April 3

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are 65 degrees, and the lake is clear.  Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

As is the case on several lakes, the cold front over the past weekend slowed the catfish action on Lake Monticello. Captain William Attaway (Slick Willies Guide Service; 803-924-0857) reports that this is a minor delay in the eventual mass migration of catfish to the shallows. Attaway said the timing is right, and the water temperature needs a slight upward trend to push the fish shallow. The clear water does factor into the situation. He sets up on long points that run from shallow to deep water, or on a similar setup on a mid-lake hump, and fishes multiple depths, covering shallow, mid-depths, and deep water. He uses different baits to give fish options. The low-light times of the day are best for big fish bites in the shallows. His favored baits are cut bream (heads and chunks), white perch, and gizzard shad from now through spring. When this movement begins, it’s an ideal time to hook both quality and quantity catfish, so use rigs sized according to your catfish target.

Capt. Jay Bruce (Carolina Fishing Adventures with Jay Bruce; 864-420-8512) said he also prefers the point-fishing process for catfish in early April, anchoring in 10 feet of water and fan-casting rigs around the boat. Capt. Jay uses worms or minnows when hoping to fill a cooler with ‘eater-sized’ fish.

Capt. Jay reports that big white perch are being caught at various depths from 20 to 40 feet in Lake Monticello. Artificial lures, such as jigs or small jigging spoons, work well, and he also uses live minnows because it's hard for these aggressive fish to turn down the ‘real thing,’ right now.

The black bass have moved into the creeks and coves, and some were in the spawning mode before the cold snap last weekend that backed many bass out of the shallows, Capt. Jay reports. Some of the fish have spawned and are in post-spawn mode now.  The trend this week is that by Friday and Saturday, bass will be again moving into the shallows and/or spawning.

Capt. Jay said the shellcrackers are moving shallow to the beds in the creeks and coves, and he thinks the bream action will begin to improve by this weekend, with the water temperature adequate to have bream active in the shallows, but likely not bedding.

March 25

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are in the low 60s and the lake is clear. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

There are some black bass on beds in Lake Monticello, but by this Saturday BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that the spawn should be full-blown. Patterns won’t completely change, however, and early the riprap is still the place to fish with a spinnerbait and crankbait. After that you can run pockets (most people will be using LiveScope) and throw jerkbaits to fish, but then in the middle of the day it will probably mostly be about bed fish.  

Eric notes that as more fish get into post-spawn mode then fishing the riprap all day with a shad-colored crankbait like a DT-10 will be productive. 

Once again as we wear jackets in the morning and evening we have to report that the cold front delayed the catfishmaking a big move shallower on Lake Monticello, but Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that it has to happen soon and so it is worth spending some time fan-casting baits at shallow points. If that isn’t working look deep, though, where both drifting and anchoring can work, with deep ledges still the most likely terrain.  White perch and gizzard shad have been the best baits. As usual when pursuing big fish anglers need to be patient. 

March 18

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are most likely back down to the upper 50s and the lake is clear. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

This weekend there was an incredible 27.29 pound bag of black bass caught by Taylor Simmons and Cody Abbott in a CATT on Lake Monticello, and while he doesn’t know anyone who has fished since Monday’s cold front by this weekend BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that patterns should be about the same as they were before the cold blast.  

First thing there should be a very good bite along the riprap with a crankbait and spinnerbait, and then after that anglers need to go into the pockets and fish secondary points with a jerkbait. The best bags have been coming looking at the fish on LiveScope. If fish are following baits but not taking them then change colors or throw a Neko rig. 

To this point only smaller fish seem to have been on beds, but by Sunday there could be a full-blown wave of big fish spawning.

The cold front delayed the catfish making a big move shallower on Lake Monticello, but Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that it could happen this weekend and so it is worth spending some time fan-casting baits at shallow points. If that isn’t working look deep, though, where both drifting and anchoring can work, with deep ledges still the most productive terrain.  White perch and gizzard shad have been the best baits. As usual when pursuing big fish anglers need to be patient. 

March 12

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are up to the mid-60s and the lake is clear. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

Once again black bass patterns are changing fast on Lake Monticello, and marking water temperatures as high as 69 degrees BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that it’s no surprise that there are fish on beds already. But fish do remain fairly spread out, and with fish from 3 to 40 feet you can catch them about any way now. In addition to targeting early spawners there is a solid spinnerbait and crankbait bite around the banks for pre-spawn fish, shad are starting to spawn in the riprap where you can fish for bass feeding on them in the morning, and then there are fish suspended in bait in 20-30 feet of water. Fishing a shaky head under them has been working very well. 

We are now in one of the most exciting periods of the year for bass fishing on Monticello, and it should stay good for many weeks. 

We are still just on the cusp of catfish making a big move shallower on Lake Monticello, but Captain William Attaway(803-924-0857) reports that it could happen any day and so it is worth spending some time fan-casting baits at shallow points. If that isn’t working look deep, though, where both drifting and anchoring can work, with deep ledges still the most productive terrain.  White perch and gizzard shad have been the best baits. As usual when pursuing big fish anglers need to be patient. 

March 4

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are around 58 degrees and the lake is clear. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

Black bass patterns are changing fast on Lake Monticello, and now BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that most fish are starting to get into strong pre-spawn feeding patterns. While the riprap is still a good place to fish first thing with a crankbait or spinnerbait, now it’s a solid pattern all day long cranking. Additionally, while fish have been in the pockets for a while and you can still catch them on brush with jighead minnows and Alabama rigs, now some are also moving closer to the banks. At the first drop where you the bottom goes just out of sight you can catch fish on shaky heads and crankbaits or a spinnerbait early. 

While Eric is not aware of any fish that are bedding yet, he would not be surprised if some smallmouth (which spawn earlier) have already started in the warmer water near the power station. 

We are on the cusp of catfish making a big move shallower on Lake Monticello, and Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that after this week’s warm weather it could happen next week. However, for now deep is still the best place to look for big blues. Both slow drifting and anchoring can work, and deep ledges seem to be the most productive terrain.  White perch and gizzard shad have been the best baits. As usual when pursuing big fish anglers need to be patient. 

February 26 

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are around 50 degrees and the lake is clear. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

Once again tournament angler and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that there were some really good bags in the mid-20s caught this weekend in the CATT on Lake Monticello, and first thing anglers are catching black bass fishing a spinnerbait or crankbait around riprap. But for most of the day the prevailing pattern is fishing brush piles in pockets, targeting fish with an Alabama rig and also now a jighead minnow. The depth of the brush doesn’t seem to make much of a difference.

As temperatures rise fish will head towards the banks more, but they aren’t there yet. 

Eric also notes that fishermen are still killing the crappie throwing a live minnow on a jighead and letting it sink down to crappie holding in the tops of timber. 

It won’t be long until catfish make a big move shallower on Lake Monticello, but Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that water temperatures have a little ways to go before that happens. For the now deep is still the best place to look for big blues. Both slow drifting and anchoring can work, and deep ledges seem to be the most productive terrain.  White perch and gizzard shad have been the best baits. As usual when pursuing big fish anglers need to be patient. 

February 18 

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are 48-50 degrees and the lake is clear. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

Tournament angler and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that there were some really good bags in the mid-20s caught this weekend in the CATT on Lake Monticello, and first thing anglers are catching black bass fishing a spinnerbait slowly around riprap. However, tournament fishermen are typically culling much of that early weight and replacing it with fish caught in pockets on Alabama rigs. While the depth does not matter terribly, the key is finding pockets with brush piles and then ticking the top of the brush on the retrieve. 

As temperatures warm fish will continue to move shallower and they should stay pocket-oriented for some time barring a major weather reversal – which is never out of the question. 

Eric also notes that fishermen are still killing the crappie throwing a live minnow on a jighead and letting it sink down to crappie holding in the tops of timber. 

It won’t be long until catfish make a big move shallower on Lake Monticello, but  Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that water temperatures have a little ways to go before that happens. For the now deep is still the best place to look for big blues. Both slow drifting and anchoring can work, and deep ledges seem to be the most productive terrain.  White perch and gizzard shad have been the best baits. As usual when pursuing big fish anglers need to be patient. 

February 12 

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are in the mid to upper 40s. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

While BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union has been more focused on catching 24-pound bags on Lake Murray in the CBC championship, he has been keeping up with the Monticello black bass and they are definitely starting to move. Interestingly, even during the very cold weather anglers started to mark less fish and have less success out deep, but with the warming trend things are definitely changing fast. Fish are wanting to get out of deep water and start to move closer to the banks, and first thing fishing a spinnerbait around any riprap on the lake out to about 12 feet is a good bet. After that anglers should focus on fish suspended in the pockets, either throwing a jerkbait or a jighead minnow. 

Eric notes that smallmouth will spawn before largemouth, a month or less from now, so it is definitely getting into pre-spawn period.

It’s basically fair fishing for catfish on Lake Monticello, and Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) still believes that deep is the best place to look for big blues. Both slow drifting and anchoring can work, and deep ledges seem to be the most productive terrain.  White perch and gizzard shad have been the best baits. As usual when pursuing big fish anglers need to be patient. 

February 5 

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are in the upper 40s on the 99 end. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

Between the ice, snow, and now interest in the CBC on Murray this weekend BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union doesn’t know of anyone who has fished Monticello very recently, but he’s still pretty sure the black bass will be in the middle of ditches about 65 feet deep mixed right in with the bait. Jigging spoons, Alabama rigs, and “shaking a minnow” should be the best ways to catch them. They should be right on the bottom.

Once we get some warmer days some fish will suspend high in the water column over very deep water trying to heat up in the sun, where they will be susceptible to a jerkbait or a minnow-type swimbait. 

Crappie and catfish reports to follow once more people are back on the water. 

January 28

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are in the upper 40s on the 99 end. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

Since the ice last weekend BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that he hasn’t been to Lake Monticello fishing and doesn’t know anyone who has, but he has a pretty strong suspicion what the black bass will be doing. Fish should still be in the middle of ditches about 65 feet deep mixed right in with the bait, with jigging spoons, Alabama rigs, and “shaking a minnow” the best ways to catch them. They should be even closer to the bottom.

On warmer days some fish will suspend high in the water column over very deep water trying to heat up in the sun, where they will be susceptible to a jerkbait or a minnow-type swimbait. However, it doesn’t look like there will be days like that this weekend. 

Eric also reports that the crappie fishing should still good, with fish still suspended in trees. A high percentage have been in the 2-pound range or bigger. The best way to catch them recently has been with a 1/16-ounce plain jighead and minnow fished below a light split shot.  

Finally on the catfish front, while he hasn't been this week either Captain William Attaway with Slick Willie’s Guide Service (803-924-0857) reports that basically you still should check from day to day whether big, finicky Lake Monticello catfish would rather be drifted or anchored for. The fish will be around deep bait schools, and if you can find schools near humps and deep points that is usually the most productive area to fish for them. Gizzard shad and white perch will both work at times.

January 21

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are in the lower 50s on the 99 end. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

The black bass on Lake Monticello have finally gone really deep while the shallow bite has basically disappeared, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that the weather coming in this weekend should only accelerate that trend. In fact the cold weather should supercharge the deep bite and make those fish feed even more.

Fish are in the middle of ditches about 65 feet deep mixed right in with the bait, and jigging spoons, Alabama rigs, and “shaking a minnow” are the best ways to catch them. Most are close to the bottom.

However, on warmer days some fish will suspend high in the water column over very deep water trying to heat up in the sun. They will be susceptible to a jerkbait or a minnow-type swimbait. 

The crappie bite continues to be very good, with fish still suspended in the tops of trees about 25-30 feet down right now. A very high percentage are in the 2-pound range or bigger. The best way to catch them recently has been with a 1/16-ounce plain jighead and minnow fished below a light split shot.  

Finally on the catfish front, Captain William Attaway with Slick Willie’s Guide Service (803-924-0857) reports that basically you still have to see from day to day whether big, finicky Lake Monticello catfish would rather be drifted or anchored for. The fish are around deep bait schools, and if you can find schools near humps and deep points that is usually the most productive area to fish for them. Gizzard shad and white perch will both work at times.

January 7

Morning surface water temperatures on Lake Monticello are 52-54 degrees on the 99 end and the lake is clear. Water levels typically fluctuate frequently.

Early in the morning there is still a good shallow bite around riprap for black bass on Lake Monticello, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that a shad-colored DT-6 or DT-10 crankbait is working very well. But after that it’s all about deep water, and in particular finding the birds that are running the bait that the fish are around. When the birds are chasing bait up then fish caught be caught suspended, but if not they are on the bottom. They have caught them as deep as 63 feet just off the lake floor. Alabama rigs and spoons are both working very well, with minnow-type swimbaits a little slower. 

Overall the 99 end has been fishing better than near the power plant. 

The crappie bite continues to be very good, with fish still suspended in the tops of trees about 25-30 feet down right now. A very high percentage are in the 2-pound range or bigger. They will eat about anything you put in front of them. 

Finally on the catfish front, Captain William Attaway with Slick Willie’s Guide Service (803-924-0857) reports that basically you still have to see from day to day whether big, finicky Lake Monticello catfish would rather be drifted or anchored for. The fish are around deep bait schools, and if you can find schools near humps and deep points that is usually the most productive area to fish for them. Gizzard shad still seem to be the best bait but white perch are improving.