September 14

Lake Keowee is at 98.7% of full pool and the main lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are now in the low to mid-80s. 

As water temperatures have begun a slow descent, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that we have finally turned the corner and are heading towards fall on the lake.

There is an early bass bite on points, and a small crankbait or buzzbait is a good starting point.  As the sun gets up, they are starting to see more fish chasing bait on the surface, both on the main lake and in major creeks and coves.  Have a topwater bait ready for these fish.  This pattern should only improve in the coming weeks. 

Deeper fish can be targeted with a drop shot out to 50 feet or so on points and creek channels. 

Charles expects fishing to significantly improve over the next few weeks given the cooler nights.

September 8

Lake Keowee is at 98.2% of full pool and the main lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are mostly in the mid-80s. 

While there’s not a whole lot of change on other fronts this week, Guide Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that the catfish action has been pretty phenomenal on Lake Keowee recently. Catching 200 pounds of 10-20 pound blues before lunch is par for the course, and looking around bridges and marking fish on the bottom in 30-100 feet has been the best pattern. From there it’s just a matter of putting on spot-lock, dropping down cut bream or chicken breasts, and holding on. 

Probably in part due to a lack of fishing pressure the numbers of good-sized fish have been incredible, and there is no doubt some monsters are also swimming around. 

Unfortunately, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that with the persistently high water temperatures the bass bite remains slow on Keowee.  An early morning bite on points and rocky shorelines with a topwater is producing a few fish, and some schooling is also happening occasionally in the morning, but it is random.  A shallow bite around bream beds is producing the bigger fish. 

The deep, suspended bite has not been consistent at all this summer and fish are not being found in their usual summer offshore areas.  For deeper fish, a drop shot around humps in 30 feet of water is a good strategy.  

September 1

Lake Keowee is at 98.1% of full pool and, while heavy rainfall on Tuesday has muddied the backs of major creeks, the main lake remains very clear. Morning surface water temperatures remain at their summertime highs with mid to upper 80s throughout the lake. 

Water temperatures have held steady this past week, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that with the high water temperatures the bass bite remains slow on Keowee.  An early morning bite on points and rocky shorelines with a topwater is producing a few fish.  Some schooling is also happening occasionally in the morning, but it is random.  A shallow bite around bream beds is producing the bigger fish. 

The deep, suspended bite has not been consistent at all this summer and fish are not being found in their usual summer offshore areas.  For deeper fish, a drop shot around humps in 30 feet of water is a good strategy.  

August 25

Lake Keowee is at 97.6% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures remain in the upper 80s over most of the lake while low 80s can be found at the base of the Jocassee dam.

Water temperatures have held steady this past week, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that bass fishing has continued to slow with the heat.  The early bite is much weaker than a couple of weeks ago on points with a topwater bait.  Main lake points, coves and creeks holding bait are holding more fish.  Some sporadic schooling activity is occurring in these areas so having a topwater bait handy through mid-morning is a good idea. 

Otherwise, after the sun gets up, looking for deeper suspended fish is a good technique but they can be very difficult to locate.  Tournament weights have been lower as well with anything over 10 pounds being a good catch this week. 

Expect the bite to remain difficult over the next few weeks with the high water temperatures.

August 17

Lake Keowee is at 97.7% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures remain in the mid- to upper 80s over most of the lake.

Conditions are pretty stable on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that as a results the fishing patterns are, too. There is an early topwater bite on points and cuts off points, and then after the sun gets up you can either try a shallow pattern with a buzzbait, frog, and popper or you can fish deep with a drop shot.  Both patterns will work, but there are bigger fish on the shallow pattern but more fish on the deeper pattern.  The drop shot is working out to 60 feet on points and ledges. 

Boat traffic was very high this past weekend, and it’s difficult to fish on the main lake under those conditions.  

August 11

Lake Keowee is at 97.1% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are now in the mid- to upper 80s over most of the lake, with the coolest water at the Jocassee dam in the low 80s.   

Water temperatures have remained constant this week, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that they are at, or nearing, their summertime highs. As a result bass are in a summertime pattern with an early bite on topwater lures on points.  Some schooling is happening throughout the day, but the locations are random and you just have to be in the right place at the right time. 

After the sun gets up, a deeper bite out to 50 feet on points can be found with soft plastics such as a drop shot.  Some fish are also suspended/cruising over deep water and can be targeted with the drop shot also. 

For anglers looking for a shallower bite, fishing with a frog or popper is the best bet for fish chasing bream around docks or any structure. 

The hot weather and boat traffic make fishing after mid-morning difficult.

August 3

Lake Keowee is up to 98.8% of full pool and water clarity was normal (clear) before today’s rains. Morning surface water temperatures are now in the mid- to upper 80s over most of the lake, with the coolest water at the Jocassee dam. 

Water temperatures are still around their summertime high on the lake, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that, unsurprisingly, there has not been much change since the last report. 

An early topwater bite on points is a good starting point, and then anglers should gradually move out deeper as the sun gets up.  Soft plastics out to 40 feet on points and steep banks will work as the day progresses.  For shallow fishing, a popper or similar bluegill-type of approach is an option. 

Some fish are suspended over deep water mid-day, but they are very difficult to locate.  

July 27

Lake Keowee is at 97.7% of full pool and water clarity is normal (clear). Morning surface water temperatures are now in the mid- to uppers 80s over most of the lake, with the coolest water at the Jocassee dam now at 80 degrees. 

With the hot weather water temperatures continue to inch up on the lake, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that an early topwater bite with a walking bait or buzzbait is still present on points early.  Some secondary and main lake points will see some schooling fish in the mornings as well. 

After the sun gets up, soft plastics from 20-40 feet deep are a good bet on points and steep drop-offs or any structure that can be found.  Some fish are suspending over deep, open water but this bite has been difficult to pattern and find consistency. 

Most tournaments on the lake are now going out at night with a 12-pound limit being a good weight. 

July 21

Lake Keowee is at 98.7% of full pool and water clarity is normal (clear). Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s over most of the lake, while the northern end remains in the low 80s.  

Water temperatures continue to slowly climb on the lake, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that – while an early bite with a topwater or small crankbait on points continues to produce some fish – this pattern is getting a bit slower each week as the summer progresses.  The topwater bite will extend a couple of hours after daylight if cloudy conditions are present or in any area with a large concentration of baitfish – primarily on the main lake.  The very northern end of the lake can produce on cloudy days if Duke Energy is moving water at the dam. 

Otherwise, after the sun gets up, soft plastics on deep drops or ledges out to 30 feet or so, or a drop shot out to 50 feet, are the best choice.  For shallow fishing, look for bream beds. 

Expect the bite to get tougher as we head into August and the hottest water of the year.

July 15

Lake Keowee is at 97.7% of full pool and water clarity is normal (clear). Morning surface water temperatures are now in the mid to upper 80s over most of the lake, with the coolest water below the Jocassee dam.

As water temperatures continue to rise, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that an early bite is still present on topwater lures or small crankbaits, but it is not as productive in the last few days. However, that’s still a good starting point. 

After the sun gets up, soft plastics out to 40 feet or so on points are a good choice.  There are also some fish beginning to suspend over deeper water on the main lake and some good fish can be caught if you can find them.  A shallow bite around bream beds is another tactic in the hot weather. 

Night tournaments are averaging 10-12 pounds in general, and night is a good time to fish the lake in the heat of the summer.

July 6

Lake Keowee is at 98.7% of full pool and water clarity has returned to normal. Water temperatures are in the low 80s over most of the lake, although north of the Highway 11 bridge the high 70s can still be found. 

With the warmer water, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that fishing has slowed in the past week.  An early bite on points with small crankbaits and topwaters can still be found, but the topwater bite after the first hour of daylight has diminished significantly.  Look for areas holding baitfish to extend the topwater action.  A shallow bream bed bite can also be found with a popper or prop bait, particularly early. 

Otherwise, soft plastics on points out to 40 or so feet is the best bet after the sun gets up, especially if there is no wind or cloud cover.  It is the time of year to consider night fishing with the warmer water and heavy boat traffic on the lake.

June 29

Lake Keowee is at 97.7% of full pool and water clarity is high on the main lake but still stained in the backs of creeks. Water temperatures are on the rise with high 70s to low 80s now present over the lake.

As a result of rising temperatures fish are finally moving in a true summer pattern, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that there is good early bite with a topwater walking or wake bait on main lake points for the first hour or so after first light.  The topwater bite is extended on points and creeks holding baitfish until mid-morning – the key is finding these areas where bait is present and the fish are chasing.  Some schooling activity is also occurring in these areas intermittently through mid-morning. 

After the sun gets up, a dropshot out to 50 feet or so on drop-offs, points, and creeks holding bait is working.  These fish will continue to move deeper as the water warms. 

If water is being moved at the Jocassee dam, that is another good area to try topwater in the mornings and evenings.

June 22

Lake Keowee is at 97.8% of full pool and, while the main lake remains very clear, the backs of major creeks are stained to muddy due to heavy rainfall. Water temperatures have moved up about a degree in the past week, just now hitting 80 mid-lake, while remaining in the upper 70s over most of the lake. 

Stormy weather including lots of thunderstorms has limited the fishing activity on Lake Keowee this week, but N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that – while fish are moving to more of a summer pattern – it is a slow migration to deeper water this year.  An early morning bite continues to produce fish on points, shoal markers, and shallow flats where baitfish are present.  A crankbait or topwater is effective for the first ninety minutes after first light.  After that, a topwater bite has continued well into the day with cloudy skies and windy conditions.  A walking-style bait is most productive while a swimbait will also catch fish. 

The fish migrating to deeper water can be targeted with a drop shot out to forty feet or so with a small 4-inch dropshot worm.  

June 15

Lake Keowee is at 97.6% of full pool and clarity is normal. Cool nights and cloud cover have allowed water temperatures to remain almost constant with most of the lake now in the upper-70s.  

It’s been another week without a lot of change on Lake Keowee, but N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that’s a good thing as overall fishing remains excellent on the lake.

There continues to be a good early morning bite on points and rocky shoals with a topwater bait or small crankbait fished very shallow.  An excellent topwater bite has continued throughout the day on points, especially when it’s windy and/or cloudy, a little deeper.  Keep an eye open for any schooling activity.

Soft plastics out to 20 feet on points and deep docks or shorelines will also work. 

Fish are well behind their normal summertime locations with few fish being found suspended over deep water.  Once the water temperatures reach the mid-80s, expect to see a quick migration of fish to deep water. 

June 7

Lake Keowee is at 98.0% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are now approaching 80 mid-lake, with the coolest water at the very northern end of the lake by the Jocassee dam.  

It looks like water temperatures are finally on the rise after a few weeks of cool weather, and as a result N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports the bass are beginning to move out deeper after the sun gets up in the mornings. 

There is still a good early bite on points with a small crankbait or topwater.  This bite will last longer on a cloudy or windy day. 

After the sun gets up, the best is fishing 20-plus feet deep with a shaky head or soft plastics on points or out deeper with a drop-shot in creeks or around drop-offs.  Any deeper brush or structure you can find is a good target. Keep an eye open for any schooling fish and try to find creeks holding bait. 

For anglers wanting to fish shallower, looking for bream beds is another technique. Use a popper or prop bait, and expect the best action in the morning.

Fishing has definitely slowed down over the last few days with warmer weather.

June 1

Lake Keowee is at 98.1% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s over most of the lake except for the very north end by the Jocassee dam.  

For yet another week water temperatures have remained stable on Lake Keowee, and as a result N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that fishing remains strong due to the abnormally cool waters for June. That can’t last forever, and water temperatures will almost certainly be changing over the coming week as it appears we are finally moving into more summer-like temperatures. 

For now a shallow bite early on points and humps with a crankbait or topwater is present throughout the lake, while the mid-lake area continues to have a strong topwater bite throughout the day on points. 

Soft plastics from 12-25 feet are working as well.  Some fish are also being caught out deeper (to 40 feet) on ledges with a drop-shot. 

As the mid-lake warms and we move into summer the topwater bite is likely to be better on the northern end of the lake.

May 25

Lake Keowee is at 98.5% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the 70s over most of the lake. 

Cloudy, cool weather has kept water temperatures pretty steady over the past week, and as a result N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that the fishing pattern has also remained stable with an early bite on points with a crankbait or topwater.  An extended topwater bite has also been found every day with the cloud cover on main lake points with a walking type of bait or a pencil popper. 

There are also fish moving out deeper along drop-offs and humps in 30-45 feet of water.  They can be targeted with a soft plastic like a shaky head or a drop shot. 

Overall, the lake is fishing at least a few weeks behind schedule this year due to the cool temperatures and cloudy skies.  Expect many more fish to transition to deeper water when the temperature rises above 80 degrees.  

May 17

Lake Keowee is at 98.6% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have risen to the mid to upper 70s's over most of the lake.  On the very north end, temperatures are around 70. 

For the most part the spawn is over on Lake Keowee, although N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that some fish can still be found bedding on the north end of the lake. 

There is a shallow early morning bite on points, humps, and rocky shorelines with a crankbait or topwater.  An extended morning topwater bite can be found in areas holding baitfish. 

Overall, fish are starting to move out to deeper water and after the sun gets up, a drop shot or shaky head in 25-40 feet of water is working well. 

Fishing remains very good on the lake.

April 27

Lake Keowee is at 99.0% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have remained steady this week with the cooler weather and rain, and most of the lake is now in the upper 60s to low 70s. 

As is usually the case in the spring on Lake Keowee, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that fish in different parts of the lake are overall at slightly different stages of the spawn. Fish in the mid-lake area are largely post-spawn now, while fish are still on the bed on the south and north ends of the lake. 

An early morning bite on points with crankbaits and spinnerbaits (if windy) is good.  A very good topwater bite can also be found off points and in coves where bait is present – a walking type of bait is producing well.  Since there are always some fish schooling in the mornings, always keep a topwater bait ready. 

Soft plastics out to 16 feet or so are also working well on points and around docks. 

Overall, fishing remains very good on the lake.

April 21

Lake Keowee is at 97.9% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are now in the mid-60s over most of the lake, with low 70s mid-lake. 

The bass are in all three stages of the spawn on Lake Keowee, but N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that the progression varies in different parts of the lake.

In the mid-lake, the majority of fish are now post-spawn.  However, there are still many fish on the bed in the south and even more on the north end of the lake. 

An early morning bite with a square-bill or lipless crankbait on points continues to improve.  A topwater bait can also be effective early and well into the morning in areas holding schools of baitfish.  Fish could always be chasing bait on the surface so keep a topwater handy at all times. 

Soft plastics continue to work well out to 15 feet or so in spawning areas and around docks.  Fish the shady side of the docks in the afternoon.  

April 14

Lake Keowee is at 98.2% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have remained fairly constant this week, with mid-60s common. 

The bass fishing remains good on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that many spotted bass are on the bed, from a few feet deep out to 14 feet.  Points, humps, and flats are all producing fish on soft plastics such as a shaky head, Texas rig, Ned rig, etc.  The spawn is a protracted event on Keowee and will last well into May.  

But while many fish are on the bed, others are chasing bait in the mornings back in coves and can be caught on a topwater or swimbait.  Some schooling activity is also being noted in the mid-lake area where the water is the warmest.  And an early morning bite on points with a square-bill crankbait or spinnerbait is found anywhere bait is found. 

Overall, it continues to be a great time to be on the lake!

April 6

Lake Keowee is at 98.2% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures continue to rise on the lake, and they are now in the mid- to high 60s throughout.  

While spotted bass are in a strong spawning pattern right now, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that not all fish on Keowee spawn at the same time and there will be another wave or two in the coming weeks before the spawn is completed. 

Fishing is excellent currently with a shallow bite on soft plastics along shorelines, points, and docks.  Putting a bait on any shadow or bright spot on the lake bed will often result in a bite from a spotted bass on the bed. 

An early bite on points is developing with small square-bills, spinnerbaits, or lipless crankbaits – this bite will get stronger in the coming weeks.  A topwater bite is also improving on the lake, both early morning and late afternoon in areas holding bait fish.  A small swimbait or topwater walking bait is effective. 

Overall, this is a great time to be on the lake for numbers of fish and the chance to catch a big spotted bass up shallow.