January saw a slow but steady bite for big blue cats. He has found the best action 14-18 feet down over 25-35 feet of water. Their depth will vary, and the best way to target them is with a double minnow rig fished vertically. Jim at 912-210-2877 to book your catfishing adventure. We're having some really good trips lately. "In four feet of water, they can be feeding just 18 inches deep. The fish they are catching are still shallow in 5 feet of water or less, and they are holding tight to grass and trees. Fish are generally 12-14 feet down over brush in 22-25 feet of water, with both jigs and minnows working for them. Santee Cooper 30 January, 2023 Read more Inky is one or the most well known & respected bass guides on the Santee Lakes and has been offering guide services for 35 years Inky is also a USCG licensed guide & a member of the SCCGA. There is also still a good anchored bite early and then a good deeper drift in 25-40 feet of water. Are you in the know? Farmer's Market The next new moon and then the June full moon may have more bluegill shallow. The catfish bite is also dependent on weather, and right before a front comes through fish have been feeding really well while after a cold snap the bite slows for a day or two. In the wet, windy conditions there have not been a lot of people out chasing crappie but the shallow bite has been surprisingly tough. Salt water Bushy Park. Learn more. While open to debate, the case can easily be made that the Santee Cooper lakes are the premier freshwater fishery in South Carolina. They will usually stop at brush coming out from spawning areas where they can rest before going deeper. When the water cools then the brush bite for bream should pick up, and the canal should fill up with shellcracker. Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that water conditions will determine where the action is in February on Lake Murray. Crappie: Captain Roland Addy (864-980-3672) reports that the first two weeks of February usually look a lot like January on Lake Greenwood, and fish will be found suspended somewhere around the creek mouths and the main channel. Light tackle, tiny lures producing great catches during annual run Swimbaits, Alabama rigs, crankbaits and jerkbaits are all good options. The Columbia full-service Licensing and Boat Brush piles, fallen trees, standing timber, and We have Highly Recommended Santee Fishing Guides that can accommodate your fishing charter. Lots of schooling activity on the Cooper River in the mouths of the old Richfield cuts. In another sure sign of spring, while Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) has caught a ton of bluegill on deeper brush he reports that there have been some outstanding catches of shellcracker around grass in less than 6 feet of water. The crappie fishing remains a little slow, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that in the afternoon they are only picking up a few fish here and there on brush. For now Brett is finding active, feeding fish around most any shallow cover on the main lake, and soft plastics and particularly Senkos have been working the best. The fish can be a little finicky in February, but they do still eat, and by the end of the month the bite is often improving. Front row cabin with either jon boat or pontoon boat rigged for fishing, including depth finder, rod holders and all Coast Guard equipment. The fish are tearing up river herring right now. One day the fishing will be good and the next day it will be slow, but overall the best fishing is coming in the upper lake. The lakes are dingy in places but not muddy, about right for this time of year, and morning surface water temperatures are about 52-53 degrees. It will also be found up the rivers if there is current there. AHQ INSIDER Santee Cooper (SC) 2023 Week 5 Fishing Report - Updated February 2 February 2 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). However, he is also doing well drifting as deep as about 12 feet. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.24 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.82 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). The bass patterns are mostly unchanged on Santee, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that one thing which can create some variation during a generally stable, hot period is a mayfly hatch. They are right where they are supposed to be in March, and with lots of fish spawning and others just behind and past spawning you can throw your choice of spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics, jigs and more. All rights reserved. The bass on Santee Cooper are doing exactly what they are supposed to doing, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that they have been catching fish that are chasing shad in the backs of pockets. The fish only wanted soft plastics worked slowly and they were just out from the areas where they had been spawning. Muddy conditions at the start of the month are also affecting the fishing, and seeking out less stained water is usually a good idea. After that its more of a drift bite in 20-30 feet of water. During the day Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) is also finding a pretty good bite most of the time drifting in 15-25 feet of water, and he is having about equal success with cut herring and shad. They are still biting pretty well, and he is having success drifting both chicken and herring. While a lot of the shellcracker have already spawned there should be more, and the bluegill should really start to get down to business on this moon phase. This weekend Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) has several trips for crappie again after some time off, and his best guess is that the fish will be scattered 10-20 feet down over middle depth to deep brush. He is now targeting bass following bait which will move in and out of the creeks following current. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.31 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.57 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Trolling. During this video I am also doing a live show on Youtube, AND I a. Titling office is now located at: SCDNR at the State He and his son have still caught some fish on the same deep brush that has been producing. However, later in the month if the water temperatures reach the low to mid-50s then on warm afternoons fish will move up onto wind-blown red clay points and banks to feed. Live bait and jigging spoons are both working. Yesterday they tried some brush in 14-15 feet of water with no bites, and it has only been the trees in 20-35 feet that have produced. Falling tide seems to be the best time to fish. Swimbaits can also work. Field staff update the fishing reports each week through the fishing season, reporting on fishing success, lake levels, water temperatures, and other important information. Most detailed Lake Hartwell Wigglers,wax,chartreus One day they may want nothing but mullet, the next day they could show a preference for gizzard shad or bream, and the next day only the people fishing menhaden are filling coolers. 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. Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that drifting cut herring, shad or white perch in mid-depths should be the best pattern in February. Diverse fishery also offers excellent largemouth, catfish, Crappie and bream. While generally Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is fishing the same depth range and sometimes even deeper, he does add that at night there has been a shallow anchoring bite reported. MLF Santee Cooper South Carolina. Or enjoy Free Shipping on orders over $50! Some schooling in shallowflats has The biggest catches seem to be coming on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water, but this is pretty specialized fishing for hard-core locals as you really have to know the lakes and where the cover is. The lakes are getting muddy and morning surface water temperatures are around the low to mid-60s. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following. Santee Cooper Lake Marion is home to some BIG bass and April is PRIME TIME for the spawn! 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. About half of the field had over 100 pounds of fish, and so they are biting really well right now. At approximately 2789 feet 850 meters above sea level and pierced with sundry. Artificial lures like small swimbaits and flukes on a Scrounger head will often out-fish herring, and if there is a weak morning bite its often a sign of a strong afternoon bite. Very soon, if they have not already, some male fish should get around the banks. The striper bite is good with quality fish being caught in 45-55 ft of water. As we are between moon phases at the moment, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that the shallow breambite is a little off but they are getting nice numbers of bluegills around brush on crickets. Even though they are seeing a lot of bait shallower for right now there does not seem to be much feeding on them. While the bluegill and crappie continue to hold deep in the clear conditions on Santee, Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that the bite is still really good around offshore brush piles. There are even some fish up on the banks looking for spawning locations, and so right now you can fish about any shallow pattern for crappie. 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. Darryl Smith. Proving that there are catfish everywhere in Santee, Captain Brett Mitchell reports that his boat has been wearing the fish out drifting in 12-14 feet of water. Warmer water is often found at the very backs of the creeks on Santee Cooper, and as a result Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that a lot of bait is also back there right now. A lot of times only a 100-yard move will do. When conditions warmed up again they started to move back into the creeks, and with up-and-down early spring conditions Steve characterizes the fish as scattered and confused. These freshwaters are often called the Catfish capital of the world because of the vast numbers of Catfish you'll find in its waters. In colder conditions they will want more subtle, slow-moving lures, while if temperatures rise they will be willing to chase faster moving baits like spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Cut herring, shad or white perch will all work. However, this week the patterns have changed and some cool, windy weather has pulled the fish out just a little. Drifting and bouncing the bottom is working well, and there are also intermittent spots where you can anchor up and catch fish. Bouncing a crankbait that dives 6-8 feet off the bottom around stumps is an excellent pattern, and small swimbaits and spinnerbaits will also catch fish. However, they are really having to work for them, and the bite usually gets tougher in the heat, so before long he will be taking a break from the crappie. Right now minnows are working better most days, but you should also have a chartreuse, straight-tail jig ready just in case. They will take most any bait when they are feeding. Right of Way Management. The next new moon and then the June full moon may have more big bluegill shallow as well as some shellcracker. shows,5 radio interviews,65 major newspaper . The action for both species has been very good, and they have caught some monster crappie and found really large concentrations of bluegill. Overall the fish should continue to roam the shallows for another three to four weeks as several more waves of fish come up and spawn. Morning surface water temperatures are mostly in the low to mid-70s. There are a few different ways to catch catfish right now, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that for him the cold front seems to have put off the blue catfish bite. In January fish often moved around to escape the mud and worst current, and February could be no different. Santee Cooper (Lake Marion & Lake Moultrie) Fishing Report. In his estimation the catfish action has slowed down a little on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the fish he is catching have shifted from about 15-25 feet out to more like the 30-35 foot range. The fish are already starting to spawn in shallow water around grass but numbers are about to go way up. Yesterday made it in the 80's and one cannot help but think that spring is around the corner. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.08 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and about 73.96 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Fishing is pretty good everywhere, and the new pattern is that there are starting to be a lot of fish caught shallow drifting in 12-15 feet of water on the ledges near deep water. Its been a good week for catfish on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that you can catch them pretty much everywhere right now. You do not have to move a quarter mile away. However, later in the mouth when water temperatures rise fish will push further into the creeks and prepare to spawn in March. Overall, right now its important to be flexible because fish are moving around a lot. A variety of cut baits can work. Pinewood. 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. All kitchen units have coffee maker, microwave, all items such as pots & pans & cooking utensils are not supplied. 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