May 24
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.23 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.1 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are around 80 in the morning.
Strong summer patterns are starting to take off for bass on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) 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
Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 77 degrees inshore around Hilton Head. The water is dirty in most areas.
The winds were slow to die down at the south end of the coast this week, but Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
May 20
Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s inshore around Little River.
With calmer conditions there have been better fishing conditions this week, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
May 20
Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid to upper 70s inshore around Charleston.
Inshore fishing has been pretty good this week, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) 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
May 20
Morning surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are up to about 76 degrees inshore. Both rivers are clear and the wind has laid down some this week.
With better fishing conditions this week, and the official start of shrimp season, Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports
May 19
Lake Jocassee is at 94.6% of full pool and the lake is extremely clear. Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 72 degrees on the main lake and around 74 in the rivers.
With the bright full moon at night the morning bite has been a little off for trout this week, but Guides Sam and Casey Jones with Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) report
May 19
Lake Wylie is at 96.9% of full pool and clarity is good. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s.
Some years the shad spawn is really quick and the bass fishing on Lake Wylie is really good for about two weeks around it. But tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
May 19
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.18 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are in the upper 70s in the morning and low 80s by the afternoons.
Conditions are still a little tough for bass on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
May 19
Morning surface water temperatures are up to the mid-70s inshore around Beaufort.
While tides aren’t as far above predictions this week as last week, Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
May 19
Lake Wateree is at 96.6% of full pool and the lake is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are up to the upper 70s.
Fresh off a win in the CATT tournament on Lake Wateree this Saturday, tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports
May 19
Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s 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), crappie shiners, fresh head-on shrimp, and a full range of frozen baits including frozen sand fleas.
You still have to weed through a bunch of small ones, but Captain Jay Baisch reports
May 19
Lake Hartwell water levels are still above full at 660.29 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 76 or 77 degrees.
With the herring spawn now wide open in the areas he is fishing Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports
May 19
Clarks Hill water levels are just above full at 330.02 (full pool is 330.00) and with no rain clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures are about 75 degrees and approaching the 80s in the rivers.
It’s a similar pattern for hybrid and striped bass all over the lake from one end to the other and in all the creeks, and Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports
May 19
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 439.14 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is basically as clear as it gets from one end to the other. Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 70s.
The Lake Greenwood bass are in that period where fish can be found both shallow and deep, and tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
May 19
Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 70s and clarity is normal. Lake levels fluctuate daily.
It’s a transition period between post-spawn and early summer bass patterns on Lake Monticello, but tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
May 18
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.63 (full pool is 475.00) and with almost no rain in the past three weeks the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 77-79 degrees.
The bass fishing on Lake Russell is still in a late spring pattern, but Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
May 18
Lake Murray water levels are down to 357.26 (full pool is 360.00) and water clarity is high. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-70s down the lake but as high as 80 up the rivers.
While in some ways it’s been a strange spring, or at least May, for bass fishing on Lake Murray, tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
May 13
Lake Jocassee is at 94.9% of full pool and the lake is extremely clear. Morning surface water temperatures are still running about 67 degrees on the main lake but you can find 70s in the backs.
It’s been a really good bite for keeper trout this week, and Guides Sam and Casey Jones with Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) report
May 13
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 439.21 (full pool is 440.0) and morning surface water temperatures are around 74 degrees.
The bass are in a transition period on Lake Greenwood, and tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
May 13
Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 70 inshore around Charleston.
Conditions have been strange in Charleston this week, and while the wind has significantly limited the fishing Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports
May 12
Morning surface water temperatures are about 69 degrees inshore around Beaufort and the water is dirty from the wind.
While there has been wind and more wind in Beaufort this week, Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
May 12
Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-70s and clarity is normal. Lake levels fluctuate daily.
It’s a transition period between post-spawn and early summer bass patterns on Lake Monticello, as shown by recent tournament results. Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports