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. The best action is coming drifting deep water in 30-35 feet where there are depth changes like hills, ledges and humps. The most recent bream spawn was also disappointing, and even when he found big beds there werent many fish on them. Free-lines, planer boards and down-lines could all work depending on where and how deep the fish set up. 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. Very soon, if they have not already, some male fish should get around the banks. Morning surface water temperatures are still about 79 degrees. best baits. 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. Falling tide seems to be the best time to fish. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.23 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 75.1 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). With water temperatures finally below 60 better bass have made their way into the creeks, and Captain Brett Mitchell(803-379-7029) reports that even though there are still fish on trees and brush in the shallows that will take soft plastics they are no longer his primary focus. Learn more. Santee Cooper Lakes These are really big fish that are busting with eggs, and they are getting very close to spawning if they have not already begun. Button Text All RV Sites have plenty of parking for vehicles and boats. Shallower brush in 14-15 feet of water is still not producing and it has only been the trees in 20-35 feet that have produced. Reel in the big fish with one of our handpicked fishing reels. 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. While you can still catch a lot of small eating-sized fish drifting in 15-30 feet of water, Captain Stevie English is most excited that the canal bite is finally turning on. You can still catch some crappie on deep brush in 20-35 feet, but the numbers are dwindling. Morning surface water temperatures are around 87-88 degrees. Jerkbaits and Alabama rigs could also work. Still catching plenty of catfish in 40 to 55 foot of water as well as shallower flats and creeks in 2-25 ft. Fishing The Sled, crankbaits, and jigs around rocky points will remain a strong pattern until fish move up, and then they when they will take a variety of moving baits as well as soft plastics. However, later in the mouth when water temperatures rise fish will push further into the creeks and prepare to spawn in March. <br><br> The park sits along Lake Marion, one of the two lakes (the other's Moultrie) that gave birth to America's inland . 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. Overall he is still catching fish in 25-50 feet of water, although other anglers are fishing shallower. While he hasnt found the bass out that deep Brett is also finding that largemouth have moved out that way, and from what he has seen the best action is coming in about the 10-15 foot range. 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. 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. 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. While the numbers of crappie on brush has dwindled, Steve notes that there are some huge groups of bluegill stacked up on the brush. 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. Santee Cooper water levels are at 74.46 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and around 74.3 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Herring, shad and mullet have all been working for his boat. From 1939 to 1942 the lakes were created in a hydroelectric project by the South Carolina Public Service Authority, commonly known as Santee Cooper.The lakes vary from shallow swamps at the upper end of both lakes (but most famously Lake Marion) to the vastness of Lake Moultrie 14 miles across at its widest point and appearing to be a great, open bowl. They are marking a few fish on deep brush but they may just be bluegill. There are still a ton of striped bass in the canal, and drifting blueback herring has been the preferred technique. with 69 fish. Lots of fish 15 to 30lbs. Cast plastic swim baits into the schools. Check if there's an unpleasant odor that arrives from the lake. Crappie: Veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that patterns in February are almost entirely dependent on weather. The big bream and crappie are still on the deeper brush in 28-35 ft in huge numbers. 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! Long lining the deeper creeks are starting to produce some crappie. Even between bream spawns there are fry and small bream hanging around the beds which they will use repeatedly, and those are primarily what the bass are eating. 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. 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. Boat rentals and fish guides are also available. Minnows, chartreus gigs are the Fish will feed best in the warmest areas and crankbaits and jigs should both be effective. Hwy 45 (on the Diversion Canal) Overall weights were a little down in the Sunday Showdown Series this weekend, and while there were a few good bass caught Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that . While Brett has been targeting the topwater action and bream fish more, there are also fish that can be caught on soft plastics in 2-4 feet around trees and there are also fish around deeper brush piles. Again, a topwater bite should be taking off Brett hasnt really found very much, and he characterizes it as only sporadic.. Herring is his bait of choice. The key to locating bass is finding bait, and when located they will take Alabama rigs, jerkbaits, small jigging spoons and more. The co-state record largemouth bass was caught out of Lake Marion (16-2 caught in 1949), until 1993 the world record freshwater striped bass came from Santee Cooper (55 pounds), the state record white crappie came from Lake Moultrie (5-0 caught in 1957), and the state record shellcracker (5-7.5 caught in 1998) came from the Diversion Canal. The latest Santee Cooper Fishing Reports from Canal Lakes Fish Camp Canal Lakes Fish Camp Home Bragging Board Fishing Reports Tournaments Map Guides Rentals Links Fishing Reports Catfish: Catfish are moving into the upper and lower ends of the canal, cut bait, herring and gizzard shad are your best baits. Cut perch and chicken have both been working about the same for him. Updates. Drifting mid-depths has not been productive, although that could change as temperatures settle into winter patterns. 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. Fish may even start fanning beds, and there could be females thinking about laying eggs in spawning pockets before temperatures drop. The action for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes is very strong right now, and Brett reports that fish have moved a little deeper as water temperatures have dropped. Even with the crappie spawn winding down the shellcracker spawn is about to explode, and Steve reports that they are already catching a few in shallow water but its about to get really good. The upper lake is slightly dingy while the lower lake is still clear in places. While the crappie are a bit unpredictable, there has been some outstanding shellcracker fishing in the last two weeks. A lot of times only a 100-yard move will do. Usually a slow month for bream, they bit well in deep water in January and February could be more of the same. The new moon was a week ago and the full moon is not until next week. Our Lakeside Rentals & Campgrounds Discover the places you can stay, eat and fish while in Santee Cooper Country. Morning surface water temperatures range between 85 and 90 degrees. Santee Cooper water levels are at 73.59 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.18 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). Some schooling in shallowflats has They are still getting a lot of pull-downs but the fish wont commit as well. Its a good idea to have both. Fishing Resources Get the latest fishing reports, hire fishing guides and more to help you make the most of your fishing trip in South Carolina. Morning surface water temperatures are mostly in the low to mid-70s. After a strong spawning wave last week, Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the bass are starting to get into a bit of a post-spawn lull. With the lakes still clear Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) is still finding the bluegill and crappie deep. Before the cold front at the beginning of this week there were starting to be some bream around the banks, but for now the weather seems to have pushed them out to the same brush the crappie are on. Early in the morning buzzbaits are working well and shallow running crankbaits are also good, in addition to a wide range of topwater lures such as prop baits. You can also fish a minnow under a cork. There are also a few fish being caught on brush piles, but the majority of the fish seem to be suspended offshore where they are chasing bait. Here you'll find several different species of fish, including largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish, bream and crappie. Overall the catfish are just eating really well right now, although they are displaying a strong preference for herring. The lakes are still clear and morning surface water temperatures are about 58. Write by: . In bream news, Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that there are still some outstanding catches of shellcracker around grass in less than 6 feet of water. Lots of blues of all sizes (especially the good eating size at 3-5 lbs) mixed in with channel cats being caught. The biggest fish still seem to be coming on brush piles in 8-12 feet of water with crankbaits and soft plastics, but you have to know the locations of a lot of brush to catch fish this way. Find the bait and youll find the fish. Brett has only been fishing shad-colored crankbaits, but red crankbaits, swimbaits and more should also work. He's catching his share, including some big ones, among the Santee cypress trees. Late in the month is a good time for long-line trolling with jigs and minnows. However, many anglers overlook it as an effective method to catch bass. Casting at diving birds with Alabama rigs or bucktails is the technique of choice. canal, cut bait, herring and gizzard shad are your best baits. 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. Inky has been in 6 t.v. Also, from what he has seen you can increase your chances of getting a big fish if you target a little bit deeper water in the 30-foot range but you will get a lot less bites out there. Between the full moon, rising water temperatures, and rising water levels from recent rains everything is combing to push the fish towards the banks. Its also a period when anglers pursuing other species will catch trout. The upper lake is slow but they are catching fish around brush in the lower lake in 25-30 feet of water. In the cold weather the bream fishing has really slowed down, but Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that they are still catching some nice crappie even though they are having to work for them. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. 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. Lots of speckled trout and slot size reds are being caught mainly on live mullet/mud minnows and shrimp under a slip or popping cork. Keep moving! 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. If those arent working then Brett suggests looking a little deeper with Ned rigs and shakey heads in the same areas. You can also anchor, but drifting is often more exciting. Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that February should also be a good month for big fish. USGS 02148000. Give us a call at 803-492-7924 so that we can co-ordinate your needs. Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that February can yield some big fish on Lake Monticello, and anchoring around deep structure is usually the best pattern. top water and swim baits will work good. 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. Click here for 30 day free trial! 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. Fresh Santee-Cooper Fishing Reports Top Santee-Cooper destinations Cross Tomorrow: 70 / 64 F Summerton Tomorrow: 70 / 64 F Eutawville Tomorrow: 70 / 64 F Fishing Seasons & Latest Fishing Photos February With the prized fish out in the deep, you'll need to hop on a boat to get out to reach them. Most He has had the best luck with herring, and there have been some big fish caught drifting deep water at night. 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! going on , grasses and pads are your places to concentrate on. Shop our collection of fishing rods to find the one that best matches your needs. Minnows are still working the best. Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.40 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.82 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5) and both lakes are muddy. rightofwaymanagement@santeecooper.com. Brett concurs that the bite has been strong this week, with early anchoring and then daytime drifting working the best. Overall, based on what he is seeing the fish are still very spread out. West Columbia, SC 29172. The next new moon and then the June full moon may have more bluegill shallow. Santee Cooper Crappie Fishing Pautzke Bait 43.6K subscribers Subscribe 15K views 3 years ago Springtime spells crappie in South Carolina's Low Country. Bass. We are a family-owned business committed to providing our customers with the best prices and customer service on all of our merchandise. 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. Late last week anglers first noted that bucks were moving up, and then Friday and Saturday some big females came up. The verdict is in from the recent CBC tournament, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that a few people are whacking the bass but most people are not. Water conditions will determine whether fish are in the creeks or main lake. Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in February drifting deep water is still the best bet, but on very warm days there can be a night/ evening bite in shallow water. Family-Owned business committed to providing our customers with the lakes still clear Captain Steve (. Working the best time to fish there has been the trees in 20-35,... Catching fish around brush in 14-15 feet of water is still not producing and it has only the! Only been the trees in 20-35 feet that have produced have all been working the. Co-Ordinate your needs Hinson of Cassatt reports that February should also be good... 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