October 23
Lake Greenwood is at 438.98 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are around 72-74 degrees.
Even as Lake Murray bass fishing has recovered in the past couple of weeks, it’s quite possible that Greenwood is still out-fishing its big brother to the south. Tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
October 23
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.35 (full pool is 475.00) and water temperatures have warmed back up to 73-74 degrees. Even though it looks okay the water seems to be turning over now and at times it can be hard to read a depth finder.
The striped bass fishing has coming roaring back on Lake Russell, and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
October 23
Surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand have risen to 74 degrees. Particularly on the incoming tide the water is a pretty blue color. While finger mullet remain abundant in the creeks and menhaden are thick off the beach, shrimp are still hard to come by.
The redfish action has been outstanding for the last couple of weeks, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
October 23
Lake Wateree is at 96.8% of full pool and water temperatures are in the lower 70s. The lake has gotten a little dirtier and the upper end is heavily stained.
Without significant changes in conditions on Lake Wateree the crappie remain in a similar pattern, and tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports
October 23
Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.93 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.24 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures have slightly warmed to about 72-73 degrees, and while there has been a ton of water moving through the lakes they remain fairly clear.
Over the last few weeks water temperatures have if anything risen, and as a result Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports
October 23
Lake Hartwell water levels have dropped to a “mere” 661.13 (full pool is 660.00) and water temperatures are down to the low 70s. The lake remains pretty clear.
There is some better news with the hybrid and striped bass fishing on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports
October 23
Clarks Hill water levels are back up to 330.43 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures remain about 72-74 degrees.
The patterns for catching bass on Clarks Hill seem to be changing, and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports
October 23
Lake Keowee is at 98.5% of full pool and surface water temperatures remain in the mid-70s over most of the lake. Water clarity is normal.
Keowee bass are in similar patterns to last week, as N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
October 21
Lake Murray water levels are at 356.26 (full pool is 360.00) and water temperatures are around 73-75 degrees. The water is dingy but not too bad.
The timing is a mystery to anyone who was trying and usually failing to catch bass on Lake Murray a couple of weeks ago, but the suspended schooling bite seems to be getting good several weeks later than usual. B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
October 21
Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are about 75 degrees in the ocean, but the creeks have gotten as warm as 78-79 degrees. The South Edisto is highly tannic while the North is getting very clear. The creeks are totally full of shrimp and finger mullet and the mullet run continues off the beaches.
Each time the temperatures drop during the fall the fish feed a little bit more aggressively, as if cooling reminds them that the bait will be disappearing soon, but Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports
October 20
Lake Wylie is at 97.3% of full pool and surface water temperatures are around 70-71 degrees. Usually October and November have some of the clearest water of the year, but probably as a result of a lot of suspended solids the water is a turbid dark green.
It’s a “good” bite for blue and channel catfish on Lake Wylie, and Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports
October 16
Lake Keowee is at 98.1% of full pool and surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s over most of the lake. Water clarity is normal.
The bass fishing conditions are pretty stable on Lake Keowee this week, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
October 9
Lake Monticello water temperatures are in the lower 70s and the water is typically clear. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.
Fishing an Alabama rig in the 15-foot range is still a good way to catch basson Lake Monticello, but with water temperatures a few degrees cooler than usual B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
October 9
Lake Greenwood is down to 438.97 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are around 72-74 degrees.
The tailwaters of Lake Greenwood make up the headwaters of Lake Murray, but with the way they are fishing for bass right now you would think they were hundreds of miles apart instead of that the two lakes sit right beside each other. According to veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda
October 9
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.14 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.97 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Surface water temperatures are around 70-74 degrees.
There are more than a few big name bass fishermen targeting Santee Cooper this week, and luckily Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
October 9
Lake Murray water levels are down to 356.05 (full pool is 360.00) and water temperatures are around 73-75 degrees. The creeks are pretty stained, probably from the fall turnover.
There’s no way around the fact that the bass fishing on Lake Murray is brutally tough right now, and reportedly one national touring pro who came down here to shoot a video for his sponsors this week did not get a bite. A lot of the anglers who fished the Big Bass Tour event last weekend would say that sounds about right.
Veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda concurs
October 9
Lake Wateree is at 96.7% of full pool and water temperatures are around 72 degrees. The upper lake is dingy while down towards the dam it just has a little color.
The shallow bass bite has gotten pretty good on Lake Wateree, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports
October 9
Lake Wylie is at 96.7% of full pool and surface water temperatures are around 72-73 degrees.
Anyone hoping for a seasonal improvement with the bass fishing on Lake Wylie would be disappointed so far, and tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
October 9
Lake Keowee is back up to 98.2% of full pool, and surface water temperatures are about 76 over most of the lake right now. Water clarity is normal.
Some of the best bass fishing of the year is getting underway on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
October 8
Clarks Hill water levels are down to 329.77 (full pool is 330.00) and water temperatures are about 72-74 degrees. While it was not obvious when it was apparently happening it appears that the lake has turned over.
No one would pretend that the bass fishing on Clarks Hill is easy right now, but Tyler Matthews of Evans, GA reports
October 8
Lake Russell water levels are at 474.74 (full pool is 475.00) and water temperatures range from about 70-74. The water has been dingy from turning over but it just beginning to clear.
It was an uncharacteristically tough few weeks on Lake Russell and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
October 7
Surface water temperatures are down to about 74 degrees around Hilton Head.
The most exciting action around Hilton Head Island continues to be the bull red drum fishing, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
October 7
Surface water temperatures are about 73 degrees in Murrells Inlet. Shrimp and finger mullet are prolific, and 7-8 inch mullet as well as huge 2-3 pound fish are migrating down the beaches.
Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live finger mullet, live shrimp, live fiddler crabs, blood worms, fresh shrimp, salt clam, and a full range of frozen baits.
The strong fall fishing expected to arrive soon by the last report has gotten to the south end of the Grand Strand, and Captain J Baisch (843-902-0356) reports
October 7
Surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are about 72 degrees. While mullet are abundant, shrimp are small and hard to catch right now.
The strong fishing that started this summer is extending into the fall, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports