July 10
Lake Keowee is at 98.6% of full pool and water temperatures are now in the mid-80s over most of the lake. The coolest water is near the base of the Jocassee dam. A heavy rain on July 9 has some of the major creeks on the lower end of the lake stained, but otherwise the water is clear.
Even as it warms bass fishing patterns are fairly stable on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
July 2
Water temperatures are in the low-80s in Murrells Inlet. Water is pretty dirty off the beach but just offshore it is very clean.
Baisch Boys Bait and Tackle (843-651-1915) has regular and jumbo mud minnows, live finger mullet, live shrimp (most days), live fiddler crabs, blood worms, fresh shrimp, salt clam, and a full range of frozen baits.
Even though it’s July the summer doldrums have definitely not arrived, and Captain J Baisch (843-902-0356) reports
July 2
Lake Keowee is at 98.0% of full pool and water temperatures are mostly in the low 80s throughout the lake although the high 70s can be found in the Jocassee dam area. Clarity is normal.
Fishing is slowing down as temperatures rise on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
July 2
Lake Jocassee is at 98.4% of full pool, and water temperatures had hit 80 but are now in the high-70s around the dam. Water clarity is normal.
While there are certainly bass to be caught during the day on Lake Jocassee, tournament angler Joe Anders of Easley reports
July 2
Inshore surface water temperatures are around 84 degrees and overall the water is dingy.
Water temperatures are getting hotter, and as expected Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
July 2
Inshore surface water temperatures in the morning around Edisto Island are about 82 degrees and there is fair water clarity. Finger mullet have just reached the perfect size for bait.
Even though it’s July, Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports
July 1
Lake Monticello water temperatures are in the mid-80s, and clarity is typically good. Water levels fluctuate daily.
The bass are doing exactly what is expected on Lake Monticello at the beginning of July, and B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
July 1
Lake Wateree is at 96.8% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are in the low 80s. Clarity is normal for Lake Wateree.
While a few people are figuring out to catch 16 or 17 pounds bass fishing on Lake Wateree, tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports
July 1
Lake Greenwood is at 439.20 (full pool is 440.0) and surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s. The lake is clearer than it has been for a while.
Fishing for bass has definitely gotten tougher on Lake Greenwood, but veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Saluda reports
July 1
Morning surface water temperatures are roughly 83 degrees around Hilton Head, but in the afternoons in skinny water they can reach 90. The water is not very clear mainly due to tides and wind.
As it gets hot some inshore species have gotten a little sluggish around Hilton Head, but Captain Dan “Fishin’ Coach” Utley (843-368-2126) reports
June 30
Ocean surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are about 80 degrees. The water is clearing up nicely.
Even as it gets hot they are catching a mixed bag north of Myrtle Beach, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports
June 30
Lake Russell water levels are just under full at 474.93 (full pool is 475.00), and morning surface water temperatures have risen into the low to mid-80s. The lake is relatively clear.
The bass fishing has gotten good on Lake Russell, but Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports
June 30
Lake Wylie has dropped to 96.8% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 83 degrees. The water is fairly clear. A thermocline is starting to form around 34 feet on the south end.
It wouldn’t take huge weights to win a bass tournament on Lake Wylie right now, but tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports
June 26
Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.90 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.48 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water temperatures range from about the mid-70s to low 80s because of all the cool freshwater coming into the lakes, and overall clarity is good.
Even though water temperatures are relatively mild on the Santee lakes, Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports
June 26
Clarks Hill water levels are back above full pool at 330.08 (full pool is 330.00), and morning surface temperatures in the main lake are up to 80-81 degrees. While there is some debris floating from the rain yesterday it is not a significant, and the water is still very clear.
On the bass front, there are a couple of different ways to target fish. The first is to fish the shallows, and tournament angler Josh Rockefeller of Augusta
June 26
Lake Murray water levels are at 357.78 (full pool is 360.00). Clarity has normalized and morning surface water temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s.
Lake Murray striped bass are getting into a pretty typical summer pattern, and Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports
June 26
Lake Keowee is down to 98.1% of full pool and water temperatures are mostly in the low 80s throughout the lake, except in the area near the Jocassee dam where they remain in the 70s. Clarity is normal.
It’s a time of year when things are usually pretty stable on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
June 25
Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are in the low 80s, while the water at Folly Beach is an unseasonably cool 76. Shrimp have been hard to find, perhaps because of all the freshwater.
Inshore fishing can be a little tough in the summer heat, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports
June 25
Lake Hartwell water levels are back up to 661.04 (full pool is 660.00), and morning surface temperatures are about 82 degrees. Clarity is very good.
The hybrid and striped bass fishing has gotten a little more consistent on Lake Hartwell, but Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports
June 19
Lake Keowee is at 98.5% of full pool. With the cold front this week water temperatures have remained in the high 70s to mid-80s over most of the lake. The coolest water is in the very north end of the lake. Clarity is normal.
Despite the cold front water temperatures did not drop too much this week, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
June 18
Lake Jocassee is at 97.4% of full pool, and water temperatures at the dam had gotten to the upper 70s but have now dropped back to 70-72. Water clarity is normal.
The trout bite is still good on Lake Jocassee, and Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports
June 18
Inshore surface water temperatures have dropped all the way to 73 after several cool days in Beaufort, and water clarity varies. In areas where the water is dirty it is muddy because of wind and the water is not tannic. There are lots of tiny shrimp in the creeks.
Water temperatures are moving the wrong direction, but Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports
June 18
Lake Monticello water temperatures are in the low 80s, and even with recent rains water clarity remains fairly normal.
The bass are doing what they are supposed to do on Lake Monticello in June, and B.A.S.S. angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports
June 17
Inshore surface water temperatures in the morning around Edisto Island are about 82 degrees and there is decent water clarity. The water is browner in the South Edisto because of all the rainfall coming down the river, while the North Edisto, a closed tidal system, is clearer.
The fish are in a reliable summer pattern around Edisto Island, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports