Freshwater Fishing Trends
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Piedmont Area
Lake Russell
Black bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that bass were already getting deeper by the last week of May, and in June they will go even deeper. Fishing with deep running crankbaits or plastics worms around deep structure out to 40 or more feet down will be the best pattern for anglers who don’t want to use live bait.
Striper and Hybrid: Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that in June fish should be on both ends of the lake, with herring on free-lines working in the shallower upper lake and down-lines working in the deeper lower lake. Fish will also be holding around deep timber wherever it is found.
Crappie: Guide Wendell Wilson reports that fish will move onto deeper brush or natural timber this month where they can be caught on jigs and minnows. Night-fishing around bridges will also be productive.
Catfish: Guide Jerry Kotal reports that fish will move deeper this month into 15-25 feet where they can be caught on cut herring. May was an excellent month for catfish and expect more of the same at least to start June.
Most detailed Lake Russell Updates
Clarks Hill (Lake Thurmond)
Black bass: Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia report that once again high water levels to start the month may have more fish shallow around flooded cover, but by the end of May the herring spawn bite was already mostly passing and so at least one group of fish was moving deeper. Still, for a while longer fish should be caught off points first thing and then a little deeper in the same areas before the sun really gets up. Later in the day, and then all day later in the month, fish will be caught deeper over humps and around brush on worms or jigs. Anglers who prefer to fish shallower can look up the rivers or for bass feeding around bream beds – or continue to target the flooded cover if water levels stay high.
Striper and hybrids: Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that to start off the month fish were still fairly shallow early, or at least high in the water column, but this month they should move down the lake and deeper – and then continue to go deeper from there. Down-rods with herring will be the main technique for most anglers this month.
Crappie: Little River Guide Service reports that this month fish should be found around brush in 20-25 feet of water. Anchoring and then fishing vertically with minnows is usually the best pattern although at times the fish will show a preference for jigs.
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the best fishing in June will be in the early morning or late evening. Anchoring on humps and points and fishing with cut bait at a variety of depths is the best bet.
Most detailed Lake Thurmond Updates
Lake Wylie
Bass bass: Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that typically in June one group of fish will be shallow feeding around bedding bream, and another group of fish will be offshore in well-known community holes. Shallow fish can be caught on topwaters and deeper fish can be caught on crankbaits and worms. Seemingly more fish than usual were still shallow at the end of May, due to mild temperatures, but that could change very soon.
Crappie: Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that in June you are targeting post-spawn fish, and the best way to catch them is slowly trolling jigs or double rigs with minnows in deeper creek runs. White perch will frequently be mixed in with the crappie. There will also be crappie on deeper brush.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that in June the blue catfish should be pretty intent on spawning, which often corresponds to a decline in the bite. This process started at the end of May. Drifting with cut bait for scattered fish will probably be the most productive pattern, and later in the month some good ones may be caught anchored at night.
Most detailed Lake Wylie Updates
Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood
Black bass: Veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Greenwood reports that in late May the fishing was picking up a bit as more fish headed offshore and fed better. In June there should still be a topwater bite first thing in shallow water around sea walls, but during the heat of the day most fish should be caught deeper on crankbaits and worms around offshore brush.
Crappie: Captain Roland Addy (864-980-3672) reports that by the end of May most of the fish were on brush in the creeks, but in June more fish may get out on the main lake. By the heat of the summer fish will mostly be on deeper, main lake brush. Both minnows and jigs will catch fish.
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the best fishing for channel catfish in June can be found anchoring with dip baits or drifting with cut bait or shrimp. To catch a big flathead try anchoring live bait around brush at night.
Most detailed Lake Greenwood Updates
Lake Monticello
Black bass: BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that to start the month it will still be a transition period, but a week or two into June most of the fish will be in deeper water where they can be caught on crankbaits and spoons around offshore structure when there is current moving. When conditions are still then shaky head worms are usually a better option. All month there should be a topwater bite in the shallows early.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that numbers of fish will be caught on free lines drifting over deep water, while bigger fish can be caught anchoring cut bait on points and humps. This month the spawn should be wide open but juvenile fish, some pre-spawn fish, and then post-spawn fish will still eat.
Most detailed Lake Monticello Updates
Lake Murray
Black Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that in June a good pattern is to fish shallow with topwater baits early and late and then to target deeper brush with soft plastics in between. You can also look for suspended fish offshore and throw topwater lures and flukes. Anglers should keep their eyes open for isolated bass busting on the surface, and there could also be bass around bream beds near key moon phases.
Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that in May some fish started to move deeper, and this month fish will likely go even deeper where they can be caught on down-lined live herring as far down as 50-60 feet. It is unlikely that striper will complete the final push into the lower end of the lake until next month.
Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor and veteran tournament angler Tommy Slice of Chapin report that by late May fish were stacking up on brush and feeding well on both ends of the lake. Up the lake brush less than 20 feet should be productive this month, while down the lake the best brush will be deeper around the intersection of creek mouths and the main lake. In clearer water a more finesse-oriented approach is usually needed.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that during the day you need to fish deeper off points and humps, but at night catfish will move closer to the bank. The summer is a good time for dip baits.
Most detailed Lake Murray Updates
Lake Wateree
Black bass: Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that generally in June he expects the fish to be mixed between shallow and deep, but as it gets hotter even the shallow fish will usually want to be close to deep water. Frogs, shaky heads, Carolina rigs, and deep-diving crankbaits will all catch bass. Especially during hot periods the best action will be found early and late.
Crappie: Veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that fish will mostly all be on brush (or other cover, as opposed to roaming) this month, and they can be caught on both minnows and jigs. As it gets hotter they will move deeper towards the river channel.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that June is often a tough month with the spawn going on. However, with such a strong population of catfish drifting with cut bait for scattered fish is likely to be the most productive pattern to target juvenile cats that are still feeding well. When there is current you can also try the river area for a bigger bite.
Most detailed Lake Wateree Updates
Santee Cooper
Black bass: Captain Kyle Austin (843-209-3726) and Captain Corey Casey (843-214-6989) report that this month fish will start off both shallow and deep, but as it gets warmer more fish will move to deeper structure. Fishing usually gets tougher as June progresses, but with an improvement in the amount and quality of aquatic vegetation fishing has stayed better through the summer in recent years. In shallow water frogs and buzzbaits should be effective, while offshore big worms and crankbaits should catch fish.
Striped bass: At the top of the upper lake Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that this year the post-spawn striper fishing was better than the pre-spawn bite, and until the season closes on June 15 they expect to continue to see good catches anchoring live and cut herring on the flats and beside the river channel. In the lakes Captain Bobby Winters (843-751-3080) reports that until the season closes it’s mostly about night fishing in deep water, and he will be targeting his efforts in Lake Moultrie with live herring fished near the bottom. A range of techniques can be used to draw in the fish. Note that from June 16 to September 30 the Santee River system is closed to striped bass fishing except for the Lower Saluda River where catch-and-release is allowed.
Crappie: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that fishing was fair throughout May, but as more fish stack up on brush June could be more consistent. Crappie should continue to be caught on mid-depth brush with minnows.
Bream: Captain Steve English reports that bedding activity was just fair on the May full moon, and so it seems likely that around the new and full moons in June waves of bluegill should come shallow to spawn. They can be caught on crickets and worms. Some shellcracker will also come shallow to spawn although others will be starting to stack up on brush.
Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) and Captain Joe Dennis (843-245-3762) Report that in June fishing in the shallows with cut bait – especially at night – is often the primary pattern, especially for bigger fish, although there should also be plenty of fish caught drifting mid-depths during the day. It has been a good May from the top of Marion to the bottom of Moultrie, and while the spawn may cause fluctuations in the bite during June but there should always be fish feeding.
Most detailed Santee Cooper System Updates
Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee
Black Bass: Veteran angler Chip Cranford of Boiling Springs reports that during June there are times when spotted bass, smallmouth, and largemouth will all be in the same areas, but they do show a preference for different habitats. Largemouth are more likely to be found around relatively shallow banks (often in the rivers) with some sort of brush or trees, while spotted bass and smallmouth are more likely to be hanging around deeper rock and red clay bottoms. Spotted bass are also routinely caught in open water during the summer. Topwater lures and wacky worms will work for shallower fish, while jigs and finesse worm presentations will work for deeper fish this month.
Trout: Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that the trout fishing has really picked up this spring, seemingly in part based on a very successful winter stocking. While water temperatures were unusually cool at the end of May this month it is virtually certain that the fish will move deeper, and they usually transition as far down as 80-100 feet by the end of the month. Spoons should work for most of the month but if the bite gets tougher you can switch over to minnows and sometimes have improved success. Night fishing is another option.
Most detailed Lake Jocassee Updates
Lake Keowee
Black Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that to start off the month the spawn is essentially over and fish are basically in normal early summer patterns. They can be caught early and late off points on topwaters, while during the day fishing deeper with worms is the best option. Also keep your eyes open for sporadic schooling activity.
Most detailed Lake Keowee Updates
Lake Hartwell
Black Bass: Guide Scott Allgood (864-364-1733) reports that at the end of May most fish were headed offshore where they can be caught on drop shots and shaky heads around deep brush piles, or called up with topwater lures. Also keep your eyes open for topwater schooling activity. As usual, it’s also hard to go wrong with a shaky head worm fishing off main lake points.
Striper and hybrids: Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that at the end of May fish were a little shallower than they normally are, but soon an early summer deep cove pattern should start. This month fish will usually be back in coves off the main body of water where the bait is holding, and they will normally feed on the bottom in about 30-45 feet of water through the morning and then again in the late afternoon. You can fish this pattern with down-lined herring down both rivers as well as in various places around the dam. It should hold through the end of June, and it usually isn’t until July that fish gradually move a bit deeper.
Crappie: Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that to start off June fish are still in mid-depths and feeding well, but crappie fishing will eventually slow down in the heat on Lake Hartwell. Fish will move to deeper brush, and they can also be caught fishing at night with lights around bridges.
Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that during June channel catfish will bite well, especially in 20 or less feet of water, on a variety of baits including cut herring and nightcrawlers. The flathead catfish bite should also be good and fish should be caught on both live and fresh cut bait, especially in low light conditions around brush. Blues are harder to target as they return to the deep timber after spawning.
Most detailed Lake Hartwell updates
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