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.

May 28

Lake Greenwood is at 439.32 (full pool is 440.0) and water temperatures are in the low to mid-70s. The mud line has come almost all the way down the lake and the flood gates are open.  

Even before the latest monsoon bass fishing was tough on Lake Greenwood and the fish seemed to be in a post-spawn funk, but tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that after the lake got so muddy it is almost not worth going. However, the very lower end of the lake is a little more fishable and – if you are going to go out – the best bet is to fish as shallow as you can. While they aren’t typical baits for late May, spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits may be the best option in these conditions. A black-and-blue jig may also work.

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. 

When the lake gets this muddy catfish can get harder to catch, too.

May 14

Lake Greenwood is at 439.02 (full pool is 440.0) and water temperatures are in the upper 60s.  

The bass spawn is essentially over on Lake Greenwood, but tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that most fish remain shallow. In the morning there is still a shad spawn bite in certain areas, and for the first couple of hours each day you will see shad flickering on the surface around points, riprap, and boat dock floats. Topwater lures and 3-bladed spinnerbaits can be effective.

There is also a shallow topwater bite early around docks. You can also run the banks with a floating worm or a Pop-R, and the sea walls can be particularly productive for the first two or three hours until the shade disappears. 

While the bulk of the action is still shallow, there are also starting to be some deeper fish caught on an early summer pattern. They are being caught around brush piles in 15-18 feet of water on Ole Monster worms, crankbaits and jigs. Some of the better sacks may be coming this way.

In a recent tournament there was a nice 19-pound sack at the top, but below that weights dropped off to 9 pounds.

May 1

Lake Greenwood is at 439.14 (full pool is 440.0), and muddy water is starting to move down the lake again – although the upper end is still relatively clear. Water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 60s.   

Even though the bass spawn has been really heavy on Lake Keowee for the last couple of weeks, tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that it is winding down now with less and less fish on beds each day. The action is becoming a post-spawn deal, and lots of post-spawn fish are targeting spawning shad in the mornings. Points, riprap, and boat dock floats will attract spawning shad, and for the first couple of hours each day you will see shad flickering on the surface and bass feeding around them. Topwater lures and 3-bladed spinnerbaits are very effective.

Not all the fish will get on spawning shad, and in the mornings you can also run the banks with a floating worm or a Pop-R. The sea walls can be particularly productive for the first two or three hours until the shade disappears. 

After the early bite goes away then dragging worms off points can produce, and you can also fish docks with jigs, shakey heads or Senkos. Fish are also starting to hold around shallower brush – later in the spring they will move to the deeper stuff.

For now the mid-lake is fishing best.

April 15

Lake Greenwood is almost full at 439.71 (full pool is 440.0) and, once again, more mud is moving down the lake. For now the lower lake is clearer than the upper end.  

With all the up-and-down weather conditions this spring, tournament bass angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that it now appears that this will be a highly extended spawning season. Fish are bedding right now, and there should be at least one more major wave of spawning action on the next moon cycle. There are plenty of pre-spawn and post-spawn fish.

Still, pretty much all of the fish on the lake are shallow.  In addition to docks and spawning coves more and more fish are now starting to relate to points – especially as they get into the post-spawn phase. Shakey heads and jigs will continue to work for post-spawn fish around docks. 

One factor improving the point bite is that very soon the shad spawn should start around points, riprap, and boat dock floats. For the first couple of hours each day you will see shad flickering on the surface and bass feeding around them. Topwater lures and 3-bladed spinnerbaits are very effective. After the sun gets up bass will often stay in the same areas and be caught deeper on Carolina rigs and shakey heads.

April 2

Lake Greenwood water levels are back down to 438.21 (full pool is 440.0) and water temperatures are up to the mid-60s. Up the lake is muddy again and the mud line is moving down. 

A few days later water conditions have changed on Lake Greenwood, but veteran tournament bass angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that overall fish remain largely pre-spawn. There are also decent numbers of fish already on beds, but the April full moon is expected to be the biggest spawn of the year.

Most fish are shallow in or close to areas where they will spawn, but the challenge facing fishermen now is that visibility has fallen off and so anglers need to adapt to the muddy water. Spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits are the best baits, but if you can find some cleaner water a floating worm or topwater lures will also work. 

As more and more fish spawn and then move into the post-spawn phase, a typical progression is for them to move out to docks to recover and then onto points. Some will also stay shallow where they can be caught on topwater lures like a Torpedo or Devil’s Horse. When fish move out to docks and points jigs, worms and spinnerbaits are all good choices. 

Before too long the shad spawn will start around boat docks and riprap and bass will key on this.

March 27

Lake Greenwood water levels have shot up to 439.45 (full pool is 440.0) and water temperatures are in the lower 60s. The lake had cleared a good bit before the recent round of rain, but after rising two feet in as many days the whole lake is getting muddy again. 

Things change fast in the spring in the South, and veteran tournament bass angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that fishing has been day-to-day.  There were some good catches late last week and on Saturday, then after cool, windy weather blew through Sunday weights plummeted in the ABA tournament. And now what was becoming a relatively clear lake is getting muddy again.

Generally fish are pre-spawn with some are already on the beds, and that means anglers should look shallow. This next full moon should have a huge number of fish spawning. A floating worm and topwater lures such as Bang-O-Lures and buzzbaits were working well, but to throw those anglers will now need to search out the cleanest water on the lower end. Main lake spawning pockets may not get as muddy as those back in the creeks.

In much of the lake spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits may be the best bet now that it is getting muddy again. 

The grass pockets across from the state park continue to be a good place to look.

March 13

Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.03 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are in the upper 50s.  The lake is still muddy although it is beginning to clear. 

Even though the water is muddy it’s warming, and veteran tournament bass angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that fishing is finally improving.  Bass are starting to move up into shallower water and make their way in the direction of the backs, even though we are still a little ways off from the spawn.  Right now fish can be found in main lake pockets or pockets in the main part of creeks, and they are also around rocky points.  They are not yet in flat areas in the backs but they are heading that way. 

There have been some nice fish caught on spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits around the eel grass near the state park, and for right now 4-5 feet is the best depth range to look in.

February 27

Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.61 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are in the lower 50s.  The lake is still muddy from one end to the other, and even the water coming out of the dam is red muddy. 

Lake Greenwood is still as muddy as veteran tournament bass angler Stan Gunter of Saluda has ever seen it, and in these conditions he continues to advise going as shallow as possible where there is a little better light penetration.  Out in the deep water bass are essentially blind and confused, even with their lateral line.  Fish will still be related to some type of shallow cover, as it gives them something to orient towards.

There aren’t many fish being caught, and in recent tournaments zeros have been more common than limits.  The best baits are still spinnerbaits or Chatterbaits, unless you want to flip very shallow cover. 

As we move into March if the water clears fish will start to stage for the pre-spawn around points and brushpiles, which could be shallow or deep.  They will also be at the mouths of creeks near spawning locations.  Jigs, heavy spinnerbaits, or worms will all work.  Stan finds that on Greenwood typically there are plenty of fish that can be caught early in the pre-spawn running the banks, but often the better ones hold out a little bit deeper.  Jerkbaits or medium-running crankbaits can work well for these fish.

February 14

Lake Greenwood water levels are at 437.15 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are in the lower 50s. From one end to the other the lake is as orange and muddy as it ever gets.

It looks like horrendous bass fishing conditions on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that right now the lake is so thick with red mud that it looks like you could walk across the water and leave tracks!  The flood gates are still running, and the best advice is probably to go somewhere else to fish.

With that said, there have been some times where the lake did not look much different than this when Stan has found a better-than-expected bite. In those circumstances the key was fishing very shallow with a fire tiger crankbait. The best such bite he remembers was in March when it was a little warmer.  

It should be some time until the lake clears, especially with recent rains in the Upstate as well as more predicted. When it does finally start to settle out Stan advises heading to the backs of creeks or up the river, which should be the first areas to clear.  

In the dirty water Stan advises throwing as shallow as you possibly can, as fish will be so shallow that you can practically throw a bait on the bank and expect fish to eat it when you first pull it into the water. They can not see, and so to orient themselves they will head to the banks and also try to get near some piece of cover.  The best baits are likely to be spinnerbaits or Chatterbaits, or you may want to flip very shallow cover.

January 31

Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 434.54 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures range from about 47-51. The lake is muddy. 

It’s still pretty tough bass fishing conditions on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that cold, muddy water is doing nothing to help the bite.   A fresh round of rain today should make things even dirtier.  Still, low visibility is pushing fish relatively shallow and they are looking for something to hold against to orient themselves. Bass will be around shallow laydowns, pieces of wood, rocks, docks, etc. Stan advises staying on the main lake, and the best baits right now are shallow-running crankbaits, Rattle Traps, Chatterbaits, and the like.  Brightly colored lures that are visible and make a lot of vibration are the best bet.

While an Alabama rig had been catching some fish in the clearer water at the lower end of the lake, the whole lake is dirty now. Until the rain today the upper end was actually cleaner than the middle and lower lake.

January 17

Lake Greenwood water levels are up to 437.44 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are in the upper 50s. The lake ranges from muddy to stained.

Atypical water conditions are making for some tough bass fishing conditions on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports that water temperatures should be 49 degrees instead of 58 or 59. The lake is also very dirty, with the conditions above the state park muddy. Below the state park the water has a lot of color already, and will get worse. Water levels have also risen almost three feet in as many days.

In these conditions anglers need to be fishing shallow in less than five feet in the cleanest water they can find. Fish are looking for something to hold against to orient themselves, and so they will be around shallow laydowns, pieces of wood, rocks, docks, etc. Stan advises staying on the main lake. 

Brightly colored lures that are visible and make a lot of vibration are the best bet, such as Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits with Colorado blades, or crankbaits in fire tiger color.  At the extreme lower end of the lake an Alabama rig with bright baits can also be effective.