santee cooper fishing reportsantee cooper fishing report

three-day weight record at 77-4 and the five-fish daily limit mark of 34-4. If you're not familiar with the lake . This page is for all the local clubs and fishermen in the area to share tournament and fishing information. Top 10 Patterns from Santee Cooper - Major League Fishing. Its a pretty good crappie bite right now on the lakes, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are catching some good fish on deep brush about 22 feet down over 38 feet in the lower lake. Learn more. In my "Glory Days" I competed as an ESPN Bassmaster Angler. wigglers and crickets are your best offering. Its been an outstanding bite for catfish recently, and in a tournament over the weekend Brett reports that a 106-pound fish was weighed in as part of a 3-fish limit that went over 200 pounds! Crankbaits, worms and jigs fished around rock should all work. Try Santee Cooper tailraces for great shad, herring action Jeff Burleson Featured, Freshwater Fishing Roe shad up to 4-1/2 pounds are biting in the Cooper River tailrace below Lake Moultrie for fishermen using light tackle. The spawn is underway and will continue through the summer. The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58. While there are a few bream on brush piles, the better shellcracker are up shallow and for the next several weeks they should be spawning in 3 feet of water or less. This weekend will be a totally different situation, however, and with temperatures dropping into the mid-20s and 25 mile per hour winds out of the north he expects that many fish will abandon their beds. 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. Fish will often be adjacent to steep banks and 8-15 feet of water, but the best concentration of catchable fish is shallower in 4-6 feet of water. Or enjoy Free Shipping on orders over $50! As a result fish are scattered out pretty much everywhere, and he has caught some fish on brush but there are also some fish being caught up shallow around bank cover. Even between moons they have picked up some bedding bream, and they have generally been on deeper beds in more than five feet of water. Big worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs will all work around brush. The new moon was a week ago and the full moon is not until next week. Despite a very slight temperature drop it hasnt moved enough to really activate the bass fishing, and Brettreports that he has not seen a fish so much as swirl at a topwater bait recently. Cross 23 ft 4 persons. In his last trip Brett did manage one 7 plus pound fish and lot of smaller males, but it seemed that most of the better fish had moved a little deeper to the first drop-off and slowed down eating. The co-state record largemouth bass was caught out of Lake Marion (16-2 caught in 1949), until 1993 the world record freshwater striped bass came from Santee Cooper (55 pounds), the state record white crappie came from Lake Moultrie (5-0 caught in 1957), and the state record shellcracker (5-7.5 caught in 1998) came from the Diversion Canal. While fish will often be adjacent to creeks with steep banks and 8-15 feet of water, the best concentration of catchable fish is in 4-6 feet of water. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working for his boat. 2018-19 SANTEE COOPER COUNTRY. It seemed that some of the biggest fish came on Lake Marion, but there were also a lot of people who struck out in the upper lake. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 70 degrees. The lower lake has been much better than the upper lake, and a lot of days jigs have been out-fishing minnows. Cooper Fishing Report Dec 22 2021 GOOD. 2020 All rights reserved. The big bream and crappie are still on the deeper brush in 28-35 ft in huge numbers. With so many panfish up shallow its no surprise that the catfish are in the same areas, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that first thing anchoring in shallow water has been producing very well. recreational fishing regulations. Book a trip with Captain Bill and fully enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime. Chartreus The best patterns for blue catfish seem to be anchoring early and then drifting during the day in 10-30 feet of water. Most detailed Lake santee cooper bass fishing reports. While there are some dirty spots the lakes are basically returning to normal clarity. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.91 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.7 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). If you fish very, very early you can also find a shad spawn around dawn in some places. Early in the morning buzzbaits are working well and shallow running crankbaits are also good, in addition to a wide range of topwater lures such as prop baits. The bite can be decent if you locate a group of fish on electronics or otherwise, but thats the tricky part. Striped bass: Guide Daniel Skipper (864-430-0488) reports that in February striped bass could be found anywhere on Lake Greenwood, but the key to finding them is to locate the bait. If temperatures warm they should start to move shallower later in February. It should have happened a few weeks ago, but the fish are just now starting to feed well in the canal. The 5-foot range is a good starting point. on Santee Cooper Proving that there are catfish everywhere in Santee, Captain Brett Mitchell reports that his boat has been wearing the fish out drifting in 12-14 feet of water. Late last week anglers first noted that bucks were moving up, and then Friday and Saturday some big females came up. Before the cold front at the beginning of this week there were starting to be some bream around the banks, but for now the weather seems to have pushed them out to the same brush the crappie are on. On the last trip they managed a couple of 40-pound fish, a 30-, and so on. During this video I am also doing a live show on Youtube, AND I a. <br><br> The park sits along Lake Marion, one of the two lakes (the other's Moultrie) that gave birth to America's inland . 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. The shallow bite has been better in the evenings, and that should stay true through the weekend. Overall its been a slow late spring for crappie, and with real summer heat on the way it probably wont be until the fall that fishing really picks up. Winning results were as follows: AHQ INSIDER Santee Cooper (SC) 2023 Week 8 Fishing Report Updated February 24. Most detailed Lake Hartwell Steve also reports that they are picking up pretty good numbers of bluegill in deep water, but the better fish are starting to be caught on shallow brush. best baits. However, on warmer afternoons they will sometimes come up to 12-14 feet on the shallower end of the depth range. 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. Santee Cooper lakes - Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie - are famous for their copious fishing grounds. 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. 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. Very soon, if they have not already, some male fish should get around the banks. Warming weather will get them shallower and more aggressive again soon, and the new moon this weekend will also help to get another group of fish up looking and then on beds. 100 pounds over 4 days is possible. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.65 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.5 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 9 reviews #1 of 1 Restaurant in Pineville $$ - $$$ Seafood. When the water cools then the brush bite for bream should pick up, and the canal should fill up with shellcracker. Its a good idea to have both. While you can still catch a lot of small eating-sized fish drifting in 15-30 feet of water, Captain Stevie English is most excited that the canal bite is finally turning on. As is often the case there are several different ways to catch catfish on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports the best action he has found has been in very deep water from 25 out to 50 feet. Fishing in Santee Cooper Catch good times in South Carolina waters! While the numbers of crappie on brush has dwindled, Steve notes that there are some huge groups of bluegill stacked up on the brush. Phone Numbers | Accessibility | santee cooper Fishing Reports For up-to-date information, look up the fishing report for the water of your choice. 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. Our top priority is to satisfy. The two reservoirs cover over 170,000 acres combined, plus a 6-mile . Water temperatures have gotten cool enough that fish are really starting to move around again, and as the shad just start to get into the creeks the bass should not be far behind. So, why go fishing on Santee Cooper? shows,5 radio interviews,65 major newspaper . The lower lake is still clear even as the upper lake is getting dirty, and morning surface water temperatures are about 47 degrees. They will be after the bream again this weekend and will report back. There are only a very few feeding fish on brush right now, and the vast majority of the fish are in less that 6 feet of water. Most days minnows are best, but some days chartreuse, straight-tail jigs will out-fish them. Jefferies Dam in 50' has also been productive. CATT Santee Cooper Spring Qualifiertook place this Saturday, and there were some incredible weights at the top. Fishing with Brett Mitchell Santee-Cooper Guide and Instructor Specializing in Trophy Size Largemouth Bass - Blue Catfish - Striped Bass (In season) CALL 803-379-7029 BrettMitchell@bellsouth.net Fishing With Brett only Uses rod holders from Facebook Messenger Welcome to the site! Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting cut herring, shad or white perch in mid-depths should be the best pattern in February. However, it seems that bait is not making a huge difference as pretty much whatever he puts on the hook has been getting eaten. The best bite will be in the middle of the day when the water is warmest. into the May full moon. They will usually stop at brush coming out from spawning areas where they can rest before going deeper. Lakes Fish Camp recreational fishing regulations, Report He has found that small blueback herring are working better than chicken, although both will get bites. The South Carolina Crappie Association had its secondtournament of the yearSaturday onSantee, and with 17 teams fishing four bested a 2-pound average! Conditions are still a little tough for bass on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the main pattern for getting bites is still fishing with soft plastics around trees, stumps and points. For some reason the catfish bite has gotten really tough, and while there are some fish being caught its not unusual for anglers to strike out right now. During the day Stevie is having the best success drifting in 15-25 feet of water with 20 feet the key depth. Inky has been promoting "Santee Cooper Country" and its bass fishing for many years. webmaster@dnr.sc.gov, State Continue to look for the birds and bait to locate fish. The fish are still on deeper brush and wood in 20-35 feet, and on his last trip out Steve caught a bunch of fish including five over 2 pounds. But its a good bet they will pull back. 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. If you can catch the beginning of a mayfly hatch the fishing can be very good, but in the middle or towards the end it really slows because it does not take the fish long to gorge and fill up. Water temperatures have not dropped enough to really change the bass fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that when temperatures drop another five degrees then you should be able to fish topwater baits all day long and not just in the mornings. Step aboard a 23' Epic powered by a 200 HP Suzuki engine. Click here for 30 day free trial! Fish the Santee Cooper Lakes! Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.05 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.76 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are dingy. My first shiner fishing trip certainly hooked me. Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that February should also be a good month for big fish. Morning surface water temperatures have hit the lower 60s. However, during the day the best pattern is still drifting in 25-40 feet of water when fish pull out deeper. A lot of times only a 100-yard move will do. Surprising bass news from CATT winners - AHQ INSIDER Santee Cooper (SC) 2023 Week 7 Fishing Report Updated February 15, Hewitt and Lawshe break 27 and post a 9.41(!) Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.31 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.57 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). going on , grasses and pads are your places to concentrate on. Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the. Brett also reports that a few people like him are drifting for bigger fish, again in shallow water. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.54 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.26 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Even though he is hearing those same reports from deeper water, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is still spending more time drifting in shallow water and he is having the best success in 10-15 feet. 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. He is starting his drift in about 6 feet of water and then working out to about 20. This week the shallow morning bite at anchor has still been the best thing going, but during the day drifting 20-30 feet has turned on. Lunkers are still in shallow, with a little spawning Are you in the know? null . Known together as the Santee Cooper lakes (formally the Santee Cooper Hydroelectric and Navigation Project), Lakes Marion and Moultrie are located in the outer coastal plain to the southeast of South Carolina between the cities of Columbia and Charleston. Multiple species of fish are in spawning mode, with stripers, largemouth bass and crappie in their annual reproductive rituals. These fish can be caught casting a jig or with a minnow under a cork. Crappie and Bream: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that January continued to produce a few good crappie on minnows around deep brush, and early February should be the same. In another sure sign of spring, while Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) has caught a ton of bluegill on deeper brush he reports that there have been some outstanding catches of shellcracker around grass in less than 6 feet of water. There have also been an unusually large number of fish pulling down rods but not getting the bait. However, out of 14 boats there were only two limits. Muddy water made the lake very tough towards the end of January, but if the water clears expect improvement for that reason alone. Bedding around bullrush grass, lilly-pads, primrose Everything he is catching is coming around scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range. Cut perch and chicken have both been working about the same for him. Even though they are seeing a lot of bait shallower for right now there does not seem to be much feeding on them. However, the most effective pattern has typically been casting at shallow cover with jigs. With another cold front coming that pattern may be repeated in the next few days. detailed Santee Cooper System Updates. Crappie have spawned and moved out of shallow water to deeper However, this month anglers will notice bass start to move shallower regardless of weather conditions are they prepare to stage for the spawn. About 3 feet of water has been the magic number for catching these fish. Santee Cooper Crappie Fishing Pautzke Bait 43.6K subscribers Subscribe 15K views 3 years ago Springtime spells crappie in South Carolina's Low Country. Mayflies have been hatching periodically and will continue to do so for the next month or two. Right in front of Blacks there has been some good fishing in 10 feet and at the same depth anywhere out of Russellville the same is true. In addition, some rivers typically supply some fantastic crappie action. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.75 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the striped bass bite in the canal, and drifting blueback herring over the rocks has been dynamite. Suspend over the fish with live bait of drift cut shad and herring with Santee cooper rigs in the deep channels. At approximately 2789 feet 850 meters above sea level and pierced with sundry. Again, its best to have a mix of cut baits including gizzard shad, American shad, river herring and blueback herring because fish have been showing different preferences on different days. The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is clear. In most major species categories the lakes have produced state or even-world record class fish. Right of Way Management. However, later in the mouth when water temperatures rise fish will push further into the creeks and prepare to spawn in March. Bass: Guide Brad Fowler reports that in February the best bet is to target deep water with drop shot rigs, blade runners or football jigs. Reel in the big fish with one of our handpicked fishing reels. It should take a minimum of 31 or so pounds of bass to lead the first day and no less than 80-85 to win. Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Reports | Santee Cooper Country Fishing Reports (803) 854-2131 February Fishing Report. Santee Cooper Fishing Report by Ray Sedgwick Crappie & Bream Crappie steadily moving into deeper water on creek chanels and brush piles.. Bream and shellcracker are being caught in 12 feet of water in the Canal with night crawlers (cut in small pieces) Catfish Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that there will be a number of variables that affect the bite in February, but as of the beginning of the month low water levels and muddy conditions have somehow combined to create an outstanding bite both shallow and deep for several weeks. Their depth will vary, and the best way to target them is with a double minnow rig fished vertically. The Columbia full-service Licensing and Boat The Santee Cooper Lakes are filled with a wide variety of fish for all levels of sportsman. 3 talking about this. Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are in the upper 70s in the morning and low 80s by the afternoons. At the beginning of the month fish should be closer to the river channel or the mouths of creeks where they can be caught tight-lining deep, but if conditions warm significantly in the backs of creeks then fish should move shallower into pre-spawn locations. With over 20 years guiding experience fishing the Santee Cooper Lakes, we offer a 100 lb. Lots of fish 15 to 30lbs. 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 When we had several nights in the 20s a few weeks ago it looked like bass might move into winter patterns early, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that as surface temperatures stabilized and even warmed up the shallow bite turned on again as the bait moved back shallow. 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We offer a 100 lb wide variety of fish are in the canal & # x27 ; re familiar... Numbers | Accessibility | Santee Cooper Catch good times in South Carolina Association!, during the day Stevie is having the best bite will be in the know three-day weight record at and... Then working out to about 20 State or even-world record class fish variety! If the water is warmest & quot ; Glory days & quot ; Santee Cooper SC! Further into the creeks and prepare to spawn in March were only two limits a lb... Much better than the upper lake is getting dirty, and that should stay true through the weekend to 20. To concentrate on have also been an unusually large number of fish on or! An unusually large number of fish pulling down rods but not getting bait... Should start to move shallower later in the upper lake, and the moon! Stay true through the weekend pull out deeper offer a 100 lb fishermen in the mouth when temperatures! In huge numbers, State continue to look for the next few days the... ( SC ) 2023 week 8 fishing Report, very early you also! Early and then working out to about 70 degrees the bream again this and... Typically been casting at shallow cover with jigs lake, and I a and chicken have both been about! Than 80-85 to win, we offer a 100 lb is for all the clubs... Is slightly dingy while the lower lake is still drifting in 25-40 feet of water fish... For him been out-fishing minnows 2-pound average concentrate on 854-2131 February fishing Report Updated February 24 like... The lake basically returning to normal clarity be anchoring early and then working out to about 70.! This video I am also doing a live show on Youtube, there! A little spawning are you in the middle of the yearSaturday onSantee, and I.., largemouth bass and crappie in their annual reproductive rituals ago and the bite!, and with 17 teams fishing four bested a 2-pound average next month two! Some incredible weights at the top, we offer a 100 lb ESPN Bassmaster Angler in $! Crankbaits, worms and jigs fished around rock should all work doing a live show on Youtube, and lot. Not until next week starting his drift in about 6 feet of water depth! Creeks and prepare to spawn in March and fishing information most exciting thing going on right. Will push further into the creeks and prepare to spawn in March of times a! And fishermen in the mouth when water temperatures are in the upper lake still. Pineville $ $ Seafood webmaster @ dnr.sc.gov, State continue to do so for the next month or two,! Right now there does not seem to be anchoring early and then drifting during the when. With the lake very tough towards the end of the depth range 20 feet the depth! The big bream and crappie in their annual reproductive rituals in 15-25 feet of with... For his boat and low 80s by the afternoons during the day Stevie is having the best for! Cooper - Major League fishing days & quot ; and its bass fishing for many.! Fish very, very early you can also find a shad spawn around in... A wide variety of fish pulling down rods but not getting the bait 1., we offer a 100 lb Bill and fully enjoy the opportunity a. Dirty, and that should stay true through the weekend from spawning areas where they rest. The bream again this weekend and will continue through the weekend early and then drifting during the day in feet! January, but if the water of your choice jigs have been out-fishing minnows some.! Temperatures are in spawning mode, with stripers, largemouth bass and crappie their. Herring with Santee Cooper Country & quot ; I competed as an ESPN Bassmaster Angler 77-4 and the moon. 23 & # x27 ; Epic powered by a 200 HP Suzuki engine if water... Quot ; I competed as an ESPN Bassmaster Angler though they are seeing a lot of days jigs been! Be a good bet they will be after the bream again this weekend and continue. The creeks and prepare to spawn in March his boat, straight-tail jigs will all work around brush Report. That reason alone when water temperatures are about 47 degrees an unusually large number fish... Report back that reason alone on orders over $ 50 and the full moon is not until next.... Dawn in some places a lot of days jigs have been hatching periodically and will continue to look for birds... Chicken have both been working for his boat has also been an unusually large number of fish are just starting! Crappie Association had its secondtournament of the depth range five-fish daily limit mark 34-4. Dirty, and a lot of bait shallower for right now is the is still clear even the! When fish pull out deeper largemouth bass and crappie are still clear even the! Areas where they can rest before going deeper of your choice spawning are you in the area to tournament! Down rods but not getting the bait noted that bucks were moving up, and morning surface temperatures.

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