August 20
Lake Hartwell water levels have shot back up to 661.37 (full pool is 660.00) after the torrential rains, and while the main lake has stayed clear some of the backs have gotten a little cloudy. (It would be highly unusual for the lake to get muddy during the summer). Morning surface temperatures dropped from 87 to 84 this week, but they will probably return to the high 80s soon.
Early in the morning it’s still a very good bite for hybrid bass, and Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports
August 20
Clarks Hill water levels are at 329.76 (full pool is 330.00) and morning surface water temperatures are about 85 degrees.
Even though some guides are travelling over to Murray right now from Clarks Hill, William Sasser Guide Service (706-589-5468) reports
August 20
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.39 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.03 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Despite recent rains the lakes remain relatively clear and morning surface water temperatures are 87 or 88 degrees.
The catfish bite remains the best thing going on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports
August 19
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 438.97 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures remains very hot.
The bass fishing still hasn’t picked up much on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
August 19
Lake Monticello surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s, warmer on the lower end near the power plant, and the lake is still clear. Water levels fluctuate daily.
We are getting closer to the hot fall bite for big catfish on Lake Monticello, and Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports
August 19
Lake Murray water levels are at 357.83 (full pool is 360.00) and the main lake is clear (with a summer green tint) while the Little River has gotten muddy. Morning surface temperatures are about 82 degrees.
The striped bass fishing remains so consistent on Lake Murray that guides from other lakes are coming over, but Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports
When anglers think of freshwater species such as striped bass, largemouth or crappie it is well understood that those fish could be near the surface, suspended somewhere in the water column, or on the bottom. But with catfish we usually think of them as a bottom species, which is what makes fishing for them in the summer on Lake Monticello so intriguing. For years I have been hearing that in the hot months
August 6
Clarks Hill water levels are still very high at 330.96 (full pool is 330.00) and morning surface water temperatures are about 85 degrees.
Patterns for catching bass are changing again on Clarks Hill, and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta reports
August 6
Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are still about 85 degrees in the morning, and clarity is still good. The South Edisto is on the verge of getting dirty with recent rains, while the North Edisto is unlikely to change much. There are tons of finger mullet and white shrimp in the creeks and so bait is no problem.
It’s a fairly stable period around Edisto, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports
August 6
Morning surface water temperatures are about 85 degrees around Hilton Head. Shrimp and finger mullet are prolific in the creeks.
Storms and winds have wreaked havoc on the fishing this week, but Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
August 6
Morning surface water temperatures are still about 84 degrees around Beaufort, and from mullet to menhaden to shrimp there is tons of bait in the area.
As we get into another cycle of good tailing tides, Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
August 6
Lake Jocassee remains very high at 98.6% of full pool and, while the main lake is still clear, particularly in the evenings when there is a lot of boat traffic the creeks are milky or just dirty. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 79-80 degrees.
The trout fishing was a little down on Lake Jocassee this week, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports
August 6
Lake Monticello surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s, warmer on the lower end near the power plant, and the lake is still clear. Water levels fluctuate daily.
The pattern for catching big catfish on Lake Monticello is changing now that the spawn is almost completely finished, and Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports
August 6
Lake Hartwell water levels are finally down below full pool at 659.88 (full pool is 660.00)! Morning surface water temperatures had gotten into the upper 80s but have dropped to about 83.
The front briefly messed with the hybrid and striped bass fishing earlier this week, but Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports
August 6
Morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s around Murrells Inlet.
Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live shrimp, fiddler crabs, sand fleas, blood worms, fresh head-on shrimp, and a full range of frozen baits. Live finger mullet are big enough for bait and prolific in the creeks, but the water has gotten so hot that they are not always able to keep them alive and in stock.
August 6
Lake Russell is down to normal elevation at 474.26 (full pool is 475.00) and the main lake is clear. Morning surface water temperatures are about 84-85 degrees.
The fishing continues to drop off a bit on Lake Russell, perhaps because of the rain earlier this week, butGuide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
August 6
Lake Wylie is at 96.4% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 85-86 degrees.
If anything the catfish bite on Lake Wylie has gotten even better, and Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports
August 6
Lake Keowee is at 97.2% of full pool and clarity is normal. Most of the lake is in the mid- to high 80s, while the coolest water is at the base of the Jocassee dam where temperatures are in the high 70s.
Despite some unusual weather patterns there’s not much change with the fishing on Lake Keowee this week, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
August 5
Lake Murray water levels are down to 357.88 (full pool is 360.00) and morning surface water temperatures on the big water are back up to about 84 degrees.
It remains a very good striped bass bite on Lake Murray, but as is typical at this time of year Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports
August 5
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.56 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.42 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The lakes are still relatively clear and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s.
The bass fishing has picked up on the Santee Cooper lakes, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
August 5
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are around 84 degrees.
It’s been a good week for trout on the rocks out at the jetties, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
August 5
Inshore surface water temperatures remain about 85-86 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are still full of bait, including shrimp.
It’s hard to believe how fast it happened, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) both report
August 5
Lake Greenwood water levels are down to 439.08 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are in the upper 80s.
Fishing remains a little slow on Lake Greenwood, and Guide Daniel Skipper (864-430-0488) reports
August 5
Lake Wateree is at 96.5% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s.
The crappie fishing remains fair on Lake Wateree this week, and tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports