October 22

Lake Wylie is at 96.5% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are down to about 68 degrees.   

Lake Wylie fishing has changed very little this week, and there are no changes to report with the crappie and white perch. It’s still a very good bite, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that this morning he caught 75 fish in two hours fishing by himself before picking up hig party. 

Catfish are still highly variable as they continue to move around a lot, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that one day anchoring in the creeks works and then the next day they are mid-lake on channel edges and ledges and you need to drift. When you do find them they will bite, but it’s a matter of locating the hot spots.

Similarly, there’s not much change with the black bass as tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that patterns have not changed as the weather and water conditions have been pretty stable for a while now, except for some cooler nights and mornings. Day-time highs have not changed much.  Fish are still very creek-oriented, and either fishing Whopper Ploppers and buzzbaits around the banks or minnow-type baits in the channels are the main patterns. 

October 16

Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are down to the lower 70s. 

It’s still a strong crappie and white perch bite on Lake Wylie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that at times the action is really fast. Crappie are around brush piles in 15-25 feet of water in both the creeks and on the main lake, and you can cast jigs or minnows at these fish. But both species are also stacked up at the mouths of creeks and on main lake flats in 20-30 feet of water. You can catch them on minnows, or you can troll jigs or crankbaits. In general the perch are closer to the bottom in 15-28 feet of water while crappie are higher in the water column in 10-12 feet. 

There are also crappie that can be caught spider-rigging minnows or trolling baits in the creek channels, but for some reason these are mostly smaller than the equivalent main lake fish. The better crappie in the creeks seem to relate to structure. 

While perhaps anomalous there have been some pretty incredible black bass catches recently on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that a high school tournament featured a 22-pound winning bag. Very impressive for October on Wylie!  In general it seems that greater numbers of fish are now in the creeks than on the main lake, and buzzbaits fished around the banks have been very consistent. There are also fish that can be caught with jigs or shaky heads around creek docks.

Another group of fish is on bait, and fishing around bait schools in the creeks has been productive. At times these fish are schooling but the more consistent action has come with a minnow-type bait and (usually) forward-facing sonar. 

It’s a good catfish bite right now on Lake Wylie, but Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that the caveat is when you find them. Fish are moving a lot, and so they can be hard to stay on top of from day to day. You just have to keep looking. 

Accordingly the best pattern is drifting the larger creeks in 20-24 feet with cut bait, or the main channel flats in 20-30 feet. There are not as many fish in the river channel right now. 

A variety of cut baits will work, including gizzard shad, white perch, and bream. Grocery store baits like small pieces of chicken and shrimp are also working. 

October 8

Lake Wylie is at 96.7% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 76 degrees. 

It’s still a strong crappie bite on Lake Wylie, but The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that he has been catching more fish on jigs and minnows this week instead of crankbaits. When the fish are inactive, either due to weather conditions or boat traffic, then it pretty much takes minnows to get them to eat. 

There are several target areas for fish now, and one group is in 15-25 feet of water on brush wherever it is found. Another is set up in the creek channels in 20-25 feet, while yet another group is still on the main lake over the river channel. The most productive methods have been casting or trolling jigs, or spider-rigging with minnows.  

It’s still a pretty good catfish bite right now on Lake Wylie, but Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service(803-517-7828) reports that the action varies from day to day. One day the bite will be very good, but then the next day it can be more of a struggle – although they usually still get some good fish. 

The best pattern is still drifting the larger creeks in 20-24 feet with cut bait. Drifting is also producing well on main channel flats between Catawba Creek and Crowder’s Creek when there is a decent wind. 

The anchored bite is good near known mussel beds in 15-25 feet on long points near the mouth of major creeks when winds are light.

A variety of cut baits will work, including gizzard shad, white perch, and bream. Grocery store baits like small pieces of chicken and shrimp are also working. 

The black bass continue to feed a little better than just a couple of weeks ago, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that the best thing going right now still seems to be fishing around the banks with a buzzbait. Worms and jigs around docks are also working. There is also still some schooling activity around bridges and at the mouths of pockets, but that will get better when temperatures drop into the low 70s.  

Of course, chasing fish in open water with a minnow-type bait and forward-facing sonar is also productive. 

October 2

Lake Wylie is at 96.6% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 78 degrees. There is some dirty water on the north end of the lake after recent rains.  

The best thing going on Lake Wylie continues to be the crappie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that he has discovered that the biggest fish want crankbaits right now! The ones he is targeting are stacked up on main lake flats in 20-25 feet of water and will take baits pulled about halfway down the water column. 

While they are catching more crappie than white perch this way perch are in the same areas, and also mixed in with crappie at creek mouths 20-30 feet deep around schools of threadfin shad. Spider-rigging with minnows closer to the bottom is very effective for both species. 

There are also still crappie on brush piles and structure in the creeks, but especially with parties it’s much easier to catch them in open water. 

It’s a good catfish bite right now on Lake Wylie, but Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that when water temperatures drop a few degrees he expects the fish to really turn on. For now they are still catching blues drifting the larger creeks in 20-24 feet with cut bait. Drifting is also producing well on main channel flats between Catawba Creek and Crowder’s Creek when there is a decent wind. 

The anchored bite is good near known mussel beds in 15-25 feet on long points near the mouth of major creeks when winds are light.

A variety of cut baits will work, including gizzard shad, white perch, and bream. Grocery store baits like small pieces of chicken and shrimp are also working. 

Some rain this past week has stirred the lake up a bit and made for a more active black bass bite, but tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that the best thing going right now still seems to be fishing around the banks with a buzzbait. Worms and jigs around docks are also working.  There is also still some schooling activity around bridges and at the mouths of pockets, but that will get better when temperatures drop.

Of course, chasing fish in open water with a minnow-type bait and forward-facing sonar is also productive. 

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

Lake Wylie is at 96.8% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 81 degrees. Water clarity is normal to above average.  

It’s a good catfish bite right now on Lake Wylie, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that they are catching blues drifting the larger creeks in 20-24 feet with cut bait.  Drifting is also producing well on main channel flats between Catawba Creek and Crowder’s Creek when there is a decent wind. 

The anchored bite is very good near known mussel beds in 15-25 feet on long points near the mouth of major creeks when winds are light.

A variety of cut baits will work, including gizzard shad, white perch, and bream. Grocery store baits like small pieces of chicken and shrimp are also working. 

Without significant precipitation or any major weather events over the last few weeks, tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that black bass are in pretty stable early fall patterns.  Things are also a little stagnant without a lot of freshwater and current.

You can basically fish a variety of different ways right now, and one of the top boats in a recent open tournament fished the banks while the next best weight came offshore. There is decent schooling action at the mouths of pockets right now, and it should only pick up once temperatures drop a few more degrees.  But the best pattern may simply be going down the banks with a buzzbait. Of course, worms and jigs around docks are also working.  

Finally, the best thing going on Lake Wylie is probably the panfish, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that crappie and white perch have basically rejoined each other again. Both species are on main lake flats and creek mouths 20-30 feet deep around schools of threadfin shad. You can catch fish either spider-rigging with minnows or trolling jigs or crankbaits. On a recent trip Captain Chris’s boat caught 50 perch and 50 crappie this way, so it truly is a mix of both.

There are also still crappie on brush piles and structure in the creeks, but especially with parties it’s much easier to catch them in open water. 

September 11

Lake Wylie is at 97.2% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 81-82 degrees. Water clarity is normal to above average.  

Some of the catfish have made a significant move on Lake Wylie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that many fish are still on the main lake flats around the big schools of white perch in 20-25 feet.  But as the thermocline begins to go away other fish (and other species) have moved back into the main river channel in 35-40 feet of water. The best pattern is to drift both areas with cut white perch or whole perch using standard Santee drifting rigs. 

The thermocline has not totally gone away, and so you need to use electronics to find deeper areas where it is not a factor. Once you find them they are very effective places to fish. 

Crappie and white perch continue to be split off from each other, and more crappie are leaving the main lake and moving into creek mouths and as far as halfway back as the shad make a similar migration. Spider-rigging minnows one turn off the bottom in 20-30 feet is a good way to catch them, but there are also a good number suspended 12-15 feet down in the same depth. They can be caught trolling jigs or minnows. 

Another group of crappie is moving to structure like brush piles and they can be caught in 15-25 feet of water casting jigs or minnows.

Additionally, still another group of crappie (and white perch) are suspended over the river channel 10-20 feet down over 40 feet of water. You can troll crankbaits or jigs, or spider rig minnows vertically, for these fish.  

While some have already gone into the creeks the bulk of the white perch have not left the main lake, and Captain Chris reports that it will be October before the majority have left the main lake. In addition to fish suspended over the channel, they are still stacked up on main lake flats and points 20-25 feet deep. They can be caught spider-rigging minnows or fishing small pieces of cut bait. Idle around until you find the huge schools and then you can catch all you want. 

The black bass continue to move further into fall patterns, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that the fishing is getting better each week. Certainly this is still a period where you can fish offshore with LiveScope and chase pelagic fish, but now you can also start to beat the banks. Basically, you can fish the way you want to.

In terms of shallow cover docks are definitely the best thing going, with points a decent second choice. Some fish are schooling and so it’s good to have a topwater lure tied on in case they come up, but you can also just fish a buzzbait down the banks around docks. Pop-Rs and Spooks will also work. Flipping creature baits under docks is also a good pattern.

Minnows-style baits on jighead and jerkbaits will also work for offshore fishermen, and more bait and bass are starting to stack up in the mouth of creeks for anglers who want to fish that way with LiveScope. 

August 28

Lake Wylie is at 97.1% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 81 degrees on Lake Wylie. 

We got a hint of this last week, but tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that it’s now clear to him that the fall black bass bite has started on Lake Wylie. Certainly this is still a period where you can fish offshore with LiveScope and chase pelagic fish, but now you can also start to beat the banks. Basically, you can fish the way you want to.

In terms of shallow cover docks are definitely the best thing going, with points a decent second choice. Some fish are schooling and so it’s good to have a topwater lure tied on in case they come up, but you can also just fish a buzzbait down the banks around docks. Pop-Rs and Spooks will also work. Flipping creature baits under docks is also a good pattern.

Minnows-style baits on jighead and jerkbaits will also work for offshore fishermen, and more bait and bass are starting to stack up in the mouth of creeks for anglers who want to fish that way with LiveScope. 

Crappie and white perch continue to be split off from each other, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that more crappie are leaving the main lake and moving into creek mouths as the shad make a similar migration. Spider-rigging minnows one turn off the bottom in 20-25 feet is a good way to catch them, and yesterday Captain Chris saw a ton on the bottom, but there are also a good number suspended 12-15 feet down in the same depth. They can be caught trolling jigs or minnows. 

Another group of crappie is moving to structure like brush piles and they can be caught in 15-25 feet of water casting jigs or minnows. 

While some have already gone into the creeks the bulk of the white perch have not left the main lake, and Captain Chris reports that it will be October before the majority have left the main lake.  They are still stacked up on main lake flats and points 20-25 feet deep. They can be caught spider-rigging minnows or fishing small pieces of cut bait. Idle around until you find the huge schools and then you can catch all you want. 

The Lake Wylie blue catfish bite is very similar to last week, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service(803-517-7828) reports that the biggest change is that the weather has been much more pleasant. The bite is still very good and drifting is still the best thing going. Drifting points and humps in 20-26 feet of water with cut white perch is most productive. Both the major creeks and main channel are producing. 

August 21

Lake Wylie is at 97.3% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are back to the mid- to upper 80s on Lake Wylie. They are pulling a lot of water through the lakes and visibility varies. 

Even as water temperatures have significantly rebounded on Lake Wylie the crappie have stayed in more fall-like patterns this week, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that they are leaving the main lake and moving into creek mouths 20-25 feet deep. You can troll crankbaits or jigs to catch crappie suspended 10-15 feet down. You can also spider-rig minnows in the same areas. 

Another group of crappie is moving to structure like brush piles and they can be caught in 15-20 feet of water casting jigs or minnows. 

But the white perch have not left, and Captain Chris reports that they are still stacked up on main lake flats and points 20-25 feet deep. They can be caught spider-rigging minnows or fishing small pieces of cut bait. Idle around until you find the huge schools and then you can catch all you want. 

While there are still significant numbers of bass offshore, Captain Chris reports that a fair number of black bass have already moved shallow. They can be caught on main lake points and riprap early with topwater lures or floating worms.  After the sun gets up then they are biting on medium-running crankbaits on points or under shaded docks in the creeks with shaky heads or jigs. 

Typically bass actually go back shallow about the same time each summer.   

The Lake Wylie blue catfish are scattered but biting, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that the drifting bite is the best thing going. Drifting points and humps in 20-26 feet of water with cut white perch is most productive. Both the major creeks and main channel are producing. 

August 14

Lake Wylie is at 99.0% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 82 degrees on the main lake and 80 in the backs of creeks. Current is ripping through the lake and there are mud lines moving around.   

With the dropping water temperatures tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill was hopeful for a decent shallow bite for black bass, but the shallow bite has been surprisingly bad. Instead, fish are suspended out in the current where bait is sweeping past them. Crankbaits, jighead minnows, and jerkbaits will all work for these fish, and you can also try to fish a big worm on the bottom around offshore hard spots.

Additionally, with all the current there is a good bite up the rivers in the flow with a crankbait or spinnerbait.

There are big changes with the particularly the crappie this week on Lake Wylie, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that all this fresh water has partially eliminated the big thermocline and so the crappie have started moving from the main lake to the mouths of creeks in 25-30 feet of water. After all, water temperatures dropped from 90 to 82 in about 10 days due to the rain and cooler nights. The best option is to spider rig minnows or troll crankbaits or jigs at the mouths of the creeks.

The white perch have moved around less, and Captain Chris reports that they are still bunched up on main lake flats 20-25 feet deep. Spider-rigging minnows, or trolling minnows or jigs, will also catch them. 

Finally, catfish have also made some changes as the thermocline has been knocked out by the cooler water and flow through the lake.  The fish are scattered but biting very well on main lake humps and points. Both drifting and anchoring for them are working. 

Additionally, in-flows after the rain have made for some good fish where mud lines are present. 

Both blues and flatheads up to the mid-30s are being caught right now. 

August 1

Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 89 degrees. Visibility is normal. 

While nobody is pretending that black bass are easy to catch right now on Lake Wylie, The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) figured out a little something this week. In addition to the offshore structure that they are hanging around, he discovered that a substantial number of fish are just suspended in open water high over the river channel 10-20 feet down. They will take a crankbait, and basically it’s a matter of covering water until you find the most productive areas. 

There are also still fish deep on main lake points, channel ledges, and underwater humps. Carolina rigs, Hopkins spoons, and deep-diving crankbaits will work for those fish.

And of course, a few bass can still be caught early in the morning using topwater lures or flukes on rocky main lake points in the shade, but that bite only lasts for 1-2 hours at daylight.

Also, keep your eyes open for bass that might be around bream beds with the August full moon upcoming this week.

They also had a much better week with crappie, and Captain Chris reports that they found the biggest fish suspended in the same areas as the bass over the main river channel. There are also plenty of fish starting to stack up on deep brush 20-25 or more feet deep and on main lake flats in 20-25 feet. For these deeper fish spider-rigging minnows is most effective, and the best bite remains early and late. 

We’ll add a white perch report just so no one thinks we are overlooking them, but perch are the easiest species to catch right now. They are scattered all over the main lake, like the crappie, but they are in absolutely enormous schools. With minnows you would have to try pretty hard to find an area where you won’t catch perch. 

Finally, catfish are also scattered on the main lake flats 20-30 feet deep as well as suspended 15-25 feet deep over the thermocline on the main river in 40-60 feet of water. Drift the flats with cut bait and fish vertically for the suspended fish with cut bait on a Carolina rig. It’s usually best to keep the bait 2-5 feet above the thermocline. 

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

Lake Wylie is at 97.2% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 89 degrees. Visibility is normal. 

With water temperatures quickly reaching the 90s once the sun gets up, The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that most black bass have moved to deep main lake points, channel ledges, and underwater humps. Carolina rigs, Hopkins spoons, and deep-diving crankbaits will be the best options for the next few weeks. A few bass can be caught early in the morning using topwater lures or flukes on rocky main lake points in the shade, but that bite only lasts for 1-2 hours at daylight.

Also, keep your eyes open for bass that might be around bream beds with the new moon upcoming on July 24.

It’s a much better time for catching white perch and crappie than bass, and Captain Chris reports that the perch bite is phenomenal and the crappie are feeding pretty well. Perch are stacked up in giant schools on main lake flats in 20-25 feet of water, while crappie are on main lake ledges in 25-30 feet of water. The best way to catch both species is spider-rigging vertically with minnows.

 

There is also another group of crappie that is suspending 12-20 feet deep over the river channel in 40-45 feet of water. There are a lot of fish on this pattern right now, but unless they are pulling water they seem to be pretty finicky. Minnows are also the best way to catch them.

The Lake Wylie blue catfish bite is very good despite the heat, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service (803-517-7828) reports that the trolling/ drifting bite is very good in the morning – and even in the afternoon if you can stand the heat! Bait and fish are holding 22-32 feet deep on the main lake near sloping points and mid-lake humps, and all cut bait seems to be equally effective with white perch his preferred bait because of their easy availability. 

Additionally, at night anchoring in shallow to intermediate depths between 3-20 feet is working well when catfish move up to feed. 

Captain Chris concurs with that assessment, and points out that bigger fish seem to be feeding at night right now although you can catch plenty of catfish up to about 20 pounds drifting during the day. He is making a particular effort to target main lake points and flats with mussel beds during the day while drifting, and then using smaller pieces of bait with catfish on a mussel pattern.

At night he is anchoring with bigger baits to target bigger fish, but points out that if you want to target flatheads then fan-casting live bluegill and perch in less than 10 feet of water is the best bet. 

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

July 10

Lake Wylie is at 97.1% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 80s. The lake has a normal green color. 

The Lake Wylie blue catfish bite has gotten really good, and Captain Rodger Taylor with Catfish ON! Guide Service(803-517-7828) reports that anchoring on main lake points with cut shad and fan-casting baits from shallow to deep, normally about 3 to 20 feet, is a very productive pattern.  Drifting the main lake on days when there is wind is also very productive, but fish can also be caught on the drift when you have to use your trolling motor to keep moving – just not as fast. They are getting plenty of nice fish including occasional blues and flatheads up to 35 pounds.

The crappie and white perch action is still very good, with the white perch fishing in particular phenomenal, but The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that the bite has now shifted to main lake channel ledges in 25-30 feet of water. The best way to catch them is spider-rigging minnows, and you can already tell that perch are staying in enormous schools on the bottom while some of the crappie are starting to suspend 10-20 feet down.

Captain Rodger points out that you can also catch perch on cut shad, and that you can troll for crappie (and picked up spotted bass) trolling Bandit crankbaits 20-25 feet down in open water. 

With the holiday tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill is unaware of any black bass tournaments over the weekend, but patterns should not have changed much.

With lots of bream shallow it keeps a population of bass around the banks all summer, and just going down the creek banks with a buzzbait Reid has had plenty of action. He has also caught a fair number of fish on docks with a jig and shaky head. With the full moon the shallow fishing should be even better right now, and you can actually target bass around bream beds.  

Of course there are also plenty of fish offshore now, and fishing a drop shot around points with hard spots, brush piles, and other structure including ledges remains productive.  And there are lots of anglers just driving around offshore looking at forward-facing sonar for fish following bait schools.

Finally, Captain Rodger reminds anglers that with the full moon it’s a great time to catch delicious spawning bluegill in their own right!

July 3

Lake Wylie is at 96.8% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. 

There has been a phenomenal bite for crappie and white perch again this week, and The Carolina Angler Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that on one four-hour trip they managed to fill a 64-quart cooler with 205 perch and crappie. 

Right now both species can still be found at the mouths of creeks in 20-30 feet of water, and the best way to catch them is spider-rigging minnows. However, soon they will be found in slightly different areas as the thermocline starts to set up – which is already happening in deep water at about 25 feet. As the thermocline develops crappie will suspend 10-20 feet down over 40-50 feet of water while perch will stay in huge groups on the bottom in 20-25 feet all summer. You can still catch the suspended crappie spider-rigging but you have to be very precise with your depths.

Even in the dog days of summer the black bass are still feeding reasonably well on Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that all the same patterns are still holding.  

With lots of bream shallow it keeps a population of bass around the banks all summer, and just going down the creek banks with a buzzbait Reid has had plenty of action. He has also caught a fair number of fish on docks with a jig and shaky head. 

Of course there are also plenty of fish offshore now, and fishing a drop shot around points with hard spots, brush piles, and other structure including ledges remains productive.  And there are lots of anglers just driving around offshore looking at forward-facing sonar for fish following bait schools.

Finally, the Lake Wylie catfish bite continues to be strong for Captain Chris, although at this point he is wondering if some of the big females he is catching are actually pre-spawn and not all post-spawn. When he had a fish die this week he cleaned it and discovered it was full of eggs, and so at least some of the fish have not yet spawned. And without killing them he can’t tell if the fat females he is catching are full of mussels or eggs. 

Regardless, the feeding fish they are targeting are in the creek channels in 20-25 feet of water or on main lake flats at the same depth. Flats with mussel beds are especially good. Chris is drifting Santee rigs with small pieces of cut bream or perch to catch them.