January 13
Lake Murray water levels are at 354.53 (full pool is 360.00). Even though the river is starting to clear there is essentially a mud line that runs down to about Buffalo Creek. Water temperatures range from the upper 40s to lower 50s.
The river is a little clearer than last week, and as a result Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports
January 8
Clarks Hill water levels are slightly up to 328.82 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures have dropped a hair into the 50-53 degree range.
On the catfish front, Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports
January 8
Inshore surface water temperatures are down to about 50 degrees in Beaufort, and water clarity is very high.
2021 is off to a bang in the Beaufort redfish department, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
January 8
Lake Jocassee is at 98.0% of full pool and surface water temperatures in the big water are about 55.5 degrees, but cooler up the rivers. Clarity is normal.
The Lake Jocassee trout bite continues to improve, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports
January 8
Lake Monticello water temperatures are in the lower 50s, and the water is typically clear. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.
For reasons that are unclear Lake Monticello always fishes a little differently than other lakes, and tournament bass angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
January 8
Lake Greenwood water levels rose more than two feet but are slightly down to 437.36 (full pool is 440.0). Much of the lake is muddy but the water is still fairly clear on the lower end.
You can still catch Lake Greenwood bass fishing crankbaits around points, and there is certainly still a pattern throwing Alabama rigs around docks, channel swings and the like. However, tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
January 8
Inshore waters have gotten cold and mostly clear, but Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the fishing has been pretty awesome recently. Low tides in warmer parts of the day
January 7
Lake Russell water levels are back down to 474.14 (full pool is 475.00) after reaching a foot above full pool on January 4. Still, the main lake and front of creeks remain clear and water temperatures are about 53 degrees.
There’s a couple of different bass patterns going on right now on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
January 7
Lake Wateree is back up to 96.2% of full pool and water temperatures are down to the lower 50s. While the lower end is decent the upper end is muddy.
A couple of weeks ago Wateree was so low that it was hard to get a boat in, but now tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports
January 7
Lake Wylie is at 96.9% of full pool and surface water temperatures range from about 48-50 degrees. The lake is finally clearing.
The bass fishing also finally seems to be looking up on Lake Wylie, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
January 7
Lake Keowee is at 98.0% of full pool. Water temperatures are around 55 at the south and north ends of the lake, while the mid-lake is about 60. A lot of rain has fallen this past week and major creeks are stained in the back. Clarity on the main lake is only slightly stained.
Despite some weather, N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
January 6
Water temperatures are in the upper 40s and lower 50s and water conditions are gin clear in the shallows when there isn’t a bunch of recent rain.
On some parts of the South Carolina coastline artificial lures are out-fishing live bait, but on the north end of the Grand Strand Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
January 6
Lake Hartwell water levels rose to within 6 inches of full pool (full pool is 660.00) with recent rains but are now back down to 658.98. After the recent rains the water got dirty in some of the creeks but the main lake remains clear. Water temperatures range from the uppers 40s to about 50 degrees.
The bass fishing remains good on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler reports
January 6
Clarks Hill water levels are up to 328.54 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures range from about 51-54 degrees. While the main lake has remained clear, the creeks developed some stain and even mud lines but have cleared up again.
The hybrid and striped bass remain up the lake and in the backs of the river and creek arms on Clarks Hill, but William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
January 5
Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.51 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 71.01 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures are around 50 degrees and the lake is dingy but not yet muddy.
Very low water levels are affecting the bass fishing, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
January 5
Lake Murray water levels rose after the rains but have now started to drop again to 354.84 (full pool is 360.00). Up the rivers the water is orange muddy but it gets clearer as you go down the lake. Surface water temperatures range from the mid-50s in the lower lake to the high 40s up the river.
Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
2021 SC Fishing Tournament Results
All results listed reverse-chronologically so that most recent tournament results are displayed first.
December 27
Lake Keowee is at 98.9% of full pool. Surface water temperatures have been falling rapidly over the last few days and they are now in the mid to upper 50s over most of the lake. Water clarity is normal.
The bass fishing has gotten tougher in the last week on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
December 20
Inshore surface water temperatures are down to 52 or 53 degrees in Beaufort, and water clarity is very high.
The trout fishing is not as hot as it was a couple of weeks ago, but it deserves the lead-off spot in this week’s fishing report because there is still a topwater bite in the morning almost at Christmas. Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
December 20
Surface water temperatures are have dropped into the mid-50s around Hilton Head.
This week it’s a tale of three inshore species around Hilton Head, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
December 20
Lake Jocassee is down to 89.1% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are about 58 degrees.
DNR trout stocking on Lake Jocassee usually correspond to improvement in the trout bite, and this year is no exception. Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports
December 20
Lake Monticello water temperatures are in the mid-50s, and the water is typically clear. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.
The bass remain in a pretty consistent pattern on Lake Monticello, and B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
December 20
Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are around 55 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 20
Inshore surface water temperatures around Charleston have fallen into the low 50s, and the water is clearing as expected.
The fishing is different than it was a few weeks ago, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports