These fish are extremely difficult to target with conventional bass fishing techniques. Most of the fish are still probably roaming offshore suspended and chasing bait, but when temperatures drop just a few degrees they should finally start to move into the creeks following shad and become catchable on topwater lures, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits. Wigglers,wax,chartreus The upper lake is slow but they are catching fish around brush in the lower lake in 25-30 feet of water. Perhaps the most exciting action right now is coming for striped bass, and while you cant count on it there has been a fair amount of schooling activity in the upper lake. 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. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.99 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Bouncing a crankbait that dives 6-8 feet off the bottom around stumps is an excellent pattern, and small swimbaits and spinnerbaits will also catch fish. The lakes are as clear as Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has ever seen them, which may be part of the reason why they can only catch bluegill and crappie around the deeper stuff. Free-lines, planer boards and down-lines could all work depending on where and how deep the fish set up. Fish may even start fanning beds, and there could be females thinking about laying eggs in spawning pockets before temperatures drop. 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. enjoyyour visitwith us. So, why go fishing on Santee Cooper? 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. Stevies boat has also been drifting in 10-25 feet of water and finding a good bite during the day, but he has heard reports of drifting out to 40 feet and catching fish. The Palmetto Trail passes through the Resort. The crappie fishing remains a little slow, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in the afternoon they are only picking up a few fish here and there on brush. However, this month anglers will notice bass start to move shallower regardless of weather conditions are they prepare to stage for the spawn. Herring has been out-fishing everything else. In contrast, to catch a bigger fish concentrate on shallower water. 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. Yesterday made it in the 80's and one cannot help but think that spring is around the corner. However, the most effective pattern has typically been casting at shallow cover with jigs. He notes that they have been topping of plenty of coolers this week. In the lakes he is looking for a ledge or stumps or something else that will provide the fish with a place to hold. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s in the shallows. Catfish are moving into the upper and lower ends of the He is still having the best success fishing scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range with soft plastics. Underspins can also work well. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . To fill a cooler with eating size catfish Captain Stevie reports that his boat is drifting with herring in 15-30 feet of water, and they have found a pretty fast bite for channels and smaller blues. Carolina King is located only a short distance . Minnows are working the best. Minnows, chartreus gigs are the He is now targeting bass following bait which will move in and out of the creeks following current. In his estimation the catfish action has slowed down a little on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the fish he is catching have shifted from about 15-25 feet out to more like the 30-35 foot range. Come Canal 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. The biggest catches seem to be coming on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water, but this is pretty specialized fishing for hard-core locals as you really have to know the lakes and where the cover is. South Carolina Santee Cooper Lakes fishing charters, fishing guide, Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie. Its the time of year when the bass fishing is highly dependent on the weather, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that before and after the cold snap over the weekend the bass bit well but on Sunday they did not. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. 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. Fish the Santee Cooper Lakes! The bite over the weekend was a little sporadic for catfish, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that even though one tournament team managed three fish that went for 124 pounds (with a big fish over 50) most teams only managed one or two fish. detailed Santee Cooper System Updates. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. The key to locating bass is finding bait, and when located they will take Alabama rigs, jerkbaits, small jigging spoons and more. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.22 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.2 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 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. Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that February patterns are almost entirely dependent on the weather, and if it gets warm later in the month fish should move shallower into the creek channels. 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. Areas to visit, Lake Murray in the Russell Flats area. Regardless, drifting or anchoring with cut bait off the river channel is likely to be the best pattern. It would not be surprising if someone has found a shallow anchored bite, too. 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 Capt. Click here for 30 day free trial! Crappie: Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in late January crappie started to show up again around deep bait schools, and this month they will get more and more common. Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in February drifting deep water is still the best bet, but on very warm days there can be a night/ evening bite in shallow water. We're having some really good trips lately. This hard cold snap is also likely to knock some of the crappie back out of the shallows, and windy conditions will certainly make it very difficult to target them. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.21 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.19 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 3/4/23. 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. Congaree at Columbia. Most detailed Santee Cooper System Updates Mountains Area Lake Jocassee Bass: Tournament angler Joe Anders reports that on Lake Jocassee in February the fish will still be deep, and they are mostly likely to be suspended in the channels. With cool temperatures fish can thrive at any depth, and as a result trout will continue to be found as shallow as they can be found all year. 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. Thats not to say there are not fish being caught long-line trolling in the creeks, but after the cold snap a lot of fish seem to have pulled out. They continue to pick away at the crappie on Santee, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that the bite in both lakes is pretty much tracking and fish are only sporadic. The upper lake has been fishing a bit better than the lower lake recently, and the best action has come 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water. It was another good weekend for bass on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the Sunday Showdown Series tournament was won with a three-fish limit of 19 pounds! But the world-class shellcracker fishing produces an overflow of anglers to the shallow sectors of both lakes. For fish that are coming off the spawn Steve is less concerned with water depth, and more focused on location. Herring, shad and mullet are all working well. Even with the crappie spawn winding down the shellcracker spawn is about to explode, and Steve reports that they are already catching a few in shallow water but its about to get really good. The area doesnt seem to make a whole lot of difference with smaller fish very spread out, and he is just going. 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. The crappie fishing is basically fair right now, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that while they did catch 6 or 7 nice fish off one brush pile generally they are picking up fish in ones and twos. There were some good fish in the 20-30 pound range caught on chicken, but the best bait seems to be river herring and gizzard shad. 2018-19 SANTEE COOPER COUNTRY. While there are tons of little fish out in very deep water, the best action has generally come drifting Santee-style in 25-35 feet of water. And then getting them to feed can also be a challenge. All Rights Reserved. The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58. One can not help but think that spring is around the corner then getting them to can... 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