October 15

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are still about 75 degrees and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. Water clarity is still high. 

The black bass fishing on Lake Monticello has completely changed this week, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that it’s early for this to be happening but the bait has pulled out of the coves and back into the main lake. First thing you can catch fish along main lake riprap, and the best bet is to fish a square-billed crankbait or something like a DT-10. 

After that you have to move offshore and fish around the bait schools in deep water. Fish are mostly 35-55 feet down in the bait, and they will take Alabama rigs or you can catch them “shaking a minnow”. 

With water temperatures still in the mid-70s, Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that the free-line drifting bite for catfish should continue to be good. You can pull a variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels, and it’s really as simple as drifting several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time anchoring with a variety of baits in 20-30 feet of water around points is a good way to catch a mixed bag of small, medium and larger fish right now. Dip baits are very effective for mostly smaller fish, while cut bait increases your chances of catching a big fish but may generate less bites.

The really good fall bite for big fish usually starts later in October or November once temperatures dip.

October 8

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are down to about 75 degrees and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. Water clarity is still high. 

The black bass fishing on Lake Monticello is highly related to water conditions right now, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that fish are pretty much feeding when they are pulling water – and not eating when they aren’t.  They caught some big bass the last few days and lost some even bigger ones, and the bite is so good when water is moving that it can be like shooting fish in a barrel!

Bait continues to pile up in the coves, and for the first hour of the day when they are usually pumping water into the lake the bite is good with a spinnerbait and crankbait around the banks inside coves. But the evening bite has been even better, and they are catching fish on drop shots fished at the first drop-off where the color changes in the same areas. There are also fish in the coves and pockets that will take an Alabama rig, and when they are just roaming then a plain Alabama rig seems to work best. When they are related to bait schools then bladed Alabama rigs are better. Keep in mind that fish are on small bait right now and so downsize accordingly. 

When water is not moving you can usually catch a fish or two on a drop shot, but it’s a real struggle. 

With water temperatures still in the mid-70s, Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that the free-line drifting bite for catfish should continue to be good. You can pull a variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels, and it’s really as simple as drifting several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time anchoring with a variety of baits in 20-30 feet of water around points is a good way to catch a mixed bag of small, medium and larger fish right now. Dip baits are very effective for mostly smaller fish, while cut bait increases your chances of catching a big fish but may generate less bites.

The really good fall bite for big fish usually starts later in October or November once temperatures dip.

October 2

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are around 78 degrees and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. Water clarity is very high. 

It didn’t take much of a temperature drop to turn the black bass on again, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that things have really improved in the last week. Notably fish have moved towards the banks and become pocket-oriented. 

First thing running the banks with a buzzbait is the best pattern, although a small crankbait will also work. After that early bite look for pockets that have bait in them and fish with a drop shot rig. The fish are generally right at the color change where you stop being able to see the bottom. 

On sunny days then in the middle of the day a flutter spoon fish in deeper sections of pockets is effective. They caught fish in 48 feet on the last trip, but notably the main lake was pretty dead and bait and fish were inside the pockets.

And then in the evenings there is some schooling activity back in the pockets along the color change break. 

With water temperatures still in the upper 70s, Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that the free-line drifting bite should continue to be good. You can pull a variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels, and it’s really as simple as drifting several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time anchoring with a variety of baits in 20-30 feet of water around points is a good way to catch a mixed bag of small, medium and larger fish right now. Dip baits are very effective for mostly smaller fish, while cut bait increases your chances of catching a big fish but may generate less bites.

The really good fall bite for big fish usually starts later in October or November once temperatures dip.

Our apologies for the sporadic fishing reports in recent weeks. We will do everything we can to get back on track with weekly updates, but one of our children is getting through a significant health challenge which has occupied a great deal of our time and kept us out of work.  

September 25

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are around 80-81 degrees away from the power plant and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. 

The black bass fishing has gotten tougher again on Lake Monticello, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that in a recent tournament 10.72 pounds was the top weight. There is a pretty good topwater bite for smallmouth, but these fish are mostly under 14 inches. There is also a fair bite offshore on minnow-type baits, but again right now this is basically only generating bites from small fish. 

It's a grind, but pretty much the only productive pattern for catching keepers right now is to fish a jig around brush piles. 

With water temperatures stable or even rising this week, Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that free-line drifting bite should continue to be good. You can pull a variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels, and it’s really as simple as drifting several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time anchoring with a variety of baits in 20-30 feet of water around points is a good way to catch a mixed bag of small, medium and larger fish right now. Dip baits are very effective for mostly smaller fish, while cut bait increases your chances of catching a big fish but may generate less bites.

The really good fall bite for big fish usually starts later in October or November once temperatures dip.

September 10 

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are down to 84-86 degrees and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. 

There are several different patterns going for black bass on Lake Monticello, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that the topwater bite is really good in the mornings around points and inside pockets. On cloudy days it can continue all day long.

After the sun comes up then fishing points with cover with a soft plastic minnow-style bait on a drop shot rig is working.

The main lake bite is also decent right now, particularly early and late. Fishing deep-diving crankbaits and spoons on humps and points in 15-20 feet of water is working well.

 

While Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) has not been himself or heard any reports on Lake Monticello catfishthis week, he has every reason to believe the free-line drifting bite should continue to be good with water temperatures still above 80. You can pull a variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels, and it’s really as simple as drifting several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time anchoring with a variety of baits in 20-30 feet of water around points is a good way to catch a mixed bag of small, medium and larger fish right now. Dip baits are very effective for mostly smaller fish, while cut bait increases your chances of catching a big fish but may generate less bites.

The really good fall bite for big fish usually starts later in October or November, but it may start earlier this year. 

August 28

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are down to the lower 80s and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. 

There’s some significant change with the black bass this week on Lake Monticello, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that – while there are still fish offshore – as if a switch has flipped the bank bite has turned on. Better fish have moved shallow into the pockets and the topwater bite has gotten really good in the mornings. On cloudy days you can fish something like a Pop-R all day long. After the sun comes up then you can fish a small crankbait or jerkbait in the same areas for fish that are still in the pockets. 

The key to the shallow bite is the bait, and shad have started to make a move shallow into the pockets. Bass will be in the pockets that have shad in them so look for bait before spending too much time in an area. 

For deeper action you can fish a small creature bait on a Carolina rig out to about 20 feet on the sides of points, or of course continue to fish a minnow-style bait or deeper-diving crankbait.

Fishing off sandy beaches and islands continues to be the best thing going for catfish on Monticello, and Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that if you can find areas with mussels then the bite can be outstanding. The fish are mostly smaller but will run up to 8-10 pounds, with the chance for a bigger one, and dip baits are working the best. However, you can also catch them on cut bait. Fish are mostly in 20-30 feet of water and biting throughout the day. 

Free-line drifting is also still working for anglers pulling a variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels, and it’s really as simple as drifting several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

There are no reports on big fish again this week, but the preferred pattern for targeting them remains to anchor cut bait offerings on humps, points and ledges in the 20-45 foot range.  This fall they should go deeper. 

Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have to multiple different types of bait on your lines. 

August 21

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are back into the upper 80s and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. Visibility is pretty high. 

In the late summer the black bass have not moved a whole lot on Lake Monticello, but BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that the patterns for catching them are changing. The fish are extremely hump-related, and when there is current being generated then they are more likely to get up on the humps and take a flutter spoon or big crankbait. The humps generally rise to 20-40 feet below the surface, and so you need a spoon to reach the deeper ones. A crankbait can tick the bottom on the higher ones. But when they are not pulling water then fish are related to the sides, usually in 60-70 feet where the bottom flattens out again.

However, for the last week or so the best pattern has actually been “shaking a minnow” – fishing a minnow-type soft plastic bait on a jighead around the humps while looking at fish on forward-facing sonar – regardless of current. For most of the summer this has not been a terribly effective pattern, but it seems to be coming on as fall approaches. 

Fishing off sandy beaches and islands continues to be the best thing going for catfish on Monticello, and Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that if you can find areas with mussels then the bite can be outstanding. The fish are mostly smaller but will run up to 8-10 pounds, with the chance for a bigger one, and dip baits are working the best. However, you can also catch them on cut bait. Fish are mostly in 20-30 feet of water and biting throughout the day. 

Free-line drifting is also still working for anglers pulling a variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels, and it’s really as simple as drifting several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

There are no reports on big fish again this week, but the preferred pattern for targeting them remains to anchor cut bait offerings on humps, points and ledges in the 20-45 foot range.  This fall they should go deeper. 

Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have to multiple different types of bait on your lines. 

August 14

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are down to about 82 degrees and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. 

All the rain has dropped the water temperatures on Lake Monticello approaching ten degrees, but BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that it hasn’t drastically changed the patterns for catching black bass – although things are slowly changing. The best bite is still cranking in 20-25 feet of water off points. At the same, fish are building up in large schools over humps. Often these areas are too deep for cranking, and so they are catching them on flutter spoons, drop shots, and shaky heads. 

There is still no shallow bite to speak of being reported. 

Fishing off sandy beaches and islands continues to be the best thing going for catfish on Monticello, and Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that if you can find areas with mussels then the bite can be outstanding. The fish are mostly smaller but will run up to 8-10 pounds, with the chance for a bigger one, and dip baits are working the best. However, you can also catch them on cut bait. Fish are mostly in 20-30 feet of water and biting throughout the day. 

Free-line drifting is also still working for anglers pulling a variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels, and it’s really as simple as drifting several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

There are no reports on big fish again this week, but the preferred pattern for targeting them remains to anchor cut bait offerings on humps, points and ledges in the 20-45 foot range.  This fall they should go deeper. 

Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have to multiple different types of bait on your lines. 

July 31

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are still about 89 degrees and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. 

There have been some good black bass caught on Lake Monticello this week, but BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that the bite is still pretty dependent on whether they are pulling water or not. The best fishing is in 20-40 feet of water around humps and points, and when water is moving then a deep-diving crankbait (for the shallower end of the range) or a flutter spoon will catch fish. It’s important to have the baits make contact with the bottom. 
When water is not moving then the same areas hold fish, but you basically have to fish a shaky head or some other soft plastic presentation. 

Eric doesn’t think there is much of a shallow pattern right now, and because they pump in and out so much water there is no thermocline. Accordingly, fish can live very deep on Monticello. 

While free-line drifting is still very effective for catching numbers of catfish, Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that anglers are also filling up coolers with smaller blues casting dip baits (stink bait) around islands. They are concentrating on 20-30 feet of water or less, and even in the heat of the day fish are feeding well. 

For free-line drifting a variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

There are no reports on big fish this week, but the preferred pattern for targeting them remains to anchor cut bait offerings on humps, points and ledges in the 20-45 foot range.

Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have to multiple different types of bait on your lines. 

Our family is travelling next week for the last week of the summer before our children go back to school, but we will resume weekly fishing reports the following week. Hopefully some cooler weather will give us some exciting changes to relay – although it will still be August in South Carolina!     

July 22

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are still about 89 degrees and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. The 99 end is clear but there is a slight stain near the dam. 

The basic pattern for catching black bass is still fishing deep on Lake Monticello, but BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that there are some wrinkles this week. In general when they are pulling water then a deep-diving crankbait like a 10XD has been very good for fishing in about 20 feet of water around humps and points. At these times the key to fishing the bait is to get it to the bottom and stay in contact with the lake floor. 

But when they are not pulling water then fish are holding over standing timber, and the key to catching them is to pull crankbaits at least five feet over their heads, stop, twitch the rod, and then reel fast. Lots of 5- and 6-pound fish have been caught this way this week. 

The depth that fish are suspending varies, and since you want to stay at least five feet over their heads then at time they are only using a square-bill crankbait to get down five feet since fish are only 10 feet below the surface.

In this heat there has been no shallow bite to speak of. 

The catfish spawn is essentially over, but Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that the free-line drifting bite for eating-sized blues is still the best thing going as it probably will be until the fall.  Fish up to 5 pounds are suspended and feeding high in the water column over deep water, and as the spawn concludes more of the very big fish are also suspending. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time many bigger fish are looking to replenish lost weight, and the preferred pattern for targeting them is to anchor cut bait offerings on humps, points and ledges in the 20-45 foot range.

Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have to multiple different types of bait on your lines. 

We apologize that these reports are running a few days behind – the author had some unexpected issues in his other job arise. 

July 9

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are 89 degrees and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. At least the 99 end is clear but we don’t have a report from the lower end. 

As the shallow smallmouth pattern has fallen off this week on Lake Monticello, BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that the better black bass are basically all deep. This week a 10XD has been very good for fishing in about 20 feet of water around humps and points, and the key to fishing the bait is to get it to the bottom and then sweep your rod to keep it in contact with the lake floor. 

But “shaking a minnow” for fish 25-30 feet deep in open water has also been effective, and they are now catching smallmouth as well as largemouth fishing a minnow-style bait on a jighead while looking at them on forward-facing sonar. Fish still aren’t interested in baits on a heavier jighead even though it’s easier to fish at those depths, and so they are still having to fish lighter jigheads. The bass also still show a preference for bigger baits.

 

Even as the catfish spawn continues to wind down, Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that the free-line drifting bite for eating-sized blues is still the best thing going as it probably will be until the fall.  Fish up to 5 pounds are suspended and feeding high in the water column over deep water, and as the spawn wraps up more of the very big fish will also be suspending. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time that a few of the bigger fish are still spawning, others are starting to replenish lost weight. The preferred pattern for targeting them has now shifted deeper, and the best bet is to anchor large cut bait offerings on humps, points and ledges in the 20-45 foot range.

Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have to multiple different types of bait on your lines. 

July 2

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are in the upper 80s and water levels typically fluctuate frequently. 

It’s time for deep fishing for black bass on Lake Monticello, BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that early, late, and anytime they are pulling water the best way to catch fish on Lake Monticello is fishing with a deep-diving crankbait like an 8XD or 10XD. Fish are off main lake points or on humps in 20 or more feet of water, and the key is for the bait to bump the bottom. 

Conditions get tough when they are not pumping, and fishing the same areas with a shaky head worm in green pumpkin is probably your best bet. 

There is also some action “shaking a minnow”, but right now fish aren’t interested in baits on a heavier jighead and it can be hard to get a light jighead as deep as the fish are holding – and keep up with them. That is particularly true when they seem to want bigger baits 5 inches or better. 

The one exception to the deep, offshore patterns is smallmouth, which are holding a little shallower in around 15 feet of water on main lake points. They can be caught on crankbaits, worms and swimbaits and seem to be feeding unusually well right now. 

With the catfish spawn starting to wind down, Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that more big fish should be showing up again. However, the free-line drifting bite for eating-sized blues is still the best thing going. Tons of fish up to 5 pounds are suspended and feeding high in the water column over deep water, and as the spawn wraps up more of the very big fish will also be suspending. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

At the same time that some of the bigger fish are spawning, others are coming off the spawn (and a few have yet to spawn). The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from the bank out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work. Lake Monticello catfish can be finicky so the best policy is to have more than one option.