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Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.9 and water temperatures are in the low- to mid-60s.  Clarity is normal.

When water temperatures approached the 70s in mid-March it looked like the majority of the fish would have spawned well before the end of April, but then Mother Nature said “Not so fast.”  Several weeks of cool weather and often back-sliding air and water temperatures put the pause button on things, and while a good percentage of fish have already spawned plenty have not.

Overall, veteran tournament bass angler Stan Gunter estimates that less than 50% of the fish have spawned.  He predicts that the majority of the fish will bed on the April full moon, and he believes that a lot of fish are waiting to make their move onto beds.  Of course there are a decent number of post-spawn fish that have already come off of the beds.

Fish at all three stages of the spawn are shallow, as they have been for about a month now since water temperatures got into the 60s.  Pre-spawn fish are hanging around secondary points and cover at the entrance to spawning coves, and some of them are relating to shallow docks.  Post-spawn fish are hanging around the shallows where temperatures are comfortable.  Fish are on a variety of cover including laydowns and docks.

Pre-spawn fish can be caught on square-billed crankbaits, but Stan advises that topwater lures such as Bang-O-Lures and buzzbaits as well as floating worms are tough to beat.  Post-spawn fish can also be caught on jigs and worms as well as topwaters.

Catfish: Good. Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that he continues to catch a good number of fish in the very backs.  There are also fish being caught on main lake shallow flats, but the common denominator has been shallow.  Shallow points in “secondary” creeks and coves that come off of major creeks or the main river runs have also been good.  Fishing in the afternoon and evening can be the best of the day, as the sun heats up the water and pulls baitfish (and catfish) into the shallows.   Drifting through the shallows is probably the best pattern right now, particularly off the Reedy and Saluda Rivers.  Cut herring and cut white perch are both good bait choices, and if anglers want to have the chance to catch a big flathead or two pulling a whole bream is a good option.