January 19

Lake Jocassee is at 98.9% of full pool and the water is stained in the creeks but clear on the big water. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-50s.  

After a few weeks away, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley finally got up to Lake Jocassee yesterday and what a day it was! He caught an incredible 22 pounds of spotted bass, including the pigs pictured below. The fish were in 15-45 feet of water up the rivers and in big pockets, while there doesn’t seem to be much going on out on the main body. He caught everything on a big one-ounce spinnerbait and an Alabama rig. 

The key to catching fish right now is locating their food source, and Joe reports that they are feeding on two main things. One is the herring, but the other is the stocked trout. If you find either that’s where the fish will be!

Full-grown trout continue to be caught on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones with Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that in the tournament this weekend a nice 5-pounder won. Each trip he seems to get about a 20-inch fish, and it was only a week ago that a near 7-pounder came to the scales.

However, while they continue to catch fish they are so scattered that numbers usually aren’t that impressive. Most of the fish are from the surface to about 40 feet down, and they can be caught anywhere on the lake from the dam to the rivers. A new front every couple of days probably isn’t helping, either. 

Sam is still trolling Sutton spoons slathered with Pautzke Fire Gel in herring or shad scents, but you can also catch fish on live bait or casting bass lures. 

January 12

Lake Jocassee is at 98.7% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 55 degrees.  Unlike the rest of the state’s lakes, Jocassee is still clear!

While it’s still a good time to catch trout on Lake Jocassee the fish have been a bit more temperamental this week, and Guide Sam Jones with Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that they have caught some nice fish but there have been other days when it’s tricky to get them to bite. They are still seeing a ton of spotted bass, but those have also been a little more finicky about eating this week. But the most exciting news is that the trout being caught have generally been big, and one of Sam’s buddies caught a 6-12 fish yesterday!

Water temperatures are still in the range where fish can be anywhere, and most of the action is coming from the surface to 50 feet. Good fish can be caught from the back of the rivers to the dam, and the big fish yesterday was caught relatively shallow by the dam. Sam is still trolling Sutton spoons slathered with Pautzke Fire Gel in herring or shad scents, and his best fish this week came in 27 and 37 feet.

  

Sam has not been hearing as much about anglers catching recently stocked sub-keeper trout, but they should still be grouped up at the waterfalls.  Casting or even trolling with small Rooster Tails works well for these fish, but be sure to handle them as little as possible and release them with care. 

While they aren’t getting as many bass as a by-catch, if you want to target spots then heading to the flats in the back of the Toxaway where bait is stacked up and casting minnows into the schools is hard to beat. Diving loons and gulls will let you know when you are in the right area. 

January 5

Lake Jocassee is up to 98.9% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 56 degrees. 

There has been some pretty outstanding fishing on Lake Jocassee recently, and Guide Sam Jones with Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that it continues to be a really good time for trout. With water temperatures in the mid-50s the trout can be anywhere, and the best pattern for catching keepers is trolling Sutton spoons slathered with Pautzke Fire Gel in herring or shad scents from the surface to about 50 feet.  Some of the better fish are still coming out of the big water, but the rivers and creeks are also productive and fish are everywhere. 

With recently stocked trout now in the lake there are also still a ton of sub-keeper fish around, and they are grouped up around the waterfalls. It’s almost like they are trying to get out of the lake and so they run way up the creeks and congregate. Casting or even trolling with small Rooster Tails is working well for these fish. Be sure to handle them as little as possible and release them with care. 

As always at this time of year they continue to catch a lot of spotted bass, and the yellow perch fishing continues to be very good. Sam’s boat is just picking them up as a by-catch while trolling spoons, but if you head way up the Toxaway and fish minnows 40-50 feet down over timber you can wear them out.  They make excellent table fare. 

 

December 21

Lake Jocassee is at 98.6% of full pool and the lake is typically clear. Morning surface water temperatures have cooled into the lower to mid-50s.

Even as water temperatures cool off the fishing has gotten really good on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones with Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that the bite for a number of species is basically on fire. People have been catching some really big trout up to the 7 ½ pound range, spotted bass are practically jumping the boat, newly stocked trout are attacking spinners and delicious yellow perch are feeding. 

We are still in the period where trout can be anywhere, and the best pattern for catching keepers is trolling Sutton spoons slathered with Pautzke Fire Gel in herring or shad scents 50 feed down or less. The minnows available in the area are not great right now. Some of the better fish are coming out of the big water, but the rivers and creeks are also productive and fish are everywhere. 

Fishing this pattern they are actually catching more bass than trout right now, and about every time you run across a point there’s a good chance of getting a bass. 

With recently stocked trout now in the lake there are a ton of sub-keeper fish around, and they are grouped up around the waterfalls. It’s almost like they are trying to get out of the lake and so they run way up the creeks and congregate. Casting or even trolling with small Rooster Tails is working well for these fish. Be sure to handle them as little as possible and release them with care. 

Way up the creeks there is also a very good population of perch, and they are generally highly structure-oriented. Find trees and look for the perch to be just over the top of them where they will take minnows the best but also spoons. Frequently they are 40-50 feet down over trees in 100 feet of water.  You will also catch a lot of spots and even some trout this way. 

December 15

Lake Jocassee is at 96.6% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures have cooled into the mid-50s.

It’s an exciting time for trout fishing on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones with Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that with water temperatures in the range where the fish can be anywhere in the water column you can catch fish doing about anything. At this time of year some of the best catches actually come from bass fishermen throwing baits that imitate shad for bass!  Some good fish can even be caught on topwater lures. 

Still the most productive depth range has generally been 35-55 feet. With bait stirred up by the abundant loons bait has been relatively shallow, and a lot of the trout are just under the bait. Gulls are also circling in the same areas. The fish are everywhere, from the spillway near the dam to the rivers including the Toxaway and Horse Pasture as everything is really scattered right now. Pulling Sutton spoons slathered with Pautzke Fire Gel in herring or shad scents is still productive. 

At the same time that the bass guys are catching trout the trout guys are also catching bass, which are also extremely scattered.  Tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports that the bass are everywhere from the bank to 90 feet of water, and the key to catching them is to find the big groups of bait. He is using forward-facing sonar to locate the fish and then throwing Alabama rigs and jigging spoons, concentrating up the Toxaway River. Fish are both suspended and on the bottom. 

They have also found a few fish on shallow flats that will take swimbaits.    

December 1

Lake Jocassee is up to 96.8% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 61 degrees.

The fishing is really turning on at Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones with Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that by now the water temperatures are about the same from the surface all the way down to nearly 100 feet. The best catches are coming in 20-40 feet, and at that depth they are catching a lot of trout as well as good numbers of spotted bass. Trout are seemingly moving up because at the 120-foot depth they are only catching catfish and spotted bass. The main catch is still coming pulling Sutton spoons slathered with Pautzke Fire Gel in herring or shad scents. 

Fish are scattered all over the lake, and Sam continues to have the best results up Thompson’s and the Whitewater River. Anglers are also doing well where the three rivers split off, but no one is going too far back looking for trout. Fish are still pretty tree-related, if you are willing to brave it, and fishing around trees also really increases the chances of catching a bass. 

Freshly stocked fish are not showing up yet and they will probably not be introduced until water temperatures drop a bit more. 

More bass information to follow. 

November 17

Lake Jocassee is up to 95.6% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 66 degrees.

Things are changing on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones with Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that in addition to most of the bait now being in the 30-50 foot range they are now marking the most fish there as well. They picked up a trout and a bass trolling at 40 feet, and they marked a ton of fish. They do continue to troll some lines at 90 feet because there are still fish down there, including what appear to be the biggest ones, but it seems clear that overall things are moving shallower. 

This week Sam has made passes by the dam, spillway and adjacent trees and marked nothing, and the best action continues to come in Thompson River. The best fishing is still coming pulling Sutton spoons around trees, and they are still slathering them with Pautzke Fire Gel in herring or shad scents for the best results. Not many people are fishing live bait right now.

 

Similar to the trout, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports that the bass can still be anywhere from a foot to 90 feet and they extremely scattered chasing bait.  Concentrate on the river channels, and right now the Toxaway and Horse Pasture are fishing the best. Sometimes in the morning you can catch them on spinnerbaits around trees, and spy baits can also work. But the real deal for fish chasing bait is an Alabama rig, and you can throw it basically anywhere. 

November 10

Lake Jocassee is at 93.8% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are back up to 68 or so degrees.

It’s a similar pattern this week for trout on Lake Jocassee, and Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that they continue to pick off a fish or two most trips. Most of the bait has already moved into the 30-50 foot range, and so the fish should follow it soon, but for now they are still catch most of their fish deep. This week 90 feet was the best depth range, and it’s been some time since they caught one at 40 feet a few weeks ago. They have heard of other boats catching fish in 50-60 feet and they continue to put out shallow lines.  

The dam continues to be unproductive, and they are still concentrating their efforts in the creeks and rivers. This week the Thompson River was the best. The best fishing is still coming pulling Sutton spoons around trees, and they are still slathering them with Pautzke Fire Gel in herring or shad scents for the best results. Not many people are fishing live bait right now. 

Similar to the trout, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports that the bass can still be anywhere from a foot to 90 feet and they extremely scattered chasing bait.  Concentrate on the river channels, and right now the Toxaway and Horse Pasture are fishing the best. Sometimes in the morning you can catch them on spinnerbaits around trees, and spy baits can also work. But the real deal for fish chasing bait is an Alabama rig, and you can throw it basically anywhere. 

November 4

Lake Jocassee is at 93.9% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 65-66 degrees.

Even though the bite isn’t hot they continue to dredge up one or two trout on each trip on Lake Jocassee, but Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that the most notable thing is that the trout are very healthy but thin. Sometimes they will get 18-inch trout that are so fat they look like a football and weigh upwards of three pounds, but not these. There is plenty of bait and so it’s hard to know why they aren’t fatter. 

Even though a variety of depths are now comfortable, perhaps the best bait concentrations are deep because they are still catching the most fish at 100 feet and marking them as deep as 125.  There is also a lot of bait in 40-60 and so they are putting lines at 40 and 55 feet, but getting no bites so far.  As the surface cools trout will want to come up eventually. 

The dam continues to be unproductive, and they are still concentrating their efforts in the creeks and rivers, especially the channel at the Whitewater River. The best fishing is still coming pulling Sutton spoons around trees.

Similar to the trout, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports that right now bass can be anywhere from a foot to 90 feet and they extremely scattered chasing bait.   Concentrate on the river channels, and right now the Toxaway and Horse Pasture are fishing the best. Sometimes in the morning you can catch them on spinnerbaits around trees, and spy baits can also work. But the real deal for fish chasing bait is an Alabama rig, and you can throw it basically anywhere. 

October 20

Lake Jocassee is at 92.8% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 69 degrees.

As temperatures drop the trout fishing continues to be steady if a little slow, and Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that they continue to scratch out some nice brown trout on recent trips. The fish seem to a be a little thinner than usual, perhaps because they are attempting a fall spawn, but they are very healthy. 

The dam continues to be unproductive, and they are still concentrating their efforts in the creeks and rivers, especially the channel at the Whitewater River. The best fishing is still in 100 plus feet of water pulling Sutton spoons around trees, and this week they had their biggest fish at 120 feet! However, they continue to run some lines in the 40-foot range since there are some shallower fish. 

The bass continue to be loaded up on particular points in 25-40 feet of water, but some days they have had lockjaw recently. However, they are still marking a ton of fish with the best action about halfway up rivers like the Toxaway. 

Meanwhile, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports that there are still some bass which can be caught much shallower. The biggest largemouth are still coming going to the banks in the rivers and throwing buzzbaits, Whopper Ploppers and other topwater lures. This pattern should continue until water temperatures really drop. 

October 13

Lake Jocassee is at 93.7% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 72 degrees.

While it’s still not spring trout fishing there has been some improvement in the bite this week, and Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that they have started to catch some nice brown trout. Perhaps because bait has moved into the rivers and creeks the dam has been a complete waste of time, and they are now concentrating their efforts in the channel at the Whitewater River. The best fishing is still in 100 plus feet of water pulling Sutton spoons around trees, but they were pleasantly surprised to catch a nice trout in just 40 feet of water on a Rapala.  

If you were wondering why they were trolling that shallow even while most of the trout are still deep, it’s because there has been a very good bass bite off points in 25-40 feet of water. They are usually forward-facing sonar to target spotted bass and the fish are active. There is now a ton of bait in the creeks and they are finding the best action about halfway up rivers like the Toxaway. 

Meanwhile, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports that there are still some bass which can be caught much shallower. The biggest largemouth are still coming going to the banks in the rivers and throwing buzzbaits, Whopper Ploppers and other topwater lures. This pattern should continue until water temperatures really drop. 

October 6

Lake Jocassee is at 95.3% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 74 degrees.

Even as water temperatures have dropped on other lakes things haven’t changed that much on deep, clear Lake Jocassee, and Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that the trout are still hard to catch. They are in the trees earlier than usual this fall, and that makes for tough (and potentially expensive if you lose gear) fishing. Right now they are only getting one or two fish per trip if they do catch a trout. 

The fish are still very deep in 110 to 120 feet, and they continue to put out baits from 100-130. The best action is still coming on Sutton spoons coated with Pautzke Fire Gel.   The best bite is coming at the dam and the main body of the lake near the Whitewater River.

The bulk of the catch is actually small catfish and bass right now, and Guide Sam Jones reports that they are still catching bass in 100 plus feet of water. However, even those fish have been a little slower this week indicating they could be moving up.  

Meanwhile, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports that there are still some bass which can be caught much, much shallower. The biggest largemouth are still coming going to the banks and throwing buzzbaits, Whopper Ploppers and other topwater lures. You can also find some spotted bass off mid-depth points in about 25-55 feet, and the spots could be starting to group up in that zone.