It's that time of year when Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) enjoys targeting American Shad making their annual spawning run, and there are various spots below the Santee Cooper lakes where you can fish for them.
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March 12
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.59 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and bouncing around 75.4 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures have risen into the mid-60s.
March 4
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.66 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.43 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are mostly clear. Morning surface water temperatures are 54 in most areas.
February 26
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.50 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.34 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are back down to the upper 40s in most places.
February 19
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.56 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.49 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are up to 50 degrees or more in places and the water is still pretty clear.
February 11
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.38 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.37 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are around 46 degrees and the water is still relatively clear.
February 4
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.35 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.22 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are around 46-47 degrees and the water is still relatively clear.
January 29
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.17 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.11 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are around 47-48 degrees and the water is still relatively clear.
January 21
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.00 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.83 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are around 47 degrees and the water is relatively clear.
January 8
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.90 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.83 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are around 52-54 degrees and the water is relatively clear.
December 23
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.73 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.58 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are around 50 and the water is very clear.
December 16
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.75 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.37 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are around 50 and the water is fairly clear despite some wind.
December 3
Santee Cooper water levels are down to 74.71 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.67 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-50s.
November 19
Santee Cooper water levels are down to 74.76 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.74 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are about 59-60 degrees and the lakes are relatively clear.
November 6
Santee Cooper water levels remain at 75.21 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and are at 75.11 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are about 60-61 degrees and the lakes are still pretty clear although parts of the upper lake are dingy but not muddy.
October 30
Santee Cooper water levels are up to 75.25 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.17 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures have fallen to about 64 degrees and the lakes are still pretty clear.
October 22
Santee Cooper water levels are down to 75.05 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around the same in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures have fallen to about 68 degrees and the lower lake is very clear.
October 16
Santee Cooper water levels are up to 75.19 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.16 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures have fallen to about 69 degrees and the upper lake is now a bit dingy.
October 8
Santee Cooper water levels are down to 74.77 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.70 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures have fallen to about 73 degrees and the lakes are relatively clear.
October 2
Santee Cooper water levels are down to 74.86 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.80 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are approximately 78 degrees and visibility is above average.