Fishing Reports - August 30, 2015

Santee Cooper System

Catfish: Slow. Try drifting and anchoring with cut bait. Largemouth bass: Very slow. If anglers are willing to put in a lot of time fish may be catchable around cypress trees, but there is no easy pattern right now. Many fish are probably out deeper following bait schools where they are more difficult to target. In the Santee and Cooper Rivers there is better bass fishing right now.

Lake Wateree

Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. The deep bite on Lake Wateree is pretty good right now. Fish around ledges, humps and points with deep water nearby. The best action is coming on jigs and Carolina rigs, but it's worth throwing deep-diving crankbaits, too. Don't rule out dock fishing in the summer, but target docks that are either in deep water (15 or more feet) or at least close to it. Docks near creek channels can be particularly productive.

Lake Greenwood

Largemouth Bass: Slow to fair. Fishing has gotten pretty tough on Lake Greenwood, including the deep bite which is not as good as it was a few weeks ago. The best pattern may be fishing shallow early in the morning around bream beds and with topwater lures/ floating worms around the sea walls. Later in the day try fishing worms around brushpiles or flipping docks.

Lake Monticello

Catfish: Fair to good. The big fish bite is starting to get a bit more predictable, but with another wave of fish still likely to spawn it may not get very consistent for another week or so. In contrast, the small fish "numbers" bite has been really good. For both big and little fish the best action has come in the 40-60 foot range. Free-line drifting is traditionally a method for targeting smaller fish, while anchoring on points and humps in the key depth range will catch both bigger and smaller fish. To target bigger fish pieces of tougher bait such as gizzard shad, white perch and bream should be used - even relatively small pieces of these baits will stay on the hook a time even if small fish are munching on them, giving a big fish time to locate the bait, run off the small fish and eat. In contrast, to target small fish a range of baits including very small pieces of cut herring and threadfin shad, shrimp, catalpa worms, chicken liver or marshmallows dipped in stinkbait will work.

Lake Murray

Largemouth bass: Slow to fair. Bass fishing is pretty slow on the lake. A basic pattern remains fishing topwater plugs early in the morning, and then when the sun gets up fishing slow sinking swimbaits and jigs off long points. Carolina rigs and shakey head worms should also catch some fish. Crappie: Slow to fair. Down the lake crappie fishing has been slow, but up the lake some fish are being caught around main-lake brush in about 20-25 feet of water.

Lake Wylie

Catfish: Fair. Try anchoring and drifting with cut bait, and look for the fishing to get better and better as the spawn gets further in the rear view mirror.

Lake Thurmond

Black bass: Slow. Fish are in a summer pattern but the bite is slower than usual with water levels dropping fast. Early in the morning there is sometimes a frog bite, but from day to day it has been rather hit-or-miss. Later in the day most anglers are fishing deeper with Carolina Rigs and other soft plastic presentations such as the Goby Sled. There has also been some action on shakey head worms fished around docks.

Lake Russell

Striped bass: Fair. Striper are traditionally found on both ends of the lake at this time of year, but unfortunately fishing in the Hartwell Tailrace has been pretty spotty. Some fish have been caught up there but a lot of anglers have also been skunked. The best pattern is probably to fish the lower end near Russell Dam with down-lined herring 30-40 feet deep in the thermocline. On the upper end it is more of a free-line pattern. Crappie: Fair. Crappie can be found around brushpiles in 20-25 feet of water. Fish are suspending about 10-12 feet down and minnows are the best way to target them.

Lake Hartwell

Black bass: Fair. The pattern remains pretty similar, with fish mixed between shallow and deep water. A significant number of fish are up shallow, either because they are keying on bream beds or just cruising around the old growth from when the lake levels were down. Buzzbaits, frogs and soft plastics will all work. A significant number of fish are also out in deep water around points and humps, particularly those with timber and brush. Drop shot rigs, shakey head worms, Carolina rigs and Texas rigs will all catch these fish, but fishing topwater lures such as Spooks, Sammies, swimbaits and flukes can also call them up. Topwater action has been spotty to this point. Crappie: Slow. Crappie fishing remains pretty tough, but fish can be caught around bridges at night. During the day some crappie have also been caught over brush 17-25 feet deep in about 30 feet of water. Minnows are producing best but slabtail jigs will also catch fish.

Lake Keowee

Catfish: Hit and miss. The big fish bite is starting to get a bit more predictable, but with another wave of fish still likely to spawn it may not get very consistent for another week or so. In contrast, the small fish "numbers" bite has been really good. For both big and little fish the best action has come in the 40-60 foot range. Free-line drifting is traditionally a method for targeting smaller fish, while anchoring on points and humps in the key depth range will catch both bigger and smaller fish. To target bigger fish pieces of tougher bait such as gizzard shad, white perch and bream should be used - even relatively small pieces of these baits will stay on the hook a time even if small fish are munching on them, giving a big fish time to locate the bait, run off the small fish and eat. In contrast, to target small fish a range of baits including very small pieces of cut herring and threadfin shad, shrimp, catalpa worms, chicken liver or marshmallows dipped in stinkbait will work

Lake Jocassee

Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Slow to fair. Bass fishing has slowed on Lake Keowee as water temperatures have warmed, although the general pattern remains pretty similar. Early in the morning fish are chasing bait pretty well around shallow, flat points, and throwing topwater lures around shallow water has been producing. During the day fishing turns into a slower grind where fish can be found in 20-30 feet of water off the ends of places where they were schooling earlier. Shakey head worms, drop shot rigs and Carolina rigs can all catch bass.