October 13

Lake Wylie is at 96.3% of full pool and clarity is normal.  Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 72-74 degrees. 

There’s no major change in the patterns for catching bass on Lake Wylie, but The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that the bite is getting better and they are catching more big fish. The best action is with topwater lures like a Zara Spook, Pop-R or Whopper Plopper in shad colors in the morning. Once the sun gets up you can still catch some fish on topwaters, but more fish are seeking shade and they can be caught around piers on a jig or shaky head worm. Crankbaits will also catch fish.  

There is some schooling activity in the creeks, but it will be spotty until water temperatures get down into the upper 60s. A shallow-running crankbait in chrome or chartreuse is a good choice to catch the smaller schooling fish in the creeks right now.  

It’s a similar pattern for crappie and white perch on Lake Wylie, and Captain Chris reports that significant numbers of both species have migrated into the creeks. You can catch both species spider-rigging minnows in the creek channels in 20-25 feet of water, and for more crappie you can also fish structure in 10-15 feet of water with both jigs and minnows. Points, piers and brush are all holding fish.   

There are also still significant numbers of perch on main lake flats. 

The creek pattern for catfish has improved again for blue cats, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that both anchoring and drifting/ trolling in 15-22 feet of water has been productive. The best baits have been fresh cut white perch and fresh gizzard shad. Flathead activity has also picked up, and they are generally in the same places as the blues. 

When there is more wind on the main lake it should turn on again.  

October 5

Lake Wylie is at 96.7% of full pool and clarity is normal.  Morning surface water temperatures are around 76 degrees. 

It’s a similar pattern for crappie on Lake Wylie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that now white perch have also largely migrated into the creeks. You can catch both species spider-rigging minnows in the creek channel in 20-25 feet of water, and for more crappie you can also fish structure in 10-15 feet of water with both jigs and minnows. Points, piers and brush are all holding fish.   

The creek pattern for catfish has improved again for blue cats, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that both anchoring and drifting/ trolling in 15-22 feet of water has been productive. The best baits have been fresh cut white perch and fresh gizzard shad. Flathead activity has also picked up, and they are generally in the same places as the blues. 

When there is more wind on the main lake it should turn on again.  

Without a significant change in water temperatures the bass patterns are very stable, and Captain Chris reports that the best action is with topwater lures like a Zara Spook, Pop-R or Whopper Plopper in shad colors in the morning. Once the sun gets up you can still catch some fish on topwaters, but more fish will be seeking shade and they can be caught around piers on a jig or shaky head worm. Crankbaits will also catch fish.  

There is some schooling activity in the creeks, but it will be spotty until water temperatures get down into the upper 60s. A shallow-running crankbait in chrome or chartreuse is a good choice to catch the smaller schooling fish in the creeks right now.  

September 29

Lake Wylie is at 96.7% of full pool and clarity is normal.  Morning surface water temperatures have dropped all the way into the low to mid-70s. 

If there’s one person keeping up with – and catching – every species on Lake Wylie it’s The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951), and this week Chris reports that with the water in the low 70s and the night time temperatures in the upper 50s

the shad and in turn the bass have moved up shallow. They can be found around main lake points, brush and piers. Use topwater lures like a Zara Spook, Pop-R or Whopper Plopper in shad colors to catch fish all morning, and after the sun gets up target piers with a jig or shaky head.

There is already some schooling activity in the creeks, but it will be spotty until water temperatures get down into the upper 60s. A shallow-running crankbait in chrome or chartreuse is a good choice to catch the smaller schooling fish in the creeks right now.  

The crappie have gotten into a pretty stable pattern on Lake Wylie, and Captain Chris reports that he is catching a limit of keepers every time out.   They had eighty two days ago. While there are still some fish on the main lake, more fish are in the main creek runs around any underwater structure in less than 20 feet including points, piers or brush. You can cast 1/16 ounce jigs to catch these fish.

The other group of creek fish are in the channels 20-25 feet deep near the bottom. You can troll for those, or fish vertically with minnows. 

Even as crappie move into the creeks, Captain Chris reports that white perch are still on main lake flats 20-30 feet deep adjacent to the river channel. The schools of perch are so big they often rise from the bottom to within a few feet of the surface and can number 10,000. Sabiki rigs allow you to catch multiple fish at one time. 

There are also catfish around the white perch, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that while the anchored bite in the creeks has dropped off he is catching even more fish drifting main channel flats in 12-25 feet of water. Blue catfish in the 8-18 pound range are common, and occasionally they are getting channels in the 2-4 pound range. 

The best bait is cut gizzard shad. 

September 21

Lake Wylie is at 96.7% of full pool and clarity is normal.  Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s. 

With cooling water temperatures crappie continue to transition on Lake Wylie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that you can still find some fish on the main lake but the numbers are rapidly dropping.  More fish are in the main creek runs around any underwater structure in less than 20 feet including points, piers or brush. You can cast 1/16 ounce jigs to catch these fish.

The other group of creek fish are in the channels 20-25 feet deep near the bottom. You can troll for those, or fish vertically with minnows. 

Even as crappie move into the creeks, Captain Chris reports that white perch are still on main lake flats 20-30 feet deep adjacent to the river channel. The schools of perch are so big they often rise from the bottom to within a few feet of the surface and can number 10,000. Sabiki rigs allow you to catch multiple fish at one time. 

There are also catfish around the white perch, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that while the anchored bite in the creeks has dropped off he is catching even more fish drifting main channel flats in 12-25 feet of water. Blue catfish in the 8-18 pound range are common, and occasionally they are getting channels in the 2-4 pound range. 

The best bait is cut gizzard shad. 

After some signs of improvement at the beginning of the month it’s still pretty tough with the bass fishing, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that he expects water temperatures will have to drop into the 70s to really change things up. In last weekend’s championship of the Thursday night trail it took about 14 pounds a day to win, and overall conditions were difficult. 

One pattern is to fish poppers and buzzbaits around the banks, and this should only get better as temperatures cool. More fish will also pull onto docks. There are also still plenty of fish offshore around river channel swings, humps, the mouths of creeks and other depth changes. These fish are biting swimbaits pretty well. 

September 14

Lake Wylie is at 96.8% of full pool and clarity is normal.  Morning surface water temperatures are around 84 degrees. 

As predicted crappie patterns are starting to change on Lake Wylie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that fish are in transition from the main lake to the creeks. There are still a lot of crappie scattered over the main river channel suspended 10-15 feet down over 40 feet of water, and you can catch these fish trolling around 1 mile per hour with 1/32 or 1/16 ounce jigs – or fishing vertically with minnows. There are also a ton of fish on the main lake 25-38 feet deep scattered all over the place but mostly near the bottom.

Another group of fish has made the move into the creeks, and about half of those are in the creek channel 20-25 feet deep near the bottom. You can troll for those, or fish vertically with minnows. The other half of the creek fish are probably the most fun to catch, and they are related to brush piles and piers 15-20 feet deep or less. You can cast 1/16 ounce jigs to catch these fish.

It's a really good time to catch crappie, and you can catch a limit a number of different ways.

But if you really want to catch fish look no further than white perch, and Captain Chris believes if you stuck at it you could catch 400-500 perch in a few hours. While some of them are mixed in with the crappie, they are mostly on main lake flats 20-30 feet deep adjacent to the river channel.  The schools of perch are so big they often rise from the bottom to within a few feet of the surface and can number 10,000. Sabiki rigs allow you to catch multiple fish at one time. 

And where there are white perch there are catfish! The bigger blues and flatheads seem to be staying in very close proximity to the huge schools of perch roaming the main lake flats, and so they are also in 20-30 feet. Drifting pieces of white perch under the schools using a Santee rig is the best pattern. 

Bass are probably also relating to the perch, but neither using a Sabiki rig or cut bait is likely to catch them.  

September 7

Lake Wylie is at 96.9% of full pool and clarity is back to normal.  Morning surface water temperatures are around 83 degrees. 

Finally there’s some seasonal improvement with the bass fishing, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that with slightly cooling temperatures the bite on poppers and buzzbaits fished around the banks has improved. With cooler nights it will only continue to get better, and especially in the mornings they will move up to feed and bite more on shallow patterns. The action with jigs around docks has also picked up.

Fish are also extremely scattered, and there are still plenty of fish offshore around river channel swings, humps, the mouths of creeks and other depth changes. And we now know from forward-facing sonar that a lot are also just roaming. Offshore fish are biting swimbaits pretty well. 

Expect patterns to change within the next two weeks as fish make a move towards the creeks, but for now the crappie are still mostly on the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that one group of fish is suspended 10-12 feet deep over the river channel and in the mouths of creeks, and you can target them trolling around 1 mile per hour with 1/32 or 1/16 ounce jigs – or fishing vertically with minnows. There is also another group of fish moving to brush in 15-25 feet of water, and they can be caught casting minnows and jigs around the cover. 

It’s an improved bite for catfish on Lake Wylie right now, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that the fishing is good in the creeks anchoring on ledges in 8-25 feet of water. On the main lake the pattern is different, and drifting main channel flats in 12-25 feet of water is the most productive. Blue catfish in the 8-18 pound range are common, and occasionally they are getting channels in the 2-4 pound range. 

The best bait is cut gizzard shad. 

August 24

Lake Wylie is at 96.7% of full pool and clarity is normal.  Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s or higher. 

Weights are still fairly low in local bass tournaments, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that a good bag is about 13 pounds. For now shallow fishing remains pretty tough, and a high percentage of the bass are still in about 15-25 feet. You can find them around humps, river channel swings, and other depth changes – often at the mouths of creeks. By this stage of the summer offshore fish are generally wanting more finesse-oriented baits, and a drop shot or shaky head is probably the best bet. 

Of course there are still a few fish around the banks, and the morning is by far the best time to target them. These fish are basically feeding on bream, and worms and jigs continue to work for them – especially around docks. You can also get bites on a buzzbait or popper. 

Things should change very soon, but for now the white perch and crappie are still suspended in deep water because of oxygen levels. The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that they are mostly 10-15 feet down in 25-40 feet, and they can be found both on main lake flats and in the main river channel. 

The best way to catch both species is still with minnows. 

It’s still a pretty good bite for catfish on Lake Wylie right now, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that they are catching a good number of fish from about 8-21 pounds. The best pattern has been drifting on the main lake, and they are finding the fish around humps in about 28-31 feet of water. Cut shad and white perch are both working.

While it’s tough to say whether daytime or nighttime fishing is better right now, and the night bite has actually been a bit unpredictable at times, it’s certainly more comfortable!

August 17

Lake Wylie is at 97.4% of full pool and clarity is normal.  Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s or higher. 

It’s a pretty good bite for catfish on Lake Wylie right now, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that they are catching a good number of fish from about 8-21 pounds. The best pattern has been drifting on the main lake, and they are finding the fish around humps in about 28-31 feet of water. Cut shad and white perch are both working.

While it’s tough to say whether daytime or nighttime fishing is better right now, and the night bite has actually been a bit unpredictable at times, it’s certainly more comfortable!

Things should change soon, but for now the white perch and crappie are still suspended in deep water because of oxygen levels. The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that they are mostly 10-15 feet down in 25-40 feet, and they can be found both on main lake flats and in the main river channel. 

The best way to catch both species is still with minnows. 

Weights are still fairly low in local bass tournaments, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that a good bag is about 13 pounds. For now shallow fishing remains pretty tough, and a high percentage of the bass are still in about 15-25 feet.  You can find them around humps, river channel swings, and other depth changes – often at the mouths of creeks. By this stage of the summer offshore fish are generally wanting more finesse-oriented baits, and a drop shot or shaky head is probably the best bet. 

Of course there are still a few fish around the banks, and the morning is by far the best time to target them.  These fish are basically feeding on bream, and worms and jigs continue to work for them – especially around docks. You can also get bites on a buzzbait or popper. 

August 4

Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures have dropped into the mid-80s after the rain. 

Nighttime fishing for catfish on Lake Wylie has finally surpassed the daytime bite, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that the action after dark has been very good. They are catching many blue cats in the upper teens and lower 20s, as well as the occasional flathead in the 10-20 pound range. The best bait has been cut shad and bluegill, and they are having the best success anchoring and fan-casting baits from 3-20 feet. Both the creeks and main lake are producing.

During the day the action is still good, but they are getting a mix of small blue and channel catfish ranging from about 4-16 pounds. Drifting in 6 to 25 feet of water with cut white perch and shad has been the best pattern. 

In another sign of late summer the white perch and particularly the crappie have started to move deeper, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that they are now suspending 10-15 feet down over deeper water in 25-40 feet. They can be found both on main lake flats and in the main river channel. This happens every year and is related to the dissolved oxygen levels in deeper water. 

The best way to catch both species is still with minnows. 

Weights have dropped off a bit in local bass tournaments, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that the last event he saw only took about 10 pounds. Part of that is a function of the heat, and there are far less fish around the banks than earlier this summer. A high percentage of the bass are now in about 15-25 feet, and you can find them around humps, river channel swings, and other depth changes – often at the mouths of creeks. By this stage of the summer offshore fish are generally wanting more finesse-oriented baits, and a drop shot or shaky head is probably the best bet. When Reid pulled up on a brush pile in about 20 feet Wednesday he immediately started catching bass up to 3 pounds on a drop shot. 

Of course there are still a few fish around the banks, and the morning is by far the best time to target them. These fish are basically feeding on bream, and worms and jigs continue to work for them – especially around docks. You can also get bites on a buzzbait or popper. 

July 28

Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 80s. 

There have been some better bags caught recently in the Thursday night events, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that last night an impressive Wylie summer sack of 15 pounds took the win. Behind that was a more normal 12 pounds, but there are certainly some signs of life with the Lake Wylie bass fishing. 

There are still fish around the banks but with the summer heat there are less than a few weeks ago. These fish are basically feeding on bream, and worms and jigs continue to work for them – especially around docks. You can also get bites on a buzzbait or popper. 

A lot of fish have headed offshore, and now the generic depth range around offshore structure is about 12-26 feet. Look around humps, river channel swings, and other depth changes – often at the mouths of creeks. By this stage of the summer offshore fish are generally wanting more finesse-oriented baits, and a drop shot or shaky head is probably the best bet. 

In many areas the crappie and white perch are still mixed together pretty well, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that about half the fish are in the mouths of creeks in 20-25 feet of water. The other half are mostly on main lake flats at the same depth. The crappie are generally suspended about halfway down or deeper, while the perch are in huge schools reaching from the bottom to the middle of the water column or higher. Still, they usually fish for them on the bottom. Minnow rigs are best for both species right now.  

It's not unusual to get into a school with more of one than another, and this week Chris found some really good crappie action. 

It’s a drifting bite for catfish on Lake Wylie right now, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that his two primary daytime patterns are drifting deeper points and drops from 22-30 feet and then drifting flats ranging from 12-20 feet. Cut gizzard shad have been his preferred bait, and they are also catching fish on bluegill. 

At night they are picking up a few flatheads – nothing huge right now – on cut bream by anchoring on shallow points. Throw baits from the bank out to where the depths drop, ranging roughly from 3-15 feet. Surprisingly daytime fishing seems to be better than the night bite right now.  

July 21

Lake Wylie is at 97.6% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. 

It’s a drifting bite for catfish on Lake Wylie right now, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that his two primary daytime patterns are drifting deeper points and drops from 22-30 feet and then drifting flats ranging from 12-20 feet. Cut gizzard shad have been his preferred bait, and they are also catching fish on bluegill. 

At night they are picking up a few flatheads – nothing huge right now – on cut bream by anchoring on shallow points. Throw baits from the bank out to where the depths drop, ranging roughly from 3-15 feet. Surprisingly daytime fishing seems to be better than the night bite right now.  

July 14

Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool and water conditions are normal. Morning surface water temperatures are about 85 degrees.

There’s another pattern for catching catfish on Lake Wylie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that the massive schools of white perch at the mouths of creeks and on the main lake flats in 20-25 feet of water are, predictably, drawing in the cats. Drifting cut white perch under the schools is a dynamite pattern, and yesterday morning they caught eighteen fish between 10 and 25 pounds fishing this way. Monday they caught half that number in an hour or two after lunch. 

Looking at the graph, it’s pretty easy to see why the catfish would want to be there. 

Don’t forget that the perch are fun to catch in their own right, offering very fast action, and also make delicious table fare. 

 

July 13

Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool and water conditions are normal. Morning surface water temperatures are about 85 degrees. 

There’s not a whole lot of change with bass fishing patterns on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that there are still a pretty good number of fish around the banks that are basically feeding on bream. Worms and jigs continue to work for these fish, and the best action has been around docks. You can also get bites on a buzzbait or popper. 

While it may be starting to slow down the offshore bite is also decent in the 12-16 foot range where fish can be caught on crankbaits, worms and swimbaits around points and drops. Most of the best holes are at the mouths of major creeks. 

It has been taking about 12-13 pounds to win most of the Thursday night tournaments. 

At least right now the crappie and white perch are mixed together pretty well, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that about half the fish are in the mouths of creeks in 20-25 feet of water. The other half are mostly on main lake flats at the same depth. The crappie are generally suspended about halfway down, while the perch are in huge schools reaching from the bottom to the middle of the water column or higher. Still, they usually fish for them on the bottom. Minnow rigs are best for both species right now.  

The perch are stacked up like cordwood, and Chris believes you could catch 350 or more if you concentrated on them for four hours. 

Even as the daytime drift bite for catfish on Lake Wylie has slowed down, Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that it can be a good time to fish at night. During the day you can also anchor in coves and fish in 5-20 feet of water with cut gizzard shad. 

More information to follow. 

June 30

Lake Wylie is at 97.3% of full pool and water conditions are normal. Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 81-83 degrees. 

Unfortunately it does look like the daytime drift bite for catfish on Lake Wylie is slowing down, but Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that they have found a pretty good anchored bite in coves this morning. Concentrate on 5-20 feet of water. Cut gizzard shad have been the best bait. 

The bluegill bite is still excellent, and only getting better close to the full moon.