October 20
After being more than 4 feet above full, Lake Russell water levels have dropped down to a few inches above full pool at 475.33 (full pool is 475.00). Pretty much the whole lake is stained but it’s much better than it was, particularly in terms of floating trash, and morning surface water temperatures are about 74 or 75 degrees.
October 20
Lake Wylie is at 96.4% of full pool and the lake is still relatively clear although the water is stained brown in places. Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 70s.
Even though temperatures are cooling the fall turnover is not especially helpful for bass fishing on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
October 20
Lake Wateree is at 96.4% of full pool and the lake has some color to it and can best be described as dingy but not muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are around 70 degrees.
The crappie are starting to spread out for the fall on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports
October 20
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.35 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.2 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5), and while the lower lake is still clear dirty water is making its way down. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 70 degrees.
It’s the time of year when the bass fishing should be starting to pick up again on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
October 20
Lake Murray water levels have dropped to 357.77 (full pool is 360.00) and the lake is a little dingey as it turns over in places. Morning surface water temperatures are about 72-74 degrees.
Fresh off a third-place finish in the BFL Regional this weekend on Lake Murray that qualifies him to fish the All-American next June, tournament bass angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
October 20
After reaching several feet above full Clarks Hill water levels are down to “only” 330.57 (full pool is 330.00), and even though there is still a lot of floating debris the lake is settling out. Morning surface water temperatures are about 74-75 degrees.
The striped bass fishing on Clarks Hill has picked up, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
October 20
Lake Monticello surface water temperatures have dropped to the mid-70s and the lake is relatively clear. Water levels fluctuate daily.
As water temperatures drop the Lake Monticello bass are starting to move deeper, and even though tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
October 20
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.99 (full pool is 440.0) and the rivers are heavily stained. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-70s.
With water temperatures finally dropping veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
October 15
Lake Keowee is at 98.4% of full pool and the water on the main lake is clear while the backs of major creeks are stained. Morning surface water temperatures are in the high 70s over most of the lake.
As water temperatures continue to gradually fall the Lake Keowee bass continue to make a slow migration into fall patterns, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
October 11
Lake Keowee is at 98.8% of full pool and, since a lot of rain has fallen in the Keowee watershed, the backs of major creeks are stained to muddy. Morning surface water temperatures have held steady this week at around 80 over most of the lake.
The Lake Keowee bass continue to make a slow migration into fall patterns, but N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
October 8
Lake Jocassee is at 95.9% of full pool and clarity has been unusually high – although the rains are beginning to reduce it. Morning surface water temperatures are still around 76-77 degrees.
Despite pouring rain that kept him off the water, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports
October 7
Lake Murray water levels are down to 357.30 (full pool is 360.00) and the water is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are around 79 degrees.
With water temperatures relatively unchanged the striped bass fishing is holding pretty steady on Lake Murray, and Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports
October 7
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.65 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.5 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are still about 79 degrees.
There are mixed signals on the catfish action, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports
October 7
Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are about 80 degrees in the morning and clarity is still high. There is tons of bait around and shrimping is very good.
With water temperatures actually rising a degree from last week to this fish are still in a bit of a holding pattern, but Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143)
October 7
Morning surface water temperatures are about 79 degrees around Beaufort and there has been a ton of rain recently after a dry couple of weeks.
It’s been a clear if not easy pattern for redfish in Beaufort, and Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
October 7
Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 79 degrees around Hilton Head, and with rain the last few days (as well as monster tides) the water has gotten muddy. Finger mullet are everywhere from the ocean to all the rivers and creeks, and by next week rain should have pushed bait down the rivers and the tides will be weaker – allowing for easier netting.
Even though there is a ton of bait around fishing conditions have been pretty crummy this week, but Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
October 7
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are 78 degrees.
While much of the action has been in the inlet, Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
October 7
Morning surface water temperatures are around 78 degrees in Murrells Inlet.
Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live finger mullet, live shrimp, live fiddler crabs (usually), blood worms, fresh head-on shrimp, and a full range of frozen baits.
October 7
Inshore surface water temperatures are still about 78 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are full of bait.
There’s not too much change in the inshore bite around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports
October 7
Lake Wylie is at 96.8% of full pool and the lake is still relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 79-80 degrees.
We are getting to the time of year when the bass fishing on Lake Wylie should be improving, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill says
October 7
Lake Wateree is at 96.6% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are still in the upper 70s. Even before the rains the water above the state park had some color, and now it is filtering down the lake.
We are getting close but there’s still not much change in the crappie pattern on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports
October 7
Lake Hartwell water levels are up about a foot to 659.79 (full pool is 660.00) after several inches of rain with more coming, and the very backs of some creeks are getting dirty although the main lake is unlikely to be affected. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 78 degrees.
It’s been a delayed year but Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports
October 7
Lake Greenwood water levels are up to 439.28 (full pool is 440.0) and recent rains are starting to muddy the upper end. The lower lake has been so clear it will take a lot for the dirty water to affect its clarity. Morning surface water temperatures are about 76 or 77 degrees.
As on many area lakes, veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
October 6
Lake Russell water levels are well above full pool to 474.49 (full pool is 475.00) and rising fast after recent rains. They have had 5 inches of rain already and are expected to get 3-4 more inches, and so water clarity is dropping fast. In the backs of the creeks to about halfway out it’s already getting pretty bad. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s.
Monsoon conditions are unlikely to put the bass on the bottom, and so Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports