Jim at 912-210-2877 to book your catfishing adventure. Despite recent rains the lakes remain relatively clear and morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s. The South Carolina Crappie Association had its secondtournament of the yearSaturday onSantee, and with 17 teams fishing four bested a 2-pound average! Luckily the catfish bite has been really good on Santee Cooper, and both Steve and his son Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) report that they are filling boxes with fish pretty quickly. Overall the action for catfish has been a little off-and-on at Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that the weather has certainly not helped with a mix of wind and rain in the past week before it got prettier. Like the bass the crappie are moving around a lot, and even though a lot of fish had gotten shallow into the creeks by early in the week Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) discovered they had pulled back out and he was again catching them on deep brush 20-plus feet down in 30-plus feet of water. The area doesnt seem to make a whole lot of difference with smaller fish very spread out, and he is just going. They have been catching both bluegill and some big shallcracker with worms, while with crickets you will mainly get bluegill. Now that fall is near Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) is back after the crappie, and even though he has had a few good days there are also times when the fishing is slow. And then getting them to feed can also be a challenge. Lake Marion Fishing Vacation EAT SLEEP HUNT FISH 803-492-7924 Ask about our Fishing Vacation Packages, Corporate Fishing Trips. Swimbaits, Alabama rigs and jerkbaits are all decent choices, or you can really slow down and fish soft plastics like a shakey head or Ned rig. A large number of crappie are spawning on Santee, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that certainly not all of them are. The fish are shallow on beds, and spawning activity peaks on the new and full moons. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.65 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 74.5 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Lake Marion, comprise the Santee Cooper lake system. The lakes have finally started to get dirty and morning surface water temperatures are about 43-45 degrees. Worms are best for shellcracker while bluegill will also take crickets. The catfish bite has dramatically improved on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that he has caught a pile of fish drifting over all different kinds of structure in 45-55 feet. The bite over the weekend was a little sporadic for catfish, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that even though one tournament team managed three fish that went for 124 pounds (with a big fish over 50) most teams only managed one or two fish. The Palmetto Trail passes through the Resort. Late last week anglers first noted that bucks were moving up, and then Friday and Saturday some big females came up. Bass: Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that in February fish should be coming out of their winter patterns by the latter part of the month, and they should be just starting to make a push shallower towards their pre-spawn areas. We are at about the mid-point of the crappie spawn on Santee Cooper, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he approximates that half of the fish have spawned while another half still have to go. Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. Bass: Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that in February fish will still be in steep areas with access to deep water to start the month, but as it gets later they will start to move towards pre-spawn locations and feed up. Fish may even start fanning beds, and there could be females thinking about laying eggs in spawning pockets before temperatures drop. Carolina rigs, shakey heads, and jigs are working the best but occasionally you can pick up a fish on a crankbait. Lakes Fish Camp Again, its best to have a mix of cut baits including gizzard shad, American shad, river herring and blueback herring because fish have been showing different preferences on different days. There are also still plenty of fish in the creeks that can be caught trolling jigs and minnows in 8-15 feet of water. Check if there's an unpleasant odor that arrives from the lake. The lower lake has fished a little better than the upper lake. Some days you find the fish biting and fill the box, and other days you struggle. The crappie still havent really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are picking up decent numbers of fish by looking at deeper brush. Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor reports that in February fish should feed better as the spawn will be rapidly approaching. As it warms in February fish will start to move into pre-spawn locations adjacent to where they will eventually spawn, and a few fish may even go on beds by the end of the month. To help decide when you would like to come see the Santee Cooper Country Visitor Guide, view current and future fishing weather forecast on our Fishing Forecast Satellite , and then call Capt. Big worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs will all work around brush. CATT Santee Cooper Spring Qualifiertook place this Saturday, and there were some incredible weights at the top. Santee Cooper Lakes were ranked third in Bassmaster Magazine's list of 100 Best Bass Lakes in 2021, and they earned the 23rd spot as best lakes of the decade in 2020. The lakes are extremely clear for Santee and morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 59 degrees. Come At times fish can also be found schooling. Early in the month they will take minnows fished around deeper schools of bait, while later in the month they will be caught trolling in the creeks as they begin to stage for the spawn. While unusual water conditions could change the pattern, usually expect the best fish to come drifting deep water with cut bait on the lower end. We don't do this everyday but we do our best to produce fish every day. The lower lake is still clear even as the upper lake is getting dirty, and morning surface water temperatures are about 47 degrees. Everything he is catching is coming around scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range. Most of the fish are still probably roaming offshore suspended and chasing bait, but when temperatures drop just a few degrees they should finally start to move into the creeks following shad and become catchable on topwater lures, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits. However, during the day the best pattern is still drifting in 25-40 feet of water when fish pull out deeper. Some of the biggest ones have been coming in the 20-22 foot range. However, the most effective pattern has typically been casting at shallow cover with jigs. Generally the fish are 8-10 feet down. Santee Cooper Lakes CatfishnFool Fishing Guide Service Call or Text Captain Wayne Vining 803-238-0596 captwayne@catfishnfool.com View Larger Map I am an U.S.C.G Licensed Santee Cooper Fishing Guide, with over 40 years of fishing experience. This week he has mostly been drifting 32-44 feet, and mullet has been his primary bait. Under the surface there is the reality of varying contour in both lakes.Popular species targeted by Santee Cooper anglers include largemouth bass, a recovering population of striped bass, white and black crappie, bream (most notably shellcracker and bluegill), and several species of catfish. If temperatures warm they should start to move shallower later in February. The lakes are as clear as Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has ever seen them, which may be part of the reason why they can only catch bluegill and crappie around the deeper stuff. Fishing in the upper lake is winding down. Crickets and minnows are the best baits. The striper bite is good with quality fish being caught in 45-55 ft of water. Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that February should also be a good month for big fish. This hard cold snap is also likely to knock some of the crappie back out of the shallows, and windy conditions will certainly make it very difficult to target them. When bass are eating they will push the bait up shallower. The water temperatures have still not dropped quite enough to really change the bass fishing, and Brett reports that everything he is catching is coming around scattered wood and grass in the 4-6 foot range. In January fish often moved around to escape the mud and worst current, and February could be no different. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.67 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.31 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Water temperatures have gotten cool enough that fish are really starting to move around again, and as the shad just start to get into the creeks the bass should not be far behind. These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning if they have not already begun. 9302 Old Number Six Hwy, Santee, SC 29142 Its been a bit of a mystery why the bluegill and crappie have been holding so deep so consistently for so long on the Santee Cooper lakes, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that he thinks it is related to how clear the lakes are right now. Most detailed Lake Greenwood Apologies for the lack of bass update last week Brett gave us a post-tournament report but we failed to publish it. Fish will often be adjacent to steep banks and 8-15 feet of water, but the best concentration of catchable fish is shallower in 4-6 feet of water. Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that on one recent trip they caught 25 over 1 pound and fish up to two pounds. Depending on water conditions shallow-running crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, and jigs should all work. Even though he is hearing those same reports from deeper water, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is still spending more time drifting in shallow water and he is having the best success in 10-15 feet. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.87 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.75 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Perhaps the most exciting thing going on Santee right now is the striped bass bite in the canal, and drifting blueback herring over the rocks has been dynamite. Crappie and white perch: Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that in February fish will still be set up in the front sections of creeks in deep water to start the month. With the heat wave and new moon Brett is cautiously optimistic that another big group of fish will come up. We use cookies on our website to give you the best shopping experience. The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58. Bass. He has been mainly fishing chicken but shad has also been working. Most detailed Lake Wateree Known together as the Santee Cooper lakes (formally the Santee Cooper Hydroelectric and Navigation Project), Lakes Marion and Moultrie are located in the outer coastal plain to the southeast of South Carolina between the cities of Columbia and Charleston. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.90 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.48 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Reel in the big fish with one of our handpicked fishing reels. We have Highly Recommended Santee Fishing Guides that can accommodate your fishing charter. The catfish action has been more consistent for Brett, and his last trip started out slow but they ended up catching a bunch of fish drifting a flat with stumps in 20-25 feet of water. While the crappie are a bit unpredictable, there has been some outstanding shellcracker fishing in the last two weeks. The upper lake has slowed down but they are catching fish around brush in the lower lake in 25-30 feet of water. With the full moon this past weekend the bream fishing was decent, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in the end the May full moon seems to have been kind of in-between. Cut perch and chicken have both been working about the same for him. Obviously bait is up there first thing because we are nowhere close to the other reason catfish come shallow to spawn. February Fishing Report. Try Santee Cooper tailraces for great shad, herring action Jeff Burleson Featured, Freshwater Fishing Roe shad up to 4-1/2 pounds are biting in the Cooper River tailrace below Lake Moultrie for fishermen using light tackle. All rights reserved. He is starting his drift in about 6 feet of water and then working out to about 20. These services are no longer offered at 1000 Assembly Street in Downtown Columbia. Even after this cold snap overall mild temperatures mean that the crappie bite has stayed extremely good for the season, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in the lower lake they are still catching fish just over brush in 25-30 feet of water. Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that February patterns are almost entirely dependent on the weather, and if it gets warm later in the month fish should move shallower into the creek channels. The upper lake is slow but they are catching fish around brush in the lower lake in 25-30 feet of water. Fish are generally 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water, with both jigs and minnows working for them. At the April full moon it should be gangbusters again, while this week they have caught decent numbers and a few big fish but nothing has been hot. Nothing is good but brush in about 14-20 feet has been the most productive, and generally the fish are 8-10 feet down. You can also fish a minnow under a cork. The upper lake has been fishing a bit better than the lower lake recently, and the best action has come 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water. Tight-lining for suspended fish up the rivers should be effective and as the month progresses fish will move into the creeks. This page is for all the local clubs and fishermen in the area to share tournament and fishing information. Most Striped bass: Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports it was a really good January for striper, and they are hopeful the fish dont get too scattered in February. Santee Park Store NOW OPEN Current Weather Conditions on Lake Marion at Santee State Park Santee State Park offers cabins, camping, biking, hiking, boating and fishing in the heart of one of the nation's best-known outdoors destinations - Santee Cooper Country. As predicted the Elite Series Pros absolutely wrecked the bass at Santee Cooper two weeks ago, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that most of the fish were caught very shallow and often looking at them on beds. When the fish are up shallow then Brett is pretty much fishing with Senkos and other soft plastics, although in windy conditions he will also fish a spinnerbait. It's with good reason, because Santee Cooper is one of the top shellcracker fisheries in the world. Diverse fishery also offers excellent largemouth, catfish, Crappie and bream. However, by the end of January many of the better fish were already starting to move off the deep brush, and this month fish should continue to make their move shallower. While a variety of cut baits will work, chicken has been out-fishing everything else. 9890 Pack's Landing RD, Pinewood, SC 29125 (803) 452-5514. Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. 7/15 Trolling. Morning surface water temperatures have hit the lower 60s. Water temperatures are in the low 60s and there is some dirty water rolling into the lakes. Santee Cooper in mid-March is some of the best fishing in the country. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Catfish. Shop by brand or reel type. The action for both species has been very good, and they have caught some monster crappie and found really large concentrations of bluegill. Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.05 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.03 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The Santee striper fishing report for early June 2022 is plenty good. But its a good bet they will pull back. Location 223 Basswood Avenue, Summerville, South Carolina 29483 My PB: Between 11-12 lbs Favorite Bass: Largemouth Favorite Lake or River Santee Cooper Lakes including the Cooper River Posted March 23, 2021 Fishing is good, going today and I expect it to be off the chain. 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