Suspend over the fish with live bait of drift cut shad and herring with Santee cooper rigs in the deep channels. 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. Numerous species are spawning at Santee this month. Minnows and crickets are out-fishing everything else. Our top priority is to satisfy. Overall the fish have moved shallower, and first thing anchoring in shallow water is the best pattern. While the fish are still pretty deep, Steve expects them to start to move into the creeks this week and he will be expecting to find them in 10-20 feet of water. However, during the day the best pattern is still drifting in 25-40 feet of water when fish pull out deeper. Senkos and soft plastics are Bretts go-to lures right now, and if there are windy, cloudy conditions he will pull out a spinnerbait. About 3 feet of water has been the magic number for catching these fish. Hwy 45 (on the Diversion Canal) Crickets are working for bluegill, while minnows are working for crappie. They will take both live bait and artificials and this is one of the best months of the year to catch big fish. The two reservoirs cover over 170,000 acres combined, plus a 6-mile . 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. When the fish arent on top they can be caught down-lining for suspended for fish or looking for striper that are stacked up on the bottom. However, for right now the fishing is really good and Brett reports that with water temperatures where they are anglers should look as shallow as possible. While fish will often be adjacent to creeks with steep banks and 8-15 feet of water, the best concentration of catchable fish is in 4-6 feet of water. Underspins can also work well. His son Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) is catching them in about 25-30 feet of water. It shouldnt be long until fish start to move into the creeks following shad and become catchable on topwater lures, swimbaits and square-billed crankbaits. With the lakes still clear Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) is still finding the bluegill and crappie deep. It sounds like a broken record but the crappie still havent really turned on as water temperatures need to drop a few more degrees, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that deeper brush in 25 plus feet of water continues to be the best. This week the sweet spot has generally been 14-18 feet down over 20-35 feet of water. While the topwater bite should be taking off Brett hasnt really found very much, and he characterizes it as only sporadic.. The crappie are starting to move around on the lakes, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that there are not as many fish on the deep brush piles as there were a week ago. Its not the way he prefers to catch them, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass on Santee Cooper have moved deeper and hes now having to target fish in 8-15 feet. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.89 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Catfish. Joseph will have all the gear you need ready . Sign in or We are a family-owned business committed to providing our customers with the best prices and customer service on all of our merchandise. CATT Santee Cooper Spring Qualifiertook place this Saturday, and there were some incredible weights at the top. The warm weather is already improving the fishing, and they caught their fish in 2-3 feet of water around hard cover like natural wood or planted brush that absorbs and radiates some heat. Canal Lakes Fish Camp Santee Cooper Lakes Hwy 45 (on the Diversion Canal) 139 Canal Landing Road, Cross, SC 29436 Open 5:30 AM 843-753-2271 raysedgwick8@yahoo.com . He's using red worms for bait, and fishing them under slip corks. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. Depending on water conditions shallow-running crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, and jigs should all work. Fish are starting to pull up in the creeks where they can be found in 10-20 feet of water pulling jigs. Crappie: Little River Guide Service reports that February is one of the best months of the year for catching big fish. Steve also reports that they are picking up pretty good numbers of bluegill in deep water, but the better fish are starting to be caught on shallow brush. On the shallower side Captain Brett Mitchell continues to catch fish in 15-25 feet of water. Right now minnows are working better most days, but you should also have a chartreuse, straight-tail jig ready just in case. Willey says the famed Santee Cooper Lakes are currently experiencing low water levels, so most catfish anglers concentrated on working ledge structures 15 to 25 feet deep in Lake Moultrie. Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.05 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 73.76 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are dingy. This page is for all the local clubs and fishermen in the area to share tournament and fishing information. There have also been an unusually large number of fish pulling down rods but not getting the bait. The bass are following the shad, and so if you can locate the bait you will find fish. Water temperatures have not dropped enough to really change the bass fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that when temperatures drop another five degrees then you should be able to fish topwater baits all day long and not just in the mornings. Some monster catfish were caught in the Big Cat Brawl over the weekend on Santee, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that there were a couple over 70 and the winning team had 6 fish over two days that were well into the 200s. Herring, shad and mullet have all been working for his boat. Waste or Abuse to SC Inspector General. top water and swim baits will work good. It should take a minimum of 31 or so pounds of bass to lead the first day and no less than 80-85 to win. When water temperatures hit about 50 degrees then the creek bite should really turn on. Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that February should be a very good month for catfish on Lake Thurmond. Some schooling in shallowflats has 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. These include around grass, trees, and wood. The lakes are still very clear and morning surface water temperatures are down to the mid-50s. It seemed that some of the biggest fish came on Lake Marion, but there were also a lot of people who struck out in the upper lake. The Santee Cooper Lakes offers some of the best fishing in South Carolina and we have some of the top fishi ng guides in South Carolina working out of Blacks Camp. 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. Morning surface water temperatures have hit the lower 60s. Titling office is now located at: SCDNR at the State It took 10 pounds to win the 3-fish limit Sunday Showdown Series tournament this weekend. But the bite has been very good, and yesterday they caught 29 crappie in the upper lake and 50 bluegill and 8 crappie the day before in the lower lake. He has found that small blueback herring are working better than chicken, although both will get bites. Yesterday made it in the 80's and one cannot help but think that spring is around the corner. We don't do this everyday but we do our best to produce fish every day. 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. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.12 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 75.09 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and the lakes are clear. One of these guides is Captain Brett Mitchell, who concurs that there have been good and bad days but has been targeting his efforts in 15-25 feet of water. Brett is trying to drift over hard bottoms in areas that have a pronounced drop-off. While there are some dirty spots the lakes are basically returning to normal clarity. Farmer's Market, freshwater Most days minnows are best, but some days chartreuse, straight-tail jigs will out-fish them. Remember the limit is 3 per personwith a length being 26" Most detailed 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. The reasons arent exactly clear, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass fishing is tougher than its supposed to be. Santee Cooper Lakes They are still getting a lot of pull-downs but the fish wont commit as well. 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. However, this month anglers will notice bass start to move shallower regardless of weather conditions are they prepare to stage for the spawn. Lake Marion Fishing Vacation EAT SLEEP HUNT FISH 803-492-7924 Ask about our Fishing Vacation Packages, Corporate Fishing Trips. Customer Service. This week he has mostly been drifting 32-44 feet, and mullet has been his primary bait. 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. The bite seemed to die after the morning. Santee Cooper water levels are up to 73.77 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.59 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Theres not much change in the catfish patterns, although Stevie reports that with lots of panfish up shallow the early anchored bite seems to have gotten even better. Cut herring, river herring, bluegill and shad are all working. Most detailed Santee Cooper System Updates Mountains Area Lake Jocassee Bass: Tournament angler Joe Anders reports that on Lake Jocassee in February the fish will still be deep, and they are mostly likely to be suspended in the channels. Shop by brand or reel type. A general pattern can be to anchor in deep water early and then try the shallows later in the day when the water warms. Monticello Updates. At night he has been anchoring in shallow water, and in the canal area he is looking for somewhere just out of the current when he sets anchor. After some really good catfish action a couple of weeks ago the bite has gotten tougher on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that it certainly seems like the last cold front put the fish off. Waterbodies: Santee River; Species: Largemouth Bass; Smallmouth Bass; . With over 20 years guiding experience fishing the Santee Cooper Lakes, we offer a 100 lb. Brett also reports that a few people like him are drifting for bigger fish, again in shallow water. Bass: Tournament angler Joe Anders reports that on Lake Jocassee in February the fish will still be deep, and they are mostly likely to be suspended in the channels. Diverse fishery also offers excellent largemouth, catfish, Crappie and bream. 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. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Rembert C. Dennis Building Most Results as follow: The first CATT Santee Cooper Spring Qualifier, took place this Saturday, and while there were a lot of zeros at the bottom there were some massive weights at the top. The striper bite is good with quality fish being caught in 45-55 ft of water. If anything it has picked up in the past week. Very soon, if they have not already, some male fish should get around the banks. The crappie fishing has improved marginally, but Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that its still not where he would like it to be. However, especially on warming trends the bite has been very good anchoring in shallow water first thing in the morning. raysedgwick8@yahoo.com. Worms are the ticket. It's with good reason, because Santee Cooper is one of the top shellcracker fisheries in the world. Striped bass: Guide Daniel Skipper (864-430-0488) reports that in February striped bass could be found anywhere on Lake Greenwood, but the key to finding them is to locate the bait. Herring is his bait of choice. It should not be long until a topwater bite comes on but for now they have not been productive. The current state record blue catfish (109-4 caught in 1991) was caught in the Tailrace Canal below Santee Cooper and held the world record until 1996.As would be expected to support so many trophy-caliber fisheries, the Santee Cooper lakes have an extensive forage base. Chartreuse, straight-tail jigs are working the best. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s in the shallows. Casting small jigs and tight lining minnows will work the best. Click here for 30 day free trial! February Fishing Report. 320 Harrys Camp Cir, Pineville, SC 29468-3501 +1 843-351-4561 Website. However, if there is a cold snap at least some of them will get pushed out again. Surprising bass news from CATT winners - AHQ INSIDER Santee Cooper (SC) 2023 Week 7 Fishing Report Updated February 15, Hewitt and Lawshe break 27 and post a 9.41(!) Crappie: Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in late January crappie started to show up again around deep bait schools, and this month they will get more and more common. The bite can be decent if you locate a group of fish on electronics or otherwise, but thats the tricky part. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.55 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.68 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). 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. Late in the month is a good time for long-line trolling with jigs and minnows. Its still a good catfish bite on Santee Cooper, and Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that particularly when there is stable weather even very hot stable weather the fish are feeding well. Fishing Resources. Its best to have a mix of baits including gizzard shad, American shad, river herring and blueback herring. These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning. Pinewood. 7/15 But its a good bet they will pull back. They are also catching some good bream on the same brush. Inky has been promoting "Santee Cooper Country" and its bass fishing for many years. on Santee Cooper In my "Glory Days" I competed as an ESPN Bassmaster Angler. Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that on one recent trip they caught 25 over 1 pound and fish up to two pounds. There are mixed signals on the catfish action, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that most days it seems like the fish are feeding pretty well. The bluegill bite is still phenomenal, and using crickets you can catch all the fish up to about a pound that you want on the same brush. 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. Its a pretty good crappie bite right now on the lakes, and Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that they are catching some good fish on deep brush about 22 feet down over 38 feet in the lower lake. When we had several nights in the 20s a few weeks ago it looked like bass might move into winter patterns early, but Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that as surface temperatures stabilized and even warmed up the shallow bite turned on again as the bait moved back shallow. While they arent targeting them they are also picking up a fair number of big bream while fishing minnows on the same crappie brush, and so it may be time to start bream fishing! Crappie. 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. Open 5:30 AM 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. with 69 fish. He is now targeting bass following bait which will move in and out of the creeks following current. This craft is equipped with advanced fishing technology, including fishfinder, a wireless trolling motor, and a live bait well. Post-spawn fish are supposed to recover from the spawn around cypress trees in 2 to 4 feet, but right now hes not finding as many hungry fish up there as expected. 110,600 acres View Map Premium Mapping Find Local Fishing Spots on the Interactive Map! Stevies boat has also been drifting in 10-25 feet of water and finding a good bite during the day, but he has heard reports of drifting out to 40 feet and catching fish. We just wrapped up a 3 day fishing expedition so watch the full vi. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.92 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.75 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). While the numbers of crappie on brush has dwindled, Steve notes that there are some huge groups of bluegill stacked up on the brush. Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s and while the mud is coming its still only dingy in the lakes. 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). Skinneydippers, big easy, canethumpers, Flukes, and Bream are biting crickets. The AHQ Report is your source for exclusive fishing reports, tournament updates, and more! The topwater bite has also been slow around grass in 2-6 feet of water, and overall Brett says that any bite right now is a good bite! Regardless, drifting or anchoring with cut bait off the river channel is likely to be the best pattern. Strong summer patterns are starting to take off for bass on Santee, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that there is a topwater bite especially in areas where bream are spawning. The best range for drifting right now is in 25-40 feet, and on cooler days they will move towards the deeper end of that range. Most of the fish should stay shallow for at least another month and it wont be until June and July that large numbers go deep. The lower lake has fished a little better than the upper lake. Red wigglers are hard to beat. Salt water Bushy Park. West Columbia, SC 29172. Fishing with Brett Mitchell Santee-Cooper Guide and Instructor Specializing in Trophy Size Largemouth Bass - Blue Catfish - Striped Bass (In season) CALL 803-379-7029 BrettMitchell@bellsouth.net Fishing With Brett only Uses rod holders from Facebook Messenger Welcome to the site! These fish can be caught casting a jig or with a minnow under a cork. It was another good weekend for bass on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the Sunday Showdown Series tournament was won with a three-fish limit of 19 pounds!

The Sentinel Marfa Wedding, Kiel School Board Election Results 2022, Matt Bowman Wife, Hawk Missile Sites In South Korea, Montana State University Land Acknowledgement, Articles S