December 22
Lake Monticello water temperatures are in the mid- to upper-50s, and the water is clear. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.
The bass are still in a pretty consistent pattern on Lake Monticello, and tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
December 16
Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 436.28 (full pool is 440.0) and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-50s.
The bass on Lake Greenwood are starting to get into winter patterns, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
December 16
Clarks Hill water levels are down to 326.71 (full pool is 330.00) and morning surface water temperatures are about 57-58 degrees.
The bass fishing on Clarks Hill is still largely about ditch fishing, but tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports
December 16
Morning surface water temperatures are around 57 degrees in Murrells Inlet.
Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, fresh head-on shrimp, and a full range of frozen baits.
The trout fishing
December 16
Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are around 56-57 degrees and the water is clear.
While the main river bite for trout has pretty much dried up, Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports
December 16
Morning surface water temperatures are about 59 degrees around Beaufort and water conditions are gin clear.
It’s still a good bite for redfish in Beaufort, and Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
December 16
Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 60 degrees around Hilton Head and the water is pretty clear.
It’s still good fall fishing in Hilton Head, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
December 16
Lake Murray water levels are down to 354.95 (full pool is 360.00) and the water is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 58 degrees.
With water temperatures basically in an ideal range for bass everywhere, including from the surface to the bottom since the lake has finished turning over, tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
December 16
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are about 57 degrees and the water is pretty clear. Out in the inlet on the incoming tide there is beautiful blue water coming in.
Trout are all over the place right now, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
December 16
Inshore surface water temperatures are still about 58 degrees around Charleston and the water is clearing again.
It’s still a very good period for inshore fishing, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports
December 16
Lake Jocassee is at 92.1% of full pool and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures are in the high 50s.
The bass are biting on Lake Jocassee, and tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports
December 16
Lake Russell water levels are at 475.24 (full pool is 475.00) and the water is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 58 degrees.
With water temperatures extremely stable, Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
December 16
Lake Wylie is at 97.3% of full pool and the lake is relatively clear. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 50s.
There have been a couple of bags of bass over 15 pounds caught in recent tournaments, but in general tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
December 16
Lake Wateree is at 95.5% of full pool and the lake is still relatively clear despite recent rains. Up the lake around Wateree Creek does have a lot of color. Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 50s.
There has not been a ton of bass fishing activity on Lake Wateree recently, but tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports
December 15
Lake Hartwell water levels are all the way down to 656.50 (full pool is 660.00) and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 60 degrees.
As the birds have arrived there are more clues for finding striped bass, but Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports
December 15
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.99 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are still in the upper 50s.
When we had several nights in the 20s a few weeks ago it looked like bass might move into winter patterns early, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
December 15
Lake Monticello water temperatures are still in the upper 50s, and the water is clear. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.
The bass are still in a pretty consistent pattern on Lake Monticello, and tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
December 10
Clarks Hill water levels are down to 327.09 (full pool is 330.00) and water clarity varies. The South Carolina Little River and Big Hart are muddy, while much of the lake is still relatively clear even after recent rains. Morning surface water temperatures are about 58 degrees.
Most of the Clarks Hill striped bass are in the backs of ditches, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
December 10
Lake Keowee is at 99.0% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are now hovering around the 60-degree mark over most of the lake, with higher readings just north of the power plant.
The Lake Keowee bass fishing patterns continue to depend upon what part of the lake you are in, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
December 4
Lake Keowee is at 98.2% of full pool and water clarity is normal. Morning surface water temperatures are now in the low to mid-60s over most of the lake – having gone upover the past week.
While bass fishing patterns vary based upon what part of the lake you are in, overall N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
December 3
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.08 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.96 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50s.
The lakes are as clear as Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has
December 3
Lake Russell water levels are down to 475.09 (full pool is 475.00) and the water is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 60 degrees.
Almost always a fan of colder weather for Lake Russell fishing, Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
December 3
Morning surface water temperatures are about 56 degrees around Beaufort and water conditions are gin clear.
While other action is good the best thing going has been the redfish bite in Beaufort, and Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
December 3
Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 57 degrees around Hilton Head and the water is getting very clear.
The main inshore events in Hilton Head right now are redfish and trout, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports