It was a fortunate confluence of events leading me to Lake Greenwood last week. This late February, March and early April I got hooked on shallow crappie fishing on the lower end of Lake Murray, and I was disappointed when the fish made their annual move deeper. This year I have also been getting regularLake Greenwood fishing reports from Guide Daniel Skipper, and all year I have been very impressed by his knowledge of the lake as well as his catch rate. But I was intrigued when – even as the weather got very hot – he was still catching Lake Greenwood crappie around relatively shallow brush. I most certainly was not, and so I was pleased when Daniel had an afternoon slot available to take a buddy and me out on Lake Greenwood to try and fill a cooler with crappie and teach us about the fishery.
July 23
Morning surface water temperatures are about 83 degrees Hilton Head. There are tons of small shrimp around and more big ones should be on the way. Finger mullet are also prolific.
Summer in Hilton Head usually means abundant tarpon, but Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports
July 23
Lake Jocassee is up to 98.9% of full pool after all this rain. While the main lake is still clear the creeks are very dirty by Jocassee standards. Morning surface water temperatures on the big water are 78-80 degrees.
It’s no surprise that the trout have gone deep on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports
July 23
Morning surface water temperatures are about 83 degrees around Beaufort and the water is dirty. From mullet to menhaden to shrimp there is tons of bait in the area.
It’s still the case that an abundance of food means that that the redfish aren’t feeding especially well at lower stages of the tide, but Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
July 23
Lake Greenwood water levels are at 439.13 (full pool is 440.0) and morning surface water temperatures are around 85 degrees.
There are still basically two ways to fish for bass on Lake Greenwood, and veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
July 22
Clarks Hill water levels are up to 330.29 (full pool is 330.00) and morning surface water temperatures are 85-86 degrees.
There are a few different patterns for catching bass right now on Clarks Hill, but overall Tyler Matthews of Evans, GA reports
July 22
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.
There’s not a lot of change with the bass fishing on Lake Monticello, and tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
July 22
Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are up to 85 degrees in the morning, and clarity is good. There are tons of finger mullet and white shrimp in the creeks and so bait is no problem.
There has been some improvement with the fishing around Edisto, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports
July 22
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.65 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.56 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Morning surface water temperatures are about 84 degrees and the lower lake is still very clear.
It’s still a really good catfish bite on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports
July 22
Lake Wateree is at 96.7% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 84 degrees. Despite the rain at least the lower end still just has a normal amount of stain.
For some time now the better bass bite on Lake Wateree has been shallow, but tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports
July 21
Inshore surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s around Charleston.
It’s not a bad time for fishing in the Charleston area, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports
July 21
Lake Murray water levels have jumped up about 6 inches to 357.97 (full pool is 360.00) and the rivers are getting muddy while the main lake still looks pretty good. Morning surface water temperatures on the big water have dropped to about 82 degrees.
It may be late July but it’s still a really good bass bite on Lake Murray, and tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria (fresh off his third straight top-3 Tuesday night tournament result with his father Steve) reports
July 21
With recent rains Lake Hartwell water levels have shot up 8-10 inches to 660.79 (full pool is 660.00). While the creeks are muddy the main lake is still gin clear. Morning surface water temperatures dropped a degree to about 83.5 degrees.
It continues to be a better-than-expected time for bass fishing on Lake Hartwell, and Guide Brad Fowler reports
July 21
With around four inches of rain two nights ago Lake Russell water levels shot up about a foot to 475.62 (full pool is 475.00). While the main lake remains clear the backs are murky even in spots that usually stay clear. Morning surface water temperatures are around 85 degrees.
The action is still very good on Lake Russell, andGuide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
July 21
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the mid- and even upper 80s.
Kids’ camp is a success with plenty of croaker and smaller black drum still being caught inshore with fresh cut shrimp on a #4 hook, but Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
July 21
Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s around Murrells Inlet.
Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live shrimp, fiddler crabs, live sand fleas, blood worms, fresh head-on shrimp, and a full range of frozen baits. While live finger mullet are big enough for bait and prolific in the creeks, the water has gotten so hot that they hard to stock until temperatures cool.
July 21
Lake Wylie is at 97.0% of full pool. Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. The rivers became extremely muddy after recent rains but that water has now moved down the lake.
After a lull, the catfish bite on Lake Wylie has really picked up and Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports
July 16
Lake Keowee is at 98.8% of full pool and clarity is normal. Most of the lake is around 85 degrees with temperatures a bit warmer around the power plant and the coolest water above the Highway 11 bridge.
In the past week N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
July 9
Inshore surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are up to 83 degrees in the morning, and before the storms the water still had good clarity.
There’s not a lot of change this week in the fishing around Edisto, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports
July 9
Clarks Hill water levels have finally dipped below full to 329.94 (full pool is 330.00) and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s.
While some people are making a run at the bass in deep water on Clarks Hill right now, tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta has found
July 9
Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s around Beaufort. There are tons of bait present from shrimp to mullet of all size to menhaden in the Broad River.
The abundance of bait in the area means that the redfish are very well fed, and perhaps as a result Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
July 9
Inshore surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s around Charleston.
Inshore fishing has been a little slow around Charleston, but Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports
July 9
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the mid-80s, and while the surf is dirty it is unclear how much yesterday’s tropical storm will affect water conditions inshore.
For the past couple of weeks Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) has
July 9
Lake Jocassee is at 97.9% of full pool and the lake is very clear. Morning surface water temperatures on the big water are 75-78 degrees, while in the backs they are about 80.
Even though surface temperatures have not changed a whole lot on Lake Jocassee, Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports