June 11

Lake Wylie is at 97.3% of full pool and water temperatures are in the upper 70s to low 80s. Because of all the current and wave action the water has a bit lower visibility than usual. 

Up and down water conditions have made for an unusual bite on Lake Wylie, and tournament bass angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that the lake has gone from having a ton of rain and getting muddy to being pulled very hard and clearing up. While visibility has mostly improved this is not translating into a great bass bite, and in the tournament this weekend the top three bags were 12 pounds, 11 pounds and 10 pounds.

Fish are getting on offshore structure, and all of the community holes in 15-25 feet of water are covered up with boats.  Deep running crankbaits, Ole Monsters, shakey heads and swimbaits on jigheads are all catching fish. While there are some good ones out there you have to wade through a lot of little fish.

Meanwhile, the bream bed bite is getting really good and Reid is finding a bunch of fish in less than 5 feet of water around docks and other shallow cover. With clarity issues the beds have been a little hard to spot and sometimes anglers are on top of them before they see them. While he has caught a few small ones on buzzbaits, jigs have actually been working better.  Sizes are still not great. 

Finally, there are also some bass that can be caught beating the bank first thing on topwater lures. These may be fish that would be suspended off points during the day but will come up shallow at night to feed. 

While some people like to catch bass around bream beds, some people are very happy catching and eating bream!  Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that bluegills and shellcrackers are both bedding heavily in the back of sloughs and on the shoreline around docks. Some beds have good numbers while some appear to be abandoned. 

On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that they have caught fair to good numbers of fish on recent trips.  Yesterday a half-day guide trip was good for seven channel catfish and five blues up to 14 pounds. 

The best pattern is drifting in the mid-lake area in 15-30 feet of water.  Rodger has found some as deep as 35 feet but that has been less consistent.  Shallow, irregular parts of mid-lake flats have been fishing the best.

May 28

Lake Wylie is at 99.9% of full pool and water temperatures are in the lower 70s. With all the rain last week the water is very stained to muddy and there is ton of current.  

A very mild late spring is prolonging the shad spawn on Lake Wylie, and tournament bass angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that there is still a little action in the mornings on the main lake around riprap and hard banks in 5 feet of water or less. Fish can be caught on Pop-Rs, spinnerbaits and square-billed crankbaits. 

Overall, however, the biggest change this week is that with all the dirty water coming into the lake fish have gotten more spread out. Combined with more bream coming shallow this is pushing a lot of fish towards the banks where they can be caught on soft plastics, jigs and topwater baits. 

The offshore bite has been delayed by the muddy inflow, but fish will set up on well-known community holes if and when conditions settle down. Then deep-running crankbaits and spoons will work. 

On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that fishing has slowed down as the spawn seems to be getting underway.  With strong inflows anchoring in current and fan-casting baits in 8-25 feet of water is worth trying, but overall fish are so spread out that the better bite has been found drifting for scattered blue catfish.  Cut perch, shad and bream will all work.

May 13

Lake Wylie is down to 97.2% of full pool and water temperatures remain stuck in the mid-60s. The water is still stained from the South Fork down. 

The bass spawn is essentially over on Lake Wylie, but angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that the shad spawn is still going on. Because of mild temperatures this is about as long as he can remember seeing it continue. 

For the first few hours each day anglers can look on the main lake around riprap and hard banks in 5 feet of water or less. Birds are lined up on rocks pointing out key areas, and fish can be caught on Pop-Rs, spinnerbaits and square-billed crankbaits. Some anglers are also throwing hollow belly swimbaits with success. However, while bass are still up there with the shad they are starting to move off this pattern and less fish are on it and they are smaller. 

As the shad spawn drops off the offshore bite is starting to pick up, and early fish are starting to get on well-known community holes. While there are not huge groups out there yet deep-running crankbaits and spoons will work in these areas.

Finally, more and more bluegill are starting to move shallow around docks in flat areas. They are not yet spawning but will be before long. The bass feeding on them can be caught on soft plastics and jigs.  

On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that, when the wind makes conditions fishable, they continue to catch some really nice fish in the 15-31 pound range even as numbers remain a little down. 

Up the river as well as on the lower end they are anchoring shallow in 6-7 feet of water and fishing drops, fan-casting baits in 8-25 feet.  They have been using cut perch with shad hard to come by, and it is possible that the bait choice explains the decline in numbers but good quality.

April 30

Lake Wylie is at 98.2% of full pool and water temperatures are in the mid to upper-60s. Most boat ramps are now open again.

The bass spawn is winding down on Lake Wylie, and angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that there are just a few small straggler fish still on beds. At the same time the shad spawn has gotten really good, especially on the main lake where the bass are killing it. For the first few hours each day anglers can look around riprap and hard banks in 5 feet of water or less. Birds are lined up on rocks pointing out key areas, and fish are being caught on Pop-Rs, spinnerbaits and square-billed crankbaits. Some anglers are also throwing hollow belly swimbaits with success. 

There is also starting to be a deeper post-spawn bite in 15 feet or less around some of the early offshore spots. Deep-running crankbaits and spoons will work in these areas.

Finally, a new shallow bite is emerging as bluegill start to move shallow around docks in flat areas. They are not yet spawning but will be before long. The bass feeding on them can be caught on soft plastics and jigs.  

On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that, when the wind makes conditions fishable, they continue to catch some really nice fish in the 15-31 pound range even as numbers are a little down. 

Up the river as well as on the lower end they are anchoring shallow in 6-7 feet of water and fishing drops, fan-casting baits in 8-25 feet.  They have been using cut perch with shad hard to come by, and it is possible that the bait choice explains the decline in numbers but good quality.

April 15

Lake Wylie is at 97.6% of full pool and water temperatures have dropped several degrees overnight to just under 67 degrees. The water is stained and getting muddier in the backs of creeks and up the rivers.   

For those who can get on the lake, spring bass fishing continues to be strong on Lake Wylie.  A recent “tournament” was one with 21 pounds, and angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that fish are now in a mix of pre-spawn, spawning, and post-spawn patterns. 

Most of the fish are still shallow near spawning pockets and around docks, dock poles, and other shallow cover including laydowns – or anything else a fish would spawn around. Soft plastics such as wacky-rigged worms, Senkos, shakey heads, Texas rigs and more remain hard to beat.

The shad spawn is also just starting to get underway, and for this generally post-spawn bite anglers should look around riprap and hard banks in 5 feet of water or less. The bite is best early in the morning, and fish will be caught on Pop-Rs, spinnerbaits and square-billed crankbaits. As the month progresses and fish come off the beds look for the shad spawn bite to get better and better. 

On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that they have been catching some really nice fish in the 15-31 pound range even as numbers are a little down. Instead of catching 15-20 fish on trips, they are catching 7-10 fish. However, the quality has been excellent. 

Up the river as well as on the lower end they are anchoring shallow in 6-7 feet of water and fishing drops, fan-casting baits in 8-25 feet. They have been using cut perch with shad hard to come by, and it is possible that the bait choice explains the decline in numbers but good quality. 

Just a few days ago Captain Rodger Taylor reports that they were easily catching limits trolling for crappie in shallow water 5-8 feet deep around stumps, with most fish in the 10-12 inch range and some 14 inches. However, after the rain the fishing really slowed down.

It may be that anglers will have to target them against the banks in the next stage, or the trolling bite may pick up again. By the end of April most of the crappie should have spawned and they should start to move back to post-spawn cover. 

April 1

Lake Wylie is at 97.3% of full pool and water temperatures are in the lower 60s. Up the rivers the lake is stained but water color generally varies. 

Spring bass fishing continues to be strong on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that fish are generally in a mix of pre-spawn and spawning patterns. While there are probably a few post-spawn fish, the April full moon should see the most widespread bedding activity.

For right now most of the fish are in the shallows around docks, dock poles, and other shallow cover including laydowns – or anything else a fish would spawn around. Look for fish in spawning pockets. Soft plastics such as wacky-rigged worms, Senkos, shakey heads, Texas rigs and more remain hard to beat.

As more fish start to enter the post-spawn phase, they will generally pull back out to docks or the first point break in 10-12 feet of water referred to by locals as “holes.” Wacky rigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and swimbaits will all work for these fish. 

On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that the best pattern is to anchor up the lake in areas with current breaks where the depth changes and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths.  Generally the most fish will be in 14-30 feet, but they can be as shallow as five feet or less and so having a lot of lines can help you pinpoint them from day to day.  Gizzard shad are the best bait, with white perch second choice.

March 27

Lake Wylie is up to 98.8% of full pool and water temperatures are in the lower 60s. Conditions are slightly stained after recent rains.

Spring bass fishing is officially no longer stalled on Lake Wylie, as tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that a large number fish have moved up into the shallows. Some fish are already on beds while most are pre-spawn, and shallow fish are around docks, dock poles, and other shallow cover including laydowns or anything else a fish would spawn around. There is also a group of fish that are staging on deeper docks leading into pockets.

This is the time of year when fish are less interested in hard baits on Wylie and soft plastics such as wacky-rigged worms, Senkos, shakey heads, Texas rigs and more are hard to beat. There have also been some fish caught on jigs.

North-facing pockets as well as some of the creeks on the northern end of the lake are a little further along. 

On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that the best pattern is to anchor up the lake in areas with current breaks where the depth changes and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths.  Generally the most fish will be in 14-30 feet, but they can be as shallow as five feet or less and so having a lot of lines can help you pinpoint them from day to day.  Gizzard shad are the best bait, with white perch second choice.

March 12

Lake Wylie is down to 97.1% of full pool, and water temperatures are in the low to mid-50s. With little new rain the upper end of the lake is clearing, while the lower end is still stained. 

It’s not unusual for the fishing on Wylie to stall a little in early March before it starts to get good, but tournament bass angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that the bite has definitely gotten tougher. Winter patterns are going away but fish are only just starting to move up, and so they have not gotten shallow in the backs. 

The best places to look are around drops, points and at the mouths of pockets from 10-12 feet and less, and since fish are staging they have not headed shallow way into the creeks. We are not to the stage where you can flip worms to buck bass on the banks.

With the water still fairly stained spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Chatterbaits have been working the best. 

On the catfish front, Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that there are still fish on the lower end of Wylie that can be caught drifting. However, fish are starting move into the upper section of the lake, especially as the water clears up there. 

The best pattern is to anchor in areas with current breaks where the depth changes and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths. Generally the most fish will be in 14-30 feet, but they can be as shallow as five feet or less and so having a lot of lines can help you pinpoint them from day to day. Gizzard shad are the best bait, with white perch second choice.

February 28

Lake Wylie is down to 98.5% of full pool, and water temperatures range from about 51-54 degrees.  Although the lake is still muddy the northern end is just starting to settle out.

Water conditions are beginning to improve on Lake Wylie, but tournament bass angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that the patterns still have not really changed. It’s still pretty much junk fishing conditions, and fish are being caught by running from one end of the lake to the other and covering water. Most of the fish are shallow in less than 6 feet of water, and even though they are highly scattered they are generally related to some type of cover. Dock posts and rock piles have been good. Crankbaits, Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs have been working the best. 

Catfish like current, but Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that does not mean that flash floods make for good fishing. Overall conditions have been tough for the past few weeks.

While a lot of fish are still on the lower end of Wylie and can be caught drifiting, as we get into March fish are already primed to start to move into the upper section of the lake. Clearing water conditions up the lake may push them there sooner. 

Going forward the best pattern is to anchor in areas with current breaks where the depth changes and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths. Generally the most fish will be in 14-30 feet, but they can be as shallow as five feet or less and so having a lot of lines can help you pinpoint them from day to day. Gizzard shad will generally be the best bait, with white perch second choice.

February 17

Lake Wylie is at 99.6% of full pool, and water temperatures range from about 51-54 degrees.  Pretty much the whole lake is extremely muddy from top to bottom right now.  The lake went from very high with the rains ten days ago to very low when they pulled the water out a week ago, and as it has risen again there are logs, branches and other trash floating everywhere. 

It’s been a strange winter on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that unusual water conditions mean that they are still pretty much junk fishing for bass. Yesterday Reid and his tournament partner caught about a 16-pound bag good for first place in one tournament and second in another, and they caught it by running from one end of the lake to the other and covering water. Most of the fish are shallow in less than 6 feet of water, and even though they are highly scattered they are generally related to some type of cover. Dock posts and rock piles have been good. 

Most of the fish they have weighed recently have come on crankbaits, but fish are also biting a Chatterbait and a jig.

January 24

Lake Wylie is at 97.3% of full pool, and water temperatures range from about 49 to 54. Tributaries on the upper end of the lake are coffee and cream brown, while the main channel is stained with some visibility.   

Up-and-down temperatures are confusing for the fish, and Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that all the new water has also messed with the catfish bite. Still, even though it is dirty the lower end of the lake is fishable and in a typical 3 or 4 hour outing they are catching about a dozen fish.

The best pattern has been drifting the main channel with a drift sock in 20-35 feet of water with cut shad or white perch.  If the wind dies down then it can also be productive to head into a creek, anchor out multiple rods, and look for fish that have moved up relatively shallow to feed.

January 20

Lake Wylie is at 97.6% of full pool, and water temperatures are falling back into the lower 50s. Much of the lake is muddy with more dirty water coming, and overall water clarity is very hit-or-miss. 

Between up-and-down temperatures, quickly changing water levels, and heavy inflow which is constantly moving dirty water around the lake, tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that things are so inconsistent that is effectively making for a consistent but tough bass pattern. About twelve pounds has been a winning weight in the last couple of Sunday tournaments, and the winning pattern has been junk fishing shallow with a crankbait and jig. Fish are very scattered and not grouped up like they should be in the winter, and before this cold snap they even saw some fish in the backs of pockets schooling like they would in September or October!

If water conditions will stabilize then deeper patterns could improve and an Alabama rig and grub bite could come on.

 

January 9

Lake Wylie is at 97.1% of full pool, and water temperatures are around 50-52 degrees. Most of the lake is muddy again, although in same areas the creeks are actually cleaner than the main lake because of dirty water coming down the rivers. 

It’s still tough bass fishing on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that 11-13 pounds is generally a very good bag in recent tournaments. However, there have been several 5-fish limits in the 19-pound range weighed in recently, generally comprised of some very large spotted bass. 

With a lot of dirty water in the lake shallow, slow cranking is still among the most productive ways to catch fish, but there have also been some fish caught with an Alabama rig fished in 8-20 feet off of points. If you can find bait and birds then the Alabama rig will generally work, but the muddy conditions are overall slowing that bite and the spoon bite.  Some fish have also been caught on Alabama rigs fished around docks.

There have also been some fish reported caught on jigs, but Reid has not had much luck throwing one.