Freshwater Fishing Trends
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Piedmont Area
Lake Russell
Black bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that in March bass should pull into shallower water, and depending on weather and water conditions there could even be some early spawners late in the month. Generally look for fish to move into the creeks or onto main lake points, and expect crankbaits, shaky head worms, and spinnerbaits to be effective for both spots and largemouth.
Striped bass: Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that in March fish will be scattered all over the lake, but they will also move shallower. Pulling live herring on free-lines and planer boards is usually the best pattern.
Crappie: Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in March crappie will also start to move shallower, and depending on weather conditions there will often be a strong spawn this month. It can happen very fast once air temperatures get into the 70-80 degree range, and usually the biggest fish spawn first. Trolling jigs is usually the best pattern until fish are actually bedding, and then they can also be caught casting jigs or minnows to the shallows.
Catfish: Guide Jerry Kotal reports that in March catfish will start to bite better again, and they can be caught on shallow points with cut herring.
Most detailed Lake Russell Updates
Clarks Hill (Lake Thurmond)
Black bass: Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that in March fish should pull shallower, with substantial numbers of bass on beds spawning by the end of the month. The fish do not all spawn at once and so by later in the month it will be possible for fishermen to target pre-spawn, spawning and even post-spawn fish. Soft plastics are hard to beat, but this month a spinnerbait and jig should also be very effective for shallow fish on Lake Thurmond. Note that one population of bass lives deeper most of the time and so some fish should be catchable in creek ditches right until they go on beds. Some of these beds are also deeper than generally assumed.
Striper and hybrids bass: Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that in March fish will move shallower off channel points, and first thing in the morning there should be a really strong bite right at daybreak. After that it will be more of a grind with deeper down-rods, although some anglers will pull planer boards across points.
Crappie: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that – except for the wind – March is one of the best months of the year for catching crappie on Lake Thurmond. Generally fish are feeding heavily in preparation for the spawn and then actually spawning, and they will be shallow in the backs of creeks and coves as well as along the banks around cover. Long-line trolling, tight-lining, and casting a cork with a jig/minnow at the bank will all catch fish.
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson reports that March can also be a good month for catching large catfish on Lake Thurmond, although again the wind can be problematic. Anchoring in shallow water where fish are feeding on threadfin and gizzard shad is generally the best pattern.
Most detailed Lake Thurmond Updates
Lake Wylie
Bass bass: Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that it would be rare for very many bass to spawn on Lake Wylie in March, but this month fish will be migrating in the direction of spawning areas and getting into pre-spawn mode. By late February some fish were already making their way out of the main lake towards creeks and staging areas. Crankbaits, Alabama rigs and soft plastics can all be effective as they actually move shallower.
Crappie: Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that by the end of February some fish had already moved into the creek mouths, and from there they will suspend in spawning coves until they are ready to lay eggs near the banks. Since not all crappie spawn at once this is a prolonged pattern that will last through March (and April). The best way to target these fish is trolling jigs. This month you should also be able to catch mostly male pre-spawn fish by casting jigs and minnows at cover in 7-10 feet of water. At times in later March (and April) both sexes can be caught around the banks when they are actually spawning, but males generally stay there longer while females simply deposit eggs and then leave.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that in the beginning of March fish can usually still be caught drifting deep water with cut bait on the lower end, or anchoring baits in the lower lake creeks, but as the month progresses more fish will move up the lake. By April most of the catfish will be concentrated in the upper quarter of Wylie. Anchoring with cut shad is the best pattern.
Most detailed Lake Wylie Updates
Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood
Black bass: Veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Greenwood reports that typically April is a bigger spawning month than March on Lake Greenwood, although this month there could be some fish on beds. Overall, the primary pattern in March is typically targeting pre-spawn bass which are staging around points and shallow cover adjacent to spawning pockets. They typically gravitate towards brush or docks, and jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, worms, or soft plastics will all catch fish.
Crappie: Captain Roland Addy (864-980-3672) reports that by the end of February the crappie had already started to move higher in the water column, and in March fish should move further into the creeks. Long-line trolling in the creeks with jigs and jigs tipped with minnows should be very effective. Some fish may be up against the banks, but usually this bite is strongest in April.
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting cut herring, shad, or white perch in mid-depths should again be the best pattern in March.
Most detailed Lake Greenwood Updates
Lake Monticello
Black bass: Tournament angler Eric Enlow of Union reports that because Lake Monticello is a power plant lake it is not unusual for there to be some fish that spawn early in March, but generally this month fish will be moving into the pre-spawn phase and then starting to bed partway through the month. Pre-spawn fish can be caught off secondary points on Carolina rigs and crankbaits. At the end of February the fish were highly related to brush inside pockets and had not yet gotten into pre-spawn mode, but a little warming can quickly change that.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that in March fish should move shallower where they can be caught on long points that extend out into the lake. Cut bream, gizzard shad, white perch, and herring will all work.
Most detailed Lake Monticello Updates
Lake Murray
Black Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that depending on weather and water temperatures a fair number of Lake Murray bass should spawn in March, and there have actually been years where the spawn started in late February. After a cold winter things are probably on the later end to start the month, though. As bass get into pre-spawn mode and start to move towards spawning areas spinnerbaits and square-billed crankbaits should be effective, and soft plastics will also be strong – especially once fish get close to spawning. Docks are often good places to look right before fish go on beds.
Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that generally this month fish should continue to migrate into the creeks and further back and be caught on free-lines, planer boards, and cut bait as the shallows warm. There will also be fish caught on down-lines. At the end of February fish were in the front section of all the major creeks but the rivers were also still fishing very well.
Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor and veteran tournament angler Tommy Slice of Chapin report that a significant number of crappie should spawn on Lake Murray this month. Fish will move shallower into creek runs and some will set up on structure adjacent to spawning areas before they lay eggs. Long-line trolling is almost always effective and most of the month fish will also be caught against the banks with minnows and jigs.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that in March fish should move shallower as they get into pre-spawn mode. Fish will be scattered across the lake and they will eat a variety of cut baits. At the end of February they were already leaving the main channels and starting their migration towards the creeks.
Most detailed Lake Murray Updates
Lake Wateree
Black bass: Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that if the moon and water conditions are right then fish could spawn at the end of March, but generally he looks for March to be about pre-spawn bass. Fish will move shallower and into the creeks, and they will set up around rocks and grass. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs will all work.
Crappie: Veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that in March fish will start to go shallower and into the creeks in preparation for what is often an early-April spawn. The mouths of creeks are good places to start out long-line trolling with jigs, and as we get further into the month fish will get closer to the backs where they can still be caught trolling but they can also be caught against the banks with jigs and minnows.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that in March catfish on Lake Wateree will start to transition up the river channel. Anchoring with cut gizzard shad is generally the best pattern.
Most detailed Lake Wateree Updates
Santee Cooper
Black bass: Captain David Murdaugh Sr. (843-452-9566) reports that in March fish will start to move shallower in preparation for the spawn and many fish will ultimately go onto beds this month. At the end of February a cold front delayed things but some fish were clearly ready to spawn. This month pretty much any lures will be in play, from Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits to topwaters to soft plastics, and fish will be found around all manner of shallow cover.
Striped bass: Captain Bobby Winters (843-751-3080) reports that in March the striped bass should be very active on Santee, and when daytime water temperatures hit about 60 degrees then fish will go into spawning mode. One good place to target striper is in the Diversion Canal as fish make their way towards the river, and then another group of ocean-running fish will swim up through the locks from the Cooper River and spawn in the vicinity of the Moultrie Dam. Blueback herring and river herring are both good baits. At the top of the upper lake, Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that after March 1, when river herring are available, they expect really good catches on the flats and along the sides of the river channel. Anchoring cut sections of river herring in 4-10 feet is usually the best pattern.
Crappie: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that March fishing will depend on the weather, but fish will pull into the creek channels in preparation for the spawn and many should spawn this month. Some will suspend over brush before actually moving to the banks, and you can catch fish both trolling and fishing targets. Jigs and minnows will both catch fish.
Bream: Captain Steve English reports that there should be a lot of bream caught on brush piles with crickets this month, and there should also be shellcracker that spawn this month. They can be caught on worms around grass
Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that, although not all the catfish in Santee ever do the same thing at once, for most of March fish should be caught very well anchoring in shallow water. However, this year it may take a little longer for this pattern to take hold because a cold winter had most fish still deep at the end of February. This month cut perch, bluegill and herring will all work.
Most detailed Santee Cooper System Updates
Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee
Black Bass: Veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs reports that for much of the month the fish will still be deep, and they are most likely to be suspended in the channels. The key to locating bass is finding bait, and they will take Alabama rigs, jerkbaits, small jigging spoons, and more. Later in the month fish should start to think about sliding up into shallower water. Fishing around trees with soft plastics is a good pattern once this begins.
Trout: Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that since Jocassee typically warms slowly, in March cold-water trout will probably still be as shallow as they can be found all year. They will be scattered over the whole lake, and they will take both live bait and artificials. After a hot start to the month the latter part of February was slow but hopefully March will be better.
Most detailed Lake Jocassee Updates
Lake Keowee
Black Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that in March most of the fish will be moving up and into pre-spawn patterns on Lake Keowee, and in the warmest middle section of the lake they should actually begin to spawn. Finesse worms, wacky-rigged Senkos, and jigs are all good lure options. This is one of the best months of the year for fishing shallow water on Keowee.
Most detailed Lake Keowee Updates
Lake Hartwell
Black Bass: Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that it is possible that some Lake Hartwell bass could spawn in March depending on water conditions and the moon phase, even as April is usually a much stronger month for spawning fish. This month expect bass to be moving towards the banks as they get into pre-spawn patterns and begin to stage adjacent to spawning areas. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and a variety of soft plastics will all work. By the end of February deep patterns were already getting weaker.
Striper and hybrids:Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that March is a transition month on Lake Hartwell. The beginning of March usually looks a lot like February, and fish should start out the mornings deeper off points just like they have been. However, the afternoon swimbait bite which was already coming on late in February should quickly get really good on sun-drenched, wind-blown banks. Then as water temperatures hit about 60 degrees the fish will be shallow all day, and they will mostly be caught from about 3-14 feet of water. For some anglers the preferred pattern is to beach the boat on points and cast out live bait, while others will prefer to fish planer boards. Overall March is usually when stripers turn on for the year after a slower winter.
Crappie: Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that in February he was already catching crappie surprisingly shallow, and in March even more fish will be up there. Significant numbers of fish should spawn in March and continuing into April. While some people will be trolling in the creeks, Rodney will generally be single pole fishing and 90 percent of the time on Hartwell he will be casting a jig with a black head and chartreuse tail. Once conditions are right you can also cast a minnow or jig under a cork at shallow cover this month.
Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that to start out the month fish will still be deep, but by the middle to end of March the better blue catfish should move shallower into the creeks. Cut shad and cut herring will be the best baits.
Most detailed Lake Hartwell updates
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