March 17
Lake Wateree has shot up to 98.6% of full pool and the upper end is getting very muddy. Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 50s.
The crappie have been biting pretty well on Lake Wateree, and veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports
March 17
Lake Hartwell water levels are up to 661.35 (full pool is 660.00) and after recent rains the creeks are muddy. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped into the mid-50s.
Once again Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the hybrid and striped bass were
March 17
Clarks Hill water levels are very high at 331.81 (full pool is 330.00) and up the lake is muddy with all the rain. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 57 while you can find the lower 60s in the creeks.
There are a number of strong spring bass patterns on Clarks Hill, and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports
March 17
Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures range from the upper 50s to lower 60s, depending on section of the lake, with the warmer water on the lower end near the power plant. The lake is more stained than normal after recent rains. Lake levels fluctuate daily.
The cold snap on Lake Monticello last weekend has set the bass back more than expected, and tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
March 17
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.51 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.24 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The upper lake is getting dirty, while the lower lake is relatively clear once you get away from the mouth of the canal. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s in the shallows.
This year Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
March 17
Lake Greenwood water levels are up to 438.68 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is getting very muddy after rains this week. Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 50s.
While he has not yet seen bass on beds on Lake Greenwood, tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
March 17
Lake Murray water levels are all the way up to 358.13 (full pool is 360.00) and the rivers are getting muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from the low to mid-50s on the big water to around 60 in the creeks.
There are still basically two groups of striped bass on Lake Murray, but Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports
March 17
Lake Keowee is at 98.5% of full pool and clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped back into the high 50s over most of the lake.
Despite the cold snap that dropped temperatures, N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
March 17
Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 60 around Hilton Head but the clarity is still pretty high.
There has been some outstanding trout fishing around Hilton Head, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
March 17
Morning inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are up to the low 60s and conditions remain very clear.
Fishing continues to improve at the top of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
March 17
Morning inshore surface water temperatures are about 61 degrees around Charleston. The water is still gin clear except that wind and rain are dirtying it.
While the redfish don’t seem to be schooled up as well on the flats as they were, the bite has been pretty good around docks. Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports
March 17
Lake Wylie is up to 98.2% of full pool and the water is muddy in the creeks. Morning surface water temperatures are about 57-59 degrees.
He’s not saying that there’s not a rogue bass somewhere on Lake Wylie that is spawning, but tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
March 12
Lake Wylie is at 99.2% of full pool.
The crappie bite is still very good on Lake Wylie, but Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports
March 12
Lake Keowee is at 98.2% of full pool and clarity is normal. Water temperatures have remained stable this past week and they are now around the 60-degree mark on most of the lake.
Without a seasonal rise in temperatures this week, N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
March 11
Morning surface water temperatures have been as high as 60 degrees this week around Beaufort, and the water clarity is down although that may just be the result of wind and cloud cover.
We are getting into the transition period known as March Madness in the Lowcountry, and Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
March 11
Lake Jocassee is at 98.7% of full pool and the main lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are running about 54 degrees on the main lake and at least before the Arctic blast the creeks were a few degrees warmer.
Usually all they need to do to usher in some bad weather on Lake Jocassee is hold a trout tournament, and Guides Sam and Casey Jones with Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) report
March 10
Lake Hartwell water levels are above full at 660.23 (full pool is 660.00) and after a good bit of rain some of the major creeks should soon be muddy in the backs. Morning surface water temperatures got as high as 59 on the main lake and 61 in the backs but they are starting to drop.
He’s not saying he told you so – but I am saying he did – as Guide Brad Fowler almost
March 10
Lake Russell water levels are above full at 475.21 (full pool is 475.00) and the water is getting muddy in the backs of creeks but still clear on the main lake. Morning surface water temperatures are about 57 degrees on the main lake but were warmer in the backs.
Proving that not all the fish are doing the same thing at the same time, Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) and Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) are on completely different patterns
March 10
Lake Wateree is way up to 97.7% of full pool.
Earlier this week tournament bass angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden
March 10
Clarks Hill water levels are well above full at 330.57 (full pool is 330.00) and at least the front parts of the rivers are still relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 58-59 degrees on the lower end of the main lake and as high as 62-64 degrees in the backs.
It’s a good time for bass fishing on Clarks Hill, and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports
March 10
Lake Murray water levels have shot up to 357.43 (full pool is 360.00) and water clarity is dropping as the rivers start to get muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from the mid-50s to lower 60s but will continue to drop through the weekend.
There are basically two groups of striped bass on Lake Murray, and Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports
March 10
Lake Monticello surface water temperatures are in the lower 60s and for now the lake is still pretty clear. Water levels fluctuate daily.
By now the bass on Lake Monticello are in full-on spawning mode, and tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
March 10
Lake Greenwood water levels are up to 437.73 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is getting muddy. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 58 to 63 but are about to plummet with the weather coming later this week.
It’s an excellent time for bass fishing on Lake Greenwood, and tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
March 9
Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.75 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week.
This week Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that