March 19
Lake Russell water levels are almost full at 474.88 (full pool is 475.00). Morning surface water temperatures have fall to about 59 degrees. Water clarity is a little stained after the rain this week.
Most bass anglers love spring warming, but on Lake Russell Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) often finds
March 19
Clarks Hill water levels are slightly back up to 329.60 (full pool is 330.00) and morning surface water temperatures have fallen from about 60 back into the mid-50s as of this morning.
The action for hybrid and striped bass has improved this week, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
March 19
Lake Murray water levels are up to 358.04 (full pool is 360.00). The water is stained and there is lots of debris floating after recent rains. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 53 at the dam to 60 in creeks on the north side.
Things have changed quickly on Lake Murray, and tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
March 19
Lake Wylie is at 97.8% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 50s. The water is pretty stained in the backs.
The bass fishing is finally getting better on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
March 19
Santee Cooper water levels are down to 75.30 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and up to 74.62 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Clarity is pretty normal and morning surface water temperatures range from 60-62 in the upper lake to about 58 in the lower lake. The wind has made fishing difficult recently.
A slight cool snap coincided with the CBC last weekend on Santee, and as a result Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
March 19
Lake Hartwell water levels are up to 659.85 (full pool is 660.00). There remains stained water in some creeks but overall the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 55-57 degrees.
In the last week Guide Brad Fowler reports
March 16
Lake Keowee is at 97.8% of full pool. Water temperatures are just below 60 in the lower and upper parts of the lake, while around the power plant and Mile Creek areas they are in the low to mid-60s. Clarity is normal.
Different parts of Lake Keowee continue to be at different stages of the bass spawn due to water temperature differentials, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
March 11
Lake Greenwood water levels are up to 436.88 (full pool is 440.0) and the lake is finally beginning to clear. Water temperatures are in the low to mid-50s.
At last the crappie fishing is starting to turn around on Lake Greenwood, and Guide Daniel Skipper (864-430-0488) reports
March 11
Morning surface water temperatures are about 57 degrees inshore around Hilton Head and clarity is very good.
It’s hard not to lead off with the nearshore fishing report as good as the action has been, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
March 11
Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 50s in Murrells Inlet and the water is crystal clear.
Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, crappie minnows, fresh shrimp, and a full range of frozen baits. Most days fiddler crabs are available again.
For the first time in a little while we had a real winter this year, and so even as water temperatures start to warm Captain Jay Baisch (843-902-0356) points
March 11
Inshore water temperatures are in the mid-50s and the water is clear.
The most exciting thing going in the Charleston areas right now is out at the reefs, and in 40 feet of water Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports
March 10
Lake Jocassee is at 97.1% of full pool and surface water temperatures are around 52 degrees on the main water and in the mid-50s in the creeks. Clarity is normal.
Things have still not busted loose with the trout fishing on Lake Jocassee, although Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports
March 10
Lake Monticello surface water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50s, with some warmer water on the south end, and the lake has basically cleared. Water levels fluctuate daily.
The bass on Lake Monticello are following a very normal spring trajectory, and Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
March 10
Lake Russell water levels are at 473.50 (full pool is 475.00). Morning surface water temperatures are about 54 on the main lake and in the upper 50s in the creeks. Water clarity is normal.
The bass fishing is picking up again on Lake Russell, and tournament angler/ Guide Brad Fowler of Pendleton reports
March 10
Lake Wateree is at 97.3% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-50s. The water is clearing.
Last weekend they expected the bass fishing to bust open on Lake Wateree, and certainly there were some fish caught in the CATT and Wateree Open tournaments, but tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports
March 10
Clarks Hill water levels are slightly down to 329.32 (full pool is 330.00) and most of the lake is clearing. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 53-57 degrees.
There’s general agreement that the bassfishing is about to really bust wide open on Clarks Hill, and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports
March 10
Santee Cooper water levels are down to 75.53 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.29 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lake is dingy all over and muddy in some places, and morning surface water temperatures have reached the high 50s and even low 60s in some of the ponds.
This weekend is the Carolinas Bass Challenge on Santee, and so you can forgive tournament anglers if they don’t want to say too much about how the bass are being caught. However, Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
March 10
Lake Wylie is at 97.5% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-50s. From the rivers to the mid-lake is fairly clear, while the lower lake is still dirty.
There were finally some good bags of bass caught this weekend on Lake Wylie, but tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
March 10
Lake Hartwell water levels are at 658.96 (full pool is 660.00). There remains stained water in some creeks but overall the lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 51-54 degrees.
Particularly for the last couple of days we have had some warm highs, but Guide Brad Fowler reports
March 9
Lake Murray water levels are up to 357.74 (full pool is 360.00). The water is stained but not muddy, with good color for spring fishing. Morning surface water temperatures range from about 52 to 55 degrees but are rising fast.
This weekend two of our regular bass correspondents placed well in tournaments on Lake Murray, and on Saturday Guide Brad Fowler and his tournament partner Brock Taylor finished
March 5
Lake Monticello surface water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50s, with some warmer water on the south end, and the lake has basically cleared. Water levels fluctuate daily.
As the spring progresses tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
March 5
Lake Jocassee is way up to 98.2% of full pool and surface water temperatures are around 51 degrees on the main water and 54 in the creeks. Clarity is normal.
After 20 plus years of fishing for trout on Lake Jocassee Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) knows