September 30
Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 81 degrees around Hilton Head, and with all the recent rains the Broad and Chechessee Rivers are both very stained until you get to the sounds. There is still tons of bait around.
The most exciting development around Hilton Head this week is with the bull red drum, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
September 30
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.98 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is still clear. However, in the backs of creeks there are signs that the water is starting to turn over and you can already see brown water and bubbles on the surface. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped into the upper 70s.
Even though it would be customary to expect the bite to fall off a bit when the lake starts to turn over,Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
September 30
Lake Wylie is at 96.7% of full pool and the lake is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 80 degrees.
It’s been a tough few months of bass fishing on Lake Wylie, and anyone expecting that to change with this past weekend’s two-day BFL on Lake Wylie
September 30
Lake Wateree is at 96.4% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 78 degrees. Clarity is above normal.
It’s unclear why, but tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports
September 30
Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 659.01 (full pool is 660.00) and the water is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 79 degrees.
With water temperatures having only dropped a few more degrees Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports
September 29
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are about 77 degrees.
It’s a really good time to fish in the Little River area, and from inshore to the inlet to the beaches to nearshore it’s getting to be a strong fall bite. Perhaps the most exciting bite is in the Little River Inlet,
September 29
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 439.10 (full pool is 440.0) and the water is relatively clear. Surface water temperatures range from 78 in the morning to about 82 in the afternoon.
Even though morning surface water temperatures have dropped into the 70s, veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
September 29
Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 70s around 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.
There is a still a wide-open mullet run
September 29
Clarks Hill water levels are at 329.25 (full pool is 330.00) and the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 77-78 degrees.
The striped bass fishing on Clarks Hill is slow but steady, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
September 29
Inshore surface water temperatures are down to about 78 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are full of bait.
The inshore bite has gotten really, really good around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports
September 29
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.89 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures range from about 78-81 degrees.
The catfish action is still a little slow on Santee, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports
September 29
Lake Monticello surface water temperatures are around 80-82 degrees and the lake is still clear. Water levels fluctuate daily.
There’s not much change in the bass pattern on Lake Monticello, and tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
September 29
Morning surface water temperatures are about 81-82 degrees around Beaufort, and from mullet to menhaden to shrimp there is tons of bait in the area.
Back on the water in Beaufort, Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
September 29
Lake Murray water levels are at 357.51 (full pool is 360.00) and the water is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 70s to very low 80s.
The patterns that were expected to produce in the BFL two-day this weekend on Lake Murray did, but tournament bass angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
September 22
Lake Keowee is up to 99.1% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Water temperatures are in the lower 80s over most of the lake and high 70s at the base of the Jocassee Dam.
Back on the water after the bass, N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
September 17
Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are down to 83 degrees in the morning and clarity is high. There is tons of bait around and shrimping is very good.
Even with water temperatures still in the 80s the hot fall action is starting, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports
September 17
Morning surface water temperatures are only down to about 84 degrees around Hilton Head. There are tons of shrimp around.
There’s other stuff biting around Hilton Head right now, but by far the most exciting action is for tarpon. Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
September 17
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River have dropped in the upper 70s.
The North Carolina flounder season ended this week, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
September 17
Morning surface water temperatures have dropped into the upper 70s around Murrells Inlet.
Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live finger mullet, live shrimp, fiddler crabs, sand fleas, blood worms, fresh head-on shrimp, and a full range of frozen baits.
Water temperatures are still pretty warm, but Captain Jay Baisch reports
September 17
Inshore surface water temperatures are down to about 79 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are full of bait. The water has normal color but rain and some big tides should get it dirtier.
Water temperatures dropping into the 70s has turned the fish on around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports
September 17
Lake Keowee is at 97.9% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Water temperatures are in the lower 80s.
With our regular Lake Keowee bass informant Guide Charles Townson traveling for another week or two, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley
September 17
Clarks Hill water levels are at 329.75 (full pool is 330.00) and the lake is still pretty clear despite all the rain yesterday. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 80 degrees.
Despite still-hot water temperatures things appear to be happening earlier than usual this year, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
September 17
Lake Jocassee is up to 95.4% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 80-82 degrees.
Last night makes 5 out of 6 Thursday night bass tournaments on Lake Jocassee that tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley has won in a row
September 17
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.54 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is still clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 82 degrees.
It’ll take temperatures dropping a few more degrees before patterns really change, andGuide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports