Post by Steve Sutton on Jul 2, 2010 10:10:18 GMT -5
July 5, 2010 DNR News (803) 667-0696
The following information is provided courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com.
Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports. DHEC Fish
Consumption Advisories: www.scdhec.net/environment/water/fish.
Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee
Trout: Good. Captain Steve Pietrykowski recommends fishing at the intakes
early in the morning and pulling spoons for the first few hours of daylight.
As the sun rises moves out to the main lake and fish both spoons and live
shiners (or herring if you can't get shiners). Black Bass: Fair. Captain
Pat Bennett reports that fishing is getting tougher as bass settle into
summer patterns. Shakey head worms are a good bet, and night fishing may be
a good idea in the heat.
Lake Keowee
Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good to very good. Captain Chris "Fishboy"
Schuber reports that spotted bass can be caught on lipless crankbaits in 10
feet or less around rocky points and boat docks. 3/16 ounce shakey head
worms in watermelon seed color are also working well.
Lake Hartwell
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Captain Bill Plumley reports that
striper and hybrid fishing is still strong off points in 30-45 feet of
water. Down lined live herring are working, and fish are still spread out
over much of the lake. Largemouth Bass: Good. Guide Brad Fowler reports
that there is good topwater action on Lake Hartwell early in the morning and
continuing most of the day on windy days. Spooks, flukes, and topwater
lures will all catch suspended fish. Catfish: Good. Captain Bill Plumley
reports that the bite for channel cats and flatheads is strong. Channel
cats are being caught on night crawlers, chicken livers and cut herring in
5-25 feet. Flatheads are being caught at night in 5-25 feet of water with
live bait fished around brush piles and timber. Crappie: Slow. Captain Bill
Plumley reports the crappie bite remains tough, and the best fish are being
caught before daylight under lights. For pre-dawn fishing set up over brush
in 12-20 feet of water.
Piedmont Area
Lake Russell
Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that
fishing main lake points with a Carolina rigged finesse worm or a Spot
Remover remains a good pattern for spotted bass, and if you want to catch
largemouth in the same areas try a Carolina rigged lizard. Fishing the
sides of points up Beaverdam Creek in about 15 feet of water has produced
some nice largemouth. Crappie: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the
predominant patterns for catching crappie are fishing bridges at night under
a light and fishing brushpiles. Bream: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports
that bream are shallow, but finding good size fish is difficult. Fish worms
on a split shot rig or under a cork, or fish micro jigs under a cork.
Catfish: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the best catfish pattern
is fishing cut herring at night on long, main lake points. Striped bass:
Fair. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the best striped bass fishing is
coming between the Highway 72 Bridge and the dam. Free line live herring or
down line live herring 20-25 feet deep.
Lake Thurmond
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Guide William Sasser reports that striper
and hybrid fishing has been excellent. Start out with baits on the bottom
in 30 feet of water beside long points that drop off sharply or off ledges,
and then work out horizontally. Crappie: Very good. Guide William Sasser
reports that crappie are feeding well about 20 feet deep over 20-25 feet of
water. The two productive patterns are anchoring and fishing minnows around
deep brush, or using the trolling motor and tight-lining in old creek
channels. Black bass: Slow. Buckeye Lures in Augusta reports bass fishing
on the lake has gotten tough, and it's likely to stay that way for a while.
The best pattern is fishing on humps close to the river channel with plastic
worms or Spot Removers. Bream: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that at
the top of Clarks Hill he is catching good numbers of shellcracker in 7-8
feet of water.
Lake Wylie
Catfish: Good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that beating the heat is the
name of the game, and so he is fishing in the morning and then at night.
Decent stringers of a mixture of blue and channel catfish have been taken
from the upper lake area. Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. FLW Professional
and Lake Wylie Guide Matt Arey reports that fish have moved into a summer
pattern, and can be caught deep around humps and drops with spoons,
crankbaits and Carolina rigs. White perch: Fair. Captain Rodger Taylor
reports that perch fishing remains hit or miss, and some days the fishing is
hot while on other days they seem to disappear. Try anchoring on offshore
humps and fish about 20 feet down with minnows and worms.
Midlands area
Lake Greenwood
Catfish: Good to very good. Captain Chris Simpson recommends drifting or
double anchoring on main lake or secondary points. The best fishing is in 2
to 15 feet of water, with fish moving shallower at night. Shrimp and small
pieces of herring or shad will both work, and stink bait is also catching
fish for many people.
Largemouth Bass: Fair. Sportsman's Friend reports that very early in the
morning there is a decent topwater bite, and fish can be caught up against
the block walls when surface temperatures have cooled a bit overnight.
During the day the best bet is fishing worms or deep running crankbaits in
15-20 of water around brushpiles. Crappie: Fair. Sportsman's Friend reports
that crappie have moved deep. The best bet is fishing around deep brush or
deep bridge pilings with minnows and jigs.
Lake Murray
Bream: Good. Lake World reports the bream bite is the best thing going on
Lake Murray right now. For bluegill fish popping bugs and crickets around
docks, and for shellcracker fish worms on the bottom in the backs of coves
or off points. Striped Bass: Very good. Lake World reports that striped
bass fishing is about as good as it gets right now, and lots of limits are
being caught. Try fishing 45-60 feet deep in the creeks with down lined
live herring. Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. Captain Doug Lown reports that
the three main patterns for catching bass on Lake Murray right now are
targeting suspended fish with topwater lures in the morning, fishing around
deep brush with soft plastics and fishing up the rivers. Crappie: Captain
Brad Taylor reports that crappie can be caught out in the main basin of the
lake and at the mouths of major creeks, including Bear Creek and around
Dreher Island. Fish around brush in 20-25 feet of water, and use minnows
for numbers of fish and jigs for bigger fish.
Lake Monticello
Catfish: Good to very good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that the bite is
still a tad inconsistent, but he has been catching some monster fish up to
about 60 pounds. Some days the best fishing is off steep ledges, but other
days the biggest fish are feeding on long sloping points. Cut bait is the
ticket for large catfish, and the free line drifting bite also remains
strong.
Lake Wateree
Catfish: Good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that he has had some excellent
days on the water despite the heat. Down the lake catfish are fat and
drifting cut bait is working well. Largemouth Bass: Good. Camden's Dearal
Rodgers reports that a strong summer pattern on Wateree is fishing around
offshore structure such as ledges, humps or underwater points on shakey head
worms, deep running crankbaits, and jigs. Crappie: Good. Will Hinson of the
Southern Crappie Tournament Trail reports that fish can be found around most
any brush in 12-20 feet of water. Plain minnows or Fish Stalker Jigs in
Ugly Green or Yellow Pepper colors have been working.
Santee Cooper System
Crappie: Very good. Captain Steve English reports a very strong crappie
bite around mid-depth brush. Fish 10-12 feet deep over brush in 16-18 feet
of water, and use the trolling motor to tight-line live minnows to the fish.
Catfish: Good. Captain Jim Glenn reports that blue cats are scattered, but
fish are being caught in water 8 to 12 feet deep. A Drifting perch or
herring is still the preferred method. Bream: Good. Captain Steve English
reports that bream left the deep brush and moved shallow again to bed. They
can be caught on crickets or worms. Largemouth bass: Fair to good. Captain
Inky Davis reports that even in the hot water some bass remain shallow. He
is catching good numbers of fish in 2-8 feet of water on soft plastics
fished around trees, stumps, logs, lily pads and other cover.
Purchase a SC fishing license at: www.dnr.sc.gov/purchase.html
South Carolina freshwater recreational fishing regulations: (Pdf file):
www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/freshfishing.pdf
The following information is provided courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com.
Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports. DHEC Fish
Consumption Advisories: www.scdhec.net/environment/water/fish.
Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee
Trout: Good. Captain Steve Pietrykowski recommends fishing at the intakes
early in the morning and pulling spoons for the first few hours of daylight.
As the sun rises moves out to the main lake and fish both spoons and live
shiners (or herring if you can't get shiners). Black Bass: Fair. Captain
Pat Bennett reports that fishing is getting tougher as bass settle into
summer patterns. Shakey head worms are a good bet, and night fishing may be
a good idea in the heat.
Lake Keowee
Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good to very good. Captain Chris "Fishboy"
Schuber reports that spotted bass can be caught on lipless crankbaits in 10
feet or less around rocky points and boat docks. 3/16 ounce shakey head
worms in watermelon seed color are also working well.
Lake Hartwell
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Captain Bill Plumley reports that
striper and hybrid fishing is still strong off points in 30-45 feet of
water. Down lined live herring are working, and fish are still spread out
over much of the lake. Largemouth Bass: Good. Guide Brad Fowler reports
that there is good topwater action on Lake Hartwell early in the morning and
continuing most of the day on windy days. Spooks, flukes, and topwater
lures will all catch suspended fish. Catfish: Good. Captain Bill Plumley
reports that the bite for channel cats and flatheads is strong. Channel
cats are being caught on night crawlers, chicken livers and cut herring in
5-25 feet. Flatheads are being caught at night in 5-25 feet of water with
live bait fished around brush piles and timber. Crappie: Slow. Captain Bill
Plumley reports the crappie bite remains tough, and the best fish are being
caught before daylight under lights. For pre-dawn fishing set up over brush
in 12-20 feet of water.
Piedmont Area
Lake Russell
Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that
fishing main lake points with a Carolina rigged finesse worm or a Spot
Remover remains a good pattern for spotted bass, and if you want to catch
largemouth in the same areas try a Carolina rigged lizard. Fishing the
sides of points up Beaverdam Creek in about 15 feet of water has produced
some nice largemouth. Crappie: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the
predominant patterns for catching crappie are fishing bridges at night under
a light and fishing brushpiles. Bream: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports
that bream are shallow, but finding good size fish is difficult. Fish worms
on a split shot rig or under a cork, or fish micro jigs under a cork.
Catfish: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the best catfish pattern
is fishing cut herring at night on long, main lake points. Striped bass:
Fair. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the best striped bass fishing is
coming between the Highway 72 Bridge and the dam. Free line live herring or
down line live herring 20-25 feet deep.
Lake Thurmond
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Guide William Sasser reports that striper
and hybrid fishing has been excellent. Start out with baits on the bottom
in 30 feet of water beside long points that drop off sharply or off ledges,
and then work out horizontally. Crappie: Very good. Guide William Sasser
reports that crappie are feeding well about 20 feet deep over 20-25 feet of
water. The two productive patterns are anchoring and fishing minnows around
deep brush, or using the trolling motor and tight-lining in old creek
channels. Black bass: Slow. Buckeye Lures in Augusta reports bass fishing
on the lake has gotten tough, and it's likely to stay that way for a while.
The best pattern is fishing on humps close to the river channel with plastic
worms or Spot Removers. Bream: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that at
the top of Clarks Hill he is catching good numbers of shellcracker in 7-8
feet of water.
Lake Wylie
Catfish: Good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that beating the heat is the
name of the game, and so he is fishing in the morning and then at night.
Decent stringers of a mixture of blue and channel catfish have been taken
from the upper lake area. Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. FLW Professional
and Lake Wylie Guide Matt Arey reports that fish have moved into a summer
pattern, and can be caught deep around humps and drops with spoons,
crankbaits and Carolina rigs. White perch: Fair. Captain Rodger Taylor
reports that perch fishing remains hit or miss, and some days the fishing is
hot while on other days they seem to disappear. Try anchoring on offshore
humps and fish about 20 feet down with minnows and worms.
Midlands area
Lake Greenwood
Catfish: Good to very good. Captain Chris Simpson recommends drifting or
double anchoring on main lake or secondary points. The best fishing is in 2
to 15 feet of water, with fish moving shallower at night. Shrimp and small
pieces of herring or shad will both work, and stink bait is also catching
fish for many people.
Largemouth Bass: Fair. Sportsman's Friend reports that very early in the
morning there is a decent topwater bite, and fish can be caught up against
the block walls when surface temperatures have cooled a bit overnight.
During the day the best bet is fishing worms or deep running crankbaits in
15-20 of water around brushpiles. Crappie: Fair. Sportsman's Friend reports
that crappie have moved deep. The best bet is fishing around deep brush or
deep bridge pilings with minnows and jigs.
Lake Murray
Bream: Good. Lake World reports the bream bite is the best thing going on
Lake Murray right now. For bluegill fish popping bugs and crickets around
docks, and for shellcracker fish worms on the bottom in the backs of coves
or off points. Striped Bass: Very good. Lake World reports that striped
bass fishing is about as good as it gets right now, and lots of limits are
being caught. Try fishing 45-60 feet deep in the creeks with down lined
live herring. Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. Captain Doug Lown reports that
the three main patterns for catching bass on Lake Murray right now are
targeting suspended fish with topwater lures in the morning, fishing around
deep brush with soft plastics and fishing up the rivers. Crappie: Captain
Brad Taylor reports that crappie can be caught out in the main basin of the
lake and at the mouths of major creeks, including Bear Creek and around
Dreher Island. Fish around brush in 20-25 feet of water, and use minnows
for numbers of fish and jigs for bigger fish.
Lake Monticello
Catfish: Good to very good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that the bite is
still a tad inconsistent, but he has been catching some monster fish up to
about 60 pounds. Some days the best fishing is off steep ledges, but other
days the biggest fish are feeding on long sloping points. Cut bait is the
ticket for large catfish, and the free line drifting bite also remains
strong.
Lake Wateree
Catfish: Good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that he has had some excellent
days on the water despite the heat. Down the lake catfish are fat and
drifting cut bait is working well. Largemouth Bass: Good. Camden's Dearal
Rodgers reports that a strong summer pattern on Wateree is fishing around
offshore structure such as ledges, humps or underwater points on shakey head
worms, deep running crankbaits, and jigs. Crappie: Good. Will Hinson of the
Southern Crappie Tournament Trail reports that fish can be found around most
any brush in 12-20 feet of water. Plain minnows or Fish Stalker Jigs in
Ugly Green or Yellow Pepper colors have been working.
Santee Cooper System
Crappie: Very good. Captain Steve English reports a very strong crappie
bite around mid-depth brush. Fish 10-12 feet deep over brush in 16-18 feet
of water, and use the trolling motor to tight-line live minnows to the fish.
Catfish: Good. Captain Jim Glenn reports that blue cats are scattered, but
fish are being caught in water 8 to 12 feet deep. A Drifting perch or
herring is still the preferred method. Bream: Good. Captain Steve English
reports that bream left the deep brush and moved shallow again to bed. They
can be caught on crickets or worms. Largemouth bass: Fair to good. Captain
Inky Davis reports that even in the hot water some bass remain shallow. He
is catching good numbers of fish in 2-8 feet of water on soft plastics
fished around trees, stumps, logs, lily pads and other cover.
Purchase a SC fishing license at: www.dnr.sc.gov/purchase.html
South Carolina freshwater recreational fishing regulations: (Pdf file):
www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/freshfishing.pdf