SCDNR - Freshwater Fishing Trends

Freshwater Fishing Trends - August 4, 2008 Mountains Area - Piedmont Area - Midlands Area - Santee Cooper System - South Carolina freshwater fish regulations (PDF) - Purchase a fishing license - Boat Ramp Locations

Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.

Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee:

Trout: Very good. Night fishing continues to be productive with large fish and good numbers being caught; troll the rivers for best success.
Black Bass: Excellent. Early morning the best action is coming on topwater lures until the sun gets high around 9 or 10 a.m. By 10 a.m. move out to deeper water and throw soft plastics along 10 - 15 foot drop offs on main and secondary points.

Lake Keowee:

Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Very good. Carolina rigged worms fished around islands and points in 25 to 45 feet in watermelon seed and pumpkin seed colors have been working later in the day. Anglers report schooling action in the morning in the Cane Creek area.
Crappie: Fair. Crappie have moved out to deep water but night fishermen are doing well off and on by fishing up against bridge pilings with a light to attract bait and crappie.
Bream: Very good. Fish crickets in 3 to 15 feet of water.

Lake Hartwell:

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Look for fish stacked up near channels and other 40 - 65 foot deep areas.
Largemouth Bass: Good. As the sun gets higher switch to shaky head worms and Carolina rigs in 25 to 30 feet of water off the end of points and along river channels.
Bream: Very good. Bream are in very shallow water and are feeding aggressively.

Piedmont Area
Lake Russell:

Striped Bass: Fair to good. Fish in 20-35 feet over main lake humps or around long, deep points. Largemouth and
Spotted Bass: Fair. Most anglers fishing for bass are fishing at night with dark plastics worms.
Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening and around structure under lights at night.
Bream: Good. Fish shallow with crickets and red worms.

Lake Thurmond:

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Fish live herring in 30 to 60 feet of water around creek channels and drops. Umbrella rigging action has slowed considerably.
Largemouth Bass: Good. In an unusual move in the last week or two largemouth bass have moved back onto the banks. Try Texas rigged worms or shad raps.
Crappie: Good. Crappie have moved back out to deeper water but can be caught around brush piles and bridges at night.
Bream: Fair. Fish in 2 to 10 feet of water with crickets or worms.

Lake Wylie:

Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. After the sun comes up use vertical jigging with Hopkins spoons. At night bass can be found down to about 15 feet of water or more fishing dark worms around brush. Bigger bass are deeper.
White Perch: Very good. Fish in 18-22 feet of water on drops next to river channels and look for sandy bottoms. Use a minnow or small spoon lowered to the bottom and then bumped slowly.
Bream: Very good. Use crickets or worms on shallow structure around the shoreline.
Catfish: Good. Fish are also being caught trolling with minnows using traditional crappie fishing methods. Night fishing is good in shallow water.

Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood:

Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. Later in the day fishing is tougher and anglers are targeting ledges with Carolina rigs and finesse worms. At night fish dark plastic worms around piers or brush piles.
Striped Bass: Good. Some schooling activity has been reported but it is sparse and there doesn't seem to be a pattern for when the fish come up. Largemouth and white perch are mixed in with the schooling striper.
Crappie: No reports. Bream: Good. Bream have generally left the beds and moved out around docks and brush.
Catfish: Very good. Fish on the bottom using cut bait or worms in 12 to 15 feet of water.

Lake Wateree:

Largemouth Bass: Fair. The recent heat wave has really slowed down Wateree bass fishing. For several weeks fishermen had been successful fishing soft plastics around the banks. A few fish are still being caught on Texas rigged worms fished shallow.
Catfish: Very good. Creek mouths where the creeks meet the main river channel are great places to anchor up for bigger catfish.
Bream: Very good. Fish 1 to 5 feet of water using worms and crickets.

Lake Murray:

Striped Bass: Very good. Fish in 40 to 100 feet around open water humps or down by the towers. Best fishing is coming early and late, or at night. At night fish around the towers in 30 to 60 feet.
Largemouth Bass: Fair. Some of the best fishing is coming at night; target lighted docks using oversized dark plastic worms.
Crappie: Poor. No one seems to be finding the crappie right now, except a few guides and other anglers who have favorite deep brushpiles.
Shellcracker: Excellent. Fish in 4 to 8 feet of water around points and shallow humps with baby nightcrawlers and red worms.
Bluegill: Good. Fish crickets and red worms from 8 to 30 feet.
Catfish: Excellent. Fish cut bait and nightcrawlers in 3 to 20 feet.

Santee Cooper System
Lake Marion:

Largemouth Bass: Fair. Largemouth bass fishing has slowed down with warmer temperatures. Fish Texas rigged worms in slightly deeper areas.
Catfish: Good to very good. Fish stinkbaits or cut herring in the flats or the Red Bank area. Night fishing is strong with cut bait.
Crappie: Good. Lots of fish are being caught in the lower part of the lake around stumps in 10 - 12 feet on live minnows.
Bream: Good. Fish in 2 - 10 feet with crickets or red wigglers.

Diversion Canal:

Catfish: Very good. Big flathead catfish are being caught in the canal on days when water is being pulled through.
Bream: Fair. Fish with nightcrawlers along drop-offs.

Lake Moultrie:

Largemouth Bass: Fair. Try deep Carolina or Texas rigging.
Catfish: Very good. Fish in 20 to 30 feet around deeper creek channels using cut or live herring, or other cut fish such as mullet.
Crappie: Fair. Look for structure in 20 to 25 feet of water and fish minnows vertically.
Bream and shellcracker: Good. Most shellcracker have already backed off onto deeper water. Fish 1-5 feet for bluegills and 8 to 10 feet for shellcracker.