August 18

Lake Murray water levels are at 356.80 (full pool is 360.00) and water clarity is a bit stained after recent rains. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 80s.

The summer pattern striped bass fishing has started to slow down on Lake Murray, and Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports

July 22

Lake Russell water levels are around 474.4 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is still pretty clear on the main channel. Morning surface water temperatures are around 84 or 85 degrees. 

The fish are starting to group up more on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports

June 28

Morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s in Murrells Inlet. Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live shrimp, usually fiddler crabs (call to confirm), fresh head-on shrimp, and a full range of frozen baits including frozen sand fleas.  Live finger mullet will be stocked within days. 

June 24

Morning surface water temperatures are still about 84 inshore around Beaufort.  Shrimp and finger mullet are prolific in the creeks. 

Even though it’s hot and bait is extremely abundant the redfish are still eating pretty well in Beaufort, and Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports

June 17

Morning surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are up to about 83 degrees inshore. Both rivers are clear.   

Still the most exciting fishery around Edisto is the tarpon, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports

June 17

Morning surface water temperatures are around 82-83 degrees inshore around Little River. Bait is now pretty abundant in the creeks. 

The most exciting fishing at the top of the coast this week has been trolling for Spanish mackerel, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports

June 17

Morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s in Murrells Inlet. Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live shrimp, fiddler crabs (some days – call to check), fresh head-on shrimp, and a full range of frozen baits including frozen sand fleas.  Very soon they will have live finger mullet. 

The big Murrells Inlet Rotary Club flounder tournament

June 10

Morning surface water temperatures are around 82 degrees inshore around Charleston. 

Even though mullet are starting to flood into the creeks inshore fishing has been a little slow, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports

May 24

Lake Greenwood water levels are up to 439.26 (full pool is 440.0) and even though water levels are rising most of the lake is still pretty clear.  Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 80s. 

Hot water temperatures have pushed the Lake Greenwood bass into summer patterns, and tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports

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