Freshwater Fishing Trends
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Piedmont Area
Lake Russell
Black bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that at the end of August bass were feeding pretty well, but in September he expects very good action around points and brush piles. Drop shots and shaky heads should both work. Also look out for schooling activity across the lake and always have a topwater lure tied on.
Striped bass: Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that fish have been have caught on both ends of the lake this summer, with some good catches despite the heat. However, with even a little cooling in September he expects more fish to move to mid-lake flats where they can be caught on down-lined herring as the overall bite improves.
Crappie: Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in the first part of September the crappie are likely to continue to hold around deeper brush and timber, where they have been biting fairly consistently this summer. With dropping temperatures as the month progresses, things should only improve and crappie should soon move onto shallower brush where they can be caught on jigs and minnows.
Catfish: Guide Jerry Kotal reports that fish should move shallower this month where they can be caught on cut herring in less than 15 feet of water. At the end of August they were still catching catfish in very deep water.
Most detailed Lake Russell Updates
Clarks Hill (Lake Thurmond)
Black bass: Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that in September buzzbaits should be productive around the banks, and anglers should also be on the lookout for schooling activity over deeper water and keep a topwater lure close. Deeper fish should also be caught on drop shots around humps and bridges.
Striper and hybrids: Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that at the end of August the better fish were suspended in deep water, but in September they should progressively migrate out of the deeper channels. Bait will eventually move shallower into the upper part of the water column, leading to more surface activity, and fish should also be related to humps.
Crappie: Little River Guide Service reports that at the beginning of September fish generally still hold around deeper brush, but if the weather cools they should move shallower into the 12-15 foot range. At the end of August the bite could be finicky and anglers basically had to fish the upper end of the lake, but with cooling that could also change.
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that in September fish will be scattered. Some will be in the backs of creeks in shallow water feeding on threadfin and gizzard shad, while some fish will be staging out on main lake humps and points in deeper water feeding on blueback herring. The commonality is that they should feed better as it cools; this is the beginning of the prime time to catch big blue catfish on Lake Thurmond.
Most detailed Lake Thurmond Updates
Lake Wylie
Bass bass: Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that September should see more improvement in shallow fishing, and this is a period when working the banks with buzzbaits and Whopper Ploppers can be as productive as fishing offshore. Schooling action should also get more widespread over the lake.
Crappie: Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that at the end of August fish had moved higher in the water column but concentrations were still in the main channel. Fish will likely move into the creeks this month and they will be caught with minnows and jigs at a variety of depths. Brush will undoubtedly also hold fish.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that during the day this month drifting mid-depths with cut bluegill, perch or shad is often the best option, while at night anchoring with cut bait and fan-casting to a variety of depths is productive.
Most detailed Lake Wylie Updates
Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood
Black bass: Veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Greenwood reports that in September bass fishing should improve on Lake Greenwood, after a tough late summer, and generally more fish should be caught both shallower and higher in the water column. Anglers will be able to catch fish running the banks with a buzzbait, and fish should also school better this month. A walking bait or small popper can both be effective for fish breaking the surface.
Crappie: Captain Roland Addy (864-980-3672) reports that the fishing was fairly slow at the end of August, but this month the bite should improve. However, the fish should continue to be caught over deeper brush on the main channel and at the mouths of creeks. Both jigs and minnows will work
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting the flats with shrimp or cut bait will work this month. Flathead catfish will also be caught at night on live bream or perch.
Most detailed Lake Greenwood Updates
Lake Monticello
Black bass: BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that throughout September there are usually still some fish deeper on the main lake, but by the end of August it was clear that numbers of fish were starting to move shallower. When water is moving they will chase crankbaits and big spoons, but when there is no current more finesse-oriented baits like drop shot rigs are the best bet. There can also be a topwater bite this month.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that in September numbers of fish will still be caught free line drifting over deep water, but the biggest change is that by the latter part of September big fish will start to bite much better on large chunks of cut bait fished deep.
Most detailed Lake Monticello Updates
Lake Murray
Black Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that usually in September anglers are thinking mostly about fishing for suspended fish around offshore structure and cane piles, and now there is also action around deeper grass. You need to fish weedless lures around the grass like flukes or worms, while for suspended fish topwater lures and flukes are usually the top choices. With some cooling more fish will also feed around the banks and there should be a good buzzbait bite.
Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that by the end of August fish had started to transition out of the lower pool, and in September fish will typically be found at the mouths of creeks. It is a very good month to look out for schooling activity. Fish can also be caught on relatively shallow down-lines.
Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor reports that typically, in early September, fish will be grouped up at the mouths of creeks or along the main river channel, and they will be holding over brush or deeper docks in large schools. Cooler temperatures later this month should make fish chase bait better, and some of the best brush fishing of the year can take place. Fish may also move shallower this month as temperatures drop, but they will usually be deeper down the lake than up the rivers.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that in September fish should start to relate more to the creek and river channels where they can be caught on cut bait. At least to start out the month the night bite should still be better than the daytime bite for channel catfish.
Most detailed Lake Murray Updates
Lake Wateree
Black bass: Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that in September fish should start to move shallower, particularly if bait moves up in the afternoons and evenings. Anglers will traditionally be concentrating on the creeks as the month progresses, but there will still be action to be found in the main lake. Buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, and square-billed crankbaits can all catch fish. By the end of August fish were already starting to follow the shad more.
Striped bass: Captain Justin Whiteside (803-417-0070) reports that it was a strong August on Lake Wateree and September should offer more of the same. There should be schooling activity this month, and fishing down-rods and free-lines at the mouths of creeks will also be effective. Threadfin shad and blueback herring, available by water at Suttons Landing in Taylor Creek, are the best live baits.
Crappie: Veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that in September fish should eventually start to move out of the summer brush pattern and relate to open water more if there is significant cooling. If that happens then they can be caught long-line trolling, tight-lining, or casting jigs as fish will be related to bait schools and feeding up for cooler months. But to start the month, deep brush in the main channel or at the mouths of creeks is the best bet as fish are still deep.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that in September fishing cut shad in the mid-lake area is the best pattern for both numbers of fish and big ones. Fish will be scattered from shallow to deep.
Most detailed Lake Wateree Updates
Santee Cooper
Black bass: Captain David Murdaugh Sr. (843-452-9566) reports that September should see a significant improvement in the bass fishing after a slower late summer. The bigger fish that become scarce in August will begin to show up again, and instead of having to concentrate fishing activity early and late there will begin to be patterns that work all day. Topwater lures, worms, Chatterbaits, and more will all catch fish as they begin to run bait, and grass will also hold lots of fish.
Crappie: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in September the crappie fishing typically improves even if temperatures don’t drop, indicating that something about day lengths must be going on. After a tough summer he is hopeful for improvement. The fish will start out deep, but later this month fish should be caught on mid-depth and shallower brush with minnows.
Bream: Captain Steve English reports that in September it will continue to be easy to catch numbers of bluegill and shellcracker, but targeting the big fish will remain a little tricky. It usually isn’t until October and November that big numbers of fish go deep and really group up.
Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) and Captain Bobby Winters (843-751-3080) report that at the end of August fish were scattered and drifting mid-depth water was most effective. The night bite was also good at anchor in the shallows. To start the month those patterns should continue, but during September fish should be caught a variety of ways from anchoring and drifting the shallows to drifting mid-depth flats to drifting deep hills and drops. A variety of baits will work but blueback herring are often hard to beat.
Upper Lake Marion: At the top of the upper lake, Pack’s Landing (803-452-5514) reports that in late August fishing activity was a little down but there were still some impressive catches of black bass, catfish, and bream when anglers got out on the water. The best bass fishing was over grass with topwater lures, and that should continue to be a very productive pattern this month. Catfish should continue to bite very well in the shallows off the river channel on cut bait, particularly when there is current, while when water is not moving the fishing usually slows. And while bream (including shellcracker) usually live in the trees, if water levels stay low then they will continue to be caught on the flats.
Most detailed Santee Cooper System Updates
Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee
Trout: Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reminds anglers that even if we get dramatically declining air temperatures in September, deep Lake Jocassee cools slower than other state waters in the fall. As a result, he expects fish to still be very deep this month almost regardless of weather conditions. Catches started to slow at the end of August, and that trend will likely continue, but some big fish are caught trolling spoons in the fall.
Most detailed Lake Jocassee Updates
Lake Keowee
Black Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that during the first part of September fish will remain in a summer pattern where they can be caught early and late off points on topwaters, while during the day fishing deeper with worms or jigging spoons is the best option. However, as water temperatures begin to cool, schooling activity should become more widespread across the lake and fishing should improve.
Most detailed Lake Keowee Updates
Lake Hartwell
Black Bass: Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that in September bass usually begin to get on a bait pattern where they are chasing schools of bait over deep water as well as shallower humps, and that pattern was already coming on by late August. Topwaters, flukes and swimbaits will all work. As with most of the year, you can also catch some spotted bass on drop shot rigs fished around brush piles. In September there should also be some improvement in the shallow buzzbait bite.
Striper and hybrids: Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that by the end of August most of the fish had moved into the main Savannah River channel and suspended over deep water, but as often happens the fish had become more finicky. You could mark tons of fish in a small stretch of water, but some days they were reluctant to take live bait. This month expect the fishing to become more consistent on down-rods and free-lines – especially once fish start to split out of large schools and head into the creeks.
Crappie: Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that in September fish will be found over brush in 15-25 plus feet of water in the creek runs or around deeper natural timber, but there can also be some fish much shallower around docks and other structure. While jigs will usually work, minnows may be more effective at times this month.
Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that during September channel catfish will continue to bite well in 15 plus feet of water on a variety of baits including cut herring and nightcrawlers, but once temperatures begin to cool blue catfish and flatheads may move out of the deep timber and become more catchable.
Most detailed Lake Hartwell updates
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