September 8

Lake Wylie is at 97.2% of full pool and the lake is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are around 83-84 degrees. 

This weekend is the championship of the summer-long Lake Wylie tournament bass series, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports

September 3

Lake Keowee is at 97.8% of full pool and the main lake is clear but the backs of major creeks are stained due to some heavy thunderstorms. Morning surface water temperatures are in the high 80s over most of the lake.   

While water temperatures are still near their summer highs, N&C Marine / Falcon team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports

August 31

Lake Russell water levels are at 474.49 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is fairly clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 84 degrees on the main lake.

It seems like the bass have just started to make an early fall move on Lake Russell, and yesterday Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports

August 31

Morning surface water temperatures are about 83 inshore around Beaufort and after a ton of rain the water is heavily stained. 

It’s been (almost) all about the redfish on his boat for the last two weeks in Beaufort, and Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports

August 31

Morning surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are about 82 degrees inshore and the North Edisto is still clear while the South Edisto is a little dirty after 6 inches of local rain! There is plenty of bait in the creeks and the 6-8 inch mullet have started running down the beaches. 

With more calm days they are getting to explore some of the nearshore fisheries around Edisto, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports

August 31

Morning surface water temperatures are about 81-82 degrees inshore around Charleston. 

It’s still the dog days of summer along the South Carolina coast, but that hasn’t stopped a wide-open inshore bite from breaking out. Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports

August 31

Lake Jocassee is at 99.1% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are still around 80 degrees on the big water but closer to the mid-80s in the backs.  

It’s hard to say the bass fishing is tough when you are winning tournaments with 23-pound bags that include a couple of 7-pounders, but tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports

August 31

Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s. 

Saturday a three-fish tournament only took a little over 7 pounds to win, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports

August 31

Lake Wateree is at 97.2% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 82 or 83 degrees.

Water temperatures have not dropped that much on Lake Wateree, and they could go back up, but tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports

August 31

Lake Hartwell water levels are way down to 656.09 (full pool is 660.00) and clarity is very high. Morning surface water temperatures are around 84 degrees.   

The hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell is still a little hit-or-miss, but Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports

August 31

Clarks Hill water levels are way down to 326.01 (full pool is 330.00) and the water clarity is normal on the main lake. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 80s on the lower end up to the mid-80s in some of the backs. 

There are several different patterns at work with the hybrid and striped bass on Clarks Hill, and Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports

August 31

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.00 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.95 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lake is surprisingly clear despite the recent rains. Morning surface water temperatures are around 81-83 degrees. 

Even with only slight early fall cooling the crappie fishing is starting to improve on Santee, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports

August 31

Lake Greenwood water levels are at 439.02 (full pool is 440.0) and morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s. 

As with most species on Lake Greenwood, water temperatures will need to drop a few degrees before patterns change very much with the crappie. Veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports

August 31

Lake Monticello surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s, warmer on the lower end near the power plant, and the lake is still clear. Water levels fluctuate daily.

It’s another transition period on Lake Monticello for bass, and tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports

August 30

Lake Murray water levels are at 356.72 (full pool is 360.00) and morning surface water temperatures are about 81-82 degrees on the lower end. 

We’ll get to the bass patterns in just a minute, but last Saturday’s Fishing for a Cause tournament to benefit A Place for Us Ministries would have been a success whether they caught any fish or not. That’s because tournament director and veteran angler Stan Gunter of Saluda (864-992-0243) reports

August 30

Morning surface water temperatures are around 83 degrees inshore around Little River, and on the beach side the water is very clear. 

More calm days have made fishing outside the creeks accessible again, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports

August 26

Lake Keowee is at 97.2% of full pool, and while the main lake is clear, you can find some stained water in the backs. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s over most of the lake. 

It’s not a huge drop, but N&C Marine / Falcon team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports

August 22

Lake Wylie is at 96.7% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s. 

Thursday night tournament winning weights are only around 11 pounds, but tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports

August 22

Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.99 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.91 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and morning surface water temperatures are around 83 degrees. 

Water temperatures are starting to drop on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

August 22

Lake Wateree is at 97.4% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s. 

Even as dropping temperatures change the bass patterns on Lake Wateree, tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden thinks

August 22

Clarks Hill water levels are down to 326.70 (full pool is 330.00) and the water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s. 

It’s all starting to happen on Clarks Hill, and Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports

August 22

Lake Greenwood water levels are at 439.15 (full pool is 440.0) and water clarity is more stained than normal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s. 

Seasonal changes are underway with the bass on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports

August 22

Lake Murray water levels are at 356.78 (full pool is 360.00) and morning surface water temperatures are back up to about 82 degrees on the lower end. 

Just in time for the Fishing for a Cause bass tournament this coming Saturday, August 27 to benefit A Place for Us Ministries, tournament director Stan Gunter of Saluda (864-992-0243) reports