April 17

Lake Keowee is at 96.7% of full pool and water clarity is still extremely high. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 70s over most of the lake.  

Water temperatures have risen a couple more degrees this week on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that water levels are a little low as the drought is affecting the Upstate lake. But fishing remains good, with black bass still in all three phases of the spawn (although the warmer mid-lake area is primarily post-spawn now).  An early bite on points with topwater lures and crankbaits is developing, and topwaters can be good all day off points.  Otherwise, soft plastics on points and wind-blown shorelines are working well.  Any structure or brush in 10-20' is a good target currently with the same soft plastics. 

April 8

Lake Keowee is at 97.4% of full pool and water clarity is extremely high. Morning surface water temperatures range from the upper 60s to mid-70s.  

Water temperatures continue to slowly rise on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson(864-324-2065) reports that black bass are now in all phases of the spawning cycle. Most fish are now on the bed with some post-spawn fish being caught also, but the spawn on Keowee takes a long time so there are still a lot of fish yet to move up. Fishing is very good with soft plastic baits in bedding areas. Some topwater action is also underway.   

It's a great time to be on the lake.

April 3

Lake Keowee is at 97.4% of full pool and water clarity remains very high. Morning surface water temperatures have risen quickly into the upper 60s and low 70s.  

The spawn is progressing on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that while the majority of black bass are still primarily pre-spawn and spawning, some post-spawn fish have begun to show up as well. An early bite on points is developing and should get stronger with a topwater bait, and then all day long soft plastic baits in spawning areas continue to work well. 

Expect to see more surface activity over the next couple of weeks.

March 27

Lake Keowee is at 98.5% of full pool and water clarity remains high although there is a lot of pollen in the water. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-60s in most areas.

Water temperatures continue to slowly rise on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that black bass are in heavy pre-spawn and spawning mode over most of the lake – with some post-spawn fish now in the mid-lake region.  Fishing is very good with lots of fish up shallow in 4-16 feet of water.  Soft plastics around bedding areas are producing good numbers of fish with some big spots coming off the bed.  Spawning pockets, long flat points, and docks are good areas to target.  Any brush in 10-15 feet of water is also typically holding fish. 

It is a good time to be on the lake!

March 20

Lake Keowee is at 97.0% of full pool and water clarity remains extremely high although there is now heavy pollen in many areas (which will affect forward-facing sonar for the next few weeks). Morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-60s over most of the lake.   

It’s a great time for catching fish on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that black bass are in heavy pre-spawn and spawning mode in most sections of the lake with some post-spawn fish already present mid-lake!  Fishing in traditional spawning coves, on flats, and around docks is a very productive pattern with soft plastics.  Some fish are chasing bait mid-lake and can be targeted with swimbaits or jerkbaits. 

Overall fishing is very good right now and should stay that way for some time!

March 11

As usual recently Lake Keowee water levels are low today at 96.8% of full pool and water clarity remains extremely high. Morning surface water temperatures are now in the low to mid-60s throughout the lake. 

As water levels have shot up this week, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that black bass are moving up shallow now and can be caught with soft plastics such as a wacky rig, Texas rig, Ned rig, and more around docks, points and shorelines.  Any potential bedding location is a good area to target with many fish now on the move to spawn and some already spawning. Additionally, a swimbait early in the back of creeks or coves where bait is present is a good starting point most mornings.  Anglers can expect these trends to even get stronger on the next full moon where a big spawn should occur. 

Overall, fishing is good for both numbers and size now.

February 26

Lake Keowee is at 98.3% of full pool and water clarity is extremely high in all areas of the lake. Morning surface water temperatures range from the mid-50s to low 60s. 

This week water temperatures held steady with some cold weather, but N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that they should be on the rise again. Overall black bass continue to move up and he expects to see some fish on the bed mid-lake anytime now. 

An early bite with a swimbait back in drains where fish are chasing bait works, along with a jerkbait.  Soft plastics such as Ned rigs, jigs, Texas rigs, and more are good for fish making their way toward spawning locations. 

There have been a lot of tournaments on the lake in the past couple of weeks and getting in the money has generally taken over 16 pounds.  Expect to see some really good spring fishing in the coming weeks.

February 20

Lake Keowee is at 97.7% of full pool and water clarity is extremely high – about 15 feet in many areas! Morning surface water temperatures are now in the mid-50s to low 60s. 

As water temperatures continue to slowly rise, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that black bass are in a transition from winter to spring.  While Charles has not personally seen any fish on the bed yet, it would not surprise him if some are in the warmest mid-lake section near the power plant.  However, it will be a few more weeks before they see a big movement of fish on the bed. 

But overall, they are starting to see some fish migrating up and expect that trend to continue with the warmer water.

Right now swimbaits and soft plastics such as a Ned rig or Texas rig are working along with jerkbaits on windy days.  A deeper bite with a drop shot or jig is still good in the ditches out to 40 feet or so. 

February 13

Lake Keowee is at 98.4% of full pool and water clarity remains very high. Mid-lake water temperatures are now in the low 60-degree range with the rest of the lake still in the 50s. 

As water temperatures begin to creep up, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that black bass are becoming more active. There is still a deep winter pattern in the creeks and deep water out to 80 feet.  A drop shot, other soft plastic, or jig on the bottom can be used to target these fish. However, some fish are beginning to get a bit shallower, particularly on sunny afternoons around rocky points, docks, and wind-blown shorelines.  A jerkbait or jig is effective on these fish.  With continued warm weather forecast expect to see more fish begin to migrate to pre-spawn locations.

February 4

Lake Keowee is at 97.2% of full pool and water clarity remains high on the main lake. Water temperatures have fallen into the high 40s to mid-50s over most of the lake, with the warmest water in the upper 50s by the nuclear discharge. 

After a long period of cold weather, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that he finally got back out on the water yesterday.  Many fish are deep and not very active with the cold water.  However, a drop shot or spoon will still catch some fish in the deeper water.  A swimbait or jig fished slowly down creek channels will produce as well. 

For shallower fish, a jig, shaky head, or Texas rig fished slowly around docks and rocky points is a good tactic.  If windy, a jerkbait in these same areas is an option. 

We are probably at the low point for the water temperature on the lake and would expect to see some slight upward movement in the next week or so.  With a warm day or two, expect some fish to move up more shallow around docks back in the coves.

January 29

Lake Keowee is at 96.9% of full pool and water clarity remains very high. Water temperatures continue to drop and should be in the 40s over most of the lake by this weekend.   

Icy conditions have kept most everyone off the lake this week, and with several inches of snow predicted in the next few days N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that he likely won’t be back on the water until next week. Nonetheless, a deep bite with a drop shot, spoon, or jig fished slowly in the creek channels out to 80 feet should continue to be a good option.  And for what shallower fish are around, a small swimbait or jerkbait will be a good choice.  Finding areas holding schools of baitfish will greatly increase the odds of finding active fish. 

As temperatures continue to drop a very slow presentation is likely to be remain critical.

January 23

Lake Keowee is at 96.6% of full pool and water clarity remains very high. Water temperatures are in the low 50s over most of the lake with mid-50s around the nuclear discharge. 

With dropping temperatures fishing has slowed this week, but N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that a deep bite with a drop shot, spoon, or jig fished slowly in the creek channels out to 80 feet is a good option.  For shallower fish, a small swimbait or jerkbait is a good choice.  Finding areas holding schools of baitfish will greatly increase the odds of finding active fish. 

Even cooler weather is predicted next week so a very slow presentation is likely to be key.

January 15

Lake Keowee is at 97.7% of full pool and water clarity remains very high. Water temperatures are in the low 50s to low 60s depending on which section of the lake you fish. 

It has been another week without a lot of changes on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that overall fish remain in a winter pattern.  Fishing deep in creeks, ditches, and around ledges using a drop shot or spoon out to 80 feet is effective. On windy days, a jerk bait off points is a good choice. 

For shallower fish, a jig around docks is another productive winter-time option on the lake.

January 1

Lake Keowee is at 99.0% of full pool and water clarity is very high. Water temperatures are in the mid-50s over most of the lake with low 60s still found at or near the nuclear facility. Some water is being released into Hartwell at times given the lack of rain in the Upstate. 

With the weather whipsawing back and forth this past week, N&C Marine team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that water temperatures have basically remained about the same.   Fishing patterns have remained consistent as well with a deep bite using a drop shot out to 80 feet producing fish in creek channels and swings.  A swimbait is working mid-lake on fish that are higher in the water column.  A jig or shaky head fished slowly around docks is an option as well.