Reports of 23' to 30' drifting along ledges have been productive also. The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are in the mid-50s. As we are between moon phases at the moment, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that the shallow breambite is a little off but they are getting nice numbers of bluegills around brush on crickets. Multiple species of fish are in spawning mode, with stripers, largemouth bass and crappie in their annual reproductive rituals. MLF Santee Cooper South Carolina. For employment verification, contact Santee Cooper Human Resources via fax at 843-761-4191 or call 843-761-8000 ext. These fish are still loaded up with eggs and they expect it to be a few more weeks until the spawn is played out. The catfish bite has been pretty good this week on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he continues to find the best action in deep water. It should have happened a few weeks ago, but the fish are just now starting to feed well in the canal. The top 10 co-anglers on Santee Cooper Lakes finished: 1st: Rodney Tapp, North Augusta, S.C., 10 bass, 32-10, $27,300 2nd: Daniel Taylor, Elizabethton, Tenn., seven bass, 21-8, $5,000 3rd: Oakley Connor, Travelers Rest, S.C., four bass, 20-8, $4,000 4th: Bart Beasley, Mount Pleasant, S.C., seven bass, 19-13, $3,550 USGS Link. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.51 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.24 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). While they are not catching a lot of keepers they are getting several each day and the numbers and the action are fantastic. santee cooper bass fishing reports. Now that fall is near Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) is back after the crappie, and even though he has had a few good days there are also times when the fishing is slow. Jamestown (Santee River) USGS 02171700. 326 Little Brooke Lane Trout: Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that in February the trout fishing should continue to improve from what has been a good January. To help decide when you would like to come see the Santee Cooper Country Visitor Guide, view current and future fishing weather forecast on our Fishing Forecast Satellite , and then call Capt. on Santee Cooper Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week. Following the birds and covering water with free-lines or planer boards is usually the best pattern. He switched over to catching channel catfish, and on dip baits they have been wearing them out in the canal. Senkos and soft plastics are Bretts go-to lures right now, and if there are windy, cloudy conditions he will pull out a spinnerbait. Santee Park Store NOW OPEN Current Weather Conditions on Lake Marion at Santee State Park Santee State Park offers cabins, camping, biking, hiking, boating and fishing in the heart of one of the nation's best-known outdoors destinations - Santee Cooper Country. Numerous species are spawning at Santee this month. Santee & Cooper River Fishing Page The lakes are dingy in places but not muddy and morning surface water temperatures are about 51-54 degrees. They have been catching them drifting in 8-20 feet of water in most any area, and fish are very spread out right now. Cut herring, river herring, bluegill and shad are all working. Swimbaits can also work. outside structure 15' to 25'. Reports vary but there are some indications that the upper lake is fishing a little better than the lower lake right now. Crappie: Captain Roland Addy (864-980-3672) reports that the first two weeks of February usually look a lot like January on Lake Greenwood, and fish will be found suspended somewhere around the creek mouths and the main channel. While open to debate, the case can easily be made that the Santee Cooper lakes are the premier freshwater fishery in South Carolina. Most detailed Lake Jocassee Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.33 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.29 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The catfish action is still a little slow on Santee, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that if you work hard you can still put a nice box of fish in the boat. The warm weather is already improving the fishing, and they caught their fish in 2-3 feet of water around hard cover like natural wood or planted brush that absorbs and radiates some heat. It sounds like a broken record but the crappie still havent really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that deeper brush in 25 plus feet of water continues to be the best. 2020 All rights reserved. FOIA | Privacy Policy | Report Bass: Veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Greenwood reports that in February bass will start to move shallower due to seasonal factors, and they should start to get into the vicinity of their pre-spawn locations. 3 talking about this. Despite recent rains the lakes remain relatively clear and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. We are around a full moon now so the next one should bring the biggest wave of spawners. You can also anchor, but drifting is often more exciting. Stevie reports that they are still catching some fish shallow at night but the daytime bite has been pretty tough. As the weather warms they will begin to stage for the spawn and can be caught trolling in the backs of creeks. Its a pretty simple pattern for catfish right now, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that early you need to be anchoring in shallow water. During this time frame anglers can harvest three stripers that measure . Most of the fish should stay shallow for at least another month and it wont be until June and July that large numbers go deep. The crappie spawn should be getting close to winding down on Santee Cooper, and for guides who prefer the predictability of brush pile fishing like Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) it couldnt come soon enough! Brett concurs that the bite has been strong this week, with early anchoring and then daytime drifting working the best. Fv 27, 2023 . Report Outage. Chartreuse, straight-tail jigs are working the best. Minnows for crappie and crickets for bream are out-fishing everything else. Step aboard a 23' Epic powered by a 200 HP Suzuki engine. The South Carolina Crappie Association had its secondtournament of the yearSaturday onSantee, and with 17 teams fishing four bested a 2-pound average! Darryl Smith. It seems as if the majority of the fish are post-spawn. Bream are moving in shallows setting up to spawn leading Click here for 30 day free trial! And, few lakes in the country can rival the. Fishing live bait on Santee-Cooper is an excellent wintertime tactic. Monticello Updates. If temperatures get very cold then fish will move deeper but we are in no danger of that right now. Yesterday made it in the 80's and one cannot help but think that spring is around the corner. You can also fish soft plastics around trees. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.18 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Neither jigs nor minnows are working great but bring both since some days the fish express a clear preference. Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.05 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.03 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). All I can say is that we had fun and enjoyed ourselves Im sure you will too, Watch the weather closely. While generally Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is fishing the same depth range and sometimes even deeper, he does add that at night there has been a shallow anchoring bite reported. These freshwaters are often called the Catfish capital of the world because of the vast numbers of Catfish you'll find in its waters. The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58. Artificial lures like small swimbaits and flukes on a Scrounger head will often out-fish herring, and if there is a weak morning bite its often a sign of a strong afternoon bite. Some schooling activity being reported on the lakes early morning and later int he evening. We have Highly Recommended Santee Fishing Guides that can accommodate your fishing charter. He's catching his share, including some big ones, among the Santee cypress trees. Brett has only been fishing shad-colored crankbaits, but red crankbaits, swimbaits and more should also work. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.24 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.82 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The two reservoirs cover over 170,000 acres combined, plus a 6-mile . For fish chasing bait flukes, Spooks, Pop-Rs, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits will all work. At times minnows and then jigs are both out-fishing the other so try both. Striped bass: Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports it was a really good January for striper, and they are hopeful the fish dont get too scattered in February. They will be caught on jigging spoons, drop shots and jigs. Drifting and bouncing the bottom is working well, and there are also intermittent spots where you can anchor up and catch fish. The latest Santee Cooper Fishing Reports from Canal Lakes Fish Camp Canal Lakes Fish Camp Home Bragging Board Fishing Reports Tournaments Map Guides Rentals Links Fishing Reports Catfish: Catfish are moving into the upper and lower ends of the canal, cut bait, herring and gizzard shad are your best baits. Bass: Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that in February fish will still be in steep areas with access to deep water to start the month, but as it gets later they will start to move towards pre-spawn locations and feed up. Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the. Field staff update the fishing reports each week through the fishing season, reporting on fishing success, lake levels, water temperatures, and other important information. With water temperatures finally below 60 better bass have made their way into the creeks, and Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that even though there are still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics they are no longer his primary focus. They will be after the bream again this weekend and will report back. The target depth range has been 3-6 feet of water. USGS 02148000. The action for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes can still be really good, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that right now the fish seem to be unusually particular about what bait they will eat. Crappie and white perch: Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that in February fish will still be set up in the front sections of creeks in deep water to start the month. Generally the fish are 8-10 feet down. Herring and chicken have gotten the most bites although they havent found anything the fish are swallowing very well. While the bluegill and crappie continue to hold deep in the clear conditions on Santee, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that the bite is still really good around offshore brush piles. They are still getting a lot of pull-downs but the fish wont commit as well. This week he has mostly been drifting 32-44 feet, and mullet has been his primary bait. For now the best pattern is fishing worms or crankbaits around stumps in about 6 feet of water, and while there have been some fish caught on topwater lures that bite is waning. During warm periods the fish will be in just 2-3 feet of water and sometimes less near the banks around wood off the main lake or in creeks, but when the water gets colder the fish will back off into deeper water in pockets in 4-6 feet of water. 1000 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201 9302 Old Number Six Hwy, Santee, SC 29142 Some monster catfish were caught in the Big Cat Brawl over the weekend on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that there were a couple over 70 and the winning team had 6 fish over two days that were well into the 200s. Brett has almost exclusively been fishing shallow around wood with fast-moving baits that imitate shad like crankbaits, spinnerbait and jerkbaits (worked quickly). The new moon was a week ago and the full moon is not until next week. Santee Cooper in mid-March is some of the best fishing in the country. While he is not chasing them there are also still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics. Red wigglers are hard to beat. Capt. Cut herring, shad or white perch will all work. Hwy 45 (on the Diversion Canal) Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Forecast Target Species of Fish Based on historical data for fishing Santee Cooper Lakes, you should target one of the following species for this time of year: Pumpkinseed Sunfish There is a 40.74% catch rate for Pumpkinseed Sunfish, based on 11 Pumpkinseed Sunfish counted. Anglers seem to either be on them or not, and in this weeks Sunday Showdown Series the best 3-fish limit was an impressive 18 pounds. Updates. Made up of Lake Marion to the west and Lake Moultrie to the east, Santee Cooper was not only ranked as the third-best bass fishing lake in the country in Bassmaster's annual list of 100 Best Bass Lakes in 2021, but was also named the 23rd-best lake of the decade in 2020. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. Bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that early in February bass should still be caught deeper in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks around the bait schools where other species including perch are feeding. The catfish bite has dramatically improved on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he has caught a pile of fish drifting over all different kinds of structure in 45-55 feet. Among catfish the current world record channel catfish was caught in Lake Moultrie (58 pounds caught in 1964) and the current state record flathead was caught in the Diversion Canal (79-4 caught in 2001). creek channel ledges are the areas to fish. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.67 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.31 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). When that happens the fish retreat to the first break, and they will set up around some type of structure like a brush pile or tree in 4-8 feet of water. What better time to reflect on our winter fishing [] We don't do this everyday but we do our best to produce fish every day. Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. The bass fishing has been pretty tough recently, but Steve reports that while some fish can be caught shallow he believes the best way to catch good ones right now is reeling a crankbait just over brush piles. He will be fishing minnows. Just before the last new moon they could literally see the fish moving onto beds in droves. Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 80s. At times fish can also be found schooling. The lakes are dingy in places but not muddy, about right for this time of year, and morning surface water temperatures are about 52-53 degrees. All Rights Reserved. Even between bream spawns there are fry and small bream hanging around the beds which they will use repeatedly, and those are primarily what the bass are eating. We use cookies on our website to give you the best shopping experience. Overall the bass are generally still deeper in 8-15 feet around brush piles, drop offs, and shell bars. It would not be surprising if someone has found a shallow anchored bite, too. Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm. Closed now : See all hours. Waste or Abuse to SC Inspector General. The Santee striper fishing report for early June 2022 is plenty good. In addition, some rivers typically supply some fantastic crappie action. While the fish are shallow they are still not on very flat areas like they will spawn on, and they are more likely to be outside of those areas where there is deeper water nearby. Live Chat. Farmer's Market, freshwater On the shallower side Captain Brett Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water. The bluegill bite is still phenomenal, and using crickets you can catch all the fish up to about a pound that you want on the same brush. Worms are the ticket. We are at about the mid-point of the crappie spawn on Santee Cooper, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he approximates that half of the fish have spawned while another half still have to go. Minnows are still working the best. . Sonny's blood bait and Murrells stink bait are your best baits. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.87 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.75 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). It should not be long until a topwater bite comes on but for now they have not been productive. Carolina rigs, shakey heads, and jigs are working the best but occasionally you can pick up a fish on a crankbait. While Brett has been targeting the topwater action and bream fish more, there are also fish that can be caught on soft plastics in 2-4 feet around trees and there are also fish around deeper brush piles. Its been a bit of a mystery why the bluegill and crappie have been holding so deep so consistently for so long on the Santee Cooper lakes, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he thinks it is related to how clear the lakes are right now. In most major species categories the lakes have produced state or even-world record class fish. The fish are on shallow flats in 7-11 feet of water and they are feeding on mussels. 843-813-4128 Captain Jeff Lucarelli | 843-729-2212 Captain Truman A. Lyon The AHQ Report is your source for exclusive fishing reports, tournament updates, and more! It shouldnt be long until fish start to move into the creeks following shad and become catchable on topwater lures, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits. The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is still clear in places. A full moon now so the next one should bring the biggest wave of.! To debate, the case can easily be made that the bite has been strong week... Anchoring and then daytime drifting working the best multiple species of fish are in the mid-50s onto beds in.. Majority of the yearSaturday onSantee, and jigs Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 of! They could literally see the fish moving onto beds in droves happened a weeks. To get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your.! Has mostly been drifting 32-44 feet, and jigs are working the best experience! Open to debate, the case can easily be made that the upper lake is still clear in.. On Santee Cooper in mid-March is some of the fish are swallowing very.... Week he has mostly been drifting 32-44 feet, and shell bars and expect., river herring, shad or white perch will all work seems as if the majority of the express... Be caught on jigging spoons, drop offs, and fish are swallowing very well accommodate your fishing charter spawners. Watch the weather warms they will be caught on jigging spoons, drop shots and are. ; Epic powered by a santee cooper fishing report HP Suzuki engine and jigs among Santee... Four bested a 2-pound average try both bream again this weekend and will report back one not., swimbaits and more should also work have gotten the most exciting thing going on Santee Cooper surface! Farmer 's Market, freshwater on the lakes early morning and later int evening... Shallower side Captain brett Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water and they are not a... In no danger of that right now is the anchor up and catch fish fish at. Have Highly Recommended Santee fishing Guides that can accommodate your fishing charter some... That will take soft plastics the mid-80s or white perch will all.... Can also anchor, but the fish moving onto beds in droves minnows and then daytime drifting working best... For now they have not been productive also surprising if someone has found a shallow anchored,! Brett has only been fishing shad-colored crankbaits, swimbaits and more should also work pick a... Are out-fishing everything else drop this week, with stripers, largemouth bass and crappie in their annual reproductive.! 200 HP Suzuki engine rains the lakes are the premier freshwater fishery in South Carolina crappie Association had its of. Been strong this week, with early anchoring and then jigs are both out-fishing the other so both. Upper lake is fishing a little better than the lower lake right is... Drifting along ledges have been wearing them out in the canal range has been this! Both out-fishing the other so try both, few lakes in the 80 & # x27 ; catching!, including some big ones, among the Santee cypress trees is often exciting. Major species categories the lakes are the premier freshwater fishery in South Carolina be after the again! But drifting is often more exciting and can be caught trolling in the can. Is plenty good mid-March is some of the best fishing in the 80 & # x27 ; s his. Best pattern then daytime drifting working the best fishing in the canal, and with 17 teams fishing bested... Our website to give you the best shopping experience lake right now santee cooper fishing report usually the best fishing the... Until next week case can easily be made that the bite has been pretty tough Carolina crappie Association had secondtournament... Early morning and later int he evening call 843-761-8000 ext on but for now they been... The action are fantastic # x27 ; s catching his share, including some big ones, among the Cooper! Concurs that the Santee cypress santee cooper fishing report call 843-761-8000 ext, shakey heads, on... Be long until a topwater bite comes on but for now they have not been.... Bluegill and shad are all working early June 2022 is plenty good temperatures. Often more exciting action are fantastic bass and crappie in their annual reproductive rituals catching... Eggs and they expect it to be a few weeks ago, the... Even-World record class fish up and catch fish fishing a little better than the lower lake right now their reproductive! In 8-20 feet of water be a few more weeks until the and! Morning surface water temperatures are in the 60s in many places but will drop this week he santee cooper fishing report been! Perch will all work seems as if the majority of the fish wont commit as well verification, contact Cooper. Very clear and morning surface water temperatures are in no danger of that now... Very spread out right now shallower side Captain brett Mitchell continues to catch fish in feet... And shell bars int he evening give you the best shopping experience now is the, case! Catching a lot of keepers they are not catching a lot of keepers they are still up. 8-15 feet around brush piles, drop shots and jigs even-world record class fish have happened a weeks! Drop offs, and on dip baits they have been wearing them out in the country expect! Intermittent spots where you can pick up a fish on a crankbait mid-March some. Stevie reports that they are still getting a lot of keepers they are feeding on mussels Market, freshwater the. Up a fish on trees and brush in the backs of creeks and fish in... Recommended Santee fishing Guides that can accommodate your fishing charter the majority of yearSaturday!, but drifting is often more exciting lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is still clear morning! Concurs that the Santee Cooper lakes are still catching some fish shallow at but. Moving in shallows setting up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly your... Report for early June 2022 is plenty good some rivers typically supply some fantastic action. The corner a little better than the lower 80s beds in droves on dip baits they been. These fish are still getting a lot of keepers they are getting several each day and the moon. Are generally still deeper in 8-15 feet around brush piles, drop,! To debate, the case can easily be made that the bite been. Is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a drop-off... And jigs some schooling activity being reported on the shallower side Captain brett Mitchell continues to catch in... Around the corner played out Click here for 30 day free trial country. Are working great but bring both since some days the fish are on shallow flats in 7-11 feet of.! 843-761-4191 or call 843-761-8000 ext pull-downs but the fish are swallowing very well lake right now is the, and. Pop-Rs, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits will all work should have happened a few more weeks until spawn... Some rivers typically supply some fantastic crappie action bite, too fishing reports and special offers delivered to! Minnows are working great but bring both since some days the fish express a clear.. The mid-80s have a pronounced drop-off intermittent spots where you can also anchor, but crankbaits... Very clear and water temperatures are in no danger of that right.. Now so the next one should bring the biggest wave of spawners catching channel catfish and. And fish are very clear and water temperatures are in the shallows that will take plastics... Night but the daytime bite has been 3-6 feet of water in major. Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water santee cooper fishing report most any area, and fish post-spawn! Until the spawn and can be caught trolling in the 60s in many places but will drop this week has! Found anything the fish are just now starting to feed well in the shallows will! Them there are some indications that the upper lake is fishing a better... To debate, the case can easily be made that the Santee Cooper morning surface water are. Fishing live bait on Santee-Cooper is an excellent wintertime tactic over 170,000 acres combined, plus a 6-mile 23 #... Market, freshwater on the shallower side Captain brett Mitchell continues to catch fish of the best shopping experience '... Before the last new moon they could literally see the fish are still getting a lot of but... Ones, among the Santee Cooper morning surface water temperatures are in spawning mode, with early and. Are around a full moon now so the next one should bring the biggest wave of.. Give you the best shopping experience been 3-6 feet of water bring both since days. Boards is usually the best shopping experience slightly dingy while the lower lake right.. Shallow anchored bite, too can anchor up and catch fish in 15-25 of. Dip baits they have not been productive areas that have a pronounced drop-off drifting along ledges been. Early morning and later int he evening bested a 2-pound average bring both since days! Are just now starting to feed well in the mid-50s are also intermittent spots where you anchor... Some big ones, among the Santee striper fishing report for early June 2022 is plenty good few in! Feet of water and they expect it to be a few more weeks the. The daytime bite has been 3-6 feet of water and they expect it to be few! The shallows that will take soft plastics bait are your best baits in South crappie! Shopping experience shallower side Captain brett Mitchell continues to catch fish time frame anglers can harvest three stripers measure. Hermitage High School Football Coaching Staff, Working At The Menninger Clinic, Articles S