A few weeks ago Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reported that bass fishing on Lake Russell was very good, but based on historical trends he expected it to soon get even better.  Fish were grouped up in 20-40 feet of water in the middle to backs of the creeks, but as temperatures dropped he expected them […]

Anyone who gets to know Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (803-513-0143) knows that he doesn’t say the fishing is good when it’s not, so around the first of December when Ron said that Edisto Island inshore fishing was at “its absolute peak” it was worth taking note.  Amazingly, a month plus later at the beginning of […]

Lake Greenwood is flooded and muddy, but that doesn’t mean that bass aren’t eating.  Veteran tournament bass angler Stan Gunter reports that even with the crazy water conditions some good fish are still being caught, and in fact the overall bite is pretty good.  Muddy water can often kill a winter bite, but since water […]

While Lake Keowee is one of those lakes where bass can be caught deep the year round, and certainly in December and January, it’s not every winter that around the New Year bass can still be found on the surface.  However, Guide Brad Fowler of Pendleton reports that is exactly what has been going on […]

Around the Christmas holidays it’s a safe bet that big blue catfish are feeding in South Carolina, and even with unseasonably warm weather this year is no exception.  From the North Carolina border to the Midlands to the lower part of the state, South Carolina anglers are putting some big catfish in the boat right […]

Back in November we reported that peak fall fishing for a variety of species was lasting longer than usual, and fish like big red drum were staying in the area due to unseasonably warm weather.  Amazingly, the same is still true only a few days before Christmas.   Captain Tucker Blythe of Grey Ghost Charters (843-670-8629) […]

The tackle store’s weekly deal is 10% off our entire collection of Shane’s Baits.  FLW Tour Pro Matt Arey recently said that at this time of year his top bait choice is an Alabama rig, and Shane’s Baits is his favorite brand of Alabama rigs. He believes that they are the best-priced, highest-quality rigs on the market.  The components […]

On a lot of South Carolina lakes the prolonged warm weather this fall has actually helped the bite – especially for anglers who want to fish shallow.  Instead of starting to move deep bass have continued to hang around only a few feet of water, staying in more of a fall pattern than an early […]

It’s been a crazy fall on Lake Norman, and the combination of hot-then-cold-then-hot air temperatures, unseasonably warm water temperatures, and up-and-down water levels have made for a strange bite.  Instead of fish being in a winter pattern FLW Tour Pro Matt Arey reports that bass are in more of an early- to mid-fall transition period, and […]

The tackle store has two daily deals going right now: 1. Buckeye Lures Double-Bladed Spinnerbaits for $2.99!  This is an amazing deal – our regular price is $5.99, and Tackle Warehouse sells them for $6.49.   Limit 3 per customer, no code need.  Sale price will be reflected when you “update” cart.  Valid until 12/19 at […]

If you guessed that near-80 degree days in the latter part of December would have the Clarks Hill bass wondering which way is up, you would be right!  Buckeye Lures in Augusta reports that the fish don’t know what to make of this weather, and the bass are “so daggone confused” that they are hunkered down […]

Veteran Lake Murray tournament bass angler Captain Doug Lown says that unseasonably warm water temperatures have kept fish shallower than usual so far this December, and temperatures last weekend were in the 58-59 degree range.  With several warm days surface temperatures are now pushing 61 degrees, and bottom temperatures are around 60 degrees.  As a […]

It’s not every December when the inshore fishing in South Carolina is improving!  About a month ago Guide Kevin “Stump” Grant of Pawley’s Island Guide Service (843-833-4477) reported that the bite for the “big four” inshore species – redfish, trout, flounder and black drum – was good in the Georgetown area, although the flounder bite […]

For the early winter Lake Wylie bait guide I interviewed professional bass fisherman Bryan New – an angler who has amassed over $160,000.00 in career winnings.  Bryan has been fishing the FLW Tour as a co-angler for four years, and each year he has qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup.  In 2014 he won the […]

About a month ago Captain Patrick Smiley (843-361-7445) reported that it was the best fishing time of the year in the Little River area.  It was expected that cooling air and in turn water temperatures would soon change the bite and push fish into more of a winter pattern, but because of extremely mild weather […]

The big fish have been eating on the Santee Cooper lakes recently, and last week Captain Jim Glenn (843-825-4239) reported that a nice 43-pound fish had been caught drifting cut mullet in 17 feet on Lake Moultrie.  Then a few days ago Jim sent me a picture of a beautiful 53-pound fish which longtime clients John […]

In his last report tournament angler Bryan New reported that up-and-down water levels were creating some difficult conditions on Lake Wylie, and several weeks later Bryan says that water conditions are still making for unpredictable fishing.  He says the biggest problem on the lake right now is the recurrent rain – while the lake has […]

Somewhere in the Murrells Inlet area local guides believe a state record-class spotted seatrout in the 12-pound range is swimming.  It has not been caught so far this winter, but the way things are going it just might be.  A number of very nice fish have been landed recently, including trout up to 9+ pounds, […]

It’s big fish time on Lake Wateree, and for Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) that means anchoring up to catch a monster Lake Wateree blue catfish.  Rodger reports that when conditions will allow it he is starting his trips in the morning by anchoring along the river channel, but this time of year he is concentrating on […]

Right now bass fishing on Lake Russell is good – maybe even very good – but Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) believes the bite is about to be on fire.  Fish are grouped up in 20-40 feet of water in the middle to backs of the creeks, and catching 30-40 fish in several hours of fishing […]

It’s that time of year along the South Carolina coast, and Captain Dan “Fishin’ Coach” Utley (843-368-2126) reports that the trout bite has turned on – particularly in medium-sized creeks that have some structure such as docks or trees.  The key has been fishing the last three hours of the outgoing tide and then the beginning […]

On any list of successful Lake Murray tournament bass fishermen over the last 30-plus years Captain Doug Lown’s name is certain to be at or near the top.  An exhaustive listing of the particular tournaments as well as tournament trails that he and fishing partners have won during that time would take pages, but even […]