught trolling jigs and minnows in 8-15 feet of water, while another group of fish (so far mostly males) will be up on the banks looking for areas where they will spawn. Its still a good catfish bite on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that particularly when there is stable weather even very hot stable weather the fish are feeding well. On board, youll find all the gear you need, including bait or lures. Hi Tobias. Come in spring for the Striper bite, or target Largemouth Bass in the shallows in spring. However our efforts paid off when every once in a while with a nice yellowfin. This is one of the best months of the year to catch big fish. We have all your baits, live or artificial for your needs, food in Mac Daddy'srestaurant,Liscense, If the CBC goes forward somebody will still crush them, but its anybodys guess what the pattern will be. Explore the flooded cypress forest which is a haven for all kinds of fish year-round. Anyone interested in Santee-Cooper should give guide Brett Mitchell a call to set up a trip. Indulge in the stunning surroundings of the towering pine trees around the lake, or head out onto the heart of the lake and get your fill of Catfish, Bass, and delicious Panfish. Have you ever gone fishing on Santee Cooper? The bass fishing has been pretty tough recently, but Steve reports that while some fish can be caught shallow he believes the best way to catch good ones right now is reeling a crankbait just over brush piles. How easy is it to cross over between the two lakes? For some reason jigs are working better than minnows, out-fishing them 5-1 or so. Flats, hills and about anything in the 10-20 foot range is worth drifting. . The catfish bite is also dependent on weather, and right before a front comes through fish have been feeding really well while after a cold snap the bite slows for a day or two. Water temperatures have dropped enough that smaller bass are starting to move into the creeks, but Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that things are running behind this year and so there has not really been a rush of bait in there yet. Moultrie is the smaller of the two . fish. The lakes are back to a normal color and water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 40s. If those arent working then Brett suggests looking a little deeper with Ned rigs and shakey heads in the same areas. Bouncing a crankbait that dives 6-8 feet off the bottom around stumps is an excellent pattern, and small swimbaits and spinnerbaits will also catch fish. The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is clear. Kayaks I feel are better for smaller areas or pockets off of the lake, creeks, etc. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.29 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.19 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are clear. Come along year-round and theres plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Anglers looking to explore north Lake Moultrie and the canal will be hard-pressed to find a better spot. Water color is off in a lot of areas, but those areas I mention here are good to fair and really fishable. information from bait shops, marinas and fishing guides. The bass on Santee Cooper are doing exactly what they are supposed to doing, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that they have been catching fish that are chasing shad in the backs of pockets. Call 619-224-3383. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.71 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 72.64 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Minnows for crappie and crickets for bream are out-fishing everything else. You can explore a number of guides in the area on FishingBooker. Right now minnows are working better most days, but you should also have a chartreuse, straight-tail jig ready just in case. The bream catch is still at best sporadic, but Captain Stevie English reports that they are still catching some nice crappieeven though they are having to work for them. Fishing in Santee Cooper Catch good times in South Carolina waters! Herring, shad and mullet are all working well. The crappie fishing has still been pretty slow on Santee, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in the upper lake they are picking up a few fish 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Come enjoy a day on the water with Daisy and Capt Mark !! At times minnows and then jigs are both out-fishing the other so try both. Hit the spots up to 4 feet deep and youll be able to make the most of the fishing here. Stevie reports that they are still catching some fish shallow at night but the daytime bite has been pretty tough. The 94 Bassmaster Elite Series anglers returned to post-Classic competition just two weeks after the Champion was crowned, but they didnt make it far down the road. torpedo sinker rubber banded above a 2/0 circle hook on 50-80 lb. Cut perch and chicken have both been working about the same for him. You also can get helpful information from the Fishing Forecast. Springtime spells crappie in South Carolina's Low Country. The Santee Cooper Lakes offers some of the best fishing in South Carolina and we have some of the top fishi ng guides in South Carolina working out of Blacks Camp. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working for his boat. been reported catching them on Spooks and Pencil Poppers. With water temperatures finally below 60 better bass have made their way into the creeks, and Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that even though there are still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics they are no longer his primary focus. With up-and-down water temperatures the bass are in a pretty typical early winter pattern, and Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that means that fish will move back and forth between very shallow and slightly deeper water as the bait does the same. It seemed that some of the biggest fish came on Lake Marion, but there were also a lot of people who struck out in the upper lake. Like the bass the crappie are moving around a lot, and even though a lot of fish had gotten shallow into the creeks by early in the week Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) discovered they had pulled back out and he was again catching them on deep brush 20-plus feet down in 30-plus feet of water. With the full moon this past weekend the bream fishing was decent, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in the end the May full moon seems to have been kind of in-between. Crickets are the best bait for bream and jigs and minnow will the best baits for the crappie. The Big Cat Brawl with $10,000 on the line is on Santee this weekend, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he expects a lot of catfish to be caught. Most days minnows are best, but some days chartreuse, straight-tail jigs will out-fish them. Feb 23, 2021. Lakeside Marina seems to be your best bet for renting a boat on the Santee Cooper lakes. wigglers and crickets are your best offering. Thankfully, the fish in Santee Cooper werent too affected, unlike the saltwater species off the coast! The town of Pinopolis is located on a peninsula on Lake Moultrie. Santee Cooper (Lake Marion & Lake Moultrie) Fishing Report. The best action has been in creek-like areas. Its been an outstanding week or two for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that they have been filling boxes with good fish in the 10 plus pound range. Free shipping . Happy birthday, and hope you catch something worthy to mark the occasion! We hope to have many more vacation there in the future. Also, any recommendations once the spawning has passed for most species and have moved to deeper waters? Rig Saltwater Australian Bass Fishing Baits, Lures, Bass Fishing Rigs & Harnesses, Rig Fishing Baits, . Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s. Top water and swim baits will work good. Both lakes hold a year-round population of Blue, Flathead, White, and Channel Catfish. document.getElementById( "ak_js_32" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were heading to Santee again tomorrow morning for a 3 day trip. Depending on what they are on Brett will then turn to jerkbaits, Carolina rigs, swimbaits or spinnerbaits. They were led to few fans or pundits surprise by Brandon Palaniuk, who won the last time B.A.S.S. The big bream and crappie are still on the deeper brush in 28-35 ft in huge numbers. His son Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is catching them in about 25-30 feet of water. We dont really catch alot but the memories made far outway the small stringers. Surface water temperatures range from about 78-81 degrees. Lakes Fish Camp Under the surface there is the reality of varying contour in both lakes.Popular species targeted by Santee Cooper anglers include largemouth bass, a recovering population of striped bass, white and black crappie, bream (most notably shellcracker and bluegill), and several species of catfish. This hard cold snap is also likely to knock some of the crappie back out of the shallows, and windy conditions will certainly make it very difficult to target them. THE DRAGON SHAD DEMON - THE ULTIMATE IN LINE CATFISH FLOAT - SANTEE COOPER RIG . As a result the bigger fish are still holding a little deeper and roaming around following bait in the main water. A record 58-pound channel catfish and five-pound black crappie were caught at Lake Moultrie. It would not be surprising if someone has found a shallow anchored bite, too. If youre a keen boater, then theres nothing stopping you from renting a boat or bringing your own vessel. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.90 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.48 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). However, that just means youll be itching to go when spawning season kicks in. Its been a bit of a mystery why the bluegill and crappie have been holding so deep so consistently for so long on the Santee Cooper lakes, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he thinks it is related to how clear the lakes are right now. At the April full moon it should be gangbusters again, while this week they have caught decent numbers and a few big fish but nothing has been hot. Worms are the ticket. Luckily the catfish bite has been really good on Santee Cooper, and both Steve and his son Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) report that they are filling boxes with fish pretty quickly. Santee Cooper has thousands of acres of inundated cypress trees, various kinds of vegetation and all sorts of fish-holding habitat. Santee Cooper has been known to be one of the best bass fishing locations in the country for throwing a squarebill around wood. After some really good catfish action a couple of weeks ago the bite has gotten tougher on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that it certainly seems like the last cold front put the fish off. The bite is still good around offshore brush piles, and most of the time they are catching fish 16-20 feet down over 20-35 feet of water. We use cookies on our website to give you the best shopping experience. The bite can be decent if you locate a group of fish on electronics or otherwise, but thats the tricky part. Our fishing Rain Jacket and Rain Pant should never leave the boat, and thats particularly true over the next handful of weeks, as April showers bring May flowers. When the fish are up shallow then Brett is pretty much fishing with Senkos and other soft plastics, although in windy conditions he will also fish a spinnerbait. And the Dogwood trees are in bloom, as my Daddy said, it's the sign that fish are on the beds. Santee Cooper provided a challenge from the weather gods in the form of constant changes. Striper and hybrids: Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the January patterns should look fairly similar to those from December, and fish will still be in the same areas up the rivers where the bait is holding typically in 35-45 feet of water. Morning surface water temperatures have hit the lower 60s. Benjamin Bunting of Catfish will be stocked. From 1939 to 1942 the lakes were created in a hydroelectric project by the South Carolina Public Service Authority, commonly known as Santee Cooper.The lakes vary from shallow swamps at the upper end of both lakes (but most famously Lake Marion) to the vastness of Lake Moultrie 14 miles across at its widest point and appearing to be a great, open bowl. Lots of blues of all sizes (especially the good eating size at 3-5 lbs) mixed in with channel cats being caught. In the lakes, drifting across clay &mussel shell 13.0 in. By this weekend the shallow crappie bite could be wide open as well on Santee, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that this week he has actually found more fish on deep brush. Fishing is good, going today and I expect it to be off the chain. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.91 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.7 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). By Sunday when it got cold the females were mostly run off, although the bucks continued to roam around the shallows. Remember the limit is 3 per personwith a length being 26" The best patterns for blue catfish seem to be anchoring early and then drifting during the day in 10-30 feet of water. Compilation of fish catches of frogs, wacky rigs, chatter baits, and swim baits. Great time fishing. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.75 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Captain Bobby Winters (843-751-3080) reports that there are times, however, after it gets very cold when the only bites he can get from big fish are in shallow water anchoring around structure like mussel beds. Etc. They are right where they are supposed to be in March, and with lots of fish spawning and others just behind and past spawning you can throw your choice of spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics, jigs and more. The bass are not on every piece of cover. Other types of fish you can target while Santee Cooper Lakes fishing are striped bass, bream and bluegill. Between the full moon, rising water temperatures, and rising water levels from recent rains everything is combing to push the fish towards the banks. Its a similar story from Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029), who also reports that the best cat action is coming in about 30 feet. While fish will often be adjacent to creeks with steep banks and 8-15 feet of water, the best concentration of catchable fish is in 4-6 feet of water. Water Tmp: 10.04.20. Drop live baits or throw swim baits into the bait schools. Lake Marion, comprise the Santee Cooper lake system. Striped bass: Guide Daniel Skipper (864-430-0488) reports that in January striped bass could be found anywhere on Lake Greenwood, but the key to finding them is to locate the bait. Monticello Updates. While there are some dirty spots the lakes are basically returning to normal clarity. They are marking a few fish on deep brush but they may just be bluegill. We are at about the mid-point of the crappie spawn on Santee Cooper, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he approximates that half of the fish have spawned while another half still have to go. With a professional guide, youll get to the sweet spots with ease, and may even reach some secluded spots that nobody else knows about. These services are no longer offered at 1000 Assembly Street in Downtown Columbia. Fishing reports for santee cooper bass are updated each week, usually by Shallow running crankbaits, spinnerbaits and small swimbaits are all good lure choices. document.getElementById( "ak_js_19" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on February 26, 2021 Some of the fish have already started to spawn while others are shallow looking for spawning areas. Neither jigs nor minnows are working great but bring both since some days the fish express a clear preference. He and his son have still caught some fish on the same deep brush that has been producing. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 65 degrees. document.getElementById( "ak_js_25" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on November 16, 2020 For some reason the catfish bite has gotten really tough, and while there are some fish being caught its not unusual for anglers to strike out right now. Morning surface water temperatures are around 73 degrees. detailed Santee Cooper System Updates. previous next Print . Cast plastic swim baits into the schools. The Santee Cooper Lakes are filled with a wide variety of fish for all levels of sportsman. Thurmond Updates. Captain Ryan Bostian called in with an announcement. Trolling numbers have not been incredible. . update the fishing reports each week through the fishing season, reporting on fishing success, When water temperatures hit about 50 degrees then the creek bite should really turn on. Trolling numbers have been a bit down this week but that will also work. For up-to-date information, look up the fishing report for the water of your choice. Based just 8 miles from the northern lakes shores, Summerton not only offers you the chance to get out onto the water, but its also far enough away for you to engage in other sports. Not as good as the warmer months but you can still catch the more active fish on spoons. During the beginning of the fishing season it is very important to make an advanced reservation. He is still having the best success fishing scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range with soft plastics. Fish the edges of the creeks. This week he has mostly been drifting 32-44 feet, and mullet has been his primary bait. When the water cools then the brush bite for bream should pick up, and the canal should fill up with shellcracker. The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58. Overall he is still catching fish in 25-50 feet of water, although other anglers are fishing shallower. "Captain Randy Kramer is running the boat today. Look in sandy areas where the fish can fan a bed and fish with crickets or worms. Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the striped bass bite in the canal, and drifting blueback herring over the rocks has been dynamite. Are you in the know? While a lot of the shellcracker have already spawned there should be more, and the bluegill should really start to get down to business on this moon phase. . During spawn season, you can try exploring the shallow waters around Taylors Landing on Lake Marion, or around Elliotts Landing on the other end of the lake. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working. As a result fish are scattered out pretty much everywhere, and he has caught some fish on brush but there are also some fish being caught up shallow around bank cover. Its impressive, isnt it? November December 2005 The largemouth bass have been hitting very well the past couple of trips. Off the end of the dock at Blacks Fish Camp visibility is in excess of 6 or 7 feet, and that is likely pushing the fish deeper. Salt water Bushy Park. Drifting and bouncing the bottom is working well, and there are also intermittent spots where you can anchor up and catch fish. The tournament features a 3-fish limit and goes every Sunday through their April 5 final, all in support of the SC High School Bass Challenge. document.getElementById( "ak_js_26" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on February 23, 2021 Camping is popular for families, with plenty opting to go hunting or for a round of golf. Conditions Report. However, out of 14 boats there were only two limits. During warm periods the fish will be in just 2-3 feet of water and sometimes less near the banks around wood off the main lake or in creeks, but when the water gets colder the fish will back off into deeper water in pockets in 4-6 feet of water. While there are tons of little fish out in very deep water, the best action has generally come drifting Santee-style in 25-35 feet of water. Fishing among the cypress trees and around lily pads is the key to catching shellcrackers like this one in the Santee swamps. Farmer's Market All Rights Reserved. And then getting them to feed can also be a challenge. document.getElementById( "ak_js_29" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on October 28, 2020 document.getElementById( "ak_js_34" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I have traveled to Santee Cooper lakes and rivers several times and had good luck every time. When conditions warmed up again they started to move back into the creeks, and with up-and-down early spring conditions Steve characterizes the fish as scattered and confused. Morning surface water temperatures are mostly in the low to mid-70s. This week Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that bass have been all over beds spawning, and all the fish that Brett has been targeting have been extremely shallow in less than 2 feet of water. THE DRAGON SHAD DEMON - THE ULTIMATE IN LINE CATFISH FLOAT - SANTEE COOPER RIG . The co-state record largemouth bass was caught out of Lake Marion (16-2 caught in 1949), until 1993 the world record freshwater striped bass came from Santee Cooper (55 pounds), the state record white crappie came from Lake Moultrie (5-0 caught in 1957), and the state record shellcracker (5-7.5 caught in 1998) came from the Diversion Canal.