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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           Â
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.
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South Carolina Freshwater Fishing Trends - 7/14/2008
July 14, 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 60 - 80 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. Bass fishing continues to be very strong. Early morning the best action is coming on topwater lures until the sun gets high around 9 or 10 a.m. By 10 a.m. move out to deeper water and throw soft plastics along 10 - 15 foot drop offs on main and secondary points.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Very good. Early in the morning Lake Fork swimbaits have been productive in the upper part of the lake when the baitfish are moving - magic shad and albino colors have been most productive. Spotted bass have been biting very well on Bill Lewis rattle traps and shallow running crankbaits in bluegill and chartreuse orange colors in 5 to 20 feet in the backs of coves and around islands.
- Crappie: Fair. Crappie have moved out to 30-40 feet of water and can be caught fishing up against bridge pilings at night.
- Bream: Very good. Fish crickets in 5 to 15 feet of water.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Fish in 55-65 feet of water with downrods set at 25 to 30 feet. Try out lead core line and lures such as Cisco Kid and other similar ones as the thermocline may be developing quicker than ever.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. Early and late there is still good topwater action along points, and as the sun gets higher switch to shaky head worms and Carolina rigs in 20 to 30 feet of water.
- Bream: Very good. Bream have moved into very shallow water and are feeding aggressively.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good. Try Carolina Rigging or fishing finesse worms in 15 to 20 feet of water, and green pumpkinseed and purple worms are good choices, as is watermelon color. Jigs are also a good choice.
- Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening.
- Bream: Good. Fish have moved into shallow water. Use crickets and red worms.
Lake Thurmond:
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Striper fishing in 45 feet of water under the 378 bridge is very strong using live herring. Cut bait fished around points is also producing.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. Early in the morning bass are being caught around secondary points using Zara Spooks.
- Crappie: Good. Crappie have moved back out to deeper water but can be caught around brush piles and bridges at night.
- Shellcracker: Excellent. Target shellcracker using red worms, pink worms, and crickets.
Lake Wylie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. First thing in the morning fish topwater Pop-Rs over main channel points in about 8 feet of water - bass are schooling. Night fishing is becoming the preferred time to catch fish - deep crankbaits, dark worms, and jigging spoons are all productive.
- 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. Use crickets or worms and try to “smell out” the beds.
- Catfish: Good. Use mussels, shrimp, and stinkbaits. Night fishing is good in shallow water.
- Largemouth Bass: From very early until 8 a.m. topwaters and floating worms are productive fished around blocks walls, drops, and riprap. At night fish dark plastic worms around piers or brush piles.
- Striped Bass: Fair. A few anglers are catching fish with bucktail jigs trolled in 30 feet of water.
- Crappie: Very slow. Crappie have moved out over deep brush piles.
- Bream: Good to very good. Use crickets and worms fished in 3-5 feet around docks and tree tops.
- 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: Fair to Good. Throw soft plastics - both floating worms and Texas rigged worms - around shallow grass and docks in the mid-lake area. The Zoom trick worm in green pumpkin has been hot. The best bite is early, but even once it starts to get warmer shallow docks and other shady areas still hold fish.
- 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.
- Bream: Very good. Fish 1 to 5 feet of water using worms and crickets.
Lake Murray:
- Striped Bass: Good. Striped bass fishermen are most successful in the lower lake fishing in 55 to 65 feet. The predominate catch is coming with down rods baited with live herring, although some fishermen are being just as productive suspending cut herring at the depth they mark the fish in the same areas.
- Largemouth Bass: Tough. Early in the day fish topwaters like pencil poppers, Zara Spooks, Sammys, and flukes.
- 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: Good. Fish 8 to 12 feet of water on crickets or worms.
- Bream: Very good. Bream are still shallow. Use crickets.
- Catfish: Good. Cut herring and nightcrawlers are producing over most any area of the lake from the campground down to the dam.
Santee Cooper System           Â
Lake Marion:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Some really large bass are still being caught, though; fish Texas rigged worms in slightly deeper areas.
- Catfish: Very good. Towards the dam catfish are in 15-25 feet of water. The bite is hot using cut bait, stinkbaits, or worms.
- Crappie: Fair. Try to locate brush in 25 to 30 feet and fish minnows vertically.
- Bream and Shellcracker: Very good. Fish shallow using worms and crickets.
Diversion Canal:
- Bream and Shellcracker: Very good. Fish are being caught throughout the canal; some fish are spawning and others have backed off into slightly deeper water. The bite is best when water is being pulled through the canal.
- Catfish: Very good. Anchor or slowly drift cut bait.
- Bass: Good. Largemouth are stacked in the canal around drops where the water goes from shallow to 15 feet almost vertically.
Lake Moultrie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Try deep Carolina or Texas rigging in deeper water.
- Catfish: Very good. At night large flatheads and blues are both being caught in shallow water. During the day bigger fish seem to be keying on the sides of hills and underwater humps in 18 to 24 feet of water, although they may be shallower at times. Best catches are coming using cut mullet and herring.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for structure in 20 to 25 feet of water and fish minnows vertically.
- Bream and shellcracker: Very good. Fish 1-5 feet for bluegills and 8 to 10 feet for shellcracker.
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South Carolina Freshwater Fishing Trends - 7/7/2008
July 7, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Largemouth Bass: Good, casting Carolina-rigged worms, and topwater plugs with slow retrieve. Also in early morning drifting minnows off shallow points.
- Trout: Fair, trolling early in the day in 40 to 65 feet water with Sutton spoons, Doctor spoons and Apex spoons. Also try drifting large minnows early in the morning in 40 feet of water.
- Black Bass: Excellent. Early morning the best action is coming on topwater lures until the sun gets high around 9 or 10 a.m. 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 Bass: Good, casting Carolina-rigged worms, crankbaits and jerk baits to the banks around brush. Also, some schooling activity has been reported. Most productive time to catch fish is at night.
- Crappie: Good, using small minnows and jigs in 20 to 25 feet of water around brush piles and bridge pilings.
- Bream: Good. Fish live crickets, minnows, and worms in 5 to 15 feet of water.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good, using live herring with down-rods in deep water around river channels 15 to 30 feet deep. Also trolling jigs off points. Visit the Lake Hartwell message board at SCFishingReport.com for more.
- Largemouth Bass: Very good. In the early morning use topwater lures along points and as the sun gets higher switch to shaky head worms and Carolina rigs in 20 to 30 feet of water.
- Bream: Fair, using redworms and crickets around brush piles and in covers.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good. Overall the topwater bite has been strong first thing, and then later anglers are having to fish deep around the trees. Try Carolina Rigging or fishing finesse worms in 15 to 20 feet of water, and green pumpkinseed and purple worms are good choices, as is watermelon color.
- Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening.
- Catfish: Good, using cut bait and nightcrawlers on the bottom.
- Bream: Excellent, using red wigglers, pinks, crickets and nightcrawlers around bridge pilings.
Lake Thurmond:
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Striper fishing in 45 feet of water under the 378 bridge is very strong using live herring.
- Largemouth Bass: Very Good, casting plastic worms. Also, try Little Cleos and spinnerbaits. Good catches with deep-running Rebels and ShadRaps. Bass are beginning to bed.
- Crappie: Good. Look for brush in 20 to 25 feet of water; minnows are producing better than jigs.
- Shellcracker: Excellent. Target shellcracker using red worms, pink worms, and crickets.
Lake Wylie:
- Largemouth Bass: Good, casting bass jigs and medium-running crankbaits along points close to the bottom. Striped Bass: Good, using spoons and bucktails behind Lake Wylie dam.
- White Bass: Good, casting small bucktails and spoons.
- White Perch: Good. Fish in 18-24 feet of water 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.
- Shellcracker: Good, using redworms and crickets on the bottom.
- Catfish: Good. Use mussels, shrimp, and stinkbaits.
- Largemouth Bass: From very early until 8 a.m. topwaters and floating worms are productive fished around blocks walls, drops, and riprap.
- Striped Bass: Fair. A few anglers are catching fish with bucktail jigs trolled in 30 feet of water.
- Crappie: Fair, using small to medium minnows and mini jigs over brush in 12 - 15 feet of water. Night fishing for crappie is the best.
- Catfish: Good, using redworms with a standard hook, line, sinker and cork in 6 - 8 feet of water.
- Bream: Good to very good. The fish are bedding and can be caught using crickets and worms fished in 3-5 feet around docks and tree tops.
Lake Wateree:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair, casting to the bank with deep-running crankbaits and plastic. A few bass have been caught on buzzbaits late in the afternoon.
- Catfish: Very good. Creek mouths where the creeks meet the main river channel are great places to anchor up for bigger catfish.
- Bream: Very good. Fish 1 to 5 feet of water using worms and crickets.
Lake Murray:
- Striped Bass: Good, Try using down-rod with live herring in 20 to 60 feet of water and also free-lining herring. Schooling activity reported early morning and late evening hours.
- Largemouth Bass: Tough. Early in the day fish topwaters like pencil poppers, Zara Spooks, Sammys, and flukes. Later in the day switch to Carolina or Texas rigging with larger worms in the 8 inch range off points.
- Crappie: Poor. Try deep brushpiles.
- Shellcracker: Good. Fish in 8 to 12 feet of water on crickets or worms.
- Bream: Very good. Bream are still shallow. Use crickets.
- Catfish: Good. Cut herring and nightcrawlers are producing over most any area of the lake from the campground down to the dam on the bottom in 5 to 15 feet of water.
Santee Cooper System           Â
Lake Marion:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Some really large bass are still being caught with Texas rigged worms in slightly deeper areas.
- Catfish: Good, fishing with live herring and cut shad off the bottom in deep water.
- Bream and Shellcrackers: Excellent, using redworms and crickets in 4 to 8 feet of water.
Lake Moultrie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair, casting, spinnerbaits, plastic worms and lizards along docks and structure in shallow water.
- Catfish: Very good. During the day bigger fish seem to be keying on the sides of hills and underwater humps in 18 to 24 feet of water, although they may be shallower at times. Best catches are coming using cut mullet and herring.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for structure in 20 to 25 feet of water and fish minnows vertically.
- Bream and shellcracker: Very good. Most shellcracker have already backed off onto deeper water. Fish 1-5 feet for bluegills and 8 to 10 feet for shellcracker.
Related posts
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South Carolina Freshwater Fishing Trends - 6/30/2008
June 30, 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 50 - 70 feet of water using trolling spoons or large plugs; also pull large live shiners in the same zone. Night fishing continues to be productive with large fish and good numbers being caught.
- Black Bass: Excellent. Early morning the best action is coming on topwater lures until the sun gets high around 9 or 10 a.m. 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 and late topwater action is very good, and Lake Fork Swimbaits and Lucky Craft Sammys fished around boat docks, points and in the backs of coves are productive. Watermelon seed and pumpkinseed are hot colors, and the upper end of the lake has been most productive.
- Crappie: Good. Crappie have moved out to 30-40 feet of water and can be caught fishing up against bridge pilings at night.
- Bream: Good. Fish live crickets, minnows, and worms in 5 to 15 feet of water.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Fish in 50-60 feet of water with downrods set at 20 to 25 feet. Try out lead core line and lures such as Cisco Kid and other similar ones as the thermocline may be developing quicker than ever. Visit the Lake Hartwell message board at SCFishingReport.com for more.
- Largemouth Bass: Very good. In the early morning use topwater lures along points and as the sun gets higher switch to shaky head worms and Carolina rigs in 20 to 30 feet of water.
- Bream: Good. Fish shallow water with crickets and night crawlers.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good. Overall the topwater bite has been strong first thing, and then later anglers are having to fish deep around the trees. Try Carolina Rigging or fishing finesse worms in 15 to 20 feet of water, and green pumpkinseed and purple worms are good choices, as is watermelon color.
- Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening.
- Bream: Good. Fish have moved into shallow water. Use crickets and red worms.
Lake Thurmond:
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Striper fishing in 45 feet of water under the 378 bridge is very strong using live herring.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. Early in the morning bass are being caught around secondary points using Zara Spooks.
- Crappie: Good. Look for brush in 20 to 25 feet of water; minnows are producing better than jigs.
- Shellcracker: Excellent. Target shellcracker using red worms, pink worms, and crickets.
Lake Wylie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. First thing in the morning fish topwater Pop-Rs over main channel points in about 8 feet of water. After 10 a.m. or so move deeper and fish the drops using Carolina rigs with an extra long leader- a strong color is watermelon seed dipped in chartreuse glow dye.
- White Perch: Good. Fish in 18-24 feet of water 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.
- Shellcracker: Very good. Fish deep drops using red worms fished on a dead line.
- Catfish: Good. Use mussels, shrimp, and stinkbaits.
- Largemouth Bass: From very early until 8 a.m. topwaters and floating worms are productive fished around blocks walls, drops, and riprap.
- Striped Bass: Fair. A few anglers are catching fish with bucktail jigs trolled in 30 feet of water.
- Crappie: Very slow. Crappie have moved out over deep brush piles.
- Bream: Good to very good. The fish are bedding and can be caught using crickets and worms fished in 3-5 feet around docks and tree tops.
- Catfish: Very good. Fish on the bottom using cut bait or worms in 12 to 15 feet of water.
Lake Wateree:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. The most successful patterns seem to be throwing soft plastics - both floating worms and Texas rigged worms - around grass and docks. The Zoom trick worm in green pumpkin has been hot.
- Catfish: Very good. Creek mouths where the creeks meet the main river channel are great places to anchor up for bigger catfish.
- Bream: Very good. Fish 1 to 5 feet of water using worms and crickets.
Lake Murray:
- Striped Bass: Good. The predominate catch is coming with down rods baited with live herring, although some fishermen are being just as productive suspending cut herring at the depth they mark the fish in the same areas. Night fishing is become more productive, fishing deep with downriggers and lead core lines.
- Largemouth Bass: Tough. Early in the day fish topwaters like pencil poppers, Zara Spooks, Sammys, and flukes. Later in the day switch to Carolina or Texas rigging with larger worms in the 8 inch range off points.
- Crappie: Poor. Try deep brushpiles. Shellcracker: Good. Fish in 8 to 12 feet of water on crickets or worms.
- Bream: Very good. Bream are still shallow. Use crickets.
- Catfish: Good. Cut herring and nightcrawlers are producing over most any area of the lake from the campground down to the dam.
Santee Cooper System           Â
Lake Marion:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Some really large bass are still being caught with Texas rigged worms in slightly deeper areas.
- Catfish: Very good. At the upper end of the lake some large catfish are being caught in shallow water but not consistently. The bite is hot using cut bait, stinkbaits, or worms.
- Crappie: Fair. Try to locate brush in 25 to 30 feet and fish minnows vertically.
- Bream and Shellcracker: Very good. Pack’s Landing reports few spawning bream at the upper end of the lake, but lower down towards the dam the bite is very good. Fish shallow using worms and crickets.
Lake Moultrie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Try deep Carolina or Texas rigging in deep water.
- Catfish: Very good. During the day bigger fish seem to be keying on the sides of hills and underwater humps in 18 to 24 feet of water, although they may be shallower at times. Best catches are coming using cut mullet and herring.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for structure in 20 to 25 feet of water and fish minnows vertically.
- Bream and shellcracker: Very good. Most shellcracker have already backed off onto deeper water. Fish 1-5 feet for bluegills and 8 to 10 feet for shellcracker.
Chattooga River
- Trout: Good.
- Fly Fishing report: The area from Pig Pen Creek up to the North Carolina border should still hold trout, though, and dry flies like the Light Hendrickson, Light Cahill, Addams, and lighter caddis flies tied out of elkhair should produce. Also, any nymph will work and in 2-3 weeks the transition to terrestrial food sources should begin.
Saluda River
- Striped Bass: Fair. The best region is above the zoo, and concentrations of fish are highest up towards the dam. Throw large plugs, topwater poppers, or fish live shad or herring under corks or on the bottom. Remember, no striper may be kept until October 1.
- Catfish: Good. Lots of catfish are being reported caught between Corley Mill and the zoo. Fish cut herring, other cut fish, or nightcrawlers on the bottom in deep holes.
- Shellcracker: Good. Fish deep holes where you can’t quite see the bottom for best results.
Santee Diversion Canal
- Bream and Shellcracker: Very good. The bite is best when water is being pulled through the canal.
- Catfish: Very good. Anchor or slowly drift cut bait at night.
- Bass: Good. Largemouth are stacked in the canal around drops where the water goes from shallow to 15 feet almost vertically.
Savannah River
- Striped/ Hybrid Bass: Hit or miss. Mullet are starting to come up the river, however, and the striper will not be far behind them.
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South Carolina Freshwater Fishing Trends - 6/23/2008
June 23, 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 50 - 70 feet of water using trolling spoons or large plugs; also pull large live shiners in the same zone. Night fishing continues to be productive with large fish and good numbers being caught; troll the rivers for best success.
- Black Bass: Excellent. Early morning the best action is coming on topwater lures until the sun gets high around 9 or 10 a.m. By 10 a.m. move out to deeper water and throw soft plastics along 10 - 15 foot drop offs on main and secondary points.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Very good. Early and late topwater action is very good, and Lake Fork Swimbaits and Lucky Craft Sammys fished around boat docks, points and in the backs of coves are productive. Later in the day shallow running crankbaits in 5 to 25 feet and Carolina rigged or shaky head worms in 15 to 40 feet are working.
- Crappie: Good. Crappie have moved out to 30-40 feet of water and can be caught fishing up against bridge pilings at night.
- Bream: Good. Fish live crickets, minnows, and worms in 5 to 15 feet of water.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Fish in 50-60 feet of water with downrods set at 20 to 25 feet. Try out lead core line and lures such as Cisco Kid and other similar ones as the thermocline may be developing quicker than ever.
- Largemouth Bass: Very good. In the early morning use topwater lures along points, and as the sun gets higher switch to shaky head worms and Carolina rigs in 20 to 30 feet of water.
- Bream: Good. Bream have moved into very shallow water and are feeding aggressively.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good. Overall the topwater bite has been strong first thing, and then later anglers are having to fish deep around the trees. Try Carolina Rigging or fishing finesse worms in 15 to 20 feet of water, and green pumpkinseed and purple worms are good choices, as is watermelon color. Jigs are also a good choice.
- Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening.
- Bream: Good. Fish have already moved into shallow water.
Lake Thurmond:
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Striper fishing in 45 feet of water under the 378 bridge is very strong using live herring. Cut bait fished around points is also producing.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. Early in the morning bass are being caught around secondary points using Zara Spooks.
- Crappie: Good. Look for brush in 20 to 25 feet of water; minnows are producing better than jigs.
- Shellcracker: Excellent. Use red worms, pink worms, and crickets.
Lake Wylie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. First thing in the morning fish topwater Pop-Rs over main channel points in about 8 feet of water. After 10 a.m. or so move deeper and fish the drops using Carolina rigs with an extra long leader- a strong color is watermelon seed dipped in chartreuse glow dye.
- White Perch: Good. Fish in 18-24 feet of water 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.
- Shellcracker: Very good. Fish deep drops using red worms fished on a dead line.
- Catfish: Excellent. Catfishing is easy right now and anglers are tearing up the fish using mussels, shrimp, and stinkbaits.
Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood:
- Largemouth Bass: From very early until 8 a.m. topwaters and floating worms are productive fished around blocks walls, drops, and riprap. Later in the day fishing is tougher and anglers are targeting ledges with Carolina rigs and finesse worms.
- Striped Bass: Fair. A few anglers are catching fish with bucktail jigs trolled in 30 feet of water.
- Crappie: Very slow. Crappie have moved out over deep brush piles and are also occasionally being caught drifting over deep water. Bream: Good to very good. Use crickets and worms fished in 3-5 feet around docks and tree tops.
- 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. The most successful patterns seem to be throwing soft plastics - both floating worms and Texas rigged worms - around grass and docks. The best bite is early. Night fishing with dark plastic worms around heavy brush is also successful.
- Catfish: Very good. Large fish can be caught on cut bait almost anywhere along the river channel from the upper lake down to the dam. Bream: Very good. Fish 1 to 5 feet of water using worms and crickets.
Lake Murray:
- Striped Bass: Good. Use down rods baited with live herring, although some fishermen are being just as productive suspending cut herring at the depth they mark the fish in the same areas. Deep humps and the towers are both productive, and lower lake creeks are also productive.
- Largemouth Bass: Tough. Early in the day fish topwaters like pencil poppers, Zara Spooks, Sammys, and flukes. Later in the day switch to Carolina or Texas rigging with larger worms in the 8 inch range off points.
- Crappie: Poor. Check deep brushpiles.
- Shellcracker: Good. 8 to 12 feet of water caught on crickets or worms. Bream: Very good. Bream are still shallow. Use crickets.
- Catfish: Good. Cut herring and nightcrawlers are producing over most any area of the lake from the campground down to the dam.
Santee Cooper System
Lake Marion:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Some really large bass are still being caught, though; fish Texas rigged worms in slightly deeper areas.
- Catfish: Very good. At the upper end of the lake some large catfish are being caught in shallow water but not consistently. The bite is hot using cut bait, stinkbaits, or worms.
- Crappie: Fair. Try to locate brush in 25 to 30 feet and fish minnows vertically.
- Bream and Shellcracker: Very good. Fish shallow using worms and crickets.
Lake Moultrie:
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Try deep Carolina or Texas rigging.
- Catfish: Very good. Drifting is productive, as well as anchoring and fishing cut bait on the bottom when the lake is too calm to drift. Best catches are coming using cut mullet and herring.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for structure in 20 to 25 feet of water and fish minnows vertically.
- Bream and shellcracker: Very good. Fish 1-5 feet for bluegills and 8 to 10 feet for shellcracker.
South Carolina Rivers
Chattooga River
- Trout: Good.
- Fly Fishing report: The dry fly season is winding down, and fishermen are starting to head north for colder waters. The area from Pig Pen Creek up to the North Carolina border should still hold trout, though, and dry flies like the Light Hendrickson, Light Cahill, Addams, and lighter caddis flies tied out of elkhair should produce.
Saluda River
- Striped Bass: Fair. Some striper have been caught in the river but overall fishing is still down. Throw large plugs, topwater poppers, or fish live shad or herring under corks or on the bottom.
- Catfish: Good. Lots of catfish are being reported caught between Corley Mill and the zoo. Fish cut herring, other cut fish, or nightcrawlers on the bottom in deep holes.
- Shellcracker: Good. Fish deep holes.
Santee Diversion Canal
- Bream and Shellcracker: Very good. The bite is best when water is being pulled through the canal.
- Catfish: Very good. Flathead catfish up to 50 and 60 pounds are being caught in the canal at night. Anchor or slowly drift cut bait.
- Bass: Good. Largemouth are stacked in the canal around drops where the water goes from shallow to 15 feet almost vertically.
Savannah River
- Striped/ Hybrid Bass: Hit or miss. When the correct gates are open on the Lake Thurmond Dam action can be fast, but at other times fish are not feeding.
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