Their depth will vary, and the best way to target them is with a double minnow rig fished vertically. detailed Santee Cooper System Updates. Water conditions will determine whether fish are in the creeks or main lake. It sounds like a broken record but the crappie still havent really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that deeper brush in 25 plus feet of water continues to be the best. The lower lake is still clear even as the upper lake is getting dirty, and morning surface water temperatures are about 47 degrees. Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that early in the month winter patterns will be unchanged, but as water temperatures begin to warm in February bass will start to migrate toward shallower water and structure as the pre-spawn stage begins. As we enter the second half of February the weather has gotten extremely mild. There are mixed signals on the catfish action, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that most days it seems like the fish are feeding pretty well. 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. We are located in the middle of the Santee Wildlife Refuge. Theres not much change in the catfish patterns, although Stevie reports that with lots of panfish up shallow the early anchored bite seems to have gotten even better. . Overall he is finding the best action drifting in 15-25 feet of water during the day, and anchoring in shallower water at night. Or enjoy Free Shipping on orders over $50! This week Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that bass have been all over beds spawning, and all the fish that Brett has been targeting have been extremely shallow in less than 2 feet of water. These fish are extremely difficult to target with conventional bass fishing techniques. Skinneydippers, big easy, canethumpers, Flukes, and 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 are starting to pull up in the creeks where they can be found in 10-20 feet of water pulling jigs. View Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Reports. 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. Read now. They will be caught on shakey head worms, jerkbaits, and square-billed crankbaits. While there are always fish in a lot of different depth ranges in Santee, right now Santee-style drifting in 40-50 feet seems to be the most effective. The shad are spawning around lily pads, grass and clusters of trees, and when you find fish feeding on them they will eat anything that imitates a shad. 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. with 69 fish. 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. 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. Among catfish the current world record channel catfish was caught in Lake Moultrie (58 pounds caught in 1964) and the current state record flathead was caught in the Diversion Canal (79-4 caught in 2001). The two reservoirs cover over 170,000 acres combined, plus a 6-mile . Areas to visit, Lake Murray in the Russell Flats area. 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. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.59 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.18 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). He has had the best luck drifting in 10-20 feet of water on cut herring, while Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) is concentrating more on the 15-20 foot range. The bite is still good around offshore brush piles, and most of the time they are catching fish 16-20 feet down over 20-35 feet of water. You do not have to move a quarter mile away. 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. 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. 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. Late in the month is a good time for long-line trolling with jigs and minnows. Brush in 25-35 feet of water is holding the most fish, with most of the fish about 10-12 feet off the bottom. And then getting them to feed can also be a challenge. The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58. During this video I am also doing a live show on Youtube, AND I a. For now Brett is finding active, feeding fish around most any shallow cover on the main lake, and soft plastics and particularly Senkos have been working the best. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.51 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.53 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Worms are the ticket. Joseph will have all the gear you need ready . They are tired, beat up, and trying to recover, and so the bite will likely be off for a few more days. In most major species categories the lakes have produced state or even-world record class fish. He is now targeting bass following bait which will move in and out of the creeks following current. By this weekend the shallow crappie bite could be wide open as well on Santee, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that this week he has actually found more fish on deep brush. Despite recent rains the lakes remain relatively clear and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. He is fishing soft plastics in and around spawning coves, and pitching baits at shallow structure. The five major bait species in the lakes are gizzard shad, threadfin shad, American shad, blueback herring, and menhaden, which immigrate and emigrate from the lakes based on seasonal patterns. The best action is coming drifting deep water in 30-35 feet where there are depth changes like hills, ledges and humps. One of these guides is Captain Brett Mitchell, who concurs that there have been good and bad days but has been targeting his efforts in 15-25 feet of water. The top rated upstate crappie lake in the past few years has been Lake Hartwell and that's predicted to remain the exact 2017. They are marking a few fish on deep brush but they may just be bluegill. 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. 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. Santee Cooper Lakes were ranked third in Bassmaster Magazine's list of 100 Best Bass Lakes in 2021, and they earned the 23rd spot as best lakes of the decade in 2020. 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. All rights reserved. Jim at 912-210-2877 to book your catfishing adventure. Learn More Shallower brush in 14-15 feet of water is still not producing and it has only been the trees in 20-35 feet that have produced. The Big Cat Brawl with $10,000 on the line is on Santee this weekend, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he expects a lot of catfish to be caught. If you follow this pattern during April, I promise you're going to catch catfish and even maybe a monster. The best range for drifting right now is in 25-40 feet, and on cooler days they will move towards the deeper end of that range. Bass: Tournament angler Eric Enlow of Union reports that February is another transition month on Lake Monticello, but there should still be some fish deep that can be caught on a spoon or an Alabama rig early in the month. In the next week or two there should also start to be a topwater bite, but that really doesnt usually kick off until water temperatures hit a magic range of about 75 degrees. The lakes are very clear and water temperatures are in the mid-50s. Both lakes are clear and water temperatures are in the upper 70s in the morning and low 80s by the afternoons. The Santee Cooper Lakes are filled with a wide variety of fish for all levels of sportsman. The lakes are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures are about 61 degrees. Updates. Look for bait and fish then set your baits right above your marks. Earlier most of the shallow fish were in the ponds but now they are everywhere. These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning if they have not already begun. Santee Cooper Lakes CatfishnFool Fishing Guide Service Call or Text Captain Wayne Vining 803-238-0596 captwayne@catfishnfool.com View Larger Map I am an U.S.C.G Licensed Santee Cooper Fishing Guide, with over 40 years of fishing experience. You can report an outage, downed powerline or other issue to us at 888-769-7688. 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. The fish they are catching are still shallow in 5 feet of water or less, and they are holding tight to grass and trees. These fish can be caught casting a jig or with a minnow under a cork. 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. You can also fish soft plastics around trees. Provided by Captain Joe Dennis with FatherandSonOutdoors Stripers. At the next moon there could be another bream bed, but on the last full moon it was surprisingly slow. The new moon was a week ago and the full moon is not until next week. Cut herring, shad or white perch will all work. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Rembert C. Dennis Building 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. Its been a bit of a mystery why the bluegill and crappie have been holding so deep so consistently for so long on the Santee Cooper lakes, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he thinks it is related to how clear the lakes are right now. If it stays cold then they will stay deeper. Cut perch and chicken have both been working about the same for him. So, why go fishing on Santee Cooper? 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. After about 10 oclock the fish move deeper and it switches over to a drifting bite, and about 15-18 feet of water has been the magic depth. 320 Harrys Camp Cir, Pineville, SC 29468-3501 +1 843-351-4561 Website. data-event-category="Navigation header guest". Fish Consumption Advisories, SCDNR at the State 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. Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Reports | Santee Cooper Country Fishing Reports (803) 854-2131 February Fishing Report. 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. Reports vary but there are some indications that the upper lake is fishing a little better than the lower lake right now. Canal These fish are still loaded up with eggs and they expect it to be a few more weeks until the spawn is played out. The Santee striper fishing report for early June 2022 is plenty good. Its a similar story from Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029), who also reports that the best cat action is coming in about 30 feet. 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! Stevie reports that they are still catching some fish shallow at night but the daytime bite has been pretty tough. Click here for 30 day free trial! 2020 All rights reserved. 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. Striped bass: Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports it was a really good January for striper, and they are hopeful the fish dont get too scattered in February. Crickets are the best bait for bream and jigs and minnows will be the bet baits for the crappie. However, this month anglers will notice bass start to move shallower regardless of weather conditions are they prepare to stage for the spawn. 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. Field staff update the fishing reports each week through the fishing season, reporting on fishing success, lake levels, water temperatures, and other important information. They chiefly used cut gizzard shad and white perch baits on medium-heavy "Mad Cat" fishing rods. But the world-class shellcracker fishing produces an overflow of anglers to the shallow sectors of both lakes. 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. While he is not chasing them there are also still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.71 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 72.64 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Santee Cooper is a shallow-water fishing paradise, and it's tough to beat the skinny water action of March. This is Harvest Moon Fishing Charters 2023 winter fishing report for Myrtle Beach SC. Inky has been in 6 t.v. West Columbia, SC 29172. In January fish often moved around to escape the mud and worst current, and February could be no different. The 5-foot range is a good starting point. Multiple species of fish are in spawning mode, with stripers, largemouth bass and crappie in their annual reproductive rituals. santee cooper bass fishing reports. The current state record blue catfish (109-4 caught in 1991) was caught in the Tailrace Canal below Santee Cooper and held the world record until 1996.As would be expected to support so many trophy-caliber fisheries, the Santee Cooper lakes have an extensive forage base. Fish may even start fanning beds, and there could be females thinking about laying eggs in spawning pockets before temperatures drop. Cable television in all units. Waterbodies: Santee River; Species: Largemouth Bass; Smallmouth Bass; . Santee at Ft. Motte. Give us a call at 803-492-7924 so that we can co-ordinate your needs. Morning surface water temperatures range between 85 and 90 degrees. Steves boat is targeting the lower lake, and everything he is catching is coming on relatively shallow brush 7-10 feet down over 15-20 feet of water. Or enjoy Free Shipping on orders over $50! Some of the biggest ones have been coming in the 20-22 foot range. 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