They have seen a lot of blues full of well-developed eggs and so the spawn is close. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.89 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). When the water cools then the brush bite for bream should pick up, and the canal should fill up with shellcracker. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.08 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.96 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Look for bait and fish then set your baits right above your marks. The lakes are dingy in places but not muddy, about right for this time of year, and morning surface water temperatures are about 52-53 degrees. 843-813-4128 Captain Jeff Lucarelli | 843-729-2212 Captain Truman A. Lyon Reel in the big fish with one of our handpicked fishing reels. We use cookies on our website to give you the best shopping experience. One day the fishing will be good and the next day it will be slow, but overall the best fishing is coming in the upper lake. The biggest fish still seem to be coming on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water with crankbaits and soft plastics, but you have to know the locations of a lot of brush to catch fish this way. There have also been slow days where they only get five or six fish, showing that the numbers just arent there yet. The fish they are catching are coming on soft plastics. 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. Creek channels are a great place to start. Most detailed Lake Hartwell However, this month anglers will notice bass start to move shallower regardless of weather conditions are they prepare to stage for the spawn. They are marking a few fish on deep brush but they may just be bluegill. Shop by brand or reel type. Apologies for the lack of bass update last week Brett gave us a post-tournament report but we failed to publish it. 1000 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201 AHQ INSIDER Santee Cooper (SC) 2023 Week 5 Fishing Report - Updated February 2 February 2 Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.05 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.03 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). You can also anchor, but drifting is often more exciting. Underspins can also work well. And with the season set to close on June 15, right now is the time to get on the water and see what it's like to do battle with the South Carolina state fish. We are located in the middle of the Santee Wildlife Refuge. Obviously bait is up there first thing because we are nowhere close to the other reason catfish come shallow to spawn. Most It should take a minimum of 31 or so pounds of bass to lead the first day and no less than 80-85 to win. In the cold weather the bream fishing has really slowed down, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that they are still catching some nice crappie even though they are having to work for them. Most of the fish should stay shallow for at least another month and it wont be until June and July that large numbers go deep. Herring is his bait of choice. Catfish are moving into the upper and lower ends of the In the lakes, drifting across clay &mussel shell 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. Overall, based on what he is seeing the fish are still very spread out. Water conditions will determine whether fish are in the creeks or main lake. Some of the fish have already started to spawn while others are shallow looking for spawning areas. 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. Learn More The Columbia full-service Licensing and Boat Fish are starting to pull up in the creeks where they can be found in 10-20 feet of water pulling jigs. Overall weights were a little down in the Sunday Showdown Series this weekend, and while there were a few good bass caught Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that . Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.46 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.3 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The bite seemed to die after the morning. Trolling numbers have been a bit down this week but that will also work. Areas to visit, Lake Murray in the Russell Flats area. 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. 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. About 3 feet of water has been the magic number for catching these fish. Santee Cooper striper season closes June 15. They are dirt shallow, and today just fishing while waiting for a camera guy Brett has caught a bunch of fish in no more than a foot or two of water. Connected by the Diversion Can . Following the birds and covering water with free-lines or planer boards is usually the best pattern. Bass. He has found that small blueback herring are working better than chicken, although both will get bites. There are a few different ways to catch catfish right now, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that for him the cold front seems to have put off the blue catfish bite. In the 1994 South Carolina Invitational here, O.T. . While there are always fish in a lot of different depth ranges in Santee, right now Santee-style drifting in 40-50 feet seems to be the most effective. Shop our collection of fishing rods to find the one that best matches your needs. shows,5 radio interviews,65 major newspaper . Morning surface water temperatures range wildly from the mid-50s on the lower lake in the big water to the mid-60s in protected backwater ponds. The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are in the mid-50s. Updates. You do not have to move a quarter mile away. Toyota Series - Lake Guntersville - Day 2 weigh-in (2/18/2023) Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting cut herring, shad or white perch in mid-depths should be the best pattern in February. This time of year you will see some of the biggest stripers coming from trolling stretch 25 and Alabama rigs deep in 40-50 ft of water. Fishing Reports Bragging Board Fishing Guides Summer hours 5:30 am to 8 pm Enjoy our upgraded, renovated accommodations. For some reason jigs are working better than minnows, out-fishing them 5-1 or so. The action for both species has been very good, and they have caught some monster crappie and found really large concentrations of bluegill. 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. going on , grasses and pads are your places to concentrate on. Morning surface water temperatures are around 87-88 degrees. MLF Santee Cooper South Carolina. The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is clear. The upper lake has been fishing a bit better than the lower lake recently, and the best action has come 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water. It sounds like a broken record but the crappie still havent really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that deeper brush in 25 plus feet of water continues to be the best. Crappie: Captain Roland Addy (864-980-3672) reports that the first two weeks of February usually look a lot like January on Lake Greenwood, and fish will be found suspended somewhere around the creek mouths and the main channel. Fishing is pretty good everywhere, and the new pattern is that there are starting to be a lot of fish caught shallow drifting in 12-15 feet of water on the ledges near deep water. Santee & Cooper River Fishing Page to win the first Santee CATT, Dowda and Williams hammer the crappie and squeak out a win Saturday on Santee, AHQ INSIDER Santee Cooper (SC) 2023 Week 5 Fishing Report Updated February 2. Cut herring, river herring, bluegill and shad are all working. However, he is also doing well drifting as deep as about 12 feet. As it warms in February fish will start to move into pre-spawn locations adjacent to where they will eventually spawn, and a few fish may even go on beds by the end of the month. Bass: Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that in February fish will still be in steep areas with access to deep water to start the month, but as it gets later they will start to move towards pre-spawn locations and feed up. Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in February drifting deep water is still the best bet, but on very warm days there can be a night/ evening bite in shallow water. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.18 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). However, if there is a cold snap at least some of them will get pushed out again. Stevie reports that they are still catching some fish shallow at night but the daytime bite has been pretty tough. Santee Cooper in mid-March is some of the best fishing in the country. 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 bluegill are also still piled up on the same brush, and they are catching some really nice bream on crickets. 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. He notes that they have been topping of plenty of coolers this week. Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that early in the month winter patterns will be unchanged, but as water temperatures begin to warm in February bass will start to migrate toward shallower water and structure as the pre-spawn stage begins. 3/4/23. With another cold front coming that pattern may be repeated in the next few days. Reports of 23' to 30' drifting along ledges have been productive also. Fishermen should keep in mind the effect of different temperatures in different parts of the lake. If anything it has picked up in the past week. The best bite will be in the middle of the day when the water is warmest. 100 pounds over 4 days is possible. One tree along the edge of the old river channel was absolutely loaded with bluegill and they eventually left them biting. Crickets and minnows are the best baits. Keep moving! reports. The fish are shallow on beds, and spawning activity peaks on the new and full moons. Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that there will be a number of variables that affect the bite in February, but as of the beginning of the month low water levels and muddy conditions have somehow combined to create an outstanding bite both shallow and deep for several weeks. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.99 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 141 spots Part of the famous Santee Cooper system and home for trophy stripers. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.21 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.19 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. Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that in February catfish on Lake Wateree should be mixed between shallow and deep. Scdnr Fishing Report - santee cooper fishing report 2018. While you can still catch a lot of small eating-sized fish drifting in 15-30 feet of water, Captain Stevie English is most excited that the canal bite is finally turning on. Again, its best to have a mix of cut baits including gizzard shad, American shad, river herring and blueback herring because fish have been showing different preferences on different days. Waterbodies: Santee River; Species: Largemouth Bass; Smallmouth Bass; . Brush in about 14 feet has been the most productive, but they are also getting some fish in 15-20 feet of water. Results as follow: The first CATT Santee Cooper Spring Qualifier, took place this Saturday, and while there were a lot of zeros at the bottom there were some massive weights at the top. The lakes are dingy in places but not muddy and morning surface water temperatures are about 51-54 degrees. After a strong spawning wave last week, Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass are starting to get into a bit of a post-spawn lull. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s in the shallows. He will be fishing minnows. His boat is having the most success with herring. Lots of flounder are also being caught but most are under sized so make sure you know your regulations. These corks make it quick and easy to adjust your depth, which is critical this time of year. It's with good reason, because Santee Cooper is one of the top shellcracker fisheries in the world. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.77 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.59 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The AHQ Report is your source for exclusive fishing reports, tournament updates, and more! As Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) predicted last week, temperatures have now gotten to the point where some bass have actually started spawning activity particularly in the protected backwater ponds that warm up fastest. Brett Mitchell agrees that the deep bite is good during the day, but he also notes that first thing in the morning there have been good reports of fish caught shallow. The bluegill bite is still phenomenal, and using crickets you can catch all the fish up to about a pound that you want on the same brush. Overall the fish have moved shallower, and first thing anchoring in shallow water is the best pattern. Casting at diving birds with Alabama rigs or bucktails is the technique of choice. Fishing in Santee Cooper Catch good times in South Carolina waters! 2018-19 SANTEE COOPER COUNTRY. Updates. Cut perch and chicken have both been working about the same for him. Minnows and crickets are out-fishing everything else. These include around grass, trees, and wood. santee cooper Fishing Reports For up-to-date information, look up the fishing report for the water of your choice. Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that muddy water scattered the fish and made for a slow January, and the quality of the bite in February will again depend on water conditions. The lakes are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 59 degrees. Right now its slower than last year at this time. shallow waters around grass beds of bullrushes being the best. Bream are moving in shallows setting up to spawn leading What better time to reflect on our winter fishing [] You can also fish soft plastics around trees. "Recognize that fishing may not be fast-paced during February when the water is still cold," he said. It was another good weekend for bass on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the Sunday Showdown Series tournament was won with a three-fish limit of 19 pounds! Catfish: Guide Jerry Kotal reports that February is still not a month when very many people will be targeting catfish, but if you concentrate on deep water you can pick up a few channel catfish. The Palmetto Trail passes through the Resort. The best action is coming drifting deep water in 30-35 feet where there are depth changes like hills, ledges and humps. Right now minnows are working better most days, but you should also have a chartreuse, straight-tail jig ready just in case. When the fish are very shallow they will take spinnerbaits, shallow-running crankbaits and other baits worked quickly, while when they pull out medium-running crankbaits and Rattle Traps are good. Farmer's Market They will usually stop at brush coming out from spawning areas where they can rest before going deeper. 7/15 Reports vary but there are some indications that the upper lake is fishing a little better than the lower lake right now. It shouldnt be long until fish start to move into the creeks following shad and become catchable on topwater lures, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits. 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. 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). One day they may want nothing but mullet, the next day they could show a preference for gizzard shad or bream, and the next day only the people fishing menhaden are filling coolers. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.51 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.24 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Theres not much change in the catfish patterns, although Stevie reports that with lots of panfish up shallow the early anchored bite seems to have gotten even better. 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