July 1
Lake Monticello surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s and the lake is clear. Water levels fluctuate daily.
The bass fishing is still good on Lake Monticello, but tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
June 30
Lake Keowee is at 97.2% of full pool and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s over most of the lake, with the coolest water at the Jocassee dam running in the high 70s.
The bass are in a summer pattern on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine / Falcon team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065)
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.
July 1
Santee Cooper water levels are down to 74.02 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.92 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are normal clarity. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped into the mid-80s in most areas.
On the crappie front, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports
July 1
Lake Wateree is at 97.5% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures have dropped into the mid-80s.
The crappie bite continues to be phenomenal on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports
July 1
Clarks Hill water levels are just below full at 329.72 (full pool is 330.00) and the water clarity is still high. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 81 degrees.
It’s been a better week for hybrid and striped bass fishing on Clarks Hill, and Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports
July 1
Lake Murray water levels have risen slightly to 357.00 (full pool is 360.00) and water conditions are more stained after recent rains. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 80 degrees in the creeks.
There has been a significant change in the striped bass patterns over the last few days
June 24
Lake Keowee is at 97.6 % of full pool and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures have risen to the mid- to high 80s with this most recent heat wave.
Probably due to water temperatures, N&C Marine / Falcon team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
June 24
Lake Wylie is at 96.7% of full pool and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s.
It would be tough to pretend the bass fishing is strong on Lake Wylie right now
June 24
Lake Jocassee is down to 95.6% of full pool and clarity is extremely high from the main lake to the rivers. Morning surface water temperatures are around 78 degrees on the main lake and in the low 80s in the backs.
Even though surface temperatures are relatively stable on Lake Jocassee the depths are gradually heating up, and Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports
June 24
Morning surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are around 82 degrees inshore. Both rivers are clear.
While a majority of the trout they are catching are either side of the minimum size limit, Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports
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 24
Morning surface water temperatures are around 86 degrees inshore around Hilton Head. Shrimp, small finger mullet and menhaden are all abundant.
As warm as the water has gotten it’s hard to understand why, but Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
June 24
Morning surface water temperatures are around 81-82 degrees inshore around Little River. Bait is now pretty abundant in the creeks.
The Spanish mackerel continue to provide a lot of excitement at the north end of the Grand Strand this week, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
June 23
Morning surface water temperatures are around 87 degrees inshore around Charleston.
With water temperatures this high it’s no surprise that the tarpon have showed up in Charleston and along the South Carolina coast, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) report
June 24
Lake Murray water levels are at 356.99 (full pool is 360.00) and water conditions are relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 81.5 degrees on the big water and warmer in the creeks.
The striped bass are – predictably – starting to go deeper with the weather, and Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports
June 23
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.11 (full pool is 475.00) and the lake is very clear with no recent rain. Morning surface water temperatures range from 85-87 degrees, rising to about 90 in the afternoon.
Fish are getting into a true “mixed-bag” summer pattern on Russell, and Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports
June 23
Lake Wateree is at 97.0% of full pool and the lake is clear for Wateree on both ends. Morning surface water temperatures are in the middle to upper 80s.
With an outstanding population of crappie holding in predictable spots, veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt again reports
June 23
Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 660.46 (full pool is 660.00) and clarity is about as high as Lake Hartwell gets. With no more than brief rain showers recently, except for the very back of some creeks the water is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are 84-85 degrees.
There’s been a bit of a change with the hybrid and striped bass this week on Lake Hartwell, and even as the fish are still basically in the mid-rivers and have not moved down the lake much Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports
June 23
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.12 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.09 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are clear. Morning surface water temperatures range between 85 and 90 degrees.
The bass patterns are mostly unchanged on Clarks Hill, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
June 23
Clarks Hill water levels are still above full at 330.14 (full pool is 330.00) and the water is still very clear on the lower end. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 84-85 degrees.
Fresh off a fourth-place finish in this weekend’s BFL on Clarks Hill with 17-2, tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports
June 23
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 439.25 (full pool is 440.0) and the whole lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 88 degrees.
There’s no denying that the bass fishing on Lake Greenwood has gotten really tough, and tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
June 23
Lake Monticello surface water temperatures are in the middle to upper 80s and the lake is clear. Water levels fluctuate daily.
The bass fishing is overall good on Lake Monticello, but tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria 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