The striper bite is good with quality fish being caught in 45-55 ft of water. As Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) predicted last week, temperatures have now gotten to the point where some bass have actually started spawning activity particularly in the protected backwater ponds that warm up fastest. 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. Cut herring, shad or white perch will all work. . data-event-category="Navigation header guest". 3/4/23. Fishing in Santee Cooper Catch good times in South Carolina waters! Diverse fishery also offers excellent largemouth, catfish, Crappie and bream. 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. February Fishing Report. 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. 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. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working for his boat. Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that February should also be a good month for big fish. These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning if they have not already begun. We have all your baits, live or artificial for your needs, food in Mac Daddy'srestaurant,Liscense, Overall its a good bet to have a wide selection of cut bait as well as chicken available. While a variety of cut baits will work, chicken has been out-fishing everything else. He has had the best luck drifting in 10-20 feet of water on cut herring, although at night he is finding much better fishing out deep in 25-40 feet. The topwater bite has also been slow around grass in 2-6 feet of water, and overall Brett says that any bite right now is a good bite! Fish may even start fanning beds, and there could be females thinking about laying eggs in spawning pockets before temperatures drop. null . moon, shellcrackers are biting very good with limits caught easily, still in updates. Bass: Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that in February fish should be coming out of their winter patterns by the latter part of the month, and they should be just starting to make a push shallower towards their pre-spawn areas. Santee Cooper 30 January, 2023 Read more Most detailed Lake Jocassee The more general pattern seems to be fishing with soft plastics like Trick Worms around trees, stumps and points. Check if there's an unpleasant odor that arrives from the lake. Long lining the deeper creeks are starting to produce some crappie. The upper lake has slowed down but they are catching fish around brush in the lower lake in 25-30 feet of water. 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. During the day Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) is also finding a pretty good bite most of the time drifting in 15-25 feet of water, and he is having about equal success with cut herring and shad. It should not be long until a topwater bite comes on but for now they have not been productive. Santee Cooper Crappie Fishing Pautzke Bait 43.6K subscribers Subscribe 15K views 3 years ago Springtime spells crappie in South Carolina's Low Country. They will usually stop at brush coming out from spawning areas where they can rest before going deeper. They are dirt shallow, and today just fishing while waiting for a camera guy Brett has caught a bunch of fish in no more than a foot or two of water. Some schooling activity being reported on the lakes early morning and later int he evening. Field staff update the fishing reports each week through the fishing season, reporting on fishing success, lake levels, water temperatures, and other important information. Santee Cooper in mid-March is some of the best fishing in the country. 9890 Pack's Landing RD, Pinewood, SC 29125 (803) 452-5514. Depending on what they are on Brett will then turn to jerkbaits, Carolina rigs, swimbaits or spinnerbaits. into the May full moon. He has had the best luck with herring, and there have been some big fish caught drifting deep water at night. The target depth range has been 3-6 feet of water. Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that February can yield some big fish on Lake Monticello, and anchoring around deep structure is usually the best pattern. While the striped bass do not seem to be schooling right now on Santee Cooper, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in the lower lake they have been catching a ton of fish deep. The fish they have caught have been 8-12 feet down over brush in 15-20 feet of water. Popular with anglers looking for Crappie fishing charters in Santee-Cooper. The lakes are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 59 degrees. Worms are best for shellcracker while bluegill will also take crickets. The weather has turned warmer and water temps are climbing. He is still having the best success fishing scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range with soft plastics. Brush piles, fallen trees, standing timber, and His son Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is catching them in about 25-30 feet of water. Morning surface water temperatures range wildly from the mid-50s on the lower lake in the big water to the mid-60s in protected backwater ponds. frogs and buzzbaits are working well, Brushhogs, Texas rigged worms, Senko's fished slow, Series 1 Bandit , 1.5 KVD Strike King, and Spro (John Carolina rigs, shakey heads, and jigs are working the best but occasionally you can pick up a fish on a crankbait. Read more fishing reports fromSantee Cooper and other popularplacesat the AHQ Report! The AHQ Report is your source for exclusive fishing reports, tournament updates, and more! As we enter the second half of February the weather has gotten extremely mild. View Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Reports. As the weather warms they will begin to stage for the spawn and can be caught trolling in the backs of creeks. 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. You do not have to move a quarter mile away. In the wet, windy conditions there have not been a lot of people out chasing crappie but the shallow bite has been surprisingly tough. 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. Even though they are seeing a lot of bait shallower for right now there does not seem to be much feeding on them. Connected by the Diversion Can . Fish are about to start moving shallow. Capt. South Carolina freshwater 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. Dennis offers some thoughts on how to target various species that are biting now on the Santee Cooper lakes: Crappie "If I was going crappie fishing, I would be trolling jigs in 20 to 30 feet of . Discover waterways in South Carolina with interactive maps containing recent catches, fishing spots, and reports of the latest fishing activity. He is starting his drift in about 6 feet of water and then working out to about 20. Read now. If you follow this pattern during April, I promise you're going to catch catfish and even maybe a monster. Fishing live bait on Santee-Cooper is an excellent wintertime tactic. Worms are the ticket. Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 70 degrees. [email protected]. 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. The best shellcracker fishing seems to have already occurred, and while there were some bluegill spawning in shallow water the action was not great. Crappie have spawned and moved out of shallow water to deeper 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. There are also still plenty of fish in the creeks that can be caught trolling jigs and minnows in 8-15 feet of water. 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 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. Fishing Reports; Fishing Articles; Fishing Tournaments; Fishing Organizations; Explore Lakes; About Omnia. Its best to have a mix of baits including gizzard shad, American shad, river herring and blueback herring. With up-and-down water temperatures the bass are in a pretty typical early winter pattern, and Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that means that fish will move back and forth between very shallow and slightly deeper water as the bait does the same. 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. 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. 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. Catfish. These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning. The crappie fishing has still been pretty slow on Santee, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in the upper lake they are picking up a few fish 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water on minnows and jigs. sprouts steel cut oats, bulk; godzilla and kong rise of the titans addon Shop our collection of fishing rods to find the one that best matches your needs. 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 . Give us a call at 803-492-7924 so that we can co-ordinate your needs. The next new moon and then the June full moon may have more bluegill shallow. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.12 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.81 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 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. 2018-19 SANTEE COOPER COUNTRY. recreational fishing regulations. At night he has been anchoring in shallow water, and in the canal area he is looking for somewhere just out of the current when he sets anchor. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.08 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.96 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 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. For employment verification, contact Santee Cooper Human Resources via fax at 843-761-4191 or call 843-761-8000 ext. 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! 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 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. Look for crappie on brush in 12-25 ft. on Lake Marion and 28-35 ft on Moultrie. Spread them out and different depths and speeds until you get a pattern. Yesterday made it in the 80's and one cannot help but think that spring is around the corner. Boat rentals and fish guides are also available. 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. Santee Cooper Lakes CatfishnFool Fishing Guide Service Call or Text Captain Wayne Vining 803-238-0596 [email protected] View Larger Map I am an U.S.C.G Licensed Santee Cooper Fishing Guide, with over 40 years of fishing experience. He switched over to catching channel catfish, and on dip baits they have been wearing them out in the canal. 326 Little Brooke Lane Chartreuse, straight-tail jigs are working the best. These corks make it quick and easy to adjust your depth, which is critical this time of year. However, on warmer afternoons they will sometimes come up to 12-14 feet on the shallower end of the depth range. 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). A few more warm days should bring the fish shallower again. Trolling numbers have not been incredible. 7/15 wigglers and crickets are your best offering. 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. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . 1000 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201 It would not be surprising if someone has found a shallow anchored bite, too. length. Updates. Titling office is now located at: SCDNR at the State Most anything that imitates shad from swimbaits to Alabama rigs to crankbaits to Rattle Traps will work. Reel in the big fish with one of our handpicked fishing reels. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.81 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.51 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). All rights reserved. Jerkbaits and Alabama rigs could also work. Waste or Abuse to SC Inspector General | The area doesnt seem to make a whole lot of difference with smaller fish very spread out, and he is just going. 2020 All rights reserved. And then getting them to feed can also be a challenge. Bass: Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that in February fish will still be concentrating on shad, but what lures they will be willing to eat will depend on water temperature. Information on fishing trends provided courtesy of www.anglersheadquarters.com/, South Carolina's premier Darryl Smith. Shop our collection of fishing rods to find the one that best matches your needs. Reel in the country Darryl Smith provided courtesy of www.anglersheadquarters.com/, South Carolina premier... 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