June 22
Lake Wateree is at 94.5% of full pool and the lake is still clear on the lower end. Morning surface water temperatures are still around 76 degrees.
The Lake Wateree crappie are still biting very well, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that 90 plus percent of the fish have now gotten on some sort of structure. They are mostly on brush in 18-27 feet of water, with some fish suspended above it and some down in it. Most of the productive water is in the main lake and even along the edge of the old river channel.
This week Fish Stalker jigs in Mountain Dew color have been working the best.
The bass bite has been pretty good on Lake Wateree, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that there are a few different ways to catch fish, but the winning pattern recently seems to have been fishing offshore around humps, points and rock in 10-15 feet. Jigs, crankbaits, Carolina rigs and shaky heads will all work.
There has also been a good early morning bite off points, with both topwater lures and flukes catching fish. Finally, there have been a decent number of bass up shallow around bream beds. These fish will take Senkos, topwater lures including prop baits and poppers, and jigs.
With the water low the main lake is the best area to fish.
This is usually a good time for catching lots of eating-sized catfish in the 2-6 pound range as the bigger fish are spawning right now, and the best pattern is typically drifting 8-14 feet of water on shallow flats or anchoring in the same areas. Small pieces of cut shad are the best bait.
Again, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) won’t be targeting catfish on Lake Wateree again until water levels normalize. He reminds anglers to exercise caution navigating.
June 15
Lake Wateree is at 94.2% of full pool and the lake is still clear on the lower end. Morning surface water temperatures are still around 76 degrees.
The Lake Wateree crappie are biting very well, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that even though a few fish are still “floating” around in open water by now most of them have gotten on brush. They are mostly on brush in 21-28 feet of water, and they have been suspended from 12 feet down to the bottom. Most of the productive water is in the main lake and even along the edge of the old river channel.
Fish Stalker jigs in pearl white have been working very well.
The offshore bite continues to be the best thing going for bass on Lake Wateree, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that it has taken about 18 pounds to win recent tournaments. Offshore humps, points and rock in 10-15 feet have been producing, and they are all better if you can find some current. Jigs, crankbaits, Carolina rigs and shaky heads will all work.
You definitely want to fish the main lake, and if you want to fish docks they need to have deep water nearby.
This is usually a good time for catching lots of eating-sized catfish in the 2-6 pound range as the bigger fish are spawning right now, and the best pattern is typically drifting 8-14 feet of water on shallow flats or anchoring in the same areas. Small pieces of cut shad are the best bait.
Again, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) won’t be targeting catfish on Lake Wateree again until water levels normalize. He reminds anglers to exercise caution navigating.
June 8
Lake Wateree is at 93.7% of full pool and the lake is still clear on the lower end. Morning surface water temperatures have gotten up to about 76 degrees.
The Lake Wateree crappie are really stacking up on brush, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that on the water this week he has seen some brush piles with thousands of fish on them. There are still plenty of fish just floating around, too, but in the coming weeks most of them will get on brush as well.
Generally the fish are moving a little deeper, and he is finding most of the fish on cover in 25-35 feet of water. The exception is when a hump rises out of deep water, and then he can catch them in 12-22 feet. You can eliminate the middle to backs of creeks, but most everything else including very deep water is in play. Most of the fish are 4-5 feet off the bottom.
While there are certainly some good fish on big brush piles, a lot of the crappie are ½ to ¾ pounds. Some of the better fish are in small groups on something like a stump, and yesterday they caught five over 1 ½ pounds on one stump. Earlier in the week they caught a fish that was almost two pounds by itself on a piece of cover!
The jig bite is very good again with no reason to throw minnows, and Fish Stalker jigs in pearl white, glimmer blue and Mountain Dew have been working very well.
As water temperatures rise it seems that bass are going deep, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that on Saturday the top anglers were fishing offshore. This year that may be an even better summer pattern than usual with water levels so low, and humps, points and rock in 10-15 feet have been producing. They are all better if you can find some current. Jigs, crankbaits, Carolina rigs and shakey heads will all work.
You definitely want to fish the main lake, and if you want to fish docks they need to have deep water nearby.
This is usually a good time for catching lots of eating-sized catfish in the 2-6 pound range as the bigger fish are spawning right now, and the best pattern is typically drifting 8-14 feet of water on shallow flats or anchoring in the same areas. Small pieces of cut shad are the best bait.
Again, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) won’t be targeting catfish on Lake Wateree again until water levels normalize. He reminds anglers to exercise caution navigating.
June 2
Lake Wateree is at 94.3% of full pool and the lake is still clear on the lower end. Morning surface water temperatures dropped to about 68 after the weekend but have risen to 71.
Even with cool water temperatures a seasonal progression with the crappie continues on Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that this week there are still lots of fish “floating” in open water in 25-32 feet but there are also more good fish starting to stack up on brush. The deeper brush in 25-32 feet seems to be holding the better fish, while you can find all the smaller fish you want on brush in 15-22 feet. Even when they are on deep brush many of the fish are suspended very high in it.
There has not been much in the creeks and coves lately, and when fish are close to the bank they are in steep areas.
While there are some fish that seem to want minnows more than jigs, overall Fish Stalker jigs in blue dew, pearl white, and “monkey milk” are doing very well. Each day he has fished Will has caught limits.
Without a rise in water temperatures it’s unsurprising that bass are still in a transition period on Lake Wateree, but tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that after the recent rains they have bit a little better and the shallow bite in particular has come on a bit. Docks and shallow points have been fishing particularly well.
First thing in the morning there is a good topwater bite around the bank and particularly on the shallow part of points, and later in the day fish can also be caught in 8-12 feet of water off points with Carolina rigs. Look from the middle of creeks out to the main lake.
Again, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) won’t be targeting catfish on Lake Wateree again until water levels normalize. He reminds anglers to exercise caution navigating.
May 25
Lake Wateree is at 93.5% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 74 degrees.
There are basically two ways to catch crappie this week on Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that there are still a large number of fish just “floating” in open water. While they never really went very shallow this year, these fish have now moved out to deeper water and he is finding them in 25-32 feet. Generally they are suspended 10-22 feet down. While Will is looking at them on LiveScope and casting to them, you could also slowly tight-line for these fish.
There are also a very large number of fish that have gotten on brush piles, generally in 12-22 feet of water. They are generally suspended on the brush, and at the deeper end of the range they are usually in the top of it. The one catch is that right now, while you can pick up an occasional bigger fish on brush, most are in the 8-10 inch range. The bigger fish still seem to be in open water.
Right now Fish Stalker jigs in glimmer blue, Mountain Dew and pearl white are all working. If the rain this weekend muddies the water Will expects to keep using Mountain Dew but also switch over to some darker black or dark blue jigs.
The bass are in a transition period on Lake Wateree, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that the shad spawn has pretty much wound down but fish also haven’t really gotten offshore. Some fish can be found in 8-12 feet of water off points with Carolina rigs, and first thing in the morning there is a good topwater bite around the bank and particularly on the shallow part of points. Look from the middle of creeks out to the main lake.
If you can find docks with some water on them they are also holding fish.
Again, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) won’t be targeting catfish on Lake Wateree again until water levels normalize. He reminds anglers to exercise caution navigating.
May 11
Lake Wateree is at 93.6% of full pool and the upper lake and creeks and are dingy. Morning surface water temperatures are about 70 degrees.
There’s been some significant change with the crappie this week on Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that as the current decreased, water levels have normalized (the new “normal”), and temperatures have risen fish have gotten into new patterns. There are a lot of fish suspended in 22-30 feet of water, with the most catchable of these in 6-12 feet. The fish that are closer to the bottom are harder to get to bite.
But the biggest change is that the fish have moved onto brush, and Will estimates that perhaps half of the brush piles now have fish on them. He has found fish on brush as shallow as 12 feet in the creeks.
Casting Fish Stalker jigs is working very well.
The bass spawn is mostly over, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that the best bite right now should be post-spawn pattern with fish feeding on shad. Again, while the shad are everywhere as is usually the case on Lake Wateree the bass aren’t with all of them. When you find bass keying on shad it’s an early morning bite, and it could be around anything still in the water from docks to rocks to grass that allows the shad to rub their eggs out. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits can all be effective. During the day bass will often lay under the same docks where shad spawned early.
Finally, a bream spawn should start soon and concentrate bass. Keep searching for areas where bream are spawning with atypical water levels.
Again, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) won’t be targeting catfish on Lake Wateree again until water levels normalize. He reminds anglers to exercise caution navigating.
May 4
Lake Wateree is at 94.3% of full pool and there is a lot of muddy water and trash up the lake, while the lower end is okay. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 60s.
Saying that water levels are about the same as at last report doesn’t begin to tell the story, and with all the rain in North Carolina the lake came up four feet in a couple of days before dropping the same amount just as fast. Perhaps unsurprisingly the crappie are dodging the ripping current, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that they are staying out of main channel and feeding better in the mouths of coves and pockets just off the main lake. Understandably they also don’t want to go too far back into the creeks with water levels up and down.
Fish are still all over the water column in 18-35 feet, and a mix of techniques including tight-lining, long-lining and casting can catch them. But it’s not easy fishing right now.
With the full moon this week tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that there should be one more decent wave of bass spawning, but he would look for them to spawn closer to the main lake. The way that water levels have been up and down so fast he wouldn’t expect them to swim back into the creeks, although this is unfamiliar territory.
But the better bite right now is for post-spawn fish, and shad are spawning everywhere. However, as is usually the case on Lake Wateree the bass aren’t with all of them. When you find bass keying on shad it’s an early morning bite, and it could be around anything still in the water from docks to rocks to grass that allows the shad to rub their eggs out. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits can all be effective. During the day bass will often lay under the same docks where shad spawned early.
Finally, there should be bream spawning everywhere right now, but there are not. It probably has to do with water levels, but keep your eyes open for this to start.
Again, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) won’t be targeting catfish on Lake Wateree again until water levels normalize. He reminds anglers to exercise caution navigating.
April 20
Lake Wateree is down to 93.9% of full pool and the lake is clearing again. Morning surface water temperatures are around 67-68 degrees.
In just a few days they dropped the water even lower than it had been before it rose several feet on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that when that happened the crappie fishing slowed way down. Now the better fish are basically just laying on the bottom recovering from the spawn, and about the only way they can catch fish is tight-lining, long-lining or casting to pick up a few fish here or there in open water. Fish are all over the water column in 18-35 feet, and there are also lots of males in deeper parts of the creeks.
The fishing should turn around before this, but at the very least Will looks forward to when water temperatures hit about 75 degrees which is usually the magic number for them to get on brush.
Last week we wrote that “The sudden jump in water levels is another complication for Lake Wateree bass, especially since the water is expected to drop again quickly,” and this week we are dealing with exactly that. Overall tournamentangler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that there have been some very good bags at the top but also tough conditions for a lot of people.
It's mostly post-spawn fishing right now, but it is still worth looking for bed fish. However, probably the primary pattern is targeting bass that are feeding on spawning shad. This is an early morning bite, and the shad will be around anything still in the water from docks to rocks to grass that allows them to rub the eggs out. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits can all be effective.
During the day fish will often be found in the shade of docks, especially in areas where shad were spawning earlier.
Dearal has not heard of a bream spawn yet, but it should be coming and will group up bass.
Again, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) won’t be targeting catfish on Lake Wateree again until water levels normalize. He reminds anglers to exercise caution navigating.
April 11
Lake Wateree has shot up to 97.6% of full pool but at least the lower lake is still pretty clear. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 62 degrees.
It continues to be an unusual spring for crappie on Lake Wateree, but veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that the fish are biting. He is still finding the best action out in about 26 feet of water where he is mostly catching post-spawn males, but they are also picking up a few females still with eggs. Generally fish are just swimming around in open water, and he is targeting them by casting jigs. You could also troll, and some are in open water much shallower than 25 feet.
There are also a few fish around the bank, but with the jump in water levels they are extremely spread out. There are also some post-spawn females out in very deep water recovering.
Finally, a few fish are starting to set up on brush but there aren’t a lot and so maybe one out of ten brush piles will have fish.
The sudden jump in water levels is another complication for Lake Wateree bass, especially since the water is expected to drop again quickly, and overall tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that the fishing has been a little off. The fish that are on beds were a little spooky with the low water levels, and there’s no telling what the several foot rise will now do. Overall the best places to fish have been pockets and docks that have water on them.
The next excitement should be the post-spawn bite when fish generally key on spawning shad, and places where there is water on grass should be good. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are both effective at this time. With unusual water conditions it’s hard to know where the fish will be, but look in both the creeks and the main lake.
Again, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) won’t be targeting catfish on Lake Wateree again until water levels normalize. He reminds anglers to exercise caution navigating once the water drops again.
March 30
Lake Wateree is at 94.9% of full pool and the lake is still very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are around 62.5.
It’s been an absolutely crazy spring for crappie on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that at this point nothing will surprise him. There was pollen on the lake at the end of February which has mostly cleared now, and the water levels have been down-and-up-and-down again.
By now he believes about half of the fish have already laid eggs, and he is catching big females that are completely flat. They probably went last week. Another half of the females he is catching are still full of eggs and presumably getting ready to spawn.
But even though it should be around the peak of the spawn he’s seeing very few fish in less than 14 feet of water, and he suspects that instead of running to the bank and spawning many of the fish that have already spawned did it in deeper water on the main lake or coves instead of creeks. That’s probably a results of water level fluctuations.
The best concentrations of fish are all over the main lake, and he is catching the most fish in open water 6-16 feet down 25-30 feet.
The one exception seems to be behind the Beaver Creek bridge, where boats are catching crappie in areas where their props are kicking up dirt!
The water is low again on Lake Wateree, and perhaps because of that tournament bass angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that he is also not seeing as many fish back in the creeks at the moment – even though the spawn is near. While a few fish are on beds most of the fish are pre-spawn, and he is finding them at the mouths of pockets staged on docks and other cover. Spinnerbaits seem to be working well.
Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) won’t be targeting catfish on Lake Wateree again until water levels normalize. He reminds anglers to exercise caution navigating.
March 16
Lake Wateree is down to 93.9% of full pool and the lake has cleared drastically. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 56 degrees.
There was a little 125-boat bass tournament on Wateree this weekend, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that it was good to see a 6-pounder come out of the lake as the big fish – for the first time in a while. Overall there were two bags over 20 pounds in the CBC and a few more in the high teens.
Dearal had 14 pounds and was plagued by the same problem they have been having – the inability to catch a big fish on Wateree. They caught their fish on rocks and points in the creeks and main lake, and it seems like the fish are staging and pre-spawn. They were able to catch fish on a jig.
It sounds like the best bags were caught offshore in open water using LiveScope.
The crappie were going shallow on Lake Wateree, but veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that the cold front knocked them back to deeper water. Now he is seeing most of the fish in 20-32 feet and the bait is deep.
There are piles of fish on the bottom, but getting them to bite is difficult. The most active fish are suspended about 12-16 feet down, and they feed better later in the day. Will has learned to get on the water around Noon.
For now Will is mainly targeting the creeks to avoid the wind, and the mouths of the creeks have been the best areas. There are also fish out in the open water following bait in the middle of the creeks.
Once temperatures warm up again it won’t be long until fish move shallower again.
It’s still a pretty good catfish bite on Lake Wateree, and as on Lake Wylie Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that the best place to look is shallow on sun-drenched creek banks that have warmed up in the afternoon. Particularly look for the presence of gulls and cormorants. Gizzard shad is the bait of choice.
Only Clearwater Cove and Molly Creek are accessible with the low water levels, and Rodger reminds anglers to use caution navigating.
March 9
Lake Wateree is down to 94.7% of full pool and the lake has cleared substantially. Morning surface water temperatures are about 59 degrees.
The crappie are pretty much everywhere on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that you can catch them shallow, deep, on the bank and out in the big water. Everywhere they seem to be aggressive, and so it’s a good time to fish.
The dropping water levels may have temporarily pulled the male fish that were on the banks out a bit, but there are still fish in creeks and coves. It will be interesting to see what they do as water levels continue to drop and then stabilize. There are now a lot of fish suspended in 12-13 feet of water, but Will has also seen them as deep as 22-24 feet in 30 plus. Before this cool front came they were suspended higher in the water column, but the front seems to have pushed them down a bit.
You can catch fish casting towards shallow cover, long-line trolling, tight-lining or casting at them on LiveScope. The fish are just as open-minded about baits, and they are eating both jigs and minnows very well.
Dropping water levels have really affected the bass fishing, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that there were some fish on beds just getting ready to spawn but when the water dropped they pulled out. Dearal doesn’t think many of those fish completed the spawn where the females had actually dropped eggs yet. Even though it’s early unseasonably warm weather pushed fish along, and now Dearal thinks the majority of fish are pre-spawn and close to spawning.
Getting bites doesn’t seem to be too difficult, and Dearal says the issue most people are having is getting a big bite. There has been the occasional five pounder but they are rare. It may not have helped that a cold front has come through about every Saturday.
For now the better action has been in the creeks, but that could change with dropping water levels.
Overall they have had the best success on shakey heads and spinnerbaits, while the jig bite has not really come on yet. Even when water temperatures were in the mid-60s they have not yet seen topwater activity.
It’s still a pretty good catfish bite on Lake Wateree, and as on Lake Wylie Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that the best place to look is shallow on sun-drenched creek banks that have warmed up. Particularly look for the presence of gulls and cormorants. Gizzard shad is the bait of choice.
February 23
Lake Wateree is at 98.4% of full pool and the lake is still muddy from one end to the other. Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 54 degrees.
Things are changing fast on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports the crappie are pretty much all over the place right now. While there may be some further back he has found them in the backs of coves and in the front part of creeks, and he isn’t able to rule out that some fish could even be in the backs of the creeks. But there are also fish still closer to the main channel.
Whether the shallower fish in 6-15 feet of water, or the deeper fish out in 25-31 feet, they are all suspended. Most are suspended 4-15 feet down, and it is only the rare fish that he has seen as deep as 22 feet. Almost none are on the bottom as the surface warms.
Because of the water color the best action has been coming on darker jigs, like the Fish Stalker black and silver minnow, brown with flakes, and other colors that give a good profile. While Will is casting with LiveScope, long-line trolling is also effective.
While last weekend a cold front slowed the bass a little, tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that it was already clear that a lot of males had moved up. But this weekend temperatures won’t drop as much after a much hotter week, and there should be a massive wave moving up.
While last weekend they mainly found fish on the main lake, and the furthest back they could find bass was about half-way back, by this weekend that could change. The very backs that did not have fish earlier in the week could be holding some.
In the dirty conditions Dearal caught all of his fish on a spinnerbait, but there were also some catches on crankbaits.
It’s still a pretty good catfish bite on Lake Wateree, and as on Lake Wylie Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that the best place to look is shallow on sun-drenched creek banks that have warmed up. Particularly look for the presence of gulls and cormorants. Gizzard shad is the bait of choice.
Water levels will be dropping again starting around February 27 and so exercise caution navigating, especially in the creeks, and be alert for stumps and long shallow points.
February 15
Lake Wateree is very temporarily up to 98.7% of full pool and the lake is still muddy from one end to the other and full of trash. Water temperatures are around 51 degrees.
The water is almost over the dam on Lake Wateree, but veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that it really hasn’t changed the patterns for crappie very much. However, due to warming temperatures they have started to move back into the coves a little more and so fish can now be found on the main lake, in the front of coves and in deep pockets. They have not moved far into the creeks, and with up-and-down temperatures it’s hard to say how long that progression will take as temperatures is driving movement right now.
Fish are mostly suspended 12-15 feet down in water as deep as 25-30 plus feet, but on warmer days the crappie and bait will come up as close as within 6 or less feet of the surface. On cooler days they can sink as low as 24 or so feet.
While Will is casting jigs at fish he is seeing with forward-facing sonar, you can also tight-line with minnows out of the front of the boat.
Warm weather clearly has the bass fishing improving, and with more than 21 pounds caught in last weekend’s Wateree Open tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden is optimistic about weights in the first CATT this Saturday. While the sharply rising water levels could put other cover in play he is still focusing on rock and other hard bottoms, and crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jigs are all working. It doesn’t seem that water temperatures have warmed enough for fish to come far off the main lake yet.
It’s a pretty good catfish bite on Lake Wateree, and as on Lake Wylie Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that the best place to look is shallow on sun-drenched creek banks that have warmed up. Particularly look for the presence of gulls and cormorants. Gizzard shad is the bait of choice.
Water levels will be dropping again starting around February 27 and so exercise caution navigating, especially in the creeks, and be alert for stumps and long shallow points.
February 2
Lake Wateree is back down to 93.4% of full pool and the lake is still muddy from one end to the other. Water temperatures are around 51 degrees.
It’s still a really tough crappie bite on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that he is catching some good fish but it is taking all day to get 20. They are not very active, and while sometimes fish will take a bait immediately more often they will just follow or ignore it.
With temperatures still very cold fish are still in pure winter mode, and with water conditions they are scattered all over the lake. Will is still concentrating on the lower end where it’s a been cleaner. A few smaller male fish have moved shallower into coves in 22 or so feet of water, but most of the better fish are still coming in 25-30 plus feet of water. They are following the bait, and usually they are 18-20 feet down but when the sun is out everything will come within 6-8 feet of the surface. With the main lake muddy the trick is to get just off the main lake into some clearer water but stay deep. Big lower end coves are fishing as well as anything.
Either casting at fish on LiveScope or tight-lining is the best technique, with minnows still out-fishing jigs.
While no one seems to be targeting them, Will has seen some good action with striped bass schooling on shad. The fish are in big schools of 100s and he is seeing them on the lower end.
There’s not much change in the bass fishing patterns right now, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that he is still targeting shallow but steep, main lake rock with deep water nearby. There are also some fish hanging around docks that have water, and the brush in front of docks is also holding bass.
Shallow-running crankbaits, jigs and shakey heads are all decent options but nothing is hot right now.
It’s a pretty good catfish bite on Lake Wateree when the water is rising, while Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) points out that fish don’t seem to be bite as well when the water is receding. This is especially true for shallow patterns, and they are still finding the best action in the backs of creeks and shallow flats which have been warmed by the sun. Anchoring baits in 6-15 feet is the best pattern, and gizzard shad is hard to beat. Gizzards are more difficult to catch in winter but they can be found near the state park deep in 23-26 feet of water.
The best place to drift for catfish on the main lake right now is on the 20-foot flats at the mouth of June Creek.
With low water levels exercise caution on Wateree, especially in the creeks, and be alert for stumps and long shallow points.
January 26
Lake Wateree is at 94.7% of full pool and the entire lake is still muddy. Water temperatures are around 50 degrees.
The crappie on Lake Wateree are still out in open water not really related to anything, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that he is still fishing the lower end mostly. The biggest change is that fish are starting to get into deeper creeks and stage in the very fronts of them. Whether on the main lake or in creek he is finding fish in 18-30 feet of water, from 10-19 feet down. On sunny days they are more likely to be higher in the water column.
If you are fishing the upper end there are still crappie up there, but they are still tucking out of the worst current in areas like the mouth of Taylors Creek where the river channel swings in but they can also escape the worst current.
The fish are not active right now, and while they will occasionally take a jig dangled in front of them the best way to catch them has been with an extremely slow-moving minnow. Tight-lining or casting with LiveScope are the preferred methods.
Will has heard that around February 6 they are going to bring the lake up for a couple of weeks then bring it back down again, which could have interesting effects on the fish.
There’s not much change in the bass fishing patterns right now, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that he is still targeting shallow but steep, main lake rock with deep water nearby. There are also some fish hanging around docks that have water, and the brush in front of docks is also holding bass.
Shallow-running crankbaits, jigs and shakey heads are all decent options but nothing is hot right now.
It’s a pretty good catfish bite on Lake Wateree when the water is rising, while Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) points out that fish don’t seem to be bite as well when the water is receding. This is especially true for shallow patterns, and they are still finding the best action in the backs of creeks and shallow flats which have been warmed by the sun. The occasional striped bass is also showing up. Anchoring baits in 6-15 feet is the best pattern, and gizzard shad is hard to beat. Gizzards are more difficult to catch in winter but they can be found near the state park deep in 23-26 feet of water.
The best place to drift for catfish on the main lake right now is on the 20-foot flats at the mouth of June Creek
With low water levels exercise caution on Wateree, especially in the creeks, and be alert for stumps and long shallow points.
January 19
Lake Wateree is at 93.5% of full pool and most of the lake is still muddy, nasty and trashy. Water temperatures are in the lower 50s.
The crappie have not moved this week on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that water conditions still have fish very scattered.
Will is still spending the most time fishing on the lower end of the of the lake in the mouths of coves from 18 feet to the bottom in 30-35 feet of water. There are still fish on the upper end, but they are trying to find ways to tuck in out of the current such as going into the mouth of Taylors Creek, where the river channel swings in but they can also escape the worst current. Again they will be suspended from about 18 feet to the bottom in 27-28 feet of water.
The fish are not active right now, and while they will occasionally take a jig dangled in front of them the best way to catch them has been with an extremely slow-moving minnow.
It’s a pretty good catfish bite on Lake Wateree right now, and Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that they are still catching 6-24 pound fish in the backs of creeks and shallow flats which have been warmed by the sun. The occasional striped bass is also showing up. Anchoring baits in 6-15 feet is the best pattern, and gizzard shad is hard to beat. They are more difficult to catch in winter but can be found near the state park deep in 23-26 feet of water.
The best place to drift for catfish on the main lake right now is on the 20-foot flats at the mouth of June Creek
With low water levels exercise caution on Wateree, especially in the creeks, and be alert for stumps and long shallow points.
Bass report to follow.
January 13
Lake Wateree is up to 93.8% of full pool and the whole lake is muddy from end to end, although some of the creeks are a bit clearer. Water temperatures are in the lower 50s.
It’s a pretty good catfish bite on Lake Wateree right now, and Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that they are catching 6-24 pound fish in the backs of creeks and shallow flats which have been warmed by the sun. The occasional striped bass is also showing up. Anchoring baits in 6-15 feet is the best pattern, and gizzard shad is hard to beat. They are more difficult to catch in winter but can be found near the state park deep in 23-26 feet of water.
The best place to drift for catfish on the main lake right now is on the 20-foot flats at the mouth of June Creek
With low water levels exercise caution on Wateree, especially in the creeks, and be alert for stumps and long shallow points.
January 12
Lake Wateree is down to 93.3% of full pool and the whole lake is muddy from end to end, although some of the creeks are a bit clearer. Water temperatures are in the lower 50s.
The main lake is so muddy that it looks like you could walk on it, and so it’s unsurprising that the best bass fishing is coming shallow right now – where Wateree fish often feed the best in the winter regardless of water conditions. Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that the best action is on the main lake around rock, and with low water levels there’s little to no grass in the water right now. There are also some fish hanging around docks that have water, and the brush in front of docks is also holding bass. The best areas continue to have deep water nearby, and steep rocky points or humps are particularly good.
In calmer conditions Dearal’s go-to bait right now is a Buckeye Lures Ballin’ Out Jig, either in black and blue or PB&J colors. He pairs it with a green pumpkin Speed Craw. In windier conditions Dearal is throwing a Buckeye spinnerbait with double willow blades in chartreuse and white or plain white. In addition to offering flash the willow blades keep the bait down where the fish are feeding.
Finally, a #5, #7, or #8 Shad Rap in crawdad or shad colors is another good option.
It’s continues to be tough conditions for crappie fishing on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that water conditions and weather have fish very scattered. The lake is as muddy as he’s ever seen it, and even though the backs of some creeks are clearer that’s not where the fish are right now.
Will is still spending the most time fishing on the lower end of the of the lake in the mouths of coves from 18 feet to the bottom in 30-35 feet of water. Even while winter usually groups the fish up the lake he hasn’t been up there much with all the current, but there are still fish on the upper end. They are trying to find ways to tuck in out of the current such as going into the mouth of Taylors Creek, where the river channel swings in but they can also escape the worst current. Again they will be suspended from about 18 feet to the bottom in 27-28 feet of water.
The fish are not active right now, and while they will occasionally take a jig dangled in front of them the best way to catch them has been with an extremely slow-moving minnow.
January 5
Lake Wateree is at 94.8% of full pool and the whole lake is muddy from end to end. Water temperatures were in the 40s but are now back up to about 54 degrees.
It’s honestly been some tough conditions for crappie fishing on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that water conditions and weather have fish very scattered.
Will has been spending the most time fishing on the lower end of the of the lake in the mouths of coves from 18 feet to the bottom in 30-35 feet of water. Even while winter usually groups the fish up the lake he hasn’t been up there much with all the current, but there are still fish on the upper end. They are trying to find ways to tuck in out of the current such as going into the mouth of Taylors Creek, where the river channel swings in but they can also escape the worst current. Again they will be suspended from about 18 feet to the bottom in 27-28 feet of water.
The fish are not active right now, and while they will occasionally take a jig dangled in front of them the best way to catch them has been with an extremely slow-moving minnow.
From what tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden has seen there has been very little bass fishing activity on Lake Wateree, but unlike on some area lakes a warming trend on Wateree in January is almost always a good thing. It will usually activate the fish to bite better, and more will be found shallow.
The most catchable fish are still in 10 feet of water or less, and they will still have deeper water nearby. Look for fish on main lake rock near steep drop offs – 45 degree banks are ideal. They could also be around brush, but not many docks have much water. Shakey head worms, jigs and even jerkbaits could work if the water is clear enough.
Striped bass and catfish report to follow.