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The newest Santee Cooper fishing report can be found at: http://www.anglersheadquarters.com/ahq-insider-santee-cooper-sc-spring-fishing-report/
March 31
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.71 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.48 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water conditions are extremely clear for Santee and temperatures range from the mid-60s all the way up to the lower 70s.
In catfishnews, Captain Jim Glenn (843-825-4239) reports that the big blue catfish have turned on in the Santee Cooper lakes. In a scouting trip on Wednesday he fished areas that historically have produced big fish for him at this time of year, and in 3-12 feet of water he caught a 24-pound fish as well as three more over 30 pounds. Drifting cut shad has been the ticket.
On the crappie front, skyrocketing water temperatures mean that the crappie spawn is winding down and will very soon be pretty much over. The best fishing has moved back out to brush, and Captain Steve English’s (843-729-4044) boat caught some fish in shallower brush piles this morning. However, they have had the best luck catching white crappie 20-22 feet down over brush in about 30 feet of water.
In the lower lake Steve reports that he has been up shallow looking for bream, but there have not been a lot of signs of shellcracker (which usually move up first) shallow. They are still catching fish in the lower lake around deeper brush.
March 31
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.71 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.48 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water conditions are extremely clear for Santee and temperatures range from the mid-60s all the way up to the lower 70s.
In catfishnews, Captain Jim Glenn (843-825-4239) reports that the big blue catfish have turned on in the Santee Cooper lakes. In a scouting trip on Wednesday he fished areas that historically have produced big fish for him at this time of year, and in 3-12 feet of water he caught a 24-pound fish as well as three more over 30 pounds. Drifting cut shad has been the ticket.
On the crappie front, skyrocketing water temperatures mean that the crappie spawn is winding down and will very soon be pretty much over. The best fishing has moved back out to brush, and Captain Steve English’s (843-729-4044) boat caught some fish in shallower brush piles this morning. However, they have had the best luck catching white crappie 20-22 feet down over brush in about 30 feet of water.
In the lower lake Steve reports that he has been up shallow looking for bream, but there have not been a lot of signs of shellcracker (which usually move up first) shallow. They are still catching fish in the lower lake around deeper brush.
March 27
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.69 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water conditions are extremely clear for Santee and temperatures range from about 60-65 depending on location.
It’s that time of year when some monster tournament bass bags are caught on the Santee Cooper lakes, and tournament anglers Steve Harmon and Bryan Cook know a thing or two about catching those big spring females. Steve and Bryan finished with about 26 pounds for 3rd place in the CATT event on Saturday, and on Sunday they weighed in a whopping 32 pounds to win the Goose Creek Bass Club Open!
Steve says that right now locating fish on the Santee lakes is a “no-brainer”, and fish are coming shallow to spawn. In late February a wave of male fish came shallow and made beds, but then the cold weather backed those fish off. For a variety of reasons Steve doesn’t think that many females moved up and actually spawned in February, and so it was really more like a “false spawn.”
This time around the big females have moved up, and this is the real deal. Early in the morning anglers can look for cruising fish or bass holding around depressions or grass, and this is a good time to throw buzzbaits or swimbaits. As the sun comes up anglers need to look shallow for fish on beds.
Steve anticipates that this pattern will hold for the next few weeks, and he points out there are a couple of unique factors this spring. First, water levels are a lot lower than usual for the spring and he believes this is confusing a lot of fish. You just can’t go to the same places you fish every year, as no two springs are the same. Additionally, the water is extremely clear for Santee. This can make for some good sight-fishing, but also makes the fish more skittish.
Catfish, crappie and bream reports to follow.