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The newest Lake Jocassee fishing report can be found at: http://www.anglersheadquarters.com/ahq-insider-lake-jocassee-sc-spring-2018-fishing-report/

April 11

Lake Jocassee is at 96.1% of full pool, and water temperatures range from about 55-59 degrees in the main lake.  Clarity is normal.

There’s finally some good news on the Lake Jocassee troutfront, and Guide Sam Jones(864-280-9056) reports that they have been catching a lot of fish in the 14-16 inch range – including a bunch of really frustrating 14 ½ – 14 ¾ inch, fat 2-pound fish just under the legal limit.  It’s clear that these fish are eating really well and they have very healthy weight for their size.  There have also been some very good ones mixed in, with an 8-pounder pulled out of the lake recently.

The best pattern is trolling spoons, but as is typical in the spring the fish want them pulled a bit faster in the 2-2.5 mile per hour range instead of the more typical 1.5 – 1.75 mph range.  The fish also seem to have moved a bit shallower, and while there are still some fish coming out of the 75-foot range (including the 8-pounder) the 30-50 foot zone has better numbers.

Before long the large minnow bite should pick up.

March 30

Lake Jocassee is at 97.7% of full pool, and water temperatures are in the mid-50s.  Clarity is normal.

The Lake Jocassee trout have not turned on yet, and Guide Sam Jones reports that his boat is still catching mainly small fish.  They seem to be moving a bit deeper, and the better fish seem to be in the 30-70 foot range with some already caught in 75 feet. Trolling spoons has been working best.

March 15

Lake Jocassee is at 95.7% of full pool, and water temperatures are around 53 degrees.  Clarity is normal.

Lake Jocassee warms and cools slowly, and so even with up-and-down temperatures over the last month there’s not a lot of change in the trout fishing pattern.  Guide Sam Jones reports that his boat has been catching fish trolling spoons 25-50 feet deep, but recently the catch has mainly been small trout.

February 23

Lake Jocassee remains at 99.4% of full pool, and water temperatures range from the low to mid-50s (water temperatures rise slowly in this deep, clear lake).  Clarity is normal and the backs are clearer than last week.

There’s still not a lot of change in Lake Jocassee trout fishing, but Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that some good fish as well as some smaller ones continue to be caught.  The best pattern is still trolling spoons in 30-55 feet of water, with the dam area producing best.

No new bass report from Guide Rob McComas (828-674-5041, who still recommends fishing the float-n-fly rig to target smallmouth in 15-20 feet of water.

February 16

Lake Jocassee is way up to 99.4% of full pool, and water temperatures range from about 52-53 degrees.  As always, the big water is very clear but in the backs of the rivers there is a very light stain – stained for Jocassee.

Lake Jocassee bass fishing is changing, and even though Guide Rob McComas (828-674-5041) is still mainly fishing the float-n-fly rig for smallmouth (described January 18) the fish have moved.  Usually they are coming up deep to feed along steep bluff walls, but with the rain and rising water the fish have moved up.  Rob was finding them in 15-20 feet of water.  The bite has not been easy, but in the afternoon he has found some nice groups of smallmouth willing to feed.

There’s still not a lot of change in Lake Jocassee trout fishing, but Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that in the most recent tournament some good fish up to 6.5 pounds were caught to go with a good number of 3 pounders.  Overall the fishing is still a little off from where it usually is this time of year, but it’s getting more normal.

The best pattern is still trolling spoons in 30-55 feet of water, with the dam area producing best.  This year trout seem to have stayed a little deeper than usual, for reasons that are unclear, and so the surface bite pulling plugs has never really materialized.

February 9

Lake Jocassee is at 97.0% of full pool, and water temperatures are up to about 52 degrees.  Water clarity remains normal (very high).

There’s not a lot of change in Lake Jocassee trout fishing, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that they are still catching some decent fish trolling spoons in 30-55 feet of water.  His boat is mostly still concentrating on the dam area, where the biggest fish have come recently, but they have also fished up the rivers too.  Trout up to about four pounds have been caught in the last week.

No new report from Guide Rob McComas (828-674-5041).

February 1

Lake Jocassee is at 95.0% of full pool, and water temperatures are around 48 or 49 degrees.  Water clarity remains normal (very high).

There’s not a lot of change in Lake Jocassee trout fishing, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that they continue to pick up some pretty good fish.  The pattern is basically unchanged, with trolling spoons in 30-50 feet of water the best way to get bit.  Interestingly, a pretty nice striper was caught trolling in the same depth recently.

Guide Rob McComas (828-674-5041) hasn’t been able to spend a lot of time on Jocassee in the last week or two, but the bass pattern also seems about the same.  Fishing the float-n-fly rig for smallmouth is still the best pattern right now.

January 18

Lake Jocassee is at 93.7% of full pool, and water temperatures are in the low 50s.  Visibility remains normal (very high).

2018 is off to a good start for Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056), and on his first trip of the year they caught some very nice fish up to about 5 pounds.  The best action has been trolling Sutton and Apex spoons in 30-50 feet of water, and they have been catching them in the big water near the dam.

On the bass front, Guide Rob McComas (828-674-5041) reports that this is the most consistent time of the year to catch smallmouth bass on Jocassee.  For the next month or two Rob says that he will chiefly be targeting brown fish on the lake.

Pursuing smallmouth in January and February means fishing off steep points and bluff walls, and that can mean fishing in the main lake or in the rivers.  The Whitewater River has some good steep points and bluff walls, and he will be fishing anywhere that has the structure he is looking for.  The bait of choice for Rob is a float-n-fly rig, and he is usually fishing it 12-20 feet deep.  It is best fished very, very slowly and fish will come up from water 40 feet deep or more to take the bait.  Rob finds that the colder the better for the rig.  In addition to float n fly rigs he also uses some jigging spoons as well as blade baits.

In addition to smallmouth bass some spotted bass fall prey to Rob’s winter techniques, and some largemouth are definitely mixed in.  However, the largest catch is smallmouth, and Rob says it can be very exciting when he gets to watch a smallmouth rise slowly through the water column to take a float-n-fly.

December 14

Lake Jocassee is at 91.3% of full pool, and water temperatures are in the low 60s.  Clarity remains normal (very high).

With water temperatures still pretty warm Lake Jocassee trout fishing is still a bit tough, although Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that some fish are starting to be caught.  In the recent tournament only two fish were weighed, and a 3 ½ pounder won, but as temperatures start to dip some good fishing is right around the corner.  It’s about to get good.

Fish can be found in relatively shallow water, and the best action has been in about 16-40 feet.  People are trolling lures and drifting live bait, and there have also been some fish caught by bass anglers casting lures.  Fish can be found to about halfway up the rivers.  The trout have not gotten super shallow yet, but when water temperatures get below 60 a lot more will be found on the surface and very shallow.

Also of note, DNR has already completed their stocking.  More fish were stocked than last year, and some larger fish over 15 inches were also included.

On the bass front, Guide Rob McComas (828-674-5041) reports that even though water temperatures are a little warm right now he thinks the best pattern is to fish a jigging spoon in the creek and river channels in 40-80 feet of water.  Adjust the depth according to where you are marking fish and bait.  Additionally, fish can be found off points in 25-45 feet of water.  Don’t blind fish a point unless you are marking fish.

Bass can also be caught slowly hopping a jig down a chunk rock bank.

November 30

Lake Jocassee is at 88.7% of full pool, and water temperatures are around 65-66 degrees.  Clarity remains normal (very high).

While there is no reason to think that the spotted bass fishing has slowed down, Guide Rob McComas (828-674-5041) reports that the largemouth bass fishing has been unusually tough this fall.  He looks forward to November on Jocassee all year, but it just hasn’t materialized this month.  With water temperatures still atypically warm he is optimistic that December will shape up to fish like November usually does.

In trout news, Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that the lake is still fishing tough.  It will be interesting to see what is caught in the upcoming Jocassee Outdoor Center trout to see if things are beginning to turn around.

Rob McComas shows off a nice October bass caught this fall on Jocassee