March 16

Lake Keowee is at 98.6% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have fallen 1-2 degrees to around 60 over most of the lake. Around the power plant temperatures are in the mid-60s, while near the Jocassee dam they are in the upper 50s. 

The recent cold fronts have slowed the down the migration of Lake Keowee bass to the banks, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that some of the fish that were up shallow have also backed off a bit this week. 

The best baits have been a swimbait early and late each day around fish chasing bait in long coves and creeks – look for areas holding bait and spotted bass are typically nearby.  After the sun gets up, soft plastics fished from a few feet deep out to 20 feet or so are working.  Docks, steep banks, and wind-blown shorelines have been the most productive areas. 

Overall, fishing is good on the lake.  The swings in spring temperatures and conditions are affecting the fish on a day-to-day basis so adjusting each day to those factors is important.

March 9

Lake Keowee is at 97.6% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-60s over most of the lake. 

As water temperatures continue to rise, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that bass have moved up quickly and fish are now on the bed in many areas of the lake.  This past week marks the first big wave of fish moving up to spawn.  Other fish are in heavy pre-spawn mode and moving up as well. 

The best baits have been a swimbait and soft plastics like a shakey head or Ned rig in 5-15 feet of water.  Wind-blown shorelines and points are better.  Fish are also moving up around docks and any structure found in the lake.  Spinnerbaits and squarebills are also catching some fish shallow, especially on windy points. 

Overall, fishing is very good on the lake as fish have moved up well ahead of normal for this time of year.

March 2

Lake Keowee is at 98.3% of full pool and clarity is normal. Around the nuclear station water temperatures are in the mid-60s, with most areas of the lake now in the low 60s. 

Due to the rapid rise in water temperatures, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that bass are generally a few weeks ahead of the typical pattern. Fish are moving to the bank daily and the shallow bite is improving every day.  There are still some fish in deeper water but this pattern is weak now. 

From the bank out to 20 feet or so is working.  Fish can be caught shallow on plastics, small swimbaits, spinnerbaits, and similar spring-time techniques.  Fish are chasing bait early in the morning and late afternoon in creeks with bait present – a topwater bait will catch them.   

Expect to see fish on the bed anytime if the weather pattern persists.  

February 23

Lake Keowee is at 98.1% of full pool and clarity is normal. The lake has warmed to about 60 degrees on the north and south ends, with the mid-lake rising to the mid-60s over the last couple of days. 

Due to the rapidly warming water temperatures, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that things are changing pretty quickly on Lake Keowee. Fish are starting to aggressively move up and this trend will probably continue if the current weather pattern persists. 

In the American Bass Association Open last week, the top five anglers caught fish at a variety of depths, including some deep.  However, most of the winning bags came shallow on soft plastics, jigs, and swimbaits fished out to 30 feet or so on docks and secondary points.  Sunny, warm afternoons are bringing fish up on the docks and they can be targeted with a shakey head, jig, or Ned rig.  Some fish are also chasing bait off main lake points and in coves with bait present.  These fish can be taken with a swimbait or jerkbait (if windy). 

Overall, fishing is good and the trend should continue to improve in the next few weeks as a strong pre-spawn bite gets underway.

February 16

Lake Keowee is at 97.5% of full pool and clarity is normal. Water temperatures continue to rise on the lake with the mid-lake now in the mid-60s and the upper 50s at the north and south ends. 

Due to temperature differentials, especially in the mid-lake region N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that more fish are beginning to transition to shallow water.  Some surface activity has been noted in the mid-lake as well and those fish can be targeted with a topwater or jerkbait. 

Soft plastics around docks and primary and secondary points out to 30 feet are working.  Rocky points that warm up throughout the day are more productive. 

 

February 13

Lake Keowee is at 98.7% of full pool and the lake is very clear. Water temperatures are around 57 on both ends of the lake but 68 mid-lake!

Tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley has a had a heck of an early spring bass fishing on Lake Keowee, winning the Skeeter Bass Challenge two weeks ago and with typical partner Greg Glouse now adding the Palmetto Boat Center scalp to his resume this Saturday. They had a giant seven pound largemouth and a 5 ½ pound spot to put them over 23 pounds, but if they had not lost another 5-pounder they could have been closer to 30 than 20!

Saturday was an extremely windy day, and they found the better fish set up about 20 feet deep off points and banks in the creeks.  If wind wasn’t blowing onto it, it wasn’t worth fishing. They would locate huge schools of bait on their forward-facing sonar, and then see large schools of 10-20 fish hanging off the bait. The Alabama rig was the deal, and while they also caught a few fish on a spinnerbait all the quality came on the A-rig. Once you figure out the type of banks the fish are sitting on it’s a pretty predictable pattern to locate fish. 

Right now the fish are in a transition period, but particularly in the mid-lake section Joe is already seeing fish cruising up shallow and even some bucks on beds.  In the next week or two the fishing should be in a hard spring pattern instead of a late winter bait pattern.  Everything happens earlier on Keowee because of the power plant. 

February 9

Lake Keowee is at 98.4% of full pool and clarity is high. Water temperatures have remained constant this past week, ranging from the low 50s on the south and north ends to the low 60s mid-lake.

For now bass fishing on Keowee remain largely in a winter pattern, but N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that a slow upward trend in temperatures is likely from this point and more fish will continue to move up to shallower water. 

Tactics that are working include swimbaits and jigs in ditches, along with soft plastics out to 30 feet or so around docks and points.  Deeper fish can still be targeted with a drop shot or spoon but that bite is not as strong as it was a few weeks ago.  A jerkbait, particularly on windy days, is productive on rocky points and shorelines.

With mid-lake temperatures in the low 60s, expect to see fish move up in that area sooner than on the northern or southern ends of the lake.  

February 2

Lake Keowee is at 97.9% of full pool and clarity is high on the main lake with the backs of major creeks stained. Morning surface water temperatures are nearing their winter lows with readings in the low 50s over most of the lake and just over 60 degrees near the power plant discharge.

Every January there are lots of tournaments on Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that has again been the case in 2023 with the ABA, BFL, Skeeter Challenge, high school, and multiple club tournaments being held in the last four weeks.  There have been some big limits weighed, including some big largemouth coming to the scales.  As is common on Keowee a lot of limits of 7-10 pounds have also been recorded, and many anglers have struggled to catch five fish. 

There are various patterns that are working on the lake currently.  A creek/ditch bite with an underspin, swimbait, jig, or shakey head out to 40 feet of water is working.  For the deeper fish, a drop shot or spoon out to 80 feet is also a good choice.  In the creeks, many of the fish are hugging the bottom and a slow presentation is required. 

In the mid-lake region, there continues to be some surface activity (particularly on cloudy days) where bait is found.  These fish can be targeted with a topwater, swimbait, or jerkbait.  Fishing around docks and rocky points with soft plastics or a jig out to 20 feet of water is another option. 

Overall, the lake remains in a winter pattern and the transition to early spring techniques will largely depend on the weather over the coming month.

January 30

Lake Keowee is at 98.4% of full pool and the water is a little more stained than usual. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-50s on the north and south ends and low-60s near the nuclear station.   

Fresh off 18 pounds and first place in Sunday’s Skeeter Bass Challenge, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports that every time he goes out on Keowee the bass are doing something different. They seem to be following the bait, and one day the bait will be in 60 feet then one day it will be in 20 then one day it will be in 40.  The bait doesn’t move around as much as on Jocassee, but it’s not far off.  The good part is that once you figure out where it is at a given time it seems to be fairly stable.  Some of the best concentrations of bait seem to be related to rare timber that was left standing.

While Joe is targeting some of the fish he catches looking at them on forward-facing sonar around cover like boat docks, some of them are glued extremely tight to the bottom and he doesn’t see them until he casts. Once he casts towards the bait he will see them rise off the bottom. 

They caught a couple of the smaller fish he weighed on a Ned rig, but their two good largemouth as well as the better spot came Sunday on an Alabama rig. He would cast the Alabama rig towards a bait school and then watch fish rise off the bottom to swim towards it. Another advantage of the forward-facing sonar is that you can see how fish react to different baits. Without it you would never know there are fish there ignoring a particular offering.  

While there are certainly bass out in very deep water, Joe advises that there are some fish surprisingly shallow as well. In practice Friday he caught a 4.29 pound largemouth in less than five feet of water. 

Finally, right now the more stained areas seem to be producing a bit better. 

January 25

Lake Keowee is up to 99.3% of full pool. 

In the Palmetto Boat Center high school tournament this Saturday on Lake Keowee more than 100 teams fished, but only eight broke ten pounds. One of these was the Pendleton High School team of Blake Sloan and Parker Fowler, son of our regular Upstate correspondent Guide Brad Fowler of Pendleton.

Blake and Parker had a good day out on the water, catching fifteen or more fish and culling multiple times on their way to third place and 12.71 pounds. They did it the normal way, fishing out deep with the usual baits of drop shots and jigs.  They also caught a few on a swimbait. Interestingly, Brad said they never picked up a jigging spoon. They mainly stuck to the mainly lake, fishing 50-80 feet of water on the bottom, but they also headed into the mouth of some creeks.

They did go shallow looking for a big largemouth but never found it and had no bites shallow. Recently there have been some good largemouth caught up the lake. 

With both boys being ninth graders, mainly competing against upperclassmen, expect more good things to come!

January 19

Lake Keowee is at 97.9% of full pool and clarity is normal. Water temperatures are stable this week, with morning surface temperatures in the mid-50s on the north and south ends and low-60s near the nuclear station.   

It’s an interesting time for bass fishing on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that some bigger fish already seem to be moving up in less that 20 feet in the backs of coves and pockets. In multiple tournaments on the lake this past weekend some nice weights were recorded fishing shallow, and some fish seem to be on the bed or moving that way in certain areas. 

Otherwise, a winter pattern is still dominant over much of the lake with fish in creek channels and on ledges or channel swings.  Drop shots, spoons, jerkbaits, jigs and soft plastics are all options depending on which section of the lake you are fishing. 

Another round of big tournaments (the BFL and Skeeter Challenge) are on the lake the last weekend of the month and so it will be interesting to see if they continue to catch big bags relatively shallow. 

 

January 11

Lake Keowee is at 99.3% of full pool and clarity is normal except for muddy conditions in the backs of creeks. Morning surface water temperatures are stable over the past week with mid-50s over most of the lake.  The warmest water is around the nuclear station and the coolest water is in the very back of major creeks.   

The lake is now in a typical winter pattern for bass fishing, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that means that many fish are deep around structure or drop-offs.  These fish are best targeted with a drop shot in depths of 50 plus feet. 

Some fish can be caught on a jerkbait off points.  Look for birds diving on bait to potentially locate a school of bass. 

Fishing soft plastics such as swimbaits, shaky heads, or a jig in creek channels out to 40 feet is another good winter technique on the lake.

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.