Angler's Headquarters
from $ 2.39
About Lake Keowee
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Clemson, South Carolina, construction of Lake Keowee was completed in 1973. The lake was created to serve the needs of Duke Energy, and lake water cools three nuclear reactors at the Oconee Nuclear Generating Station. The northern end of the lake backs up to Lake Jocassee, the power plant is in the mid-lake section, and at the lower end outflows from the two dams (Keowee Dam and Little River Dam) combine to form the Seneca River and feed one of the major arms of Lake Hartwell. A beautiful, generally clear lake, it is about 25 miles long and oriented north/ south, covers approximately 18,500 acres, and has around 300 acres of shoreline. At the widest it is about 3 miles wide, and the lake averages 50 feet deep.
Unlike many South Carolina lakes, Lake Keowee does not have striped bass stocked by the Department of Natural Resources – nor significant numbers of blueback herring – nor does it have stocked trout. It does have largemouth bass, with some large fish caught each year, but the numbers are dwindling and DNR has launched a habitat restoration project aiming to re-grow native vegetation. The lake still has some big white crappie as well as a very few black crappie, but this population has also dwindled. There are bream and giant catfish in Lake Keowee, with an 89-pound blue catfish caught in the spring of 2020 – and there is little doubt that there are still larger fish swimming. But Lake Keowee is best known for its massive population of non-native spotted bass that feast on the main forage base of threadfin shad.
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
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
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 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 11
Lake Keowee is at 98.9% of full pool. Water temperatures have risen quickly this past week with most of the lake now in the low to mid 80s. The coolest water is in the very north end of the lake. Clarity is normal.
Now fishing out of the new 2020 Skeeter FXR21 Limited Edition from N&C Marine, N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
June 5
Lake Keowee is at 98.5% of full pool. Warm weather this week has moved the temperatures up into the high 70s over most of the lake, although the area around the Jocassee dam is the coolest spot on the lake with temperatures in the low 70s. Water clarity is back to normal.
More consistent summer-like weather has been a boon for bass fishing on Lake Keowee, and N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports
May 30
Lake Keowee is at 98.3% of full pool. Water temperatures have remained steady this week in the low to mid-70s throughout the lake, with the warmest water around the power plant discharge. There has been a lot of rainfall over the watershed again this past week and major creeks and coves are stained while the main lake remains clear.
The rain continues to fall but bass fishing is good on Lake Keowee, with N&C Marine/Skeeter Team member Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reporting
Read more fishing reports from Lake Keowee and other popular places at the AHQ Report!
Are you in the know? Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
