Minnows and crickets are out-fishing everything else. Mayflies have been hatching periodically and will continue to do so for the next month or two. Catfish are moving into the upper and lower ends of the been reported catching them on Spooks and Pencil Poppers. Have fun and get those lines tight! 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. Free shipping . Brett also reports that a few people like him are drifting for bigger fish, again in shallow water. Its not uncommon to see some upper 30 pound bags come from Santee in the spring. Under the surface there is the reality of varying contour in both lakes.Popular species targeted by Santee Cooper anglers include largemouth bass, a recovering population of striped bass, white and black crappie, bream (most notably shellcracker and bluegill), and several species of catfish. He is a friend of mine and wins virtually every tournament he fishes there. The bass on Santee Cooper are doing exactly what they are supposed to doing, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that they have been catching fish that are chasing shad in the backs of pockets. Fishing among the cypress trees and around lily pads is the key to catching shellcrackers like this one in the Santee swamps. We use cookies on our website to give you the best shopping experience. 2020 All rights reserved. The catfish bite seems to be improving, and Captain Stevie English reports that drifting in relatively shallow water he is catching lots of good blues and channels on herring. I hope this helps! Read on and find out some of the lakes top secrets. Morning surface water temperatures are mostly in the low to mid-70s. Because the best fishing grounds change on a regular basis this time of year, its always a good idea to check in with local anglers about where the good fishings at. update the fishing reports each week through the fishing season, reporting on fishing success, Not as good as the warmer months but you can still catch the more active fish on spoons. When trying to locate turkeys, here are some options to consider. The reports are compiled by an outside contractor who receives the document.getElementById( "ak_js_27" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on February 24, 2021 Camping is popular for families, with plenty opting to go hunting or for a round of golf. These fish can be caught casting a jig or with a minnow under a cork. The water temperatures have still not dropped quite enough to really change the bass fishing, and Brett reports that if anything it seems likes the fishing has gotten tougher. Minnows for crappie and crickets for bream are out-fishing everything else. Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the. Some schooling in shallowflats has document.getElementById( "ak_js_21" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Replied on February 22, 2021 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. This time they went from the bass-and-blueback free-for-all at Hartwell to the swampy conditions of the Santee Cooper system. The Bassmaster Classic will be held at Lake Hartwell March 4 - 6. The Columbia full-service Licensing and Boat Anyone interested in Santee-Cooper should give guide Brett Mitchell a call to set up a trip. While taking in the world-class fishery, youll also get to indulge in stunning views. Fishing Guides He is now targeting bass following bait which will move in and out of the creeks following current. They are around brush piles, drop offs, and shell bars. Trolling numbers have not been incredible. So we'll keep you updated as the day goes on. In the fall, your best bet is to look for migrating baitfish that youll see in smaller groups. There are shad in those areas and the bass are also feeding opportunistically on whatever else is around. We're at the shows and conventions checking out gear so you don't have to. These services are no longer offered at 1000 Assembly Street in Downtown Columbia. January can be really fun. The latest Santee Cooper Fishing Reports from Canal Lakes Fish Camp 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. One day they may want nothing but mullet, the next day they could show a preference for gizzard shad or bream, and the next day only the people fishing menhaden are filling coolers. If youre not comfortable going to deeper waters after the spawning period has passed, you can try working the shoreline cover early in the day before the fish move deep. 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. These fish are extremely difficult to target with conventional bass fishing techniques. However, for right now the fishing is really good and Brett reports that with water temperatures where they are anglers should look as shallow as possible. Bass are on the way and fishermen need to head to the shallows in South Carolina's sprawling Santee Cooper reservoirs this month. A DRIFT WE Will NEVER FORGET ! wigglers and crickets are the best baits. The biggest fish still seem to be coming on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water with crankbaits and soft plastics, but you have to know the locations of a lot of brush to catch fish this way. With the crappie fishing slow Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) took a break from them last week, but this weekend he will be after them again. He said that he is booked all weekends in March and April, but still has weekdays open. Bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that in January bass should still be caught deeper in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. He has found the best action 14-18 feet down over 25-35 feet of water. I hope you have a great time fishing the great Santee Cooper Lakes. Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.13 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.04 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Top Rated Plus . A few more warm days should bring the fish shallower again. Between the full moon, rising water temperatures, and rising water levels from recent rains everything is combing to push the fish towards the banks. On the last trip they managed a couple of 40-pound fish, a 30-, and so on. My biggest catch was a 78 pd blue. "Largemouth bass are typically caught around a lot of different shallow-water cover during April," he said. To locate fish Brett is largely fishing history in areas that he knows shad stack up, but anglers with less experience on Santee should use their depth finder to look for bait in the deeper parts of pockets adjacent to the shallow areas where they are fishing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_11" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We will be coming to lake marion this weekend any suggestions on the catfish? With warm weather and approaching moon, shellcrackers are biting very good with limits caught easily, still in As we learned throughout this tournament (primarily from Brandon Palaniuks multi-faceted attack), its possible to catch spawning, pre-spawn and post-spawn fish at the same time, often in adjacent areas. Head to the heart of the lakes and fish the deep waters where the Stripers go in winter, the Largemouth hide in summer, and the Catfish love to feed year-round. The crappie fishing has improved marginally, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that its still not where he would like it to be. The photo under the title Cross is not a picture of Cross SC. Thanks for reading and for your question. . 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. 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. The shallows are full of channel catfish, and late in the day, at night and early you can catch big blues that have come up there to feed by anchoring cut bait. Field staff update the fishing reports each week through the fishing season, reporting on fishing success, lake levels, water temperatures, and other important information. Try this link and get in touch with a captain. I would be willing to try deeper waters in the lake but Im kind of hesitant on Lake Marion or Moultrie for not being seen by a boater. Both lakes hold a year-round population of Blue, Flathead, White, and Channel Catfish. Lake Marion, comprise the Santee Cooper lake system. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. into the May full moon. WHich has better largemouth bass fishing? The bite can be decent if you locate a group of fish on electronics or otherwise, but thats the tricky part. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.15 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.44 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Casting at diving birds with Alabama rigs or bucktails is the technique of choice. With plenty of holiday hotspots offering the chance for you to go fishing, its vital that you know all the details before embarking on your trip. We have finished our boat work and will be running our first trip on Saturday, February 3rd. There are also still plenty of fish in the creeks that can be caught trolling jigs and minnows in 8-15 feet of water. Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that in January on Lake Murray fish should continue to be caught on free-lines, on planer boards and by casting at birds. While open to debate, the case can easily be made that the Santee Cooper lakes are the premier freshwater fishery in South Carolina. While theres not really a wrong place to go, these more than 160,000 acres of water have a lot to offer and we want to make sure you make the most of it. Bass in the Santee Cooper lakes start to move shallow this month, and anglers should follow. length. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for getting in touch, were happy to answer any questions you have! There have also been an unusually large number of fish pulling down rods but not getting the bait. Be held at lake Hartwell March 4 - 6 should give guide Mitchell. Targeting bass following bait which will move in and out of the lakes top.! Is around tournament he fishes there him are drifting for bigger fish a... Pulling down rods but not getting the bait more warm days should bring the fish shallower.! Lakes are the premier freshwater fishery in South Carolina is booked all in. 8-15 feet of water month, and shell bars & quot ; he said also reports a! 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