March 14
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 437.42 (full pool is 440.0) and most of the lake is muddy although the lower end isn’t too bad. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 50s.
The Greenwood crappie continue to move, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that fish are pushing further back in the creeks and some have even started to spawn! You can fish for them around the banks, but long-line trolling in 10-30 feet of water is also good. For trolling (or casting using LiveScope) fish are mostly 5-15 feet down.
Fish Stalker jigs in bright colors like chartreuse, Ugly Green or Blue Dew are all working.
The bass are still super shallow on Greenwood and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon, as veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that water conditions and the spawning imperative are pushing fish to the banks. The creeks still hold the most fish, and big, noisy, flashy baits like large spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, and brightly-colored crankbaits are all working. There have also been a lot of fish caught casting lipless crankbaits in pockets.
You can also fish a black-and-blue jig around specific targets, but you basically need to hit fish on the head to get bites in most of the lake. The lower end is a little cleaner so that can expand your strike zone.
Striped bass and catfish reports to return very soon.
March 8
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 437.80 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is back to muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-50s but rising to the 60s in the afternoons.
After months in a holding pattern the Greenwood crappie have finally moved, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that with warmer temperatures fish have taken up temporary residence in the creeks. There are still fish out on the main lake, and there pretty much always will be, but the bulk of the fish have scattered from the mouth of the creeks to three-quarters back. Most of the fish are 5-15 down over 10-30 feet of water, and both casting and long-line trolling are working. Fish Stalker jigs in bright colors like chartreuse, Ugly Green or Blue Dew are all working.
There are probably a few fish already on the banks but Roland has not been casting at them to check.
Between the calendar and muddy water the bass are super shallow, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that with these temperatures fish are almost in the dirt. Since the creeks have warmed the fastest the fish have spread out all the way to the back, but you need something big, noisy and flashy to get their attention. Big spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, and brightly colored crankbaits are all working.
You can also fish a black-and-blue jig around specific targets, but you basically need to hit fish on the head to get bites.
Striped bass and catfish reports to return very soon.
February 29
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 436.32 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake has cleared slightly, but visibility mid-lake is still only 6-8 inches. Morning surface water temperatures were 51 this morning.
Out on the water this morning Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that the crappie haven’t moved, as even with a couple of warm days there really hasn’t been enough sun to warm the water much. The good news is that even with this cooler weather they are still biting well.
Fish are still in open water at the mouths of creeks and along the river channel. Captain Roland is mostly fishing 10-20 feet down over 20-40 feet of water, although fish will suspend higher or lower dependent on weather conditions. Casting or long-lining with jigs or jigs tipped with minnows is still the best technique, and the go-to color remains Fish Stalker’s Blue Dew.
But the bass are on a completely different schedule, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that fish are moving up and getting into the middle to backs of the creeks. In the muddy springtime conditions the pattern is as simple as running the banks with Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and Shad Raps. There are still some fish being caught on Alabama rigs but this is a dying pattern.
Docks are also holding a lot of fish right now, particularly the walkways closer to the bank.
February 23
Lake Greenwood water levels are up to 436.02 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is still muddy on the upper end but clearing some on the lower end. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 50s.
Spring is a funny thing, and even when water conditions are still pretty miserable the bass usually still turn on. Right now veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that fish are definitely starting to move further back into the creeks and feed better, but his preferred way to target them is to start at the main lake and then work his way back. In the muddy conditions they have been shallow for a while, so that’s no change, and the best bet is still baits that have a big profile and/ or create a big disturbance. Loud crankbaits, Alabama rigs, spinnerbaits with Colorado blades, and Chatterbaits are all good choices around rock and wood. You can also fish a black-and-blue jig on targets but you probably need to hit fish on the nose if they are going to bite it.
There’s very little change with the crappie, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that fish are still in open water at the mouths of creeks and along the river channel. He is mostly fishing 10-20 feet down over 20-40 feet of water, although fish will suspend higher or lower dependent on weather conditions. Casting or long-lining with jigs or jigs tipped with minnows is still the best technique, and the go-to color remains Fish Stalker’s Blue Dew.
February 12
Lake Greenwood water levels are up to 435.22 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is still muddy from one end to the other and will only get worse with today’s rain. Morning surface water temperatures are about 47-48 degrees.
Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) wasn’t expecting too much going into Saturday’s crappie tournament, but to his surprise he was able to manage a nearly two-pound average in the very muddy conditions. Patterns were about the same, although sun had the fish a little higher in the water column at 5-10 feet on the tournament day. Still 10-20 feet over 20-40 feet has been the most typical depth range.
They are still in open water at the mouths of creeks and along the river channel, and Roland concentrated on the middle to upper section of the lake. As noted last week that section may actually have been a little cleaner that the lower end as the muddy water filtered down.
They caught all of their fish on jigs and jigs tipped with minnows, particularly Fish Stalker jigs in Blue Dew.
It’s still super tough conditions for bass, but veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that they can’t go forever without eating and it’s the time of year where they feel pressure to feed up before heading into spawning areas. So even though his first instinct is to advise anglers to go somewhere else, there are still fish to be caught on Greenwood.
With the lake muddy and about to get worse fish will be very shallow, and even though the water is cold with the calendar they could head into the creeks. You need to fish with baits that create a lot of disturbance in loud colors, and Stan advises a fire tiger or red crankbait, spinnerbaits with Colorado blades, and vibrating jigs. You could also fish a blue and blue jig but you really need to hit the fish on the head with it.
February 9
Lake Greenwood water levels are up to 435.09 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is still muddy from one end to the other. Morning surface water temperatures are about 46-48 degrees.
Lake Greenwood is about as muddy as Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) says he has ever seen it, and the lower end might actually be a little dirtier than the upper end right now. The water is also very cold, and so it’s no surprise that he continues to report a really tough crappie bite.
Fish are still in open water at the mouths of creeks and along the river channel, and most of them are about 10-15 feet down over 20-40 feet. They are also highly scattered for this time of year. If anything they have moved a little further towards the main lake and out of the creek mouths this week.
Minnows, jigs tipped with minnows, and even plain jigs could all catch fish, although nothing is working very well, and most of all a very slow presentation is key.
January 31
Lake Greenwood water levels are up to 435.43 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is still muddy from one end to the other with the flood gates open. Morning surface water temperatures are up a few degrees to about 48.
There are still extremely tough conditions for catching crappie on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that he honestly doesn’t expect the fish to start biting much better until the water conditions improve. Fish are still in open water at the mouths of creeks and along the river channel, and most of them are about 10-15 feet down over 20-40 feet. They are also highly scattered for this time of year.
Minnows, jigs tipped with minnows, and even plain jigs could all catch fish, although nothing is working very well, and most of all it’s important to hold the bait in front of a fish’s face for a long time!
In really, really tough conditions veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that he was very surprised to see some good weights come of Greenwood, and he is pretty sure the bass pattern is fishing shallow. Concentrate on rock and fish a crankbait in fire tiger or chartreuse patterns, or fish shallow wood with a chatterbait or spinnerbait with big Colorado blades that displace a lot of water.
Weather and extremely muddy conditions are severely limiting the number of anglers pursuing striped bass on Greenwood, but Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that fish can still be caught on the lower end pulling free-lines and planer boards. However, if there is no more major rainfall then he expects the bite to be on fire within a couple of weeks.
January 22
Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 434.44 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake has been muddy from one end to the other. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-40s.
On the lake this morning Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that he finally saw the first stages of clearing on the lower end, and while the lake still looked muddy it wasn’t quite as muddy. The crappie are in pretty normal winter patterns given the water conditions, and they are in open water at the mouths of creeks and along the river channel. However, they are a little higher than they should be (10-15 feet down over 20-40 feet) with the muddy water, and it also has them a bit more scattered than in the usual large winter schools.
Minnows and jigs tipped with minnows have been the most popular baits recently, but Captain Roland points out you can also catch fish on plain jigs. Whatever you are using it’s important to hold the bait in front of a fish’s face for a long time!
The striped bass are still in fairly similar patterns on Greenwood, and Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that fish have stayed on the lower end even as the whole lake got muddy. From Goat Island to the dam has been the best section. The best pattern has been pulling free-lines and planer boards with live gizzard shad from Lake Greenwood Bait and Tackle, and when the birds are diving throwing bucktails can be very effective. That will pick up once the birds can see again!
But the bass are a different story, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that he wouldn’t even attempt to catch a bass on Lake Greenwood right now. The cold, muddy water has pretty much shut down the bite, but once they get to the point where they need to feed again then he suggests throwing a spinnerbait with big Colorado blades or a fire tiger or red crankbait.
Especially with more rain coming Lake Greenwood could stay muddy for a while, and so it may be a matter of bass adjusting to the water color rather than being able to wait for it to clear.
January 4
Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 435.14 (full pool is 440.0) and up the lake is muddy while the lower lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are around 50-52 degrees.
At last Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that most of the crappie have moved off of brush, and they are now out in open water chasing bait. Most of the fish are in 20-40 feet of water, and generally they are about 10-20 feet down. He is finding them at the mouths of creeks along the main river channel.
Without LiveScope they never really understood why it was so common to go long periods without catching fish this time of year, but the answer seems to be that they are concentrated in very large schools – and there is also lots of dead water. Either casting to them, long-line trolling (always a favorite on Greenwood), or tight-lining slowly will all catch fish. You want some “meat” on the hook at this time of year and so either minnows or jigs tipped with minnows are usually working the best.
It’s hard to rate the bass bite on Lake Greenwood right now, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that even though it’s difficult to catch much weight there are a lot of different ways to catch bass right now. You can fish a crankbait or Alabama rig around docks, and there is also a pretty good bite in clearer water with a jerkbait off points. You can also fish deep brush with a drop shot or jigging spoon.
Overall fish seem to be mixed and/or transitioning between shallow and deep water, and there’s not any great pattern at the moment.
But it’s still a good bite for striped bass on Greenwood, although Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that fish have made a transition to the lower end of the lake with the muddy conditions up the lake. From Goat Island to the dam has been the best section. The best pattern has been pulling free-lines and planer boards with live gizzard shad from Lake Greenwood Bait and Tackle, and when the birds are diving throwing bucktails can be very effective.
No new report on catfish.
December 21
Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 435.88 (full pool is 440.0) and up the lake the water is even dirtier after recent rains. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 50s.
It’s a familiar winter pattern for bass on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that more fish are moving out deeper. He is still throwing an Alabama rig around some docks, but large concentrations of fish have moved off of points and into creek channels in 15-18 feet of water. Brush piles and rock will hold fish.
A standard array of winter baits is still working, including drop shot rigs, jigs, shaky heads, and football jigs around rocky points. A jerkbait can also be good off points in cleaner water.
But overall, wherever you are fishing it’s hard to beat an Alabama rig this time of year on Greenwood.
It’s still a good bite for striped bass on Greenwood, and Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that the best area seems to be from the mid-lake to the rivers but definitely follow the birds to find fish. The best pattern has been pulling free-lines and planer boards with live gizzard shad from Lake Greenwood Bait and Tackle, and when the birds are diving throwing bucktails can be very effective.
While Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) is definitely seeing less fish on brush as fish start to transition out to open water, he still has not found enough in open water to justify switching off of the brush pattern. As a result he is still fishing the same brush piles in 10-25 feet of water at the mouths of creeks and in the main channel. Fish are generally suspended about 10-15 feet down, and he is finding the best action in the middle to upper lake.
It really doesn’t matter whether you use jigs or minnows, and he is catching fish on Fish Stalker jigs in Mountain Dew color.
On the catfish front, Guide Josh Wilson reports that fishing cut shad on main lake points and at the mouths of creeks has been effective. Target 10-25 feet of water.
December 14
Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 436.23 (full pool is 440.0) and up the lake the water is even dirtier after recent rains. Morning surface water temperatures are about 52 degrees.
While there still haven’t been any really big weights in bass tournaments on Lake Greenwood, veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that the fishing has been pretty good. You need to think about whether to target largemouth or spotted bass, as up the lake and in the backs of creeks it’s a much higher percentage of largemouth – while from the mid-lake down and closer to the main water it’s more about the spots.
One of the best ways to catch fish right now is with an Alabama rig around docks, and fish will also take jigs and shakey heads around docks. As a general rule they are coming out of the backs and the front of creeks or the main lake is fishing better, but you can still find some fish in the dirtiest water up creeks or the rivers that will take crankbaits. A jerkbait can also be good, but it’s all about finding the bait right now.
It’s still a good bite for striped bass on Greenwood, and Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that the best area seems to be from the mid-lake to the rivers but definitely follow the birds to find fish. The best pattern has been pulling free-lines and planer boards with live gizzard shad from Lake Greenwood Bait and Tackle, and when the birds are diving throwing bucktails can be very effective.
It’s a broken record but the crappie still have not made a big move on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that fish are still very structure-related and hanging at the mouths of creeks and on the main lake. The best range recently has been 10-20 feet of water, although up the river they can be shallower and down the lake a bit deeper. In the next couple of weeks fish should move off of brush and into open water.
It really doesn’t matter whether you use jigs or minnows, and he is catching fish on Fish Stalker jigs in Mountain Dew color.
On the catfish front, Guide Josh Wilson reports that fishing cut shad on main lake points and at the mouths of creeks has been effective. Target 10-25 feet of water.
November 30
Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 437.06 (full pool is 440.0) and up the lake the water is dingy. Morning surface water temperatures are about 55 degrees.
The last bass tournament on Lake Greenwood featured a 56-boat field and took 16 pounds for the win, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that it was won with a buzzbait on the upper end of the lake. Stan fished the same area and caught everything on an Alabama rig and a shaky head, but he has noticed that as water temperatures have dropped the fish have moved from the shallowest docks out to deeper ones with at least 5 or 6 feet of water.
There has also been some good action in the mid-lake fishing a jerkbait, and before the cold snap fish were schooling. Now they are more likely to be suspended.
Speaking of schooling Stan reports that at times the striped bass fishing has been incredible in the mid-lake up, and his sons have been wearing out the fish on the main channel between the 72 Bridge and the Harris Landing Bridge. They are casting bucktails to the schooling fish.
Even when they aren’t schooling Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that the action can still be very good, and fishing free-lines and planer boards with herring or small shad is working the best. Trolling umbrella rigs will also work, but the live bait bite is most consistent.
He is finding the best action from the river forks to mid-lake in the main lake.
Even as water temperatures have dropped the crappie fishing has changed very little on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that he is still catching fish on brush in the main lake and at the mouth of creeks 10-15 feet down in 15-30 feet of water. It really doesn’t matter whether you use jigs or minnows, and he is catching fish on Fish Stalker jigs in Mountain Dew color.
It’s usually sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas that fish move off brush and suspend – so it should happen in the next month – but it’s not shocking that the fish are still in the same places they have been for several months.
On the catfish front, Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that with baitfish starting to gather up pretty thick in or near the main river channel and some of the big feeder creek channels the catfish should be right there with them. On the upper half of the lake they are usually in 15-25 feet, and on the lower half they are typically in 25-35 feet. Drift the areas with the best concentrations of bait with cut herring, perch or shad.
November 16
Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 438.08 (full pool is 440.0) and visibility is high. Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 60s.
The striped bass fishing is red hot on Lake Greenwood, and Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that free-lines and planer boards with herring or small shad are working the best. The best places are from the river forks to mid-lake in the main lake. There is also some surface activity from day to day.
Trolling umbrella rigs will also work, but the live bait bite is most consistent.
The bass are still biting well on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that fish are pretty spread out but this week there don’t seem to be many fish in the very backs of creeks. They are on the lake to about halfway back.
The best action has been shallow, and throwing crankbaits around docks has been working well. Rock is also very good cover. Alabama rigs are also starting to come on, while there are mixed reviews on buzzbaits. Some people are getting bites but others say they are having absolutely no luck with them.
If you want to get lots of bites your best bet may be to fish deep brush with a drop shot for spotted bass.
The crappie fishing continues to be good on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that they are still catching fish on the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. While fish can range from 5 to 25 feet down, the best concentrations are usually about 10-20 feet below the surface over 20-25 plus feet of water.
They are on structure including brush and bridges, and Captain Roland doesn’t expect them to move off of it until about Thanksgiving. Both jigs and minnows are working, and in jigs glimmer blue, blue dew and ugly green have been the best Fish Stalker colors.
The Lake Greenwood catfish seem to be in a typical fall pattern on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the best action should come drifting between main lake flats and the river channel. The best drifts will criss-cross the river channel and the flats so that you can locate the fish on a particular day, but 20-30 feet is often the sweet spot. Cut herring, white perch and shrimp will all work.
Until water temperatures get very cold this can also be a really good time to catch a big flathead on live bait fished early, late and at night around brush.
November 9
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.57 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is pretty clear although the upper lake has some stain. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-60s.
The bass fishing is getting better on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that fish are now spread out all over the lake. They are also constantly moving following the bait schools, and so it’s hard to predict exactly where concentrations will be from day to day. This week there have been fish from the very backs of creeks to coves off the main lake.
The best bet is to fish shallow and cover water with baits that imitate shad like crankbaits, jerkbaits, and Rattle Traps. It’s also probably not too early for an Alabama rig, although it’s the strongest when temperatures are a bit cooler. Fish the banks and docks, but whatever other cover is around concentrate on areas that have some rock. A dock that has some rock nearby can be hard to beat.
The crappie fishing continues to be good on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that they are still catching fish on the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. While fish can range from 5 to 25 feet down, the best concentrations are usually about 10-20 feet below the surface over 20-25 plus feet of water.
They are on structure including brush and bridges, and Captain Roland doesn’t expect them to move off of it until about Thanksgiving. Both jigs and minnows are working, and in jigs glimmer blue, blue dew and ugly green have been the best Fish Stalker colors.
New striped bass report to follow from Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305).
November 2
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.78 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is pretty clear although the upper lake has some stain. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped all the way into the lower 60s.
The striped bass are still in the creeks this week on Lake Greenwood, and Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that even with the sharp drop in water temperatures most of the fish are still in the creek channels and ditches in 15-25 feet of water. Both down rods and free-lines with live bait are still working.
However, very soon we are getting into a period where fish will move back out towards the main river channel – if it hasn’t already started. They will be chasing the big schools of bait, and they will be found from the dam to the rivers. There isn’t a lot of obvious rhyme or reason to where they will be, and you just have to follow the bait. Electronics will be very important to figure out how deep the fish want to be on a given day.
While veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda hasn’t been bass fishing since the cold snap, a lot like Josh says about the striper you need to follow the shad to find bass. Crankbaits and jerkbaits will be key baits, but truthfully it’s hard to beat an Alabama rig starting now and continuing through the winter on Lake Greenwood.
The crappie fishing continues to be good on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that they are still catching fish on the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. While fish can range from 5 to 25 feet down, the best concentrations are usually about 10-20 feet below the surface over 20-25 plus feet of water. Since the cold snap it’s been rare to see fish much shallower than 10-15 feet.
They are on structure including brush and bridges, and Captain Roland doesn’t expect them to move off of it until about Thanksgiving. Both jigs and minnows are working, and in jigs glimmer blue, blue dew and ugly green have been the best Fish Stalker colors.
New catfish report to follow.
October 26
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.85 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is pretty clear although the upper lake has some stain. Morning surface water temperatures are down to the upper 60s.
Out of nowhere it’s a vastly improved bass bite this week on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that fishing a DT-6 crankbait around main lake rocks and docks has been working extremely well. All of the fish they are catching are in less than 8 feet of water. They are also catching them in the mouths of big creeks, but not back in the creeks. It’s unclear why.
It's also still a good time to go down the bank and fish rocky areas with a buzzbait or a merthiolate floating worm, and if the dock fish don’t want a crankbait then a shaky head will work.
The schooling activity for striped bass has been basically non-existent this week on Greenwood, but Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that fish are still in the creek channels and ditches in 15-25 feet of water. It’s been a great bite this week, and down rods and free-lines with live bait continue to work very well.
The crappie fishing has also been good on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that they are still catching fish on the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. While fish range from 5 feet down to 25 feet down, the best concentrations are usually about 10-20 feet below the surface over 20-25 plus feet of water. They are on structure including brush and bridges, and Captain Roland doesn’t expect them to move off of it until about Thanksgiving. Both jigs and minnows are working, and in jigs glimmer blue, blue dew and ugly green have been the best Fish Stalker colors.
On the catfish front, Guide Josh Wilson reports that recently they seem to be best concentrated in shallow water. He is seeing them from the mid-lake to the rivers in 5-10 feet of water on flats off the main channel. Cut herring is working very well.
October 19
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.85 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is pretty clear although the upper lake has some stain. Morning surface water temperatures are down to up the upper 60s.
There has still been really good fishing for striped bass this week on Greenwood, and Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that fish are still in the creek channels and ditches in 15-25 feet of water. Down rods and free-lines with live bait are the ticket. There is also some schooling activity, but nothing consistent enough to make your primary approach. You just have to be in the right place at the right time when they come up – and have a topwater plug ready to throw.
The bass are also schooling this week, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that in the middle of the creeks you can find fish boiling on top and catch them on jerkbaits or Shad Raps. Lipless crankbaits can also be a good option.
But still, Stan’s preferred approach (when he’s not seeing fish schooling) is to go down the banks and fish rocky areas with a buzzbait. He suggests starting halfway back in the creeks and continuing to work back.
Merthiolate floating worms can also be good, and don’t overlook fishing a shaky head around docks when bites are hard to come by.
The crappie fishing has picked up this week on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that they are catching fish on the main lake and at the mouths of creeks around structure and bridges. The best depth range has been 15-30 feet, and generally fish are in the bottom third of the water column. Both jigs and minnows are working, and it’s hard to say which is better.
In jigs glimmer blue, blue dew and ugly green have been the best Fish Stalker colors.
The Lake Greenwood catfish are in a fall pattern on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the best pattern is drifting between main lake flats and the river channel. The best drifts will criss-cross the river channel and the flats so that you can locate the fish on a particular day. Cut herring, white perch and shrimp will all work.
This can also be a really good time to catch a big flathead on live bait fished early, late and at night around brush.
October 13
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.81 (full pool is 440.0) and clarity is normal but should drop after yesterday’s rain. Surface water temperatures are 75 degrees.
The fishing turned on big time this week, and Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that they are nailing the striped bass (as well as spotted bass) in the creek channels and ditches in 15-25 feet of water. Down rods and free-lines with live bait are the ticket. There is also some schooling activity, but nothing consistent enough to target. You just have to be in the right place at the right time when they come up – and have a topwater plug ready to throw.
Along those lines veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that the bite for bass overall has improved, and there are starting to be some occasional bigger sacks caught. The best thing going seems to be a buzzbait, which doesn’t surprise Stan because Lake Greenwood is a really good buzzbait lake as it cools. Target rocky places in the main lake and main part of big creeks, and then work your way further back looking for shad if you don’t get bit there. Rattle traps and small topwater baits should work in the creeks when shad are present, as well as a buzzbait. Merthiolate floating worms can also be good, even though the buzzbait around rock is hard to beat on Greenwood in the fall.
Finally, don’t overlook fishing a shaky head around docks when bites are hard to come by.
The crappie patterns have also not changed much on Greenwood, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that the bite is still decent on the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. Fish are mostly on brush in 20-30 feet of water – although at times there are fish as shallow as 10 feet. Fish in deeper water are generally in the bottom five feet of the water column, and almost all of them are in the bottom third regardless of depth. Jigs and minnows vary in their effectiveness from day to day, and in jigs glimmer blue, blue dew and ugly green have been the best Fish Stalker colors.
The Lake Greenwood catfish are getting into a fall pattern on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the best pattern is drifting between main lake flats and the river channel. The best drifts will criss-cross the river channel and the flats so that you can locate the fish on a particular day. Cut herring, white perch and shrimp will all work.
This can also be a really good time to catch a big flathead on live bait fished early, late and at night around brush.
October 5
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.93 (full pool is 440.0) and clarity is normal. Surface water temperatures are still in the mid- to high 70s.
The bass fishing is still a little better than a month or so ago on Lake Greenwood, but veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that nevertheless he would continue to characterize the bite as pretty tough. With more cooling this weekend things should get better, though, and he looks for more fish to run shad into the creeks. They are already getting in little short creeks and pockets off the main lake. Looks for pods of bait, and sometimes bass will be busting them while other times they will just be around them.
The best way to target these fish is with a Rattle Trap, jerkbait or Shad Rap, and you can also have some success with a down-sized walking bait.
There’s almost no change with the striped bass this week, and Guide Josh Wilson (864-871-6305) reports that from the mid-lake to the dam there is still good schooling action sporadically. On down-rods and weighted free-lines the action also remains pretty good about 15-30 feet down mostly in the lower third of the lake. The fish are related to schools of bait, with some of the fish suspended out over deeper water and others near the bottom at that depth off the side of the channel – again around bait.
Patterns will change as water temperatures drop.
The crappie patterns have also not changed much on Greenwood, and Captain Roland Addy with Carolina Crappie Guide Service (864-980-3672) reports that the bite is still decent on the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. Fish are mostly on brush in 20-30 feet of water – although at times there are fish as shallow as 10 feet. Fish in deeper water are generally in the bottom five feet of the water column, and almost all of them are in the bottom third regardless of depth. Jigs and minnows vary in their effectiveness from day to day, and in jigs glimmer blue, blue dew and ugly green have been the best Fish Stalker colors.
The Lake Greenwood catfish are getting into a fall pattern on Lake Greenwood, and Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the best pattern is drifting between main lake flats and the river channel. The best drifts will criss-cross the river channel and the flats so that you can locate the fish on a particular day. Cut herring, white perch and shrimp will all work.
This can also be a really good time to catch a big flathead on live bait fished early, late and at night around brush.