Freshwater Fishing Trends
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Piedmont Area
Lake Russell
Black bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that in April the majority of the fish on Lake Russell will spawn, and it’s a great month for fishing as shallow as the spotted bass will get all year. A shaky head worm is hard to beat. Additionally, this month the herring spawn will peak and bass will feed aggressively around points and other spawning locations.
Striped bass: Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that in April fish will still be scattered all over the lake, but they will mostly be in the shallows. Pulling live herring on free-lines and planer boards is usually the best pattern, especially early, while during the day you can sometime find them schooled up on the deeper end of points.
Crappie: Guide Wendell Wilson reports that many of the crappie spawned last month with the temperature spikes, but in April at least one more wave of spawning fish should be found shallow around the banks. You can long-line troll the backs of creeks and then post-spawn fish will eat minnows and jigs cast around relatively shallow brush until they pull out to slightly deeper cover.
Catfish: Guide Jerry Kotal reports that in April the catfish bite should really improve as fish feed up in preparation for the spawn, 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 April there will be bass at all three stages of the spawn on Lake Thurmond, with fish on the beds at least through the middle of the month. However, in April most people will be thinking about when the blueback herring start spawning. When that happens it will seem like every point on the lake has bass (and fishermen) on it and fish will take topwater lures and flukes as well as jigs and shaky head worms fished along the bottom.
Striper and hybrids bass: Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that in April the best pattern is usually to fish shallow off channel points and shoals at daybreak. Once the sun gets up fish back out and scatter, and you have to look for them suspended or on the bottom out to 25-plus feet.
Crappie: Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that the crappie spawn got off to a fast start this year, and the bulk of the fish will have finished spawning by mid-April. To start the month you can long-line troll or fish the banks, but by the end of the month most crappie will be caught with minnows or jigs fished over mid-depth brush. If it gets very hot they will move onto deeper brush.
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson reports that in April he likes to anchor on humps, points and saddles and put out live and cut herring. This is a good technique for catching a mixed bag of catfish and striper.
Most detailed Lake Thurmond Updates
Lake Wylie
Bass bass: Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that as predicted very few fish seem to have spawned in March, but during April the spawn should be wide open. Soft plastics such as wacky-rigged worms fished around the banks will be a primary pattern this month. The very last part of April the shad spawn should get underway and concentrate post-spawn fish.
Crappie: Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that during April and even into May several more waves of crappie will spawn and they can be caught casting jigs or minnows under a cork to shallow cover. Meanwhile, since not all the crappie spawn at once another group of fish will be caught trolling jigs in the backs of creeks.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that during April eventually most of the catfish will be concentrated in the upper quarter of Wylie, and anchoring with cut shad should be the best pattern. Fish will often move shallower as the day goes on.
Most detailed Lake Wylie Updates
Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood
Black bass: Veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Greenwood reports that April is the biggest spawning month of the year on Greenwood, and this month fish at all three stages of the spawn will be found on the lake. Most fish will be in the shallows or nearby. Shaky head worms are hard to beat, and when there is not a cold front topwater lures can produce. Later in the month the shad spawn should get underway and provide additional feeding opportunities.
Crappie: Captain Roland Addy (864-980-3672) reports that, typically for Greenwood in recent years, the spawn largely took place in March this year. Shallow water techniques will still be available to start the month, but soon the main pattern will be targeting the brush where post-spawn fish congregate.
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting cut herring, shad, or white perch will remain a strong pattern in April, but this month he will be focusing more on the shallows as temperatures warm.
Most detailed Lake Greenwood Updates
Lake Monticello
Black bass: Tournament angler Eric Enlow of Union reports that in April the majority of Lake Monticello bass will spawn, and whether you are targeting pre-spawn, spawning or post-spawn fish it really can be as simple as going down the bank and throwing a floating worm or shaky head. This month a good topwater bite should also get going. When fish leave the banks they will generally follow the same route out that they followed in and jerkbaits are often effective in pockets and off points.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that in April fish should be about as shallow as they will be all year. For large blue catfish a variety of cut baits will work, while smaller fish will eat small pieces of herring, worms, shrimp, and more.
Most detailed Lake Monticello Updates
Lake Murray
Black Bass: ournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that in April bass at all three stages of the spawn should be found shallow on Lake Murray where they will take soft plastics. However, by the time water temperatures hit the mid-60s most bass fishermen will be thinking about spawning blueback herring more than spawning bass. Flukes and topwater lures fished around points or anywhere else herring spawn will be effective.
Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that in April he expects the fish to be point — and creek-oriented — like they were becoming at the end of March. They will catch them casting lures, on free-lines, and on planer boards. There should also be a cut bait bite. Later in the month some of the fish should return to the main lake following the herring spawnell.
Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor and veteran tournament angler Tommy Slice of Chapin report that that the spawn started in March on Lake Murray but should stretch into April. Until it gets and stays very warm anglers should be able to catch fish with a jig or minnow under a cork around the banks, and fish should be caught trolling jigs in the creek channels. Post-spawn fish will pull back out to brush and deeper docks this monthgs.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that in April fish will get into full-blown pre-spawn feeding mode, and some early channel catfish will even spawn later this month. Blues usually spawn a little later up the rivers. Cut bait fished in relatively shallow water should work all month.
Most detailed Lake Murray Updates
Lake Wateree
Black bass: Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that at the beginning of April fish at all three stages of the spawn will be found on Lake Wateree, but most of the fish should still be pre-spawn. Later in the month most of the fish will be post-spawn. In stained water conditions spinnerbaits are a good bet, while if it’s clear you often have to rely on soft plastics – which are almost always effective. Later this month the shad spawn will take off and bass will be around docks, grass, and other areas shad spawn early in the day.
Crappie: Veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that April is traditionally the biggest spawning month on Lake Wateree, but this year it seems that the majority of the fish spawned during March. After the spawn winds down fish will pull back to mid-depth brush, stumps and trees before it gets too hot and they return towards the river channel.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that this month numbers of catfish can be caught in warm shallow bays all over the lake on cut bait. However, as the month progresses more fish, and particularly bigger ones, will move up the lake towards their spawning grounds.
Most detailed Lake Wateree Updates
Santee Cooper
Black bass: Captain David Murdaugh Sr. (843-452-9566) reports that the spawn started early in March on Santee but it should stretch into April. Pre-spawn fish will be found staging around trees or grass near spawning pockets, while spawning fish will be on the banks in traditional, protected pockets. In dirty conditions bladed baits are a good choice, while in clearer water soft plastics will work. At some point this month a strong topwater bite should also develop.
Striped bass: Captain Bobby Winters (843-751-3080) reports that throughout April the canal should be productive when there is water running. Live herring fished near the bottom are hard to beat. At the top of the upper lake, Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that the striped bass never really turned on in March but they are hopeful for a better April. Anchoring cut sections of river herring along the river bank is usually the best pattern.
Crappie: Captain Bobby Winters (843-751-3080) reports that throughout April the canal should be productive when there is water running. Live herring fished near the bottom are hard to beat. At the top of the upper lake, Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that the striped bass never really turned on in March but they are hopeful for a better April. Anchoring cut sections of river herring along the river bank is usually the best pattern.
Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in April they expect the biggest fish to be caught anchoring or drifting in shallow water, although there are always some fish out deep. Herring and shad will both work.
Most detailed Santee Cooper System Updates
Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee
Black Bass: Veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs reports that April on Lake Jocassee almost always marks the beginning of the spawning period. Even though the spawn will stretch into June, substantial numbers of fish will generally pull up into shallower water this month. They can be caught on moving baits for the first few hours of the day and then soft plastics after that. A lot of fish over 6 pounds should be caught this month on this trophy fishery.
Trout: Jocassee Charters (864-280-9056) reports that after a decent March they are hopeful for a strong April. With relatively cool temperatures fish should still be found at a variety of depths again this month, and live bait, spoons, and plugs should all catch fish. April is typically one of the best trout months of the year and there is no reason it should not be this year.
Most detailed Lake Jocassee Updates
Lake Keowee
Black Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that April fishing on Keowee should be excellent with fish in all three stages of the spawn – pre-spawn, spawning, and post-spawn. Fish will be caught on soft plastics in 8-20 feet. An early morning bite on points with topwaters, crankbaits, and more should also continue to be good after getting off to a strong start in March.
Most detailed Lake Keowee Updates
Lake Hartwell
Black Bass: Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that April is the biggest spawning month on Lake Hartwell, and in the beginning of the month there will be mostly pre-spawn fish while by the end of the month more of them will be post-spawn. However, the spawn will almost always continue into May. Depending on water conditions, spinnerbaits and soft plastics such as floating worms or Carolina rigs will work well this month when most fish can be caught shallow. This month the herring spawn will also kick off and overlap with the bass spawn. In short, April is about the best time of the year to fish for bass on Lake Hartwell.
Striper and hybrids: Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that through most of April fish should be caught up the rivers and major creeks. Early they will be caught shallow off points, while as the sun rises they will pull out to mid-depths in the same areas. Pitching free-lines will work at both times, but you can also fish down-lines very shallow early and then deeper later. While this pattern will last most of April, if it gets hot earlier than usual then fish will start to go deeper and ease back down the creeks and rivers.
Crappie: Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that in April the crappie will complete their spawn on Lake Hartwell, especially with so many having spawned in March. Spawning fish can be caught relatively shallow on minnows or jigs. Post-spawn crappie will usually move back onto mid-depth brush or docks as was already starting late in March.
Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that in March the blues still had not gotten into the creeks, but in April it should happen. The channel catfish will also start to bite well in April on any number of baits from worms to chicken livers to cut fish, while the flatheads should be feeding well on live bait by the end of the month.
Most detailed Lake Hartwell updates
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