June 10
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.33 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.29 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s.
The crappie fishing has improved marginally, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that it’s still not where he would like it to be. Overall it’s been a slow late spring for crappie, and with real summer heat on the way it probably won’t be until the fall that fishing really picks up. Right now it looks like the lakes are in a bit of a down cycle for crappie.
The upper lake has been fishing a bit better than the lower lake recently, and the best action has come 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water. At times minnows and then jigs are both out-fishing the other so try both.
With a June full moon right around the corner expect some really strong bream fishing for the next week, and Steve reports that he is already starting to see fish making beds. Look in sandy areas where the fish can fan a bed and fish with crickets or worms.
It’s been a good week for catfish on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that you can catch them pretty much everywhere right now. At night he has been anchoring in shallow water, and in the canal area he is looking for somewhere just out of the current when he sets anchor. In the lakes he is looking for a ledge or stumps or something else that will provide the fish with a place to hold.
Stevie’s boat has also been drifting in 10-25 feet of water and finding a good bite during the day, but he has heard reports of drifting out to 40 feet and catching fish. Some of the biggest ones have been coming in the 20-22 foot range.
Overall the catfish are just eating really well right now, although they are displaying a strong preference for herring.
May 24
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.23 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.1 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are around 80 in the morning.
Strong summer patterns are starting to take off for bass on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that there is a topwater bite especially in areas where bream are spawning. These include around grass, trees, and wood. Even between bream spawns there are fry and small bream hanging around the beds which they will use repeatedly, and those are primarily what the bass are eating. Early in the morning buzzbaits are working well and shallow running crankbaits are also good, in addition to a wide range of topwater lures such as prop baits.
While Brett has been targeting the topwater action and bream fish more, there are also fish that can be caught on soft plastics in 2-4 feet around trees and there are also fish around deeper brush piles. Big worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs will all work around brush.
As we are between moon phases at the moment, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that the shallow bream bite is a little off but they are getting nice numbers of bluegills around brush on crickets. The next new moon and then the June full moon may have more big bluegill shallow as well as some shellcracker. For shellcracker use worms while bluegill prefer crickets and worms.
The crappie fishing remains a little slow, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in the afternoon they are only picking up a few fish here and there on brush. The best brush has been in the 20s, and the fish are 10-12 feet down. At times minnows and then jigs are both out-fishing the other so try both.
The catfish bite seems to be improving, and Captain Stevie English reports that drifting in relatively shallow water he is catching lots of good blues and channels on herring. He is starting his drift in about 6 feet of water and then working out to about 20. You can also anchor, but drifting is often more exciting.
The spawn is underway and will continue through the summer.
May 19
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.18 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are in the upper 70s in the morning and low 80s by the afternoons.
Conditions are still a little tough for bass on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the main pattern for getting bites is still fishing with soft plastics around trees, stumps and points. The target depth range has been 3-6 feet of water. There is a little bit of a topwater bite first thing, but it has not been very good.
The biggest fish still seem to be coming on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water with crankbaits and soft plastics, but you have to know the locations of a lot of brush to catch fish this way. The bass are not on every piece of cover.
With the full moon this past weekend the bream fishing was decent, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in the end the May full moon seems to have been kind of in-between. The best shellcracker fishing seems to have already occurred, and while there were some bluegill spawning in shallow water the action was not great. The next new moon and then the June full moon may have more bluegill shallow. For shellcracker use worms while bluegill prefer crickets and worms.
With the crappie fishing slow Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) took a break from them last week, but this weekend he will be after them again. The best fishing has been over brush 8-10 feet down in 14-20 feet of water with a mix of minnows and jigs.
It’s a tale of two lakes with the catfish, and Captain Stevie English reports that in the upper lake action has been really slow for him – while the fishing in the lower lake has been good. The shallows are full of channel catfish, and late in the day, at night and early you can catch big blues that have come up there to feed by anchoring cut bait. During the day Stevie is having the best success drifting in 15-25 feet of water with 20 feet the key depth.
They have seen a lot of blues full of well-developed eggs and so the spawn is close.
May 12
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.2 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are around 73 degrees.
The verdict is in from the recent CBC tournament, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that a few people are whacking the bass but most people are not. The biggest catches seem to be coming on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water, but this is pretty specialized fishing for hard-core locals as you really have to know the lakes and where the cover is.
The more general pattern seems to be fishing with soft plastics like Trick Worms around trees, stumps and points. About 3 feet of water has been the magic number for catching these fish.
Again, a topwater bite should be taking off Brett hasn’t really found very much, and he characterizes it as only “sporadic.”
The crappie fishing has slowed a little more, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that the fish are still pretty tough to locate. Nothing is good but brush in about 14-20 feet has been the most productive, and generally the fish are 8-10 feet down. Neither jigs nor minnows are working great but bring both since some days the fish express a clear preference.
The bream fishing has slowed up between moon phases, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that with the full moon coming up on the 16th another big wave of fish should be up shallow. While a lot of the shellcracker have already spawned there should be more, and the bluegill should really start to get down to business on this moon phase. Worms are best for shellcracker while bluegill will also take crickets.
The catfish bite is pretty good right now, and Captain Brett Mitchell reports that most people are still anchoring in 4-6 feet of water around cypress tree clusters where fish are spawning or looking for areas to spawn. However, he is also doing well drifting as deep as about 12 feet.
A mix of cut bait including gizzard shad and herring will work as well as chicken.
While you can still catch a lot of small eating-sized fish drifting in 15-30 feet of water, Captain Stevie English is most excited that the canal bite is finally turning on. It should have happened a few weeks ago, but the fish are just now starting to feed well in the canal. Drifting and bouncing the bottom is working well, and there are also intermittent spots where you can anchor up and catch fish.
May 6
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.46 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.3 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). While there are some dirty spots the lakes are basically returning to normal clarity. Morning surface water temperatures are mostly in the low to mid-70s.
The reasons aren’t exactly clear, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass fishing is tougher than it’s supposed to be. Post-spawn fish are supposed to recover from the spawn around cypress trees in 2 ½ to 4 feet, but right now he’s not finding as many hungry fish up there as expected. The fish they are catching are coming on soft plastics.
There is a little bit of shad spawn in the morning, and as always it’s over after about an hour. The shad are spawning around lily pads, grass and clusters of trees, and when you find fish feeding on them they will eat anything that imitates a shad. This includes spinnerbaits, swimbaits and crankbaits.
While the topwater bite should be taking off Brett hasn’t really found very much, and he characterizes it as only “sporadic.”
The crappie fishing is basically “fair” right now, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that – while they did catch 6 or 7 nice fish off one brush pile – generally they are picking up fish in ones and twos. Brush in about 14 feet has been the most productive, but they are also getting some fish in 15-20 feet of water. Generally the fish are 8-10 feet down. They are marking a few fish on deep brush but they may just be bluegill.
The lower lake has been much better than the upper lake, and a lot of days jigs have been out-fishing minnows. It’s a good idea to have both.
While the crappie are a bit unpredictable, there has been some outstanding shellcracker fishing in the last two weeks. Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that on one recent trip they caught 25 over 1 pound and fish up to two pounds. The fish are shallow on beds, and spawning activity peaks on the new and full moons. Just before the last new moon they could literally see the fish moving onto beds in droves. They are around weeds and both red and green worms are working very well.
To fill a cooler with eating size catfish Captain Stevie reports that his boat is drifting with herring in 15-30 feet of water, and they have found a pretty fast bite for channels and smaller blues. The area doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of difference with smaller fish very spread out, and he is just “going”. You can also fish dip baits in the canal to catch a lot of fish. In contrast, to catch a bigger fish concentrate on shallower water.
Captain Brett Mitchell agrees with that, and Brett reports that the majority of anglers after a big blue are anchoring in 4-6 feet of water around cypress tree clusters. Brett also reports that a few people like him are drifting for bigger fish, again in shallow water. Some of the fish have already started to spawn while others are shallow looking for spawning areas.
They will take most any bait when they are feeding.
April 21
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.31 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.57 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are getting muddy and morning surface water temperatures are around the low to mid-60s.
After a strong spawning wave last week, Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass are starting to get into a bit of a post-spawn lull. They are tired, beat up, and trying to recover, and so the bite will likely be off for a few more days.
Despite this, a bit of a topwater bite is starting to come on and there are also some bass chasing bait fish. If you fish very, very early you can also find a shad spawn around dawn in some places.
For fish chasing bait flukes, Spooks, Pop-Rs, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits will all work. You can also fish soft plastics around trees. Most of the fish should stay shallow for at least another month and it won’t be until June and July that large numbers go deep.
The crappie fishing has been really tough again this week, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports they aren’t exactly sure why. There is some speculation that the population is down right now, and they do generally go in cycles, but there also seem to be some seasonal factors at play. The fish they have caught have been 8-12 feet down over brush in 15-20 feet of water.
Before the cold front at the beginning of this week there were starting to be some bream around the banks, but for now the weather seems to have pushed them out to the same brush the crappie are on. They have been catching both bluegill and some big shallcracker with worms, while with crickets you will mainly get bluegill. A few more warm days should bring the fish shallower again.
There are a few different ways to catch catfish right now, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that for him the cold front seems to have put off the blue catfish bite. He switched over to catching channel catfish, and on dip baits they have been wearing them out in the canal.
The best patterns for blue catfish seem to be anchoring early and then drifting during the day in 10-30 feet of water.
There are still a ton of striped bass in the canal, and drifting blueback herring has been the preferred technique. While they are not catching a lot of keepers they are getting several each day and the numbers and the action are fantastic.
April 8
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.55 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.68 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s and – while the mud is coming – it’s still only dingy in the lakes.
The bass have been surprisingly quiet this week on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that’s because we are in a minor lull between waves of the spawn. The new moon was a week ago and the full moon is not until next week. At the April full moon it should be gangbusters again, while this week they have caught decent numbers and a few big fish but nothing has been hot.
The fish they are catching are still shallow in 5 feet of water or less, and they are holding tight to grass and trees. Pretty much everything has come on soft plastics this week.
The crappie fishing has also been surprisingly off this week, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) notes that in addition to the moon phases the weather has been another factor that has really slowed the bite. In the wet, windy conditions there have not been a lot of people out chasing crappie but the shallow bite has been surprisingly tough. It seems as if the majority of the fish are post-spawn.
Some of the fish are starting to get out on brush again, and they have had some decent days on brush. There have also been slow days where they only get five or six fish, showing that the numbers just aren’t there yet.
Even with the crappie spawn winding down the shellcracker spawn is about to explode, and Steve reports that they are already catching a few in shallow water but it’s about to get really good. The fish are already starting to spawn in shallow water around grass but numbers are about to go way up. Worms are hard to beat.
It’s a pretty simple pattern for catfish right now, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that early you need to be anchoring in shallow water. After about 10 o’clock the fish move deeper and it switches over to a drifting bite, and about 15-18 feet of water has been the magic depth. The fish are tearing up river herring right now.
Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the striped bass bite in the canal, and drifting blueback herring over the rocks has been dynamite. While they are not catching a ton of keepers they are getting several each day and the numbers and the action are fantastic.
April 1
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.24 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.82 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water temperatures are in the low 60s and there is some dirty water rolling into the lakes.
As predicted the Elite Series Pros absolutely wrecked the bass at Santee Cooper two weeks ago, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that most of the fish were caught very shallow and often looking at them on beds. However, this week the patterns have changed and some cool, windy weather has pulled the fish out just a little. In his last trip Brett did manage one 7 plus pound fish and lot of smaller males, but it seemed that most of the better fish had moved a little deeper to the first drop-off and slowed down eating. The fish only wanted soft plastics worked slowly and they were just out from the areas where they had been spawning.
Warming weather will get them shallower and more aggressive again soon, and the new moon this weekend will also help to get another group of fish up looking and then on beds. Overall the fish should continue to roam the shallows for another three to four weeks as several more waves of fish come up and spawn.
In the next week or two there should also start to be a topwater bite, but that really doesn’t usually kick off until water temperatures hit a magic range of about 75 degrees.
Apologies for the lack of bass update last week – Brett gave us a post-tournament report but we failed to publish it. We will do our best to make sure that does not happen again.
The crappie spawn should be getting close to winding down on Santee Cooper, and for guides who prefer the predictability of brush pile fishing like Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) it couldn’t come soon enough! There are only a very few feeding fish on brush right now, and the vast majority of the fish are in less that 6 feet of water. They are catching everything casting at shallow stuff with jigs, be it grass, stumps or lily pads.
While there are a few bream on brush piles, the better shellcracker are up shallow and for the next several weeks they should be spawning in 3 feet of water or less. Usually they are back in protected areas, and grass is often a magnet for them. Red wigglers are hard to beat.
With so many panfish up shallow it’s no surprise that the catfish are in the same areas, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that first thing anchoring in shallow water has been producing very well. Throughout the day drifting in 5-15 feet of water has been productive.
River herring is fishing the best right now.
March 24
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.90 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.48 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5).
We are at about the mid-point of the crappie spawn on Santee Cooper, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he approximates that half of the fish have spawned while another half still have to go. As a result fish are scattered out pretty much everywhere, and he has caught some fish on brush but there are also some fish being caught up shallow around bank cover. Trolling numbers have been a bit down this week but that will also work.
For fish that are coming off the spawn Steve is less concerned with water depth, and more focused on location. They will usually stop at brush coming out from spawning areas where they can rest before going deeper.
Some monster catfish were caught in the Big Cat Brawl over the weekend on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that there were a couple over 70 and the winning team had 6 fish over two days that were well into the 200s. It seemed that some of the biggest fish came on Lake Marion, but there were also a lot of people who struck out in the upper lake.
Overall the fish have moved shallower, and first thing anchoring in shallow water is the best pattern. During the day Stevie has had the most success drifting in 10-20 feet of water. Right in front of Black’s there has been some good fishing in 10 feet and at the same depth anywhere out of Russellville the same is true. Flats, hills and about anything in the 10-20 foot range is worth drifting.
There were some good fish in the 20-30 pound range caught on chicken, but the best bait seems to be river herring and gizzard shad.
Bass report to follow.
March 17
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.51 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.24 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The upper lake is getting dirty, while the lower lake is relatively clear once you get away from the mouth of the canal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s in the shallows.
This year Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the Elite Series pros hit Santee right, and he doesn’t expect to see many dry live wells. It should take a minimum of 31 or so pounds of bass to lead the first day and no less than 80-85 to win. 100 pounds over 4 days is possible.
Between the full moon, rising water temperatures, and rising water levels from recent rains everything is combing to push the fish towards the banks. They are dirt shallow, and today just fishing while waiting for a camera guy Brett has caught a bunch of fish in no more than a foot or two of water. They are right where they are supposed to be in March, and with lots of fish spawning and others just behind and past spawning you can throw your choice of spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics, jigs and more. Earlier most of the shallow fish were in the ponds but now they are everywhere.
There are staging fish around trees, but the bulk of the big fish seem to be shallow.
By this weekend the shallow crappie bite could be wide open as well on Santee, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that this week he has actually found more fish on deep brush. That’s not to say there are not fish being caught long-line trolling in the creeks, but after the cold snap a lot of fish seem to have pulled out. Trolling numbers have not been incredible.
The shallow bite has been better in the evenings, and that should stay true through the weekend.
Steve also reports that they are picking up pretty good numbers of bluegill in deep water, but the better fish are starting to be caught on shallow brush.
The Big Cat Brawl with $10,000 on the line is on Santee this weekend, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he expects a lot of catfish to be caught. Fishing is pretty good everywhere, and the new pattern is that there are starting to be a lot of fish caught shallow drifting in 12-15 feet of water on the ledges near deep water. There is also still a good anchored bite early and then a good deeper drift in 25-40 feet of water.
Cut herring, river herring, bluegill and shad are all working.
March 9
Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.75 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week.
This week Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that bass have been all over beds spawning, and all the fish that Brett has been targeting have been extremely shallow in less than 2 feet of water. He is fishing soft plastics in and around spawning coves, and pitching baits at shallow structure.
This weekend will be a totally different situation, however, and with temperatures dropping into the mid-20s and 25 mile per hour winds out of the north he expects that many fish will abandon their beds. Water temperatures are likely to drop as much as 10-15 degrees in the shallow lake with this hard freeze, and he expects bass to run out of the shallows like their houses are on fire. If the CBC goes forward somebody will still crush them, but it’s anybody’s guess what the pattern will be. But it’s a good bet they will pull back.
A large number of crappie are spawning on Santee, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that certainly not all of them are. He and his son have still caught some fish on the same deep brush that has been producing. These fish are still loaded up with eggs and they expect it to be a few more weeks until the spawn is played out.
However, the most effective pattern has typically been casting at shallow cover with jigs. You can also fish a minnow under a cork. There are also still plenty of fish in the creeks that can be caught trolling jigs and minnows in 8-15 feet of water.
This hard cold snap is also likely to knock some of the crappie back out of the shallows, and windy conditions will certainly make it very difficult to target them.
In bream news, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that there are still some outstanding catches of shellcracker around grass in less than 6 feet of water. These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning if they have not already begun. Worms are the ticket.
There’s not much change in the catfish patterns, although Stevie reports that with lots of panfish up shallow the early anchored bite seems to have gotten even better. However, during the day the best pattern is still drifting in 25-40 feet of water when fish pull out deeper.
Again, it’s best to have a mix of cut baits including gizzard shad, American shad, river herring and blueback herring because fish have been showing different preferences on different days.
March 2
Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.87 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.75 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is still clear in places. Morning surface water temperatures range wildly from the mid-50s on the lower lake in the big water to the mid-60s in protected backwater ponds.
As Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) predicted last week, temperatures have now gotten to the point where some bass have actually started spawning activity – particularly in the protected backwater ponds that warm up fastest. Late last week anglers first noted that bucks were moving up, and then Friday and Saturday some big females came up. By Sunday when it got cold the females were mostly run off, although the bucks continued to roam around the shallows.
With the heat wave and new moon Brett is cautiously optimistic that another big group of fish will come up. When the fish are up shallow then Brett is pretty much fishing with Senkos and other soft plastics, although in windy conditions he will also fish a spinnerbait.
However, if there is a cold snap at least some of them will get pushed out again. When that happens the fish retreat to the first break, and they will set up around some type of structure like a brush pile or tree in 4-8 feet of water. Depending on what they are on Brett will then turn to jerkbaits, Carolina rigs, swimbaits or spinnerbaits.
Like the bass the crappie are moving around a lot, and even though a lot of fish had gotten shallow into the creeks by early in the week Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) discovered they had pulled back out and he was again catching them on deep brush 20-plus feet down in 30-plus feet of water. When conditions warmed up again they started to move back into the creeks, and with up-and-down early spring conditions Steve characterizes the fish as scattered and confused.
On a warm trend fish will head into the creeks where they can be caught trolling jigs and minnows in 8-15 feet of water, while another group of fish (so far mostly males) will be up on the banks looking for areas where they will spawn. These fish can be caught casting a jig or with a minnow under a cork.
Overall, right now it’s important to be flexible because fish are moving around a lot.
In another sure sign of spring, while Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) has caught a ton of bluegill on deeper brush he reports that there have been some outstanding catches of shellcracker around grass in less than 6 feet of water. These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning. Worms are the ticket.
The catfish bite is also dependent on weather, and right before a front comes through fish have been feeding really well – while after a cold snap the bite slows for a day or two. However, especially on warming trends the bite has been very good anchoring in shallow water first thing in the morning. After that it’s more of a drift bite in 20-30 feet of water. Again, it’s best to have a mix of cut baits including gizzard shad, American shad, river herring and blueback herring because fish have been showing different preferences on different days.
February 24
Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.91 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.7 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is still clear in places. Morning surface water temperatures have hit the lower 60s.
It’s the time of year when the bass fishing is highly dependent on the weather, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that before and after the cold snap over the weekend the bass bit well – but on Sunday they did not. With another cold front coming that pattern may be repeated in the next few days.
However, for right now the fishing is really good and Brett reports that with water temperatures where they are anglers should look as shallow as possible. Fish may even start fanning beds, and there could be females thinking about laying eggs in spawning pockets before temperatures drop.
Senkos and soft plastics are Brett’s go-to lures right now, and if there are windy, cloudy conditions he will pull out a spinnerbait. Swimbaits can also work.
While there are still some crappie on brush, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that the best crappie fishing has come trolling jigs and minnows in 8-15 feet of water in the creeks. There are even some fish up on the banks looking for spawning locations, and so right now you can fish about any shallow pattern for crappie.
While the numbers of crappie on brush has dwindled, Steve notes that there are some huge groups of bluegill stacked up on the brush.
The bite over the weekend was a little sporadic for catfish, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that even though one tournament team managed three fish that went for 124 pounds (with a big fish over 50) most teams only managed one or two fish. The bite seemed to die after the morning.
This week the shallow morning bite at anchor has still been the best thing going, but during the day drifting 20-30 feet has turned on. It’s best to have a mix of baits including gizzard shad, American shad, river herring and blueback herring.
Brett concurs that the bite has been strong this week, with early anchoring and then daytime drifting working the best. He notes that they have been topping of plenty of coolers this week.
February 18
Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.77 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.59 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are dingy in places but not muddy and morning surface water temperatures are about 51-54 degrees.
The crappie are starting to move around on the lakes, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that there are not as many fish on the deep brush piles as there were a week ago. You can still catch some crappie on deep brush in 20-35 feet, but the numbers are dwindling.
Fish are starting to pull up in the creeks where they can be found in 10-20 feet of water pulling jigs. The best bite will be in the middle of the day when the water is warmest. Very soon, if they have not already, some male fish should get around the banks.
February 16
Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.81 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.51 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are dingy in places but not muddy, about right for this time of year, and morning surface water temperatures are about 52-53 degrees.
It was another good weekend for bass on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the Sunday Showdown Series tournament was won with a three-fish limit of 19 pounds! The warm weather is already improving the fishing, and they caught their fish in 2-3 feet of water around hard cover like natural wood or planted brush that absorbs and radiates some heat.
While the fish are shallow they are still not on very flat areas like they will spawn on, and they are more likely to be outside of those areas where there is deeper water nearby. There are shad in those areas and the bass are also feeding opportunistically on whatever else is around. Spinnerbaits, jigs and crankbaits will all work.
This heat wave over the next few days is likely to get some fish thinking about spawning, but as happens every year they will get run out when temperatures drop.
The catfish bite has dramatically improved on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he has caught a pile of fish drifting over all different kinds of structure in 45-55 feet. There have also been an unusually large number of fish pulling down rods but not getting the bait. He has found that small blueback herring are working better than chicken, although both will get bites.
Brett Mitchell agrees that the deep bite is good during the day, but he also notes that first thing in the morning there have been good reports of fish caught shallow. Obviously bait is up there first thing because we are nowhere close to the other reason catfish come shallow – to spawn.
February 11
Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.67 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.31 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are back to a normal color and water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 40s.
The bass on Santee Cooper are doing exactly what they are supposed to doing, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that they have been catching fish that are chasing shad in the backs of pockets. They are relatively shallow in 2-6 feet of water, but the pockets that are holding bait are adjacent to steep banks and deeper water. You don’t want to fish large, flats pockets like the ones fish would spawn on.
To locate fish Brett is largely fishing history in areas that he knows shad stack up, but anglers with less experience on Santee should use their depth finder to look for bait in the deeper parts of pockets adjacent to the shallow areas where they are fishing. When bass are eating they will push the bait up shallower.
Brett has only been fishing shad-colored crankbaits, but red crankbaits, swimbaits and more should also work.
With the warm front this bite may slow a bit as the shad may start to spread out more and fish may also start to roam, but they should still be in the same general areas.
February 10
Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.59 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.18 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are back to a normal color and water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 40s.
It’s a pretty good crappie bite right now on the lakes, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are catching some good fish on deep brush about 22 feet down over 38 feet in the lower lake. His son Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is catching them in about 25-30 feet of water. Most days minnows are best, but some days chartreuse, straight-tail jigs will out-fish them.
While the fish are still pretty deep, Steve expects them to start to move into the creeks this week and he will be expecting to find them in 10-20 feet of water. The best bite will be in the middle of the day when the water is warmest.
They are also catching some good bream on the same brush.
For some reason the catfish bite has gotten really tough, and while there are some fish being caught it’s not unusual for anglers to strike out right now.
February 1
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.12 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.81 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes have finally started to get dirty and morning surface water temperatures are about 43-45 degrees.
After some really good catfish action a couple of weeks ago the bite has gotten tougher on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that it certainly seems like the last cold front put the fish off. They are still getting a lot of pull-downs but the fish won’t commit as well. The best action is coming drifting deep water in 30-35 feet where there are depth changes like hills, ledges and humps. Herring and chicken have gotten the most bites although they haven’t found anything the fish are swallowing very well.
It’s a similar story from Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029), who also reports that the best cat action is coming in about 30 feet.
While he hasn’t found the bass out that deep Brett is also finding that largemouth have moved out that way, and from what he has seen the best action is coming in about the 10-15 foot range. The fish are staging in a later winter pattern, and many of them are related to brush.
Anglers seem to either be on them or not, and in this week’s Sunday Showdown Series the best 3-fish limit was an impressive 18 pounds. However, out of 14 boats there were only two limits.
Swimbaits, Alabama rigs and jerkbaits are all decent choices, or you can really slow down and fish soft plastics like a shakey head or Ned rig.
The bream catch is still at best sporadic, but Captain Stevie English reports that they are still catching some nice crappie even though they are having to work for them. The upper lake is slow but they are catching fish around brush in the lower lake in 25-30 feet of water. Right now minnows are working better most days, but you should also have a chartreuse, straight-tail jig ready just in case.
January 20
Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.73 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.51 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lower lake is still clear even as the upper lake is getting dirty, and morning surface water temperatures are about 47 degrees.
Warmer water is often found at the very backs of the creeks on Santee Cooper, and as a result Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that a lot of bait is also back there right now. The bass are following the shad, and so if you can locate the bait you will find fish. The 5-foot range is a good starting point. Swimbaits, Alabama rigs, crankbaits and jerkbaits are all good options.
If those aren’t working then Brett suggests looking a little deeper with Ned rigs and shakey heads in the same areas.
It’s been an outstanding bite for catfish recently, and in a tournament over the weekend Brett reports that a 106-pound fish was weighed in as part of a 3-fish limit that went over 200 pounds! About half of the field had over 100 pounds of fish, and so they are biting really well right now.
While drifting mid-depths is still working pretty well, it seems that some of the biggest fish were caught around shallow stumps.
In the cold weather the bream fishing has really slowed down, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that they are still catching some nice crappie even though they are having to work for them. The upper lake has slowed down but they are catching fish around brush in the lower lake in 25-30 feet of water. Right now minnows are working better most days, but you should also have a chartreuse, straight-tail jig ready just in case.
January 6
Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.71 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 72.64 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are still very clear and morning surface water temperatures are down to the mid-50s.
Even after this cold snap overall mild temperatures mean that the crappie bite has stayed extremely good for the season, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in the lower lake they are still catching fish just over brush in 25-30 feet of water. Fishing in the upper lake is winding down. For some reason jigs are working better than minnows, out-fishing them 5-1 or so. Chartreuse, straight-tail jigs are working the best.
The bluegill are also still piled up on the same brush, and they are catching some really nice bream on crickets.
On the other hand the catfish are not a fan of the warm weather, and the bite has generally been erratic. Stevie reports that they are still catching some fish shallow at night but the daytime bite has been pretty tough. Drifting mid-depths has not been productive, although that could change as temperatures settle into winter patterns.
While the striped bass do not seem to be schooling right now on Santee Cooper, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in the lower lake they have been catching a ton of fish deep. Live bait and jigging spoons are both working.
The bass fishing has been pretty tough recently, but Steve reports that while some fish can be caught shallow he believes the best way to catch good ones right now is reeling a crankbait just over brush piles. Jerkbaits and Alabama rigs could also work.
December 22
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.03 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.78 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58.
With a relatively mild winter the crappie fishing has not slowed down yet on Santee Cooper, and even though Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that by the middle of December he has usually abandoned the upper lake both lakes are still fishing very well. The fish are still on deeper brush and wood in 20-35 feet, and on his last trip out Steve caught a bunch of fish including five over 2 pounds. Minnows are still working the best.
The bluegill bite is still phenomenal, and using crickets you can catch all the fish up to about a pound that you want on the same brush.
With up-and-down water temperatures the bass are in a pretty typical early winter pattern, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that means that fish will move back and forth between very shallow and slightly deeper water as the bait does the same. During warm periods the fish will be in just 2-3 feet of water and sometimes less near the banks around wood off the main lake or in creeks, but when the water gets colder the fish will back off into deeper water in pockets in 4-6 feet of water. When the fish are very shallow they will take spinnerbaits, shallow-running crankbaits and other baits worked quickly, while when they pull out medium-running crankbaits and Rattle Traps are good.
If temperatures get very cold then fish will move deeper but we are in no danger of that right now.
The action for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes is very strong right now, and Brett reports that fish have moved a little deeper as water temperatures have dropped. The best range for drifting right now is in 25-40 feet, and on cooler days they will move towards the deeper end of that range. Herring, shad and mullet are all working well.
While generally Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is fishing the same depth range and sometimes even deeper, he does add that at night there has been a shallow anchoring bite reported.
While the striped bass do not seem to be schooling right now on Santee Cooper, Captain Steve English reports that in the lower lake they have been catching a ton of fish deep. Live bait and jigging spoons are both working.
December 15
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.99 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are still in the upper 50s.
When we had several nights in the 20s a few weeks ago it looked like bass might move into winter patterns early, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that as surface temperatures stabilized and even warmed up the shallow bite turned on again as the bait moved back shallow. Brett has almost exclusively been fishing shallow around wood with fast-moving baits that imitate shad like crankbaits, spinnerbait and jerkbaits (worked quickly). Fish are in the creeks or flats off the main lake in just 2-3 feet of water, and Brett has mainly been fishing the upper lake although patterns should hold in Moultrie as well.
With the lakes still clear Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) is still finding the bluegill and crappie deep. Shallower brush in 14-15 feet of water is still not producing and it has only been the trees in 20-35 feet that have produced. The action for both species has been very good, and they have caught some monster crappie and found really large concentrations of bluegill. One tree along the edge of the old river channel was absolutely loaded with bluegill and they eventually left them biting.
Crickets and minnows are the best baits.
The action for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes can still be really good, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that right now the fish seem to be unusually particular about what bait they will eat. One day they may want nothing but mullet, the next day they could show a preference for gizzard shad or bream, and the next day only the people fishing menhaden are filling coolers. Overall it’s a good bet to have a wide selection of cut bait as well as chicken available.
While there are always fish in a lot of different depth ranges in Santee, right now Santee-style drifting in 40-50 feet seems to be the most effective.
December 3
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.08 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.96 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50s.
The lakes are as clear as Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has ever seen them, which may be part of the reason why they can only catch bluegill and crappie around the deeper stuff. Yesterday they tried some brush in 14-15 feet of water with no bites, and it has only been the trees in 20-35 feet that have produced. But the bite has been very good, and yesterday they caught 29 crappie in the upper lake and 50 bluegill and 8 crappie the day before in the lower lake. Crickets and minnows are the best baits.
December 2
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.08 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.96 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are in the mid-50s.
It’s been an outstanding week or two for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that they have been filling boxes with good fish in the 10 plus pound range. While there are tons of little fish out in very deep water, the best action has generally come drifting Santee-style in 25-35 feet of water. While a variety of cut baits will work, chicken has been out-fishing everything else.
November 19
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.21 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.19 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures are about 61 degrees.
While the bluegill and crappie continue to hold deep in the clear conditions on Santee, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that the bite is still really good around offshore brush piles. If anything it has picked up in the past week.
This week the sweet spot has generally been 14-18 feet down over 20-35 feet of water. Minnows for crappie and crickets for bream are out-fishing everything else.
Even with water temperatures about to drop again on Santee, Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports bass should stay for a while in the creeks as temperatures are in the ideal range. Fish will often be adjacent to steep banks and 8-15 feet of water, but the best concentration of catchable fish is shallower in 4-6 feet of water. Bouncing a crankbait that dives 6-8 feet off the bottom around stumps is an excellent pattern, and small swimbaits and spinnerbaits will also catch fish.
While he is not chasing them there are also still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics.
The catfish bite has been pretty good this week on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he continues to find the best action in deep water. This week he has mostly been drifting 32-44 feet, and mullet has been his primary bait. However, it seems that bait is not making a huge difference as pretty much whatever he puts on the hook has been getting eaten.
On the shallower side Captain Brett Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water. Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working for his boat.
November 11
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.54 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.26 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 59 degrees.
It’s been a bit of a mystery why the bluegill and crappie have been holding so deep so consistently for so long on the Santee Cooper lakes, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he thinks it is related to how clear the lakes are right now. Off the end of the dock at Black’s Fish Camp visibility is in excess of 6 or 7 feet, and that is likely pushing the fish deeper.
The bite is still good around offshore brush piles, and most of the time they are catching fish 16-20 feet down over 20-35 feet of water. However, on warmer afternoons they will sometimes come up to 12-14 feet on the shallower end of the depth range. Minnows and crickets are out-fishing everything else.
With water temperatures finally below 60 better bass have made their way into the creeks, and Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that even though there are still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics they are no longer his primary focus. He is now targeting bass following bait which will move in and out of the creeks following current. It will also be found up the rivers if there is current there. While fish will often be adjacent to creeks with steep banks and 8-15 feet of water, the best concentration of catchable fish is in 4-6 feet of water. Bouncing a crankbait that dives 6-8 feet off the bottom around stumps is an excellent pattern, and small swimbaits and spinnerbaits will also catch fish.
Overall the action for catfish has been a little off-and-on at Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that the weather has certainly not helped with a mix of wind and rain in the past week before it got prettier. Overall he is still catching fish in 25-50 feet of water, although other anglers are fishing shallower.
One of these guides is Captain Brett Mitchell, who concurs that there have been good and bad days but has been targeting his efforts in 15-25 feet of water. Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working for his boat.
November 4
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.51 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.53 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 65 degrees.
Water temperatures have dropped enough that smaller bass are starting to move into the creeks, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that things are running behind this year and so there has not really been a rush of bait in there yet. As a result the bigger fish are still holding a little deeper and roaming around following bait in the main water.
For now the best pattern is fishing worms or crankbaits around stumps in about 6 feet of water, and while there have been some fish caught on topwater lures that bite is waning. When water temperatures hit about 50 degrees then the creek bite should really turn on.
It’s been good action for both bluegill and crappie on the Santee Cooper lakes, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that both species are stacking up on brush in deeper water. Brush in 25-35 feet of water is holding the most fish, with most of the fish about 10-12 feet off the bottom. Crickets are working for bluegill, while minnows are working for crappie.
The lower lake has fished a little better than the upper lake.
As is often the case there are several different ways to catch catfish on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports the best action he has found has been in very deep water from 25 out to 50 feet. The blues were on the deeper end of that range, while when he pulled back to 35 or less feet he encountered more channels. He has had the best luck with herring, and there have been some big fish caught drifting deep water at night.
On the other hand Captain Brett Mitchell is fishing shallower in 15-25 feet of water, drifting over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working.
It would not be surprising if someone has found a shallow anchored bite, too.
October 20
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.35 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.2 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5), and while the lower lake is still clear dirty water is making its way down. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 70 degrees.
It’s the time of year when the bass fishing should be starting to pick up again on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that is exactly what’s happening. Water temperatures have gotten cool enough that fish are really starting to move around again, and as the shad just start to get into the creeks the bass should not be far behind. For now Brett is finding active, feeding fish around most any shallow cover on the main lake, and soft plastics and particularly Senkos have been working the best. It should not be long until a topwater bite comes on but for now they have not been productive.
Even though it’s not wide open the crappie fishing has really picked up, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are catching fish 10-22 feet down over brush in 30 plus feet of water. Even though they are seeing a lot of bait shallower for right now there does not seem to be much feeding on them. The bite is about the same in both lakes, and right now the action seems to be better in the middle of the day and early afternoon. Minnows are working the best.
The catfish action has been pretty good on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that even though he has found good fishing in 25-40 feet of water at the moment he would suggest starting in shallow water and then eliminating that before heading deeper. When you can find shallow fish stacked up they will really feed. His boat is having the most success with herring.
Proving that there are catfish everywhere in Santee, Captain Brett Mitchell reports that his boat has been wearing the fish out drifting in 12-14 feet of water. On the last trip they managed a couple of 40-pound fish, a 30-, and so on. He has been targeting the flats in between the turns in the river bed on Lake Marion.
Cut perch and chicken have both been working about the same for him.
October 7
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.65 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.5 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are still about 79 degrees.
There are mixed signals on the catfish action, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that most days it seems like the fish are feeding pretty well. He has had the best luck drifting in 10-20 feet of water on cut herring, although at night he is finding much better fishing out deep in 25-40 feet.
During the day Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) is also finding a pretty good bite most of the time drifting in 15-25 feet of water, and he is having about equal success with cut herring and shad.
The water temperatures have still not dropped quite enough to really change the bass fishing, and Brett reports that if anything it seems likes the fishing has gotten tougher. He is still having the best success fishing scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range with soft plastics.
Most of the fish are still probably roaming offshore suspended and chasing bait, but when temperatures drop just a few degrees they should finally start to move into the creeks following shad and become catchable on topwater lures, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits.
It sounds like a broken record but the crappie still haven’t really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that deeper brush in 25 plus feet of water continues to be the best. One day the fishing will be good and the next day it will be slow, but overall the best fishing is coming in the upper lake.
Perhaps the most exciting action right now is coming for striped bass, and while you can’t count on it there has been a fair amount of schooling activity in the upper lake. When the fish aren’t on top they can be caught down-lining for suspended for fish or looking for striper that are stacked up on the bottom.
September 29
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.89 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures range from about 78-81 degrees.
The catfish action is still a little slow on Santee, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that if you work hard you can still put a nice box of fish in the boat. He has had the best luck drifting in 10-20 feet of water on cut herring, while Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) is concentrating more on the 15-20 foot range. Reports vary but there are some indications that the upper lake is fishing a little better than the lower lake right now.
The water temperatures have still not dropped quite enough to really change the bass fishing, and Brett reports that everything he is catching is coming around scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range. It’s mostly a soft plastic bite and topwaters still are not producing.
There are also a few fish being caught on brush piles, but the majority of the fish seem to be suspended offshore where they are chasing bait. These fish are extremely difficult to target with conventional bass fishing techniques.
It shouldn’t be long until fish start to move into the creeks following shad and become catchable on topwater lures, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits.
The crappie still haven’t really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are picking up decent numbers of fish by looking at deeper brush. He has found the best action 14-18 feet down over 25-35 feet of water. While they aren’t targeting them they are also picking up a fair number of big bream while fishing minnows on the same crappie brush, and so it may be time to start bream fishing!
September 16
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.13 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.04 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are clear and water temperatures range from about 82 in the morning up to about 85.
In his estimation the catfish action has slowed down a little on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the fish he is catching have shifted from about 15-25 feet out to more like the 30-35 foot range. They are still biting pretty well, and he is having success drifting both chicken and herring.
Even though he is hearing those same reports from deeper water, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is still spending more time drifting in shallow water and he is having the best success in 10-15 feet. Herring is his bait of choice. Overall, based on what he is seeing the fish are still very spread out.
Despite a very slight temperature drop it hasn’t moved enough to really activate the bass fishing, and Brett reports that he has not seen a fish so much as swirl at a topwater bait recently. Everything he is catching is coming around scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range.
There are also a few fish being caught on brush piles, but the majority of the fish seem to be suspended offshore where they are chasing bait. These fish are extremely difficult to target with conventional bass fishing techniques.
Now that fall is near Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) is back after the crappie, and even though he has had a few good days there are also times when the fishing is slow. Right now it’s slower than last year at this time. Steve’s boat is targeting the lower lake, and everything he is catching is coming on relatively shallow brush 7-10 feet down over 15-20 feet of water. The best action has been in creek-like areas.
When the water cools then the brush bite for bream should pick up, and the canal should fill up with shellcracker.
September 2
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.41 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.31 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Despite recent rains the lakes remain relatively clear and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s.
It’s an interesting bite for catfish on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the fishing is kind of feast-or-famine. Some days you find the fish biting and fill the box, and other days you struggle. Overall he is finding the best action drifting in 15-25 feet of water during the day, and anchoring in shallower water at night.
Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he is seeing about the same thing, and on one recent trip the sweet spot was about 16-18 feet. Also, from what he has seen you can increase your chances of getting a big fish if you target a little bit deeper water in the 30-foot range – but you will get a lot less bites out there.
Cut herring are good for numbers while white perch will work to try for a bigger one.
Water temperatures have not dropped enough to really change the bass fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that when temperatures drop another five degrees then you should be able to fish topwater baits all day long and not just in the mornings. While he is still fishing soft plastics around trees right now, very soon fish should start to follow shad into the creeks and he will be getting on more of a shad bite. Most anything that imitates shad from swimbaits to Alabama rigs to crankbaits to Rattle Traps will work.
This weekend Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has several trips for crappie again after some time off, and his best guess is that the fish will be scattered 10-20 feet down over middle depth to deep brush. He will be fishing minnows.