January 2

Lake Keowee is at 97.7% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have fallen into the lower 50s over most of the lake. 

Last week’s cold front significantly dropped water temperatures, and as a result N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that fish moved into a winter pattern with many fish now deep and often hugging the bottom.  These fish can be targeted with a drop shot or jigging spoon. 

Some fish are still being caught on jerkbaits off points and in pockets.  A jig or swimbait fished slowly is also another good winter pattern on the lake. 

Fishing has slowed as the water temperature has dropped but you can still have a productive day on the lake, particularly in areas where bait fish can be found. 

 

December 12

Lake Keowee is at 97.8% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have fallen into the upper 50s to low 60s over most of the lake this past week.    

It’s getting cooler on Lake Keowee, but N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that’s good for the bass bite as fish are feeding up before the coldest time of the year. 

There are still some fish shallow out to 20 feet which can be targeted with soft plastics.  However, the best fishing for numbers is out deep, in 50 plus feet, in creek channels, ledges, and on the main lake where birds are feeding on schools of bait fish. 

Look for bait in any of these areas and there will likely be schools of spotted bass nearby.  Fish can either be on the bottom or suspended, depending on where the bait is located. 

Deep fish can be targeted with a drop shot, spoon, or jerkbait.  

December 2

Lake Keowee is at 98.4% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are generally in the lower 60s over most of the lake now.    

Temperatures have dropped on Lake Keowee this week, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that a very good early winter bass bite is now underway on the lake. The best place to look is in creeks and main lake ledges/ drop-offs in depths from 50 plus feet of water.  Drop shots and small jigging spoons are working.  Use your electronics to find areas holding bait fish and spotted bass are likely to be close by.  Keep moving until you find bait.  Many fish are holding tight to the bottom in these areas but will fire up when a bait is presented. 

Overall, it’s a great time to catch numbers of fish on the lake!

November 25

Lake Keowee is at 97.7% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have slowly fallen to the low to mid-60s over most of the lake, with the mid-lake still at 70 degrees around the power plant.    

As a result of temperature differentials, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that the lake is fishing a bit differently based on the area.  Bass on the southern and northern ends are moving to more of a winter-time pattern; a deeper bite using a drop shot or small spoon the best bet. 

Around the power plant, more fish are shallow and more likely to be chasing bait on the surface so a topwater bait is still a good choice here.  A jerkbait is another good option, especially on windy points. 

Overall, fishing remains good on the lake as we transition to winter.

November 18

Lake Keowee is at 97.6% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are now in the mid-60s over most of the lake, with the mid-lake around 70 degrees.   

Rapidly falling water temperatures have put the bass on the move, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that fish have begun to finally transition into more of an early winter pattern. They can be found in long creek runs and major coves where bait fish are present.  Fish in these areas can be in depths from 30 feet to 60 feet – wherever the bait is present.  Many of the spotted bass will be roaming in schools but many also position around the schools of bait.  A drop shot or small spoon can be used to target these bass. 

Another pattern that is developing and getting stronger as the temperature drops is a jerkbait off points (preferably in the wind) throughout the day.  The shallow, soft plastic bite is slowing up and will get weaker as the temperature drops. 

Overall, fishing remains very good on the lake.

November 10

Lake Keowee is at 97.4% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures remains in the low 70s over most of the lake.   

Due to the continued warm weather this past week, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that the fishing patterns have not changed much since his last report.  However, that will be changing over the coming week with heavy rain forecast in the next couple of days and then much cooler temperatures. 

Fishing remains good using a variety of techniques and baits. 

An early bite on points is still present with a crankbait or spinnerbait in the wind. 

Some fish remain shallow and can be targeted with soft plastics, either on the bottom or with soft swimbaits off pockets in major creeks. 

Spotted bass continue to chase shad on the surface at times and the topwater action has been most common mid-morning and again in the afternoon. 

A deeper bite, out to 60 feet, is also good with a drop shot or spoon where bait is present. 

Expect to see fish move to more winter areas in the next couple of weeks with falling water temperatures.

November 3

Lake Keowee is at 97.6% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have again held steady in the low 70s over most of the lake.   

It continues to be a strange fall on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that with no significant water temperature change in the past week the fall and early winter bass pattern is behind schedule – probably 2 to 4 weeks from normal this time of year.  The good news is that fishing remains very good on the lake using a variety of patterns. 

An early bite on points with a small crankbait or spinnerbait is present.  Shallow fish can be found around docks and points and targeted with soft plastics.  Deeper fish can be found in some of the creeks where bait is present and a drop shot or small spoon can be used out to 60 feet or so.  Some schooling continues to occur on the main lake (where a lot of fish are still present) off points falling into deep water and in pockets where bait is trapped.  Fish can school at any point, but the afternoons have been better for this action in the past week.  Keep a topwater handy throughout the day. 

We should see a movement of bait and fish into the creeks in the next couple of weeks as the water slowly cools; this is the more typical pattern for this time of year but it is not widespread yet.  Charles expects a good bite well into December this year and he has openings available for that time frame.

October 27

Lake Keowee is at 98.0% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have held steady in the low 70s over most of the lake.   

As water temperatures have been stable this week, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that the pattern has not changed much and is certainly not into a wintertime scenario yet.  Fish are slowly moving into major creeks as the water cools and bait transitions toward the back of the creeks, but many fish also remain on the main lake on long points in 20 plus feet of water.  A drop shot and a topwater are the baits of choice for creek fish, and soft plastics including a drop shot can be used for the main lake fish on long points.  

Some schooling, particularly in the afternoons, is happening on the lake so a topwater walking bait should be nearby at all times. 

Overall, fishing remains very good on the lake and anglers should expect a major move into the creeks within the next couple of weeks.

October 21

Lake Keowee is at 97.8% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have now fallen into the low 70s over most of the lake.   

As water temperatures have slowly dropped this week, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that the bass continue to feed up in a really good fall pattern. Fish are chasing bait in major creeks resulting in a nice topwater bite.  This can happen at any time during the day. 

When fish are not on the surface a drop shot or jigging spoon can target spotted bass out to 60 feet deep, or suspended over even deeper water.  For shallow fishing, soft plastics around rocky points and deeper docks is a good bet. 

Overall, fishing remains good on the lake and should continue to be so for the next few weeks.

October 12

Lake Keowee is at 96.3% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s over most of the lake. 

Water temperatures have remained steady this week, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that bass fishing remains very good. Fish continue to transition to a fall pattern with movement into the creeks becoming more evident each week. 

A good topwater bite continues on the lake on deep open water points and back in creeks where bait is migrating.  Keep an eye out for surface activity all day long. 

An early bite on points with a square-bill crankbait is also good strategy; a 1.0 or 1.5 size in shad colors is working well.  On windy days, a spinnerbait will produce some fish. 

Soft plastics around docks and drop-offs out to 20 feet or so is the best shallow pattern, and a drop shot in the creeks out to 50 feet is working if bait is present. 

October 6

Lake Keowee is at 96.4% of full pool and clarity is high on the main body of water. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 70s over most of the lake with the mid-lake still the warmest in the low 80s.   

As a slow cooling trend continues, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that bass fishing continues to improve.  There is a good early bite on points and flats with a squarebill or topwater.  A spinnerbait is also a good choice when wind is present.  After the sun rises, the topwater bait is extending to mid-morning or later. 

Schooling activity on the main lake has picked up this week and can last all day so keep an eye open for surface activity – even over very deep water.  After fish surface and then go back down, a drop shot or spoon is effective. 

Shallow fish can be targeted with soft plastics out to 20 feet or so along the shorelines. 

Overall, fishing is very good now and the fall transition is well underway.