September 25

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.32 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.33 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water temperatures have dropped all the way to 73 or 74 degrees. There is a ton of water being pulled through the lakes creating some swift current. 

We got the seasonal cooling that anglers knew was needed to move the bass out of a deep suspended pattern, but  Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

September 25

Lake Murray water levels are down to 356.06 (full pool is 360.00) and water temperatures have dropped into the mid-70s. Up the lake is pretty muddy and there is a lot of current.

A week ago it looked like the offshore suspended/ cane pile bass bite was about to peak, but after the recent rains and lots of moving water veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports

September 25

Lake Russell rose after the storms but water levels now dipped back below full to 474.40 (full pool is 475.00), while water temperatures have dropped more than 10 degrees in the past two weeks to the lower 70s. In addition to being muddy in certain areas (including some that don’t usually get muddy), much of the water is coffee-colored and the lake appears to be turning over. 

It’s still an uncharacteristically tough bass bite on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports

September 24

Lake Wateree is back up to 96.6% of full pool while temperatures have dropped to the upper 70s or low 80s. The upper end is already muddy and the water is coming down. 

They dropped the lake in anticipation of extremely large amounts of rain, and while there was not as much water as feared tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports

September 24

Lake Wylie is back up to 96.7% of full pool and surface water temperatures are around 76 degrees on the south end of the lake. The water is a chalky color almost like it is starting to turn over (which it probably is not.)

As temperatures drop the bass on Lake Wylie are starting to get more and more into fall patterns, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports

September 24

Inshore surface water temperatures have dropped to about 76 in the main rivers around Beaufort and the water is very dirty. Shrimp, mullet and menhaden are all abundant.

Really big high tides have made for an outstanding flood tide bite in Beaufort, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports

September 24

Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are about 77 or 78 degrees in the main rivers, while a couple of miles out temperatures are still over 80.  The South Edisto is very dark with recent rain events. High winds and tides have also generally dirtied the water. Bait is at its peak for the year with the mullet run in full swing and big shrimp coming out of the creeks. 

With so much bait around the fish have gotten into the period where they are putting on the weight that will get them through the winter, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports

September 24

Lake Keowee has dropped a few feet to 96.5% of full pool, and at the same time water temperatures are down into the upper 70s over most of the lake. Water clarity is normal. 

The air and water temperatures are dropping at Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports

September 22

Clarks Hill water levels are way above full pool at 331.37 (full pool is 330.00) while water temperatures have dropped all the way to 72-76 degrees. Up the lake is muddy. 

For the second straight week one of our regular Insider reports correspondents won big on Clarks Hill, and this weekend it was tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta who took first place in the 63-boat, 2-day BFL event on Clarks Hill.

September 22

Lake Hartwell water levels have risen to 660.82 (full pool is 660.00) while water temperatures have dropped substantially to about 76 degrees. The water is still very clear. 

It’s a zoo on Lake Hartwell right now, and Guide Brad Fowler (himself a competitor) reports

September 18

Lake Monticello water temperatures are in the low-80s, and the water is typically clear. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.

It’s getting to be a better and better time to bassfish on Lake Monticello, and FLW angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports