March 27

Inshore surface water temperatures around Hilton Head have gotten into the upper 60s and even hit 70, and the water had cleared until recent winds got up. 

It’s a tale of two tides for redfish in the Hilton Head area, and Captain Dan “Fishin’ Coach” Utley (843-368-2126) reports

March 27

Lake Wateree is at 99.0% of full pool, and up the lake the water is muddy. Water temperatures are as high as 65-67 degrees.

This is most people’s favorite time of the year to fish for bass on Lake Wateree, and tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports

March 27

Lake Wylie is up to 98.8% of full pool and water temperatures are in the lower 60s. Conditions are slightly stained after recent rains.

Spring bass fishing is officially no longer stalled on Lake Wylie, as tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports

March 27

Lake Keowee is at 98.9% of full pool. Water temperatures have reached the lower 60s on the lower and upper ends of the lake, and temperatures are in the mid-60s mid-lake around the power plant. The water is stained in the back of all the major creeks due to heavy rain this past week. 

Bass fishing remains excellent using a variety of different techniques on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Teammember Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports

March 26

Water temperatures have just reached 60 degrees in Murrells Inlet. Even though the water is still fairly clear with a blue tint, wind and releasing stringy grass are dirtying it up some.  

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

The early flounder bite continues to improve, with Captain J Baisch (843-902-0356) reporting

March 25

Lake Hartwell water levels remain above full pool at 661.78 (full pool is 660.00) and surface water temperatures are around 59-63 at first light. The lakes have cleared substantially over the last two weeks.

March can be an unpredictable month for catching hybrid and striped bass, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports

March 25

Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.20 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.90 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water temperatures have risen into the 60s and the lakes have cleared considerably. 

There might be other ways to catch bass on Santee Cooper, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports

March 25

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are around 62 degrees and visibility is very good.

The redfish bite has gotten really good around Charleston, and before the shutdown guides at Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) report

March 25

Clarks Hill water levels are still above full pool at 330.43 (full pool is 330.00), and morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 60s. The lake has cleared but is still stained to muddy in areas. 

The bass fishing on Clarks Hill is as good now as it was tough a couple of weeks ago, and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, GA reports

March 25

Lake Murray water levels are at 358.04 (full pool is 360.00) and the lake is clearing but still stained in areas. Morning surface temperatures range from the upper 50s to lower 60s, with the big water and the south side of the lake warming more slowly.  

Even while significant bass tournament activity is on hold, veteran tournament angler Captain Doug Lown reports

March 18

Lake Keowee is at 97.5% of full pool. Water temperatures on the south and north end of the lake are now in the upper 50s, with the mid-lake area in the mid-60s.  There is a slight stain in the backs of major creeks, but otherwise the lake is clear. 

It’s getting to be a really good time to fish on Lake Keowee, with N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reporting

March 13

Lake Jocassee is down at 92.3% of full pool to allow a kayak/ scuba access ramp to be constructed, and the water is very clear although there is some debris floating. Water temperatures are about 55 degrees. 

The trout fishing has gotten surprisingly tough on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports

March 13

Inshore surface water temperatures are already into the lower 60s around Beaufort, and the water is mostly clean but tannic brown. 

While redfish are still schooled up in a winter pattern, Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports

March 13

Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.03 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are in the upper 50s.  The lake is still muddy although it is beginning to clear. 

Even though the water is muddy it’s warming, and veteran tournament bass angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports

March 13

Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are 57-59 degrees, and the South Edisto River and the creeks coming off it are very brown.     

In the next 30 days there are likely to be significant changes to saltwater fishing around Edisto Island, but already Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports

March 13

Lake Monticello water temperatures have risen into the upper 50s to lower 60s, and there is still a moderate stain to the water. Lake levels normally fluctuate daily.

In the next week or two the first bass on Lake Monticello will be on beds, but B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports

March 13

Inshore surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand have reached the upper 50s, and the water is still fairly dingy.

As water temperatures have warmed fishing has picked up in the Little River area, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports

March 13

Lake Russell water levels are right around full pool at 474.81 (full pool is 475.00) and water temperatures have risen into the upper 50s. Lake Russell is still dingy in areas that are usually clear, and dirtier in the backs than the main river, but the whole lake is fishable again. 

Spring is in the air and Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports

March 13

Inshore surface water temperatures around Hilton Head have gotten into the low 60s, and even though recent big tides reduced the clarity each day this week visibility has been rising. 

Spring saltwater fishing is always a mixed bag, but this year Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports

March 13

Water temperatures have moved into the upper 50s in Murrells Inlet.

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

Fishing is starting to really turn on at the south end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain J Baisch (843-902-0356) reports

March 13

Clarks Hill water levels are well about full pool at 332.88 (full pool is 330.00), and water temperatures have risen into the upper 50s. Even though the lake remains very high it has cleared some, although there is still a ton of debris including stumps and logs floating around. 

Finally conditions have forced his hand, and William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports

March 12

Lake Hartwell water levels are still above full pool at 661.41 (full pool is 660.00), and water temperatures have risen into the mid-50s.  All of the major creeks are still dirty but clarity is improving with no recent heavy rains.     

Finally there is improvement for hybrid and striped bass, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports