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August 12

Lake Jocassee is at 93.8% of full pool, and surface water temperatures range between 81 and 84 degrees.  Clarity is normal (very clear.)

There is not too much change in the trout pattern on Lake Jocassee, but Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that fish have finally hit the 100-foot mark.  They are now catching fish in 80-110 feet of water, mostly at the dam and in the main river channels.  His boat continues to mainly fish Sutton and Apex spoons.

July 14

Lake Jocassee is at 93.5% of full pool, and surface water temperatures are about 80 degrees on the main lake in the morning, rising to around 82 in the afternoon.  The rivers are a couple of degrees warmer and clarity is normal.

The trout continue to follow the seasonal pattern on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that as water temperatures have gotten warmer trout have moved deeper.  They haven’t quite hit the 100-foot mark yet, but he is catching fish in 70-90 feet of water.  His fishing is mainly concentrated on the big pool, although action at the dam has been a little hit-or-miss.  He is also spending some time in the rivers, but only at the very edge of the big water.  They are still sticking exclusively to hardware, with Apex and Sutton spoons accounting for almost all of the fish.  Occasionally a Doctor spoon will get some use.

July 2

Lake Jocassee is at 93.6% of full pool, and surface water temperatures range from about 75-78 degrees.

The trout continue to do what they are supposed to do in the summer on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that with surface temperatures heating up the majority of the fish are now in 60-80 feet of water.  There are still some fish up the rivers, but there are more at the dam and he is fishing more there.  They are still trolling the same Sutton and Apex spoons and not fishing live bait, and there have been some good trolling trips around the dam.  Recently they landed a 6 pound, 23-inch fish.

There is a little bit of an intake bite first thing, particularly for rainbows.  However, while some boats have been doing well there it hasn’t yet turned on the way it sometimes does.

June 9

Lake Jocassee is up to 93.3% of full pool, and water temperatures range from 71-72 in the big water first thing to as high as about 75 up the rivers as the day progresses.

The trout bite is following a typical summer path on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that fish are starting to get a little bit deeper.  Fish looking for cool water have to be lower in the water column now, and that means they are grouping up in 40-70 feet of water.  They aren’t in a super-deep late summer range yet, and they also aren’t all stacked up in the big water.  Fish are still fairly scattered and Sam’s boat is still spending a fair amount of time up the rivers – as well as time at the dam.

Sam is pretty much sticking to hardware right now, and Sutton and Apex spoons are the two best lures.  The fish’s choice varies from day to day.  On most days they are getting at least three keepers in the 2-3 pound range, and there are some better 4s and 5s scattered in as well.

There is not a strong morning bite at the intakes yet this year, and with the restriction in recent years it’s never going to be as good as it was when boats could get where the water was really churning.  Some mornings Sam is actually starting up the rivers, although he’s usually by the dam first thing.