May 20
Lake Keowee is at 98.1% of full pool and water clarity remains very high. Morning surface water temperatures are now in the mid to upper 70s across the lake.
The spawn is pretty much over on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine / Falcon team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
March 17
Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures range from the upper 50s to lower 60s, depending on section of the lake, with the warmer water on the lower end near the power plant. The lake is more stained than normal after recent rains. Lake levels fluctuate daily.
The cold snap on Lake Monticello last weekend has set the bass back more than expected, and tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
March 17
Lake Murray water levels are all the way up to 358.13 (full pool is 360.00) and the rivers are getting muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from the low to mid-50s on the big water to around 60 in the creeks.
There are still basically two groups of striped bass on Lake Murray, but Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports
March 12
Lake Wylie is at 99.2% of full pool.
The crappie bite is still very good on Lake Wylie, but Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports
March 12
Lake Keowee is at 98.2% of full pool and clarity is normal. Water temperatures have remained stable this past week and they are now around the 60-degree mark on most of the lake.
Without a seasonal rise in temperatures this week, N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
March 10
Lake Hartwell water levels are above full at 660.23 (full pool is 660.00) and after a good bit of rain some of the major creeks should soon be muddy in the backs. Morning surface water temperatures got as high as 59 on the main lake and 61 in the backs but they are starting to drop.
He’s not saying he told you so – but I am saying he did – as Guide Brad Fowler almost
March 2
Morning inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the low to mid-50s and conditions remain very clear.
The fishing is just starting to pick up at the top of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
February 1
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 658.11 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake has typical clarity. Morning surface water temperatures are about 49-52 degrees.
Very cold weather has done nothing to push bass shallower on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler reports
January 20
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.63 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is stained with the recent rains. Morning surface water temperatures are around 50 degrees.
Water temperatures are cold but not yet in the range where there is the danger of a major shad-die off, and as a result Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
January 20
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 434.43 (full pool is 440.0) and you can find any water color from muddy up the rivers to clear down the lake. Morning surface water temperatures are as low as 45.
Any hope of a very early spring was walloped by the weather this past weekend, with more on the way, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
January 6
Lake Wylie is at 98.7% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are back to the mid-50s after getting close to 60 degrees. The main lake is still very clear while the backs of creeks have some stain.
Regular readers may not expect to hear that the bass fishing on Lake Wylie has actually been pretty good recently, but tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
December 22
Clarks Hill water levels are at 326.85 (full pool is 330.00) and morning surface water temperatures are about 56 degrees.
The bass fishing on Clarks Hill is pretty weather dependent right now, and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports
December 22
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 656.52 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is still clear. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 59 degrees.
With water temperatures surprisingly stable there’s not much change with the striped bass this week, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports
December 16
Lake Wylie is at 97.3% of full pool and the lake is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 50s.
There have been a couple of bags of bass over 15 pounds caught in recent tournaments, but in general tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
December 10
Clarks Hill water levels are down to 327.09 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity varies. The South Carolina Little River and Big Hart are muddy, while much of the lake is still relatively clear even after recent rains. Morning surface water temperatures are about 58 degrees.
Most of the Clarks Hill striped bass are in the backs of ditches, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
December 3
Lake Russell water levels are down to 475.09 (full pool is 475.00) and the water is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 60 degrees.
Almost always a fan of colder weather for Lake Russell fishing, Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
November 19
Lake Wylie is at 97.1% of full pool and the lake is normal color. Morning surface water temperatures are around 61 degrees.
There are a few positive signs with the bass fishing on Lake Wylie, and in the most recent CATT tournament at least the winning weight was in the teens.
November 12
Lake Keowee is at 98.4% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid to high-60s over most of the lake.
It’s still a really good time to fish for bass on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
October 21
Lake Hartwell water levels are still high but slightly down to 661.39 (full pool is 660.00) and the main lake is clear while the rivers are dirty to muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from the low 70s to about 75 degrees depending on area.
While there’s no doubt you can catch a lot of spotted bass around brush piles, Guide Brad Fowler reports
October 7
Morning surface water temperatures are around 78 degrees in Murrells Inlet.
Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live finger mullet, live shrimp, live fiddler crabs (usually), blood worms, fresh head-on shrimp, and a full range of frozen baits.
September 3
Lake Jocassee is at 94.2% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s on the main lake.
Last night makes three straight first place finishes for tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley in the Thursday night bass tournaments on Lake Jocassee, and he reports
September 2
Morning surface water temperatures are still in the mid-80s degrees around Beaufort, and from mullet to menhaden to shrimp there is tons of bait in the area.
Our regular correspondent Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250)
September 2
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River have dropped to about 82 degrees and with all the wind clarity has dropped.
Because the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand pushes up against the North Carolina border, when it makes sense Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) likes
September 2
Inshore surface water temperatures remain about 85 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are still full of bait, especially shrimp.
Inshore fishing continues to be good in the Charleston area, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports