November 12

Lake Greenwood is at 438.62 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are around 68-70 degrees. The lake was fairly clear before this rain but is getting dirty as water levels rapidly rise. 

Lake Greenwood is fishing okay but not great, and tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that it has been taking about 15 pounds to win recent bass tournaments. Even though it’s mid-November warm water temperatures mean that the fish have not gotten way back in the creeks, and so Stan still advises running main lake pockets and the front ¼ of the creeks with a buzzbait all day long. When water temperatures drop a few more degrees then the better pattern will be fishing a Rattle Trap or spinnerbait further back, but the fish just aren’t there right now.

Even though it’s not cold, in the late fall on Lake Greenwood it can be hard to beat an Alabama rig.  Starting now and even more so when temperatures hit the mid-60s Stan suggests running the banks and targeting points and docks with the A-rig. 

He is on Clarks Hill more these days, but Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting 20-30 feet of water in the main lake is the best way to catch channel catfish on Greenwood right now.  Both shrimp and cut herring will work.  Anchoring on main lake channel ledges with live bream is the best way to catch a big flathead.

October 23

Lake Greenwood is at 438.98 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are around 72-74 degrees. 

Even as Lake Murray bass fishing has recovered in the past couple of weeks, it’s quite possible that Greenwood is still out-fishing its big brother to the south. Tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that the Greenwood bass are still in the creeks following the shad schools, but the most exciting development this week is that there has been good schooling activity over brush piles in 15-18 feet of water in the main lake. You can also fish flats on the main lake that have stumps.  

When fish are not schooling it’s hard to beat picking up a buzzbait and just putting the trolling motor down and fishing the creek banks.  While you generally want to follow the bank contour to fish, there are also times that fish will get out in the middle of the backs of creeks. Square-billed crankbaits and Shad Raps are both effective for these fish which will still generally be in 10 feet of water or less. Since the fish are following shad you need to concentrate on areas with bait. 

He is on Clarks Hill more these days, but Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting flats in 18-25 feet of water with herring, shrimp and white perch remains the best way to put channel catfish in the boat. Anchoring on channel ledges with live bream is the best way to catch a big flathead.  

October 9

Lake Greenwood is down to 438.97 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are around 72-74 degrees. 

The tailwaters of Lake Greenwood make up the headwaters of Lake Murray, but with the way they are fishing for bass right now you would think they were hundreds of miles apart instead of that the two lakes sit right beside each other. According to veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda that is largely because of blueback herring, and right now it is in Greenwood’s favor that there are no herring to deal with. 

As a result bass are doing what they are supposed to do in the fall, and they have gotten back in the creeks following the shad schools. Catching fish is really as simple as putting the trolling motor down and fishing the banks in the creeks, and a buzzbait has been very hard to beat recently. Shad Raps and square-billed crankbaits will also work well. 

While you generally want to follow the bank contour to fish, there are also times that fish will get out in the middle of the backs of creeks.  They will still generally be in 10 feet of water or less, and of course you should look out for schooling and have a topwater tied on. 

Since the fish are following shad you will get more bites in areas with bait. 

He is on Clarks Hill more these days, but Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting flats in 18-25 feet of water with herring, shrimp and white perch is the best way to put channel catfish in the boat.  Anchoring on channel ledges with live bream is the best way to catch a big flathead.

September 17

Lake Greenwood is down to 439.68 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures have dropped into the lower 80s. The lake is in good shape with fairly good water clarity from top to bottom (before today’s rains). 

Even as water temperatures have dropped a couple more degrees there’s not a lot of change from last week on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that bass are still schooling a bit on the lake. This will only get better. For right now the fish are schooling off points or over brush piles – they are living in the brush but will come up to feed. Until water temperatures drop more the action is mostly taking place on the main lake, but look for bait to start to transition into the creeks soon and for bass to follow them. Sammys, Tiny Torpedos and Gunfish will all work.

When you don’t see fishing schooling for now the primary pattern is still to fish the brush in 15-20 feet with a big worm or crankbait. And be ready with a topwater when the fish come up schooling.

You can also throw a Pop-R or floating worm around sea walls first thing. 

 

He is on Clarks Hill more these days, but Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that right now drifting across flats in the 10-20 foot range with shrimp, shad, herring and white perch remains the best way to put channel catfish in the boat.  Anchoring on points near the river channel is the best way to catch a big flathead.

September 11

Lake Greenwood is at 439.05 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures have dropped into the low to mid-80s. 

Some seasonal changes are starting to take place on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that bass are starting to school more on the lake. This will only get better. For right now the fish are schooling off points or over brush piles – they are living in the brush but will come up to feed. Until water temperatures drop more the action is mostly taking place on the main lake, but look for bait to start to transition into the creeks soon and for bass to follow them. Sammys, Tiny Torpedos and Gunfish will all work.

While it won’t be long until other fall patterns kick in, for now the best primary pattern is probably to fish the brush in 15-20 feet with a big worm or crankbait. And be ready with a topwater when the fish come up schooling.

You can also throw a Pop-R or floating worm around sea walls first thing.  

He is on Clarks Hill more these days, but Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that right now drifting across flats in the 10-20 foot range with shrimp, shad, herring and white perch is still the best way to put channel catfish in the boat.  Anchoring on points near the river channel is the best way to catch a big flathead.

August 27

Lake Greenwood is at 439.00 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures have dropped into the mid-80s.

The bass fishing has really slowed down on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that neither the shallow nor the deep pattern is producing a whole lot. The best bet is to start off early fishing around seawalls with a Pop-R, and once the sun gets up to focus on brush piles in 15-20 feet of water with crankbaits and worms. The best brush is in the front part of large creeks or on the main lake.

Even though he is on Clarks Hill more these days, Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that right now drifting across flats in the 10-20 foot range with shrimp, shad, herring and white perch will put some channel cats in the boat. Anchoring on points near the river channel is the best way to catch a big flathead.  

July 29

Lake Greenwood is at 439.18 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are around 90 degrees. The lake remains very clear.    

With the intense summer heat bass fishing on Lake Greenwood is very tough, but veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that the best pattern remains fishing deep – especially for better quality fish.  A decent number of fish are being caught on brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. Crankbaits and worms are both working, but the fish are not biting every day. The best brush is in the front part of large creeks or on the main lake, and Stan has not had much luck fishing deeper stuff in the back section of creeks. 

A few fish are still being caught around seawalls early with a Pop-R, and there could be some shallow fish chasing bream around docks. However, neither pattern is very good. 

Even though he is on Clarks Hill more these days, Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that right now the best bet for catching channel catfish is to drift cut herring and shrimp.  You can also anchor on points and humps in 5-25 feet of water with dip baits.  To catch flatheads, anchor in the same areas with live bream and perch at night.

July 1

Lake Greenwood is at 439.20 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s. The lake is clearer than it has been for a while.   

Fishing for bass has definitely gotten tougher on Lake Greenwood, but veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that there are still a few good 16-18 pound bags being caught. However, weights drop way off after the top anglers.

Early in the morning it’s still worth looking for fish around the seawalls with a Pop-R, and that is also the best time of day to fish around relatively shallow docks where there are bass feeding on bedding bream. They are biting the best on worms around docks with 7-8 feet of water in the front. However, both of these shallow bites have dropped off.

The best numbers of fish are coming on brush piles in 15-18 feet of water. Crankbaits and worms are both working. The best brush is in the front part of large creeks or on the main lake, and Stan has not had much luck fishing deeper stuff in the back section of creeks. There has also been a little bit of schooling around brush piles but it is mainly smaller spots.

Finally, some fish are being caught with shakey head worms around docks in 6-8 feet of water.

Even though he is on Clarks Hill more these days, Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that right now the best bet for catching channel catfish is to drift cut herring and shrimp.  You can also anchor on points and humps in 5-25 feet of water with dip baits.  To catch flatheads, anchor in the same areas with live bream and perch at night.

June 15

Lake Greenwood is at 439.08 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are around 84 in the morning and 87 in the afternoon. Clarity is very good for Lake Greenwood and the water is relatively clear at least as far up as the 72 bridge. 

It’s hard to pin down the bass on Lake Greenwood, and fresh off two days of practice and then a tournament this weekend veteran tournament anglers Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that fish are scattered. They can be caught from the sea walls to deep water, but overall the bite is pretty tough. Catching small fish is a little easier, and there are a lot of spotted bass showing up, but winning weights are less than 17 pounds and overall fishing is difficult.

Early in the morning fish can be caught around the seawalls on a Pop-R or a worm, and the shallow bite can continue into the day around relatively shallow docks where there are bass feeding on bedding bream. They are biting the best on worms around docks with 7-8 feet of water in the front. 

The best numbers of fish, however, are coming on brush piles in 15-18 feet of water. Crankbaits and worms are both working. The best brush is in the front part of large creeks or on the main lake, and Stan has not had much luck fishing deeper stuff in the back section of creeks. 

Even though he is on Clarks Hill more these days, Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that right now the best bet for catching channel catfish is to drift cut herring and shrimp.  You can also anchor on points and humps in 5-25 feet of water with dip baits.  To catch flatheads, anchor in the same areas with live bream and perch at night.