January 5

Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.51 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 71.01 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5).  Surface water temperatures are around 50 degrees and the lake is dingy but not yet muddy. 

Very low water levels are affecting the bass fishing, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

December 17

Santee Cooper water levels are down to 73.90 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 72.56 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-50s and the canal is dingy but not muddy. 

The bass are in a cool weather pattern on the lakes, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

November 24

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.91 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.89 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures are around 64 and the lakes are dirty.

At last report Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) speculated

November 10

Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.56 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.90 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures are in the upper 60s and while the lakes have some color they are not dirty.

There are probably some bass offshore out deep chasing shad along with the striper, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

October 23

Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.93 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.24 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures have slightly warmed to about 72-73 degrees, and while there has been a ton of water moving through the lakes they remain fairly clear. 

Over the last few weeks water temperatures have if anything risen, and as a result  Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports

October 9

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.14 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.97 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures are around 70-74 degrees.

There are more than a few big name bass fishermen targeting Santee Cooper this week, and luckily Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

September 25

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.32 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.33 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water temperatures have dropped all the way to 73 or 74 degrees. There is a ton of water being pulled through the lakes creating some swift current. 

We got the seasonal cooling that anglers knew was needed to move the bass out of a deep suspended pattern, but  Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

September 18

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.68 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.70 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water temperatures have dropped to 80 or 81. It’s been extremely windy and there is a lot of rainwater coming into the system, but the lakes are starting out pretty clear and so the lower lake will probably stay relatively clean while the upper end of Marion may get dirty. 

It was a brutal Carolinas Bass Challenge event last Saturday, and although it did appear that the patterns were not too far off from what was expected (offshore) weights were even lower than predicted.  Gary Michaud and Dustin Compton took the win with 21.89 pounds, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) points

September 10

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.42 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.27 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water temperatures are down to around 83 degrees and clarity is very high in the lower lake. The upper lake is a bit dingier.  

With many of the state’s best bass fishermen headed to Santee Cooper for the Carolinas Bass Challenge event this weekend, for this week’s report we decided to check in with a Santee bass expert who will not be fishing on Saturday and doesn’t mind giving his frank appraisal. Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) acknowledges

August 26

Santee Cooper water levels are up to 76.09 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.55 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water temperatures are have dropped to about 80-85, and so far clarity is still good even as dirty water moves towards the system. 

It’s August on the Santee Cooper lakes, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

July 29

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.60 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.47 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water temperatures are in the upper 80s to lower 90s, and overall clarity is good. 

Even though bass fishing is seasonally tough on the Santee Cooper lakes, Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports