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South Carolina Freshwater Fishing Trends - 9/15/2008
September 15, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com
. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Trout: Good. Troll in 80-100 feet during the day using large minnows or lures like trolling spoons. Trolling is even better at the night in the area up to the dam, and nice trout are also being caught with nightcrawlers anchored on the bottom.
- Black Bass: Good. Fish buzzbaits, Zara Spooks, noisy lures like jitterbugs, or crankbaits. Fish deep diving crankbaits, worms on the bottom, or slowly bounce jigs on the bottom in the 80-90 foot deep range for redeye bass.
- Bream: Very good. Move off the banks a bit and fish in 10-15 feet with crickets.
- Catfish: Very good. Anchor nightcrawlers or minnows on the bottom.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good. Early in the morning when the baitfish are moving Lake Fork swimbaits fished in 10 to 25 feet of water in the backs of coves have been productive - magic shad and albino colors have been most effective.
- Crappie: Fair. Crappie have moved out to deep water but night fishermen are doing well off and on by fishing up against bridge pilings with a light to attract bait and crappie.
- Bream: Good. Fish crickets in 3 to 15 feet of water.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Fish the area from Singing Pines to the dam in 70 to 90 feet of water. Down lines with herring, downriggers, and lead core lines are all effective ways to get down to the fish.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Be sure to be on the water very early or at night for best chances.
- Bream: Very good. Bream are in shallow water and are feeding aggressively - while cricket sales have slowed down because of the heat the bite hasn’t.
- Striped Bass: Fair to good. Fish in 20-35 feet over main lake humps or around long, deep points.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Most anglers fishing for bass are fishing at night with dark plastics worms.
- Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening and around structure under lights at night.
Lake Thurmond:
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Best action is coming when the fish are moving to the top and feeding on large schools of threadfin shad - throw bucktails or rattle traps.
- Largemouth Bass: Slow. After coming back towards the banks in early July, most of the fish have returned to deep water and the bite has really slowed. Fish deep diving crankbaits or Carolina rigged worms deep.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for brush in 25 to 35 feet of water; minnows are producing better than jigs.
- Bream: Good. Fish in 2 to 10 feet of water with crickets or worms.
Lake Wylie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Topwater lures early and late to target schoolies, and after the sun comes up switch to vertical jigging with Hopkins spoons.
- White Perch: Very good. Fish mid lake humps in 18 to 20 feet of water with red worms, minnows, and spoons.
- Bream: Very good. In a very late spawn some fish are still bedding in shallow areas around the middle of coves; use crickets or worms and try to “smell out” the beds.
- Catfish: Good. Use mussels, shrimp, and stinkbaits. Fish are also being caught trolling with minnows using traditional crappie fishing methods.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. From very early until 8 a.m. fish around blocks walls that have some depth - these may be hard to find with water levels a bit down. Use floating worms in bright colors like white, orange, yellow, or pink.
- Striped Bass: Good. Some schooling activity has been reported but it is sparse and there doesn’t seem to be a pattern for when the fish come up. Down around the dam some nice catches of striper are being made even on very hot days - fish early and late with live herring.
- Bream: Good. Bream have moved out around docks and brush. Fish about four feet deep.
- Catfish: Very good. Fish on the bottom using cut bait or worms in 12 to 15 feet of water, and try fishing at night.
Lake Wateree:
- Largemouth Bass: Tough. Try deep humps or brushpiles with large, deep diving crankbaits like DD22s in chartreuse and green/ blue colors, or fish worms deep. Target the Colonel’s Creek and Rochelle Creek areas.
- Catfish: Very good. Creek mouths where the creeks meet the main river channel are great places to anchor up for bigger catfish.
- Bream: Good. Fish 3 to 6 feet of water using worms and crickets.
Lake Murray:
- Striped Bass: Fair to good. Fish in 60 to 80 feet of water with down rods and live bait in the lower lake, and at night target the towers.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. When the sun comes up drop deeper and fish jig and pig combinations around rocks in 12 to 25 feet of water, or drop shot points with 8 to 10 pound test line in 25 to 35 feet.
- Bluegill and Shellcracker: Very good. Frequent mayfly hatches have brought the bream shallow; fish in 4 to 5 feet with crickets or poppers.
- Catfish: Good. Catfish have moved out to deeper water; fish cut bait and nightcrawlers in 8 to 20 feet.
Santee Cooper System
Lake Marion:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Largemouth bass fishing has slowed down with warmer temperatures; try Texas rigged worms around deep structure. Catfish: Very good. Catfish are deep but biting very well on cut bait.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for fish to move slightly shallower and feed much more aggressively with cooler temps.
- Bream: Very good. Bream are continuing to bed right through the summer in the upper lake, and Hill’s Landing reports some nice stringers being caught. Use crickets or red worms.
Diversion Canal:
- Catfish: Very good. Cats are being caught in the canal on days when water is being pulled through. Fish on the bottom in 30 feet of water using chicken livers.
- Bream: Fair. Fish with nightcrawlers along drop-offs.
Lake Moultrie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Bass fishing has slowed down, and most of the fish seem to have headed to deep water. Try deep Carolina or Texas rigging.
- Catfish: Very good. Catfish have moved deep but continue to bite well, particularly at night. Use cut bait - shad, herring, or mullet.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for structure in 20 to 25 feet of water and fish minnows vertically
Related posts
0
South Carolina Freshwater Fishing Trends - 8/25/2008
August 25, 2008
F
ishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Trout: Good. Troll in 80-100 feet during the day using large minnows or lures like trolling spoons.
- Black Bass: Good. From 7 p.m.to 8 a.m. topwater lures are the key to catching bass. Fish buzzbaits, Zara Spooks, noisy lures like jitterbugs, or crankbaits.
- Bream: Very good. For keeper sized bream move off the banks a bit and fish in 10-15 feet with crickets.
- Catfish: Very good. Fish in 15-20 feet in the mouths of rivers and creeks.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good. Early in the morning when the baitfish are moving Lake Fork swimbaits fished in 10 to 25 feet of water in the backs of coves have been productive - magic shad and albino colors have been most effective. Also try buzzbaits in pearl white and chartreuse colors.
- Crappie: Fair. Crappie have moved out to deep water but night fishermen are doing well off and on by fishing up against bridge pilings with a light to attract bait and crappie.
- Bream: Good. Fish crickets in 3 to 15 feet of water.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Fish the area from Singing Pines to the dam in 70 to 90 feet of water. Down lines with herring, downriggers, and lead core lines are all effective ways to get down to the fish.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Early and late there is still some topwater action off shoals and points, but the bite has slowed down as the water has gotten very hot.
- Bream: Very good. Bream are in shallow water and are feeding aggressively - while cricket sales have slowed down because of the heat the bite hasn’t.
- Striped Bass: Fair to good. Fish in 20-35 feet over main lake humps or around long, deep points.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Most anglers fishing for bass are fishing at night with dark plastics worms.
- Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening and around structure under lights at night.
Lake Thurmond:
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Water temperatures in the upper 80s mean that the lake is stratifying, and striper can be tough to locate. Best action is coming when the fish are moving to the top and feeding on large schools of threadfin shad - throw bucktails or rattle traps.
- Largemouth Bass: Slow. Fish deep diving crankbaits or Carolina rigged worms deep.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for brush in 25 to 35 feet of water; minnows are producing better than jigs.
- Bream: Good. Fish in 2 to 10 feet of water with crickets or worms.
Lake Wylie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Fish topwater lures early and late to target schoolies, and after the sun comes up switch to vertical jigging with Hopkins spoons.
- White Perch: Very good. Fish mid lake humps in 18 to 20 feet of water with red worms, minnows, and spoons.
- Bream: Very good. In a very late spawn some fish are still bedding in shallow areas around the middle of coves; use crickets or worms and try to “smell out” the beds.
- Catfish: Good. Use mussels, shrimp, and stinkbaits. Fish are also being caught trolling with minnows using traditional crappie fishing methods.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. From very early until 8 a.m. fish around blocks walls that have some depth - these may be hard to find with water levels a bit down. Use floating worms in bright colors like white, orange, yellow, or pink.
- Striped Bass: Good. Down around the dam some nice catches of striper are being made even on very hot days - fish early and late with live herring.
- Bream: Good. Bream have moved out around docks and brush. Fish about four feet deep.
- Catfish: Very good. Fish on the bottom using cut bait or worms in 12 to 15 feet of water, and try fishing at night.
Lake Wateree:
- Largemouth Bass: Tough. Try deep humps or brushpiles with large, deep diving crankbaits like DD22s in chartreuse and green/ blue colors, or fish worms deep.
- Catfish: Very good. Creek mouths where the creeks meet the main river channel are great places to anchor up for bigger catfish. Early morning or night fishing trips are a good ideas for more comfortable fishing in the hot summer.
- Bream: Good. Fish 3 to 6 feet of water using worms and crickets.
Lake Murray:
- Striped Bass: Fair to good. Fish in 60 to 80 feet of water with down rods and live bait in the lower lake, and at night target the towers. There is some free lining action and occasional topwater schooling.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Very early in the morning fish topwater lures like Sammies, buzzbaits, or 9 inch floating worms.
- Bluegill and Shellcracker: Very good. Fish in 4 to 5 feet with crickets or poppers.
- Catfish: Good. Catfish have moved out to deeper water; fish cut bait and nightcrawlers in 8 to 20 feet.
Santee Cooper System
Lake Marion:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Largemouth bass fishing has slowed down with warmer temperatures; try Texas rigged worms around deep structure.
- Catfish: Very good. Catfish are deep but biting very well on cut bait.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for fish to move slightly shallower and feed much more aggressively by the end of August and beginning of September.
- Bream: Very good. Use crickets or red worms.
Diversion Canal:
- Catfish: Very good. Fish on the bottom in 30 feet of water using chicken livers; fish will mainly be eating size but catfish up to 30 pounds have been caught recently on this bait.
- Bream: Fair. Fish with nightcrawlers along drop-offs.
Lake Moultrie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Try deep Carolina or Texas rigging.
- Catfish: Very good. Catfish have moved deep but continue to bite well, particularly at night. Use cut bait - shad, herring, or mullet.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for structure in 20 to 25 feet of water and fish minnows vertically. Fishing should improve in the next few weeks.
- Bream: Fair. Few reports of bream being caught in the lower lake are available.
Related posts
0
South Carolina Freshwater Fishing Trends - 8/18/2008
August 18, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Trout: Good. Troll in 80-100 feet during the day using large minnows or lures like trolling spoons.
- Black Bass: Good. From 7 p.m.to 8 a.m. topwater lures are the key to catching bass. Fish buzzbaits, Zara Spooks, noisy lures like jitterbugs, or crankbaits.
- Bream: Very good. For keeper sized bream move off the banks a bit and fish in 10-15 feet with crickets.
- Catfish: Very good. Fish in 15-20 feet in the mouths of rivers and creeks.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good. Early in the morning when the baitfish are moving Lake Fork swimbaits fished in 10 to 25 feet of water in the backs of coves have been productive - magic shad and albino colors have been most effective. Also try buzzbaits in pearl white and chartreuse colors.
- Crappie: Fair. Crappie have moved out to deep water but night fishermen are doing well off and on by fishing up against bridge pilings with a light to attract bait and crappie.
- Bream: Good. Fish crickets in 3 to 15 feet of water.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Fish the area from Singing Pines to the dam in 70 to 90 feet of water. Down lines with herring, downriggers, and lead core lines are all effective ways to get down to the fish.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Early and late there is still some topwater action off shoals and points, but the bite has slowed down as the water has gotten very hot.
- Bream: Very good. Bream are in shallow water and are feeding aggressively - while cricket sales have slowed down because of the heat the bite hasn’t.
- Striped Bass: Fair to good. Fish in 20-35 feet over main lake humps or around long, deep points.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Most anglers fishing for bass are fishing at night with dark plastics worms.
- Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening and around structure under lights at night.
Lake Thurmond:
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Water temperatures in the upper 80s mean that the lake is stratifying, and striper can be tough to locate. Best action is coming when the fish are moving to the top and feeding on large schools of threadfin shad - throw bucktails or rattle traps.
- Largemouth Bass: Slow. Fish deep diving crankbaits or Carolina rigged worms deep.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for brush in 25 to 35 feet of water; minnows are producing better than jigs.
- Bream: Good. Fish in 2 to 10 feet of water with crickets or worms.
Lake Wylie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Fish topwater lures early and late to target schoolies, and after the sun comes up switch to vertical jigging with Hopkins spoons.
- White Perch: Very good. Fish mid lake humps in 18 to 20 feet of water with red worms, minnows, and spoons.
- Bream: Very good. In a very late spawn some fish are still bedding in shallow areas around the middle of coves; use crickets or worms and try to “smell out” the beds.
- Catfish: Good. Use mussels, shrimp, and stinkbaits. Fish are also being caught trolling with minnows using traditional crappie fishing methods.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. From very early until 8 a.m. fish around blocks walls that have some depth - these may be hard to find with water levels a bit down. Use floating worms in bright colors like white, orange, yellow, or pink.
- Striped Bass: Good. Down around the dam some nice catches of striper are being made even on very hot days - fish early and late with live herring.
- Bream: Good. Bream have moved out around docks and brush. Fish about four feet deep.
- Catfish: Very good. Fish on the bottom using cut bait or worms in 12 to 15 feet of water, and try fishing at night.
Lake Wateree:
- Largemouth Bass: Tough. Try deep humps or brushpiles with large, deep diving crankbaits like DD22s in chartreuse and green/ blue colors, or fish worms deep.
- Catfish: Very good. Creek mouths where the creeks meet the main river channel are great places to anchor up for bigger catfish. Early morning or night fishing trips are a good ideas for more comfortable fishing in the hot summer.
- Bream: Good. Fish 3 to 6 feet of water using worms and crickets.
Lake Murray:
- Striped Bass: Fair to good. Fish in 60 to 80 feet of water with down rods and live bait in the lower lake, and at night target the towers. There is some free lining action and occasional topwater schooling.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Very early in the morning fish topwater lures like Sammies, buzzbaits, or 9 inch floating worms.
- Bluegill and Shellcracker: Very good. Fish in 4 to 5 feet with crickets or poppers.
- Catfish: Good. Catfish have moved out to deeper water; fish cut bait and nightcrawlers in 8 to 20 feet.
Santee Cooper System
Lake Marion:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Largemouth bass fishing has slowed down with warmer temperatures; try Texas rigged worms around deep structure.
- Catfish: Very good. Catfish are deep but biting very well on cut bait.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for fish to move slightly shallower and feed much more aggressively by the end of August and beginning of September.
- Bream: Very good. Use crickets or red worms.
Diversion Canal:
- Catfish: Very good. Fish on the bottom in 30 feet of water using chicken livers; fish will mainly be eating size but catfish up to 30 pounds have been caught recently on this bait.
- Bream: Fair. Fish with nightcrawlers along drop-offs.
Lake Moultrie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Try deep Carolina or Texas rigging.
- Catfish: Very good. Catfish have moved deep but continue to bite well, particularly at night. Use cut bait - shad, herring, or mullet.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for structure in 20 to 25 feet of water and fish minnows vertically. Fishing should improve in the next few weeks.
- Bream: Fair. Few reports of bream being caught in the lower lake are available.
Related posts
0
Curly Leaf Pondweed in McClusky Canal, North Dakota
August 15, 2008
The recent discovery of curly leaf pondweed in the McClusky Canal in central North Dakota serves as a reminder for all water recreationists, including waterfowl hunters, to abide by regulations intended to help prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species.
A state Game and Fish Department fisheries crew discovered the unwanted plant in late July. The plant was spotted in the canal waters near Lake Audubon.
Lynn Schlueter, ANS coordinator, said curly leaf pondweed causes problems to fish populations and hinders recreational fishing. “It is going to be hard to control its spread throughout the canal chain as Lake Audubon is a very large reinfestation source upstream,” he said. “At this point, we can notify recreationists that there is a problem and they have to take the required precautions to prevent it from moving to other areas.”
Curly leaf pondweed grows to a deep depth and forms thick stands, making it extremely difficult to fish in. The plant dies in late summer, and decaying vegetation and seeds for next year’s plants drift about the water body.
It is extremely important ANS regulations are followed, Schlueter said, while emphasizing this finding serves as a good reminder for water recreationists to abide by the rules. “If not, citations may be issued,” he added.
ANS can be transported from lake to lake by boats, trailers and other recreational equipment. To comply with regulations, anglers, hunters, boaters and personal watercraft users must:
Inspect and remove all aquatic vegetation from boats, personal watercraft, trailers, and associated equipment such as fishing poles and lures before leaving a body of water.
Remove all aquatic vegetation from bait containers when leaving the water.
Drain all water from boats and other watercraft, including bilges, livewells and motors, at the ramp site before leaving a water body. The only exception is livewells used to transport game fish or baitfish, and potable water and sewage water which must be disposed of properly.
Not transport live aquatic bait or aquatic vegetation into North Dakota. All water must be drained from watercraft upon entering the state.
Not dump bait into any North Dakota water.
Not introduce any fish into North Dakota water.
Not transport nongame fish (other than legal live baitfish) in water away from the water body in which they were taken.
In addition, with fall hunting seasons approaching, waterfowl hunters must clean duck boats, waders and other hunting equipment before leaving a water body, and are urged to run a brush through a hunting dog’s coat to remove any mud and seed.
Related posts
1
South Carolina Freshwater Fishing Trends - 8/11/2008
August 11, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Trout: Very good. Very nice catches of large rainbow trout are being reported trolling in 70 - 90 feet of water using trolling spoons or large plugs; also pull large live shiners in the same zone. Fishing early and late is best. Night fishing continues to be productive with large fish and good numbers being caught; troll the rivers for best success. Black
- Bass: Good. Early morning the best action is coming on topwater lures until the sun gets high around 9 or 10 AM. By 10:00 move out to deeper water and throw soft plastics along 10 - 15 foot drop offs on main and secondary points. Areas that have rocks and some wood seem to be most productive, and the hot lure remains dark swamp crawler green pumpkin Zoom trick worms. A mixed bag seems to be available, but fish are mainly grouped by species (largemouth, smallmouth, and red eyes).
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Very good. Early in the morning when the baitfish are moving Lake Fork swimbaits fished in 10 to 25 feet of water in the backs of coves have been productive for spotted bass in the upper part of the lake - magic shad and albino colors have been most effective. Carolina rigged worms fished around islands and points in 25 to 45 feet in watermelon seed and pumpkin seed colors have been working later in the day. Anglers report schooling action in the morning in the Cane Creek area.
- Crappie: Fair. Crappie have moved out to deep water but night fishermen are doing well off and on by fishing up against bridge pilings with a light to attract bait and crappie.
- Bream: Very good. Bluegill are clearly visible along the banks. Fish crickets in 3 to 15 feet of water.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Action is hot early and late on the east side of Andersonville Island. Try out lead core line and lures such as Cisco Kids and other similar ones. Also, look for fish stacked up near channels and other 40 - 65 foot deep areas. Largemouth
- Bass: Good. Early and late there is still good topwater action off shoals and points. As the sun gets higher switch to shaky head worms and Carolina rigs in 25 to 30 feet of water off the end of points and along river channels. Deep running crankbaits may also be effective, and deep, shaded boat docks are productive.
- Bream: Very good. Bream are in very shallow water and are feeding aggressively.
- Striped Bass: Fair to good. Striper action is hit or miss, and some days people are really catching them while other days they may come up empty-handed. Fish in 20-35 feet over main lake humps or around long, deep points.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Most anglers fishing for bass are fishing at night with dark plastics worms.
- Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening and around structure under lights at night.
Lake Thurmond:
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Water temperatures in the upper 80s mean that the lake is stratifying, and striper can be tough to locate. Best action is coming when the fish are moving to the top and feeding on large schools of threadfin shad - throw bucktails or rattle traps. Captain Dave Willard reports that fish don’t stay up long, and can be hard to locate, but if you can find them and stay ahead of the schools of baitfish they can be very rewarding. When you can’t locate fish on top use live herring in 30 to 60 feet of water around creek channels and drops.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. Some largemouth bass are still shallow, and good numbers of 3 and 4 pound fish are being caught. Try Texas rigged worms or shad raps.
- Crappie: Good. Crappie have moved back out to deeper water but can be caught around brush piles and bridges at night. Look for brush in 25 to 35 feet of water; minnows are producing better than jigs. Bream: Fair. Fish in 2 to 10 feet of water with crickets or worms.
Lake Wylie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Overall fishing is tough, but some patterns are working. Early in the morning anglers are targeting schooling bass feeding on shad first thing with topwater lures, and on cloudy days this bite can continue all day. After the sun comes up switch to vertical jigging with Hopkins spoons. At night bass can be found down to about 15 feet of water or more fishing dark worms around brush. Bigger bass are deeper.
- White Perch: Very good. Fish in 18-22 feet of water on drops next to river channels and look for sandy bottoms. Use a minnow or small spoon lowered to the bottom and then bumped slowly; crickets will also work. Bream: Very good. In a very late spawn some fish are still bedding in shallow areas around the middle of coves; use crickets or worms and try to “smell out” the beds. Also fish shallow structure around the shoreline.
- Catfish: Good. Catfishing is still good although boat traffic makes weekend fishing tough. Use mussels, shrimp, and stinkbaits. Fish are also being caught trolling with minnows using traditional crappie fishing methods. Night fishing is good in shallow water.
- Largemouth Bass: From very early until 8 a.m. fish around blocks walls that have some depth - these may be hard to find with water levels a bit down. Use floating worms in bright colors like white, orange, yellow, or pink. Later in the day fishing is tougher and anglers are targeting ledges with Carolina rigs and finesse worms. At night fish dark plastic worms around piers or brush piles.
- Striped Bass: Good. Some schooling activity has been reported but it is sparse and there doesn’t seem to be a pattern for when the fish come up. Largemouth and white perch are mixed in with the schooling striper. Down around the dam some nice catches of striper are being made even on very hot days - fish early and late with live herring.
- Crappie: No reports. Crappie have moved out over deep brush piles and are not being targeted by many fishermen.
- Bream: Good. Bream have generally left the beds and moved out around docks and brush. Fish about four feet deep.
- Catfish: Very good. Fish on the bottom using cut bait or worms in 12 to 15 feet of water, and try fishing at night.
Lake Wateree:
- Largemouth Bass: Tough. Try deep humps or brushpiles with large, deep diving crankbaits like DD22s in chartreuse and green/ blue colors. Target the Colonel’s Creek and Rochelle Creek areas.
- Catfish: Very good. For numbers of fish target the lake flats using cut bait and gizzard shad. Creek mouths where the creeks meet the main river channel are great places to anchor up for bigger catfish. Early morning or night fishing trips are a good ideas for more comfortable fishing in the hot summer. Visit the Lake Wateree message board for more tips from Captain Taylor.
- Bream: Very good. Bream are shallow and hungry, and with the full moon are spawning again. Fish 1 to 5 feet of water using worms and crickets.
Lake Murray:
- Striped Bass: Very good. Fish in 40 to 100 feet around open water humps or down by the towers. Best fishing is coming early and late, or at night. At night fish around the towers in 30 to 60 feet. Lots of small fish are being caught, but good ones too. Now is the time to experiment with lead core lines, downriggers, or fish down rods.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Fish topwater lures very early and late for bigger fish, and during the day fish Carolina rigs or jigs around submerged rocks in 6 to 18 feet of water. Spot removers fished around rocks are also working. Some of the best fishing is coming at night; target lighted docks using oversized dark plastic worms.
- Crappie: Poor. No one seems to be finding the crappie right now, except a few guides and other anglers who have favorite deep brushpiles.
- Shellcracker: Excellent. Fish in 4 to 8 feet of water around points and shallow humps with baby nightcrawlers and red worms.
- Bluegill: Good. Fish crickets and red worms anywhere from 8 down to 30 feet.
- Catfish: Excellent. Fish cut bait and nightcrawlers in 3 to 20 feet.
Santee Cooper System
Lake Marion:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Largemouth bass fishing has slowed down with warmer temperatures, but some anglers are still getting into them. One angler out of Pack’s Landing caught 14 bass last week. Some really large bass are still being caught, too; fish Texas rigged worms in slightly deeper areas.
- Catfish: Good to very good. Lots of catfish are being caught both shallow and deep; start out in 6 - 12 feet of water. Fish stinkbaits or cut herring in the flats or the Red Bank area. Night fishing is strong with cut bait.
- Crappie: Good. Crappie seem to have turned back on, and lots of fish are being caught in the lower part of the lake around stumps in 10 - 12 feet on live minnows. Bream: Good. With the full moon bream are spawning again - fish in 2 - 10 feet with crickets or red wigglers.
Diversion Canal:
- Catfish: Very good. Big flathead catfish are being caught in the canal on days when water is being pulled through. Use cut or live herring, or live bream.
- Bream: Fair. Shellcracker are being caught in the canal, but not in great numbers. Fish with nightcrawlers along drop-offs.
Lake Moultrie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Bass fishing has slowed down in the last week or two, and most of the fish seem to have headed to deep water. Try deep Carolina or Texas rigging.
- Catfish: Very good. Fish in 8 to 10 feet using cut herring or stinkbaits for numbers of fish. For big catfish fish in 20 to 30 feet around deeper creek channels using cut or live herring, or other cut fish such as mullet.
- Crappie: Fair. Crappie are in a summer pattern right now and only fishermen who have located deep brush piles are doing well. Look for structure in 20 to 25 feet of water and fish minnows vertically.
- Bream and shellcracker: Good. The bluegill are shallow although low water conditions may make them difficult to locate in traditional areas. Most shellcracker have already backed off onto deeper water. Fish 1-5 feet for bluegills and 8 to 10 feet for shellcracker.
Related posts
0
South Carolina Freshwater Fishing Report - 7/28/2008
July 28, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Trout: Very good. Very nice catches of large rainbow trout are being reported trolling in 70 - 90 feet of water using trolling spoons or large plugs; also pull large live shiners in the same zone. Fishing early and late is best.
- Black Bass: Excellent. Areas that have rocks and some wood seem to be most productive, and the hot lure remains dark swamp crawler green pumpkin Zoom trick worms.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Very good. Early in the morning when the baitfish are moving Lake Fork swimbaits fished in 10 to 25 feet of water in the backs of coves have been productive for spotted bass in the upper part of the lake - magic shad and albino colors have been most effective.
- Crappie: Fair. Crappie have moved out to deep water but night fishermen are doing well off and on by fishing up against bridge pilings with a light to attract bait and crappie.
- Bream: Very good. Fish crickets in 3 to 15 feet of water.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Try out lead core line and lures such as Cisco Kids and other similar ones. Also, look for fish stacked up near channels and other 40 - 65 foot deep areas.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. Early and late there is still good topwater action off shoals and points. Deep running crankbaits may also be effective, and deep, shaded boat docks are productive.
- Bream: Very good. Bream are in very shallow water and are feeding aggressively.
- Striped Bass: Fair to good. Striper action is hit or miss. Fish in 20-35 feet over main lake humps or around long, deep points.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Most anglers fishing for bass are fishing at night with dark plastics worms.
- Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening and around structure under lights at night.
- Bream: Good. Fish shallow with crickets and red worms.
Lake Thurmond:
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Fish live herring in 30 to 60 feet of water around creek channels and drops.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. Try Texas rigged worms or shad raps.
- Crappie: Good. Look for brush in 25 to 35 feet of water; minnows are producing better than jigs.
- Bream: Fair. Fish in 2 to 10 feet of water with crickets or worms.
Lake Wylie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair t