Freshwater Fishing Trends
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Piedmont Area
Lake Russell
Black bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that in October bass will normally be caught on the bottom in deep water in both the main lake and creeks. In addition to live bait they typically take drop shot rigs and jigging spoons. It’s also worth looking out for schooling action.
Striped bass: Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that in early October fish are traditionally very scattered, but this month they should start to leave the ends of the lake and move back towards the middle. Both free-lines and down-lines should catch fish when striper are located.
Crappie: Guide Wendell Wilson reports that October is often one of the very best months for Lake Russell crappie. Fish can be caught in the creeks around brush, and sometimes they will also be in open water following bait schools. Both jigs and minnows should catch fish this month
Catfish: Guide Jerry Kotal reports that this is not generally a month when he targets catfish very much, but he does pick some up on jigging spoons while fishing for bass. Catfish can be targeted with cut herring fished on the bottom around schools of bait.
Most detailed Lake Russell Updates
Clarks Hill (Lake Thurmond)
Black bass: Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) and tournament angler Tyler Matthews report that in October schooling action should be widespread on Thurmond, and there should also be a lot of fish moving back into the creeks. Topwater lures that imitate shad and herring will work well until it gets really cool, and then a square-bill crankbait will be hard to beat. You can usually still catch fish on a buzzbait in the first part of the month but by the end of October that can get less effective.
Striper and hybrids: Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that this month fish typically start to head towards the mouths of creeks and usually back into them as they are able to spread out more in cooler temperatures. There should be good schooling activity, which started at the end of September, and fish should generally be higher in the water column this month even though you can still fish down-rods.
Crappie: Little River Guide Service reports that in October fish will likely gang up around mid-depth brush piles and submerged timber. Generally creeks in the middle and upper part of the lake will fish best, and crappie will eat minnows or jigs. Late September was already good for crappie. .
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the last three months of the year are the most consistent time to catch a big catfish on Lake Thurmond, with the big fish bite kicking off in earnest in October. Anchoring on deep structure is about the most consistent way to catch large blue catfish or flatheads this month. The creeks can be good depending on whether bait has moved into them, and gizzard shad and white perch are hard to beat for the bigger fish.
Most detailed Lake Thurmond Updates
Lake Wylie
Bass bass: Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that after a long and fairly tough summer, the fall usually offers improvement in the fishing. In October schooling activity should get more widespread, and fish will be caught in both the creeks and the main lake. Topwater lures should fish well this month and there will also be fish caught on Rattle Traps. Some fish will be around the banks while others will stay offshore. And as usual on Wylie, jigs and worms should catch fish around docks.
Crappie and white perch: Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that by the end of September numbers of both species could still be caught on main lake flats and at the mouths of creeks spider-rigging minnows or trolling jigs or crankbaits. Many crappie had also started their progression back into the creeks, where eventually some perch will follow them later this month. Spider-rigging minnows will also work in the creeks, and you can also target structure for crappie.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that October is typically a good month for drifting the main channel as well as the creeks on the lower end of Lake Wylie. Cut gizzard shad and white perch will both work. Generally fish are in mid-depths, but in the afternoon they can move shallower.
Most detailed Lake Wylie Updates
Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood
Black bass: Veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Greenwood reports that in October bass fishing should improve on Lake Greenwood, and some of the best fishing will be found in shallow water. Fish will move progressively further into the creeks where Shad Raps and lipless crankbaits will work, and by the end of the month there should be schooling activity in the backs. Of course, another group of fish will probably stay offshore where anglers will primarily target them with forward-facing sonar.
Crappie: Captain Roland Addy (864-980-3672) reports that in October fish should move shallower on Lake Greenwood. They will get around bridge pilings, and up the lake in the rivers they will hang around shallower cover like brush, stumps and trees. Down the lake they will be on cover as well but it will be deeper in the relatively clearer water. Both minnow and Fish Stalker jigs will catch fish.
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting the flats and river channel with shrimp or cut bait will still 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: Tournament angler Eric Enlow of Union reports that in October there are usually a couple of productive patterns. Early and late you can fish shallow with topwater lures such as walking baits, and during the day you can find deeper fish that will take moving baits fished close to the bottom around structure when there is some current. In calm conditions you often need to slow down with soft plastics.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that, if and when temperatures cool in October, big fish should move deeper – but until then you need to cover a variety of depths. Both drifting and anchoring will catch catfish, and white perch and gizzard shad will usually be the baits of choice. There should also still be a free-line drifting bite for generally smaller fish early this month, and after that all the catfish should be related more to the bottom.
Most detailed Lake Monticello Updates
Lake Murray
Black Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that it was a tough September on Murray, but at least for the first few weeks of October there is traditionally a good bite for suspended fish offshore with topwater lures and flukes. There also generally begins to be a migration of bait into the creeks, and downsized spinnerbaits and crankbaits can be effective. Finally, don’t overlook a buzzbait throughout the month.
Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that in October fish typically move into the middle section of the lake from about Shull Island to Buffalo Creek, and often much further up. That was already happening at the end of September, although some fish remained near the dam. This month they also typically move back into the creeks, and there should be good schooling activity periodically. As the month progresses you can often begin to follow the birds to locate fish.
Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor reports that typically in October fish will gang up in the creeks in large schools and gorge on threadfin shad. Some fish will usually be suspended in about the middle of the water column where you can cast or troll for them. It can also be an excellent time for fishing brush, and depths will depend on what section of the lake you are fishing.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that in October blue catfish will generally be oriented to the river channel, although you can always catch channel cats in the creeks. You can also sometimes catch blues in the creeks if there is a good movement of bait into them. Drifting with cut bait is the preferred technique for larger fish.
Most detailed Lake Murray Updates
Lake Wateree
Black bass: Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that bass fishing usually picks up this month as temperatures cool. In October bass will follow schools of shad, with some fish moving into the creeks and suspending near the bait. Shad-colored crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, and spinnerbaits will all catch fish. Also look for the topwater bite to continue to improve off points and around bait and grass.
Striped bass: Captain Justin Whiteside (803-417-0070) reports that as the water cools this month striper should get into a true fall pattern, and on Wateree that usually means schooling activity. In addition to the sight of breaking fish birds will eventually give away the stripers’ locations, and topwater lures, umbrella rigs, and swimbaits will all catch fish. Additionally, fishing down-rods and free-lines at the mouths of creeks along the river channel 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 at some point in October fish will typically move off brush and head into the creek channels where they will suspend and chase schools of bait. They will usually get higher in the water column as it cools, and fish can be caught on minnows and jigs. However, with water temperatures still high to start October after a long, hot summer the brush pattern could last longer than usual this year.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that at least early in October fish are usually scattered out, and the best bet to locate them is drifting the flats with cut shad, white perch, or bluegill. Even though fish are often spread out it can be a good month to pursue catfish, and they do start to group up more as the temperatures drop.
Most detailed Lake Wateree Updates
Santee Cooper
Black bass: Captain David Murdaugh Sr. (843-452-9566) reports that as it gets cooler in October fish typically start to follow shad shallower. September is usually a tough month on Santee, but October can be much better. In addition to soft plastics, swimbaits and Chatterbaits may produce in shallow water. The topwater bite should also get better this month. Expect grass to continue to be a magnet for fish.
Striped bass: Captain Bobby Winters (843-751-3080) reports that as the striper season reopens a lot of people will fish for them by trolling in shallow water with umbrella rigs or live bait on planer boards. You can also chase schooling fish under the birds and throw topwaters, bucktails, swimbaits or more. But since fish can be in less than 10 feet but also out to 50 feet or more, sometimes down-rods with live bait are the best option.
Crappie: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that by the end of September the fishing had picked up, and in October the bite should continue to improve around mid-depth brush. This September they caught decent sizes and fair numbers of fish, so there is room for optimism. Jigs and minnows should both work well this month.
Bream: Captain Steve English reports that in October most of the better fish typically leave the shallows and gang up on brush piles where they can be caught on crickets and worms. By late September they were already catching good numbers, and the sizes will be better as it gets colder.
Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that during October fish will generally move deeper as water temperatures cool. While drifting will work all month, at times bigger fish may be caught at anchor. Overall this could be a very good month for catfish, especially if the lake has substantial current.
Upper Lake Marion: Relaxed Retreat (803-478-2800) reports that the upper end of Lake Marion October should be a fall fishing paradise. Guides from the landing report that October can be an excellent time for black bass, catfish, crappie, and more. Captain Rodney Reed (also available at 803-825-9144) reports that to start the month bass are schooling on top and that will only continue to improve throughout October. Additionally, good catfishing is available by drifting cut bait across the flats and around points and humps. Captain Brian Fegan (also available at 843-468-1113) reports that the crappie action was good at the end of September, with fish getting more active each day, and this month they will be stacking up in increasingly large numbers on brush as it progresses.
Most detailed Santee Cooper System Updates
Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee
Trout and black bass: Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that October and November can have some of the tougher trout fishing of the year on Lake Jocassee, but after another strong summer and a decent September they expect to catch trout this month. Even though big numbers of fish are unlikely to be caught, there is still the chance to catch a trophy trout this month, and in general they should be oriented to treetops in deeper water. Trolling live bait or spoons is the preferred technique. Even on days when trout are not biting they usually pick up several bass fishing this way, and by putting out a couple of shallower lines with crankbaits the odds go up further.
Most detailed Lake Jocassee Updates
Lake Keowee
Black Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that as water temperatures cool during October the morning bite on points and shallow humps will improve with topwater lures, swimbaits, and crankbaits. There should also continue to be schooling activity all over the lake well into the month and likely into November with things running a little behind due to the long summer.
Most detailed Lake Keowee Updates
Lake Hartwell
Black Bass: Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that when water temperatures drop into the lower 70s there should be widespread schooling activity across the lake, and in October fish should also be more willing to eat a variety of topwater baits as they get onto larger bait. While there will still be an offshore bite also look for more fish to move into the creeks where they can be caught on buzzbaits or jigs.
Striper and hybrids: Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that in the fall there is always a transition period as fish move from summer to fall patterns, and it usually correlates to a slower period. The finicky bite started later in September than usual with the hot summer this year, but early in October fishing should get more consistent and schooling activity should increase – some days lasting for hours. Fish will also make a move into the creeks, and in general they will be related to bait wherever it is. Free-lines and down-lines can both work at times, and if fish are schooling topwater lures and flukes will work.
Crappie: Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that in October fish are usually found around brush in the creek runs, but with water levels so low he will probably be fishing deeper docks more this month. Both minnows and jigs will work.
Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that the quality of the October catfish bite depends on the weather, but if it cools significantly then bigger fish will come shallower out of the timber where they can be caught with cut bait in the creek runs. If water temperatures stay high then smaller channels as well as flatheads will be the main catch.
Most detailed Lake Hartwell updates
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