Santee Cooper has thousands of acres of inundated cypress trees, various kinds of vegetation and all sorts of fish-holding habitat. If the CBC goes forward somebody will still crush them, but its anybodys guess what the pattern will be. After that its more of a drift bite in 20-30 feet of water. 7/15 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). Moultrie is the smaller of the two lakes in surface acreage but is much deeper. Morning surface water temperatures have hit the lower 60s. Lake Marion, comprise the Santee Cooper lake system. From 1939 to 1942 the lakes were created in a hydroelectric project by the South Carolina Public Service Authority, commonly known as Santee Cooper.The lakes vary from shallow swamps at the upper end of both lakes (but most famously Lake Marion) to the vastness of Lake Moultrie 14 miles across at its widest point and appearing to be a great, open bowl. When the fish are very shallow they will take spinnerbaits, shallow-running crankbaits and other baits worked quickly, while when they pull out medium-running crankbaits and Rattle Traps are good. The fish are tearing up river herring right now. These fish are still loaded up with eggs and they expect it to be a few more weeks until the spawn is played out. Fishing The Sled, crankbaits, and jigs around rocky points will remain a strong pattern until fish move up, and then they when they will take a variety of moving baits as well as soft plastics. There have also been slow days where they only get five or six fish, showing that the numbers just arent there yet. Now is the time to catch the fish of a lifetime. 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. Still catching plenty of catfish in 40 to 55 foot of water as well as shallower flats and creeks in 2-25 ft. The next new moon and then the June full moon may have more big bluegill shallow as well as some shellcracker. Spread them out and different depths and speeds until you get a pattern. There is some speculation that the population is down right now, and they do generally go in cycles, but there also seem to be some seasonal factors at play. Fish are about to start moving shallow. Its the time of year when the bass fishing should be starting to pick up again on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that is exactly whats happening. In most major species categories the lakes have produced state or even-world record class fish. Early in the month they will take minnows fished around deeper schools of bait, while later in the month they will be caught trolling in the creeks as they begin to stage for the spawn. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Some of the fish have already started to spawn while others are shallow looking for spawning areas. The best bite will be in the middle of the day when the water is warmest. Monticello Updates. 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. They are tired, beat up, and trying to recover, and so the bite will likely be off for a few more days. There are even some fish up on the banks looking for spawning locations, and so right now you can fish about any shallow pattern for crappie. Minnows for crappie and crickets for bream are out-fishing everything else. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. Thornhill said a cold-weather mindset will help fisherman catch more bass at Santee Cooper during February, in addition to understanding the how, when and where. Most days minnows are best, but some days chartreuse, straight-tail jigs will out-fish them. 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. South Carolina Santee Cooper Lakes fishing charters, fishing guide, Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie. Just before the last new moon they could literally see the fish moving onto beds in droves. He has had the best luck with herring, and there have been some big fish caught drifting deep water at night. Or enjoy Free Shipping on orders over $50! Water temperatures are in the low 60s and there is some dirty water rolling into the lakes. USGS 02169500. 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. For employment verification, contact Santee Cooper Human Resources via fax at 843-761-4191 or call 843-761-8000 ext. Off the end of the dock at Blacks Fish Camp visibility is in excess of 6 or 7 feet, and that is likely pushing the fish deeper. 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. If temperatures get very cold then fish will move deeper but we are in no danger of that right now. For fish that are coming off the spawn Steve is less concerned with water depth, and more focused on location. Fishing Guides Overall weights were a little down in the Sunday Showdown Series this weekend, and while there were a few good bass caught Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that . Its mostly a soft plastic bite and topwaters still are not producing. 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. The best patterns for blue catfish seem to be anchoring early and then drifting during the day in 10-30 feet of water. Updates. Their depth will vary, and the best way to target them is with a double minnow rig fished vertically. 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. By Sunday when it got cold the females were mostly run off, although the bucks continued to roam around the shallows. reports. santee cooper bass fishing reports. While open to debate, the case can easily be made that the Santee Cooper lakes are the premier freshwater fishery in South Carolina. into the May full moon. Cut herring, river herring, bluegill and shad are all working. This page is for all the local clubs and fishermen in the area to share tournament and fishing information. Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. He has been mainly fishing chicken but shad has also been working. Brett also reports that a few people like him are drifting for bigger fish, again in shallow water. He notes that they have been topping of plenty of coolers this week. Sign in or The spawn is underway and will continue through the summer. The crappie still havent really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are picking up decent numbers of fish by looking at deeper brush. Fishing in Santee Cooper Catch good times in South Carolina waters! Muddy conditions at the start of the month are also affecting the fishing, and seeking out less stained water is usually a good idea. 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. USGS Link. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.03 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.78 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). There are a few different ways to catch catfish right now, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that for him the cold front seems to have put off the blue catfish bite. Flats, hills and about anything in the 10-20 foot range is worth drifting. Morning surface water temperatures are around 87-88 degrees. Santee Cooper striper season closes June 15. They are relatively shallow in 2-6 feet of water, but the pockets that are holding bait are adjacent to steep banks and deeper water. 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. Light tackle, tiny lures producing great catches during annual run 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. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 79 degrees. Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.41 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.31 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Inky has been in 6 t.v. Our top priority is to satisfy. However, if there is a cold snap at least some of them will get pushed out again. 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. Crappie have spawned and moved out of shallow water to deeper Cut herring seems to be the perfect bait and drifting they are picking up a steady assortment of blues and a few good channels. Lunkers are still in shallow, with a little spawning A mix of cut bait including gizzard shad and herring will work as well as chicken. Are you in the know? Button Text All RV Sites have plenty of parking for vehicles and boats. AHQ INSIDER Santee Cooper (SC) 2022 Week 25 Fishing Report - Updated June 23 by Jay 23 June, 2022 June 23 Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.12 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.09 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are clear. In this catfish fishing video I am fishing for catfish on Santee Cooper in South Carolina. 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. This time of year you will see some of the biggest stripers coming from trolling stretch 25 and Alabama rigs deep in 40-50 ft of water. 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. 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. (known as gator grass) in 2' to 4' of water in the protectivebackwaters Heffington hammers 52-5 for two-day Guntersville victory, umbrella rig and LiveScope does the trick. Fishing in the upper lake is winding down. Its been an outstanding week or two for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that they have been filling boxes with good fish in the 10 plus pound range. The bream fishing has slowed up between moon phases, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that with the full moon coming up on the 16th another big wave of fish should be up shallow. Right of Way Management. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.12 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.09 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are clear. The fish are on shallow flats in 7-11 feet of water and they are feeding on mussels. As we enter the second half of February the weather has gotten extremely mild. 2018-19 SANTEE COOPER COUNTRY. 100 pounds over 4 days is possible. Brush in about 14 feet has been the most productive, but they are also getting some fish in 15-20 feet of water. data-event-category="Navigation header guest". 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. They are around weeds and both red and green worms are working very well. Lots of schooling activity on the Cooper River in the mouths of the old Richfield cuts. Everything he is catching is coming around scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range. 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