January 21

Lake Jocassee is at 97.2% of full pool and surface water temperatures in the big water are about 53-54 degrees, but cooler up the rivers. Clarity is typically high.

This is a great time to catch trout on Lake Jocassee, although Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports

January 21

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are still around 50 degrees or just below, and the water is overall clear. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.

For right now the bass fishing patterns remain about the same on Lake Monticello, if a bit shallower, and tournament bass angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports

January 21

Lake Keowee is at 98.0% of full pool. Water temperatures are now in the low 50s over most of the lake, but they range from the high 40s in the back of creeks to around 60 mid-lake by the power plant. Clarity is normal. 

The bass fishing has gotten tougher over the past week on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports

January 21

Lake Russell water levels are at 473.83 (full pool is 475.00). Water temperatures are down to about 50 degrees and the lake is clear. 

Lake Russell remains a really good place to catch bass, and Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports

January 21

Lake Hartwell water levels are down to 658.56 (full pool is 660.00).  The lake is clear and water temperatures run from about 48 degrees down to the mid-40s. 

While there is still a deep pattern for bass on Lake Hartwell, Guide Brad Fowler reports

January 21

Clarks Hill water levels are up to 328.12 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures range from about 49 down the lake to 45 up the rivers. The lake is mostly clear with a slight stain as of this morning, but as it continues to rain the lake is likely to get fairly dirty. 

Because the bait is staying deep on Clarks Hill the hybrid and striped bass are too, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports

January 20

Lake Murray water levels are at 354.40 (full pool is 360.00). While much of the lake is fairly clear, portions of the Little Saluda are stained (while the Big Saluda is good) and there is some colored water from where the rivers come together to about Rocky Creek. Water temperatures range from the 40s up the rivers to the low 50s near the dam. 

Over the last few days Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports

January 20

Lake Greenwood water levels are at 434.46 (full pool is 440.0). They are pulling water through the lake so hard that the dam is actually muddier than the rivers, but the whole lake is dirty. Water temperatures range from 45-48 degrees.

Cold, muddy water makes for tough fishing conditions most of the time, and Guide Daniel Skipper (864-430-0488) reports

January 20

Lake Wylie is up to 98.6% of full pool and surface water temperatures are about 49 degrees.  Water clarity has improved and the lake is slightly stained with a green hue. 

The bass fishing remains brutally tough on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports

January 20

Lake Wateree is at 94.4% of full pool and water temperatures are in the upper 40s and lower 50s. The lake remains pretty muddy. 

It’s still tough fishing conditions on Lake Wateree, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports

January 14

Surface water temperatures have dropped to about 53 degrees around Hilton Head, and the water has gotten very clear.  

The same three species headline the inshore fishing this week around Hilton Head, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports

January 14

Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are around 53 degrees and the water is clear. 

The fishing is in a pretty stable period on Edisto Island, but Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports

January 14

Surface water temperatures have dropped to around 50 degrees in Murrells Inlet and the water is clear when there is not too much rain or wind. 

Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live finger mullet (sometimes), blood worms, fresh shrimp, salt clam, and a full range of frozen baits. 

The trout fishing is pretty good on the south end of the Grand Strand, and Captain J Baisch (843-902-0356) reports

January 14

Lake Jocassee is at 95.6% of full pool and surface water temperatures in the big water are about 57 degrees, but cooler up the rivers. Clarity is typically high. 

Some nice trout are being caught on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports

January 14

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are right around 50 degrees rising to the low to mid-50s on sunny afternoons, and the water is typically clear although there is some dingy water near the dam where they are pulling water. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.

While not everyone caught fish, tournament bass angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports

January 13

Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 436.06 (full pool is 440.0). Most of the lake is now muddy, although the lower end is a bit better, and water temperatures are in the upper 40s. 

The lake is muddy and the temperature is about the same from the dam to the rivers, and as a result Guide Daniel Skipper (864-430-0488) reports

January 13

Lake Russell water levels are down to 473.77 (full pool is 475.00). Water temperatures are down to about 51 degrees and as of yesterday most of the lake is clear. 

The bass fishing is similar again this week on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports

January 13

Lake Wateree is down to 94.1% of full pool and water temperatures are in the upper 40s and lower 50s. The lake is muddy. 

Anyone looking for an excuse not to go fishing on Lake Wateree right now has a pretty good one – the lake is muddy, conditions are rainy, and it’s cold. Apparently a lot of people are using that excuse, and tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports

January 13

Lake Wylie is at 97.8% of full pool and surface water temperatures range from about 47-48 degrees. The lake has gotten stained again. 

Well, that didn’t last long.  Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports

January 13

Lake Hartwell water levels are at 659.03 (full pool is 660.00).  While the creeks do have some color the main lake is clear. Water temperatures range from about 46-50 degrees.

The bass fishing remains good on Lake Hartwell, but Guide Brad Fowler reports

January 13

Santee Cooper water levels are up to 74.63 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 71.92 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5).  Surface water temperatures are around 48-51 degrees and the lake is dingy but fast becoming muddy. 

Very low water levels were affecting the bass fishing on Santee Cooper last week, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

January 13

It’s not every weekend that someone catches a 4-pound spotted bass on Lake Keowee, let alone a 5-pounder, let alone a fish that pushes 6! But that’s exactly what AHQ correspondent Joe Anders of Easley and his tournament partner Greg Glouse did last Saturday, January 10 with a 5.71 pound spot! It was part of a monster 18.71 pound bag, good for the win, but on this impressive weekend there were two other bags over 17 pounds weighed! For complete results see www.cattteamtrail.com.

January 13

Clarks Hill water levels are up to 328.56 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures range from the upper 40s to about 52 degrees. The main lake is fairly clear with some stain while the creeks are pretty dirty. 

The hybrid and striped bass have not moved from the same general locations up the lake and in the backs of the river and creek arms on Clarks Hill where they have been, but William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports