South Carolina DNR Freshwater report 4-5

* Mountains Area
* Piedmont Area
* Midlands Area
* Santee Cooper System
* SC Freshwater Fishing Regulations (Adobe PDF)
* Purchase a fishing license
* Boat Ramp Locations
* State Fish Consumption Advisories

StriperFishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.

Mountains Area

Lake Jocassee:

* Trout: Fair to good. Captain Steve Pietrykowski reports that fishing has been good although getting keepers in the boat has been a challenge some days. Fish are pushed up in the creeks around bait, and they can be caught from the surface down to 40 feet on Sutton 31s and live shiners.
* Black Bass: Good. Captain Pat Bennett reports that the bass finally seem to have started to move toward the banks and into pre-spawn feeding mode. His boat has been finding fish staging in pockets about 20 feet deep adjacent to spawning coves. Fish seem to be schooled up tight, and they have not spread out along the banks yet. The best baits have been soft plastics, especially green pumpkin plastic worms rigged Carolina or shakey head style.

Lake Keowee:

* Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Guide Brad Fowler reports that even though water temperatures have risen significantly, fish on many parts of Lake Keowee bass have not completed their springtime move towards the banks. However, around the warm water discharge from the power plant, and in the northwest areas of the lake, water temperatures have risen enough that some fish may already be on the beds. Wind-blown pockets have also been productive and fishing small crankbaits that imitate the bait can be effective.

Lake Hartwell:

* Black Bass: Fair. Guide Brad Fowler reports that fish are still in pre-spawn mode, but any day they could start to spawn. The best places to look have been around steep rock banks that lead back to spawning pockets, but fish are moving shallower and into the pockets. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits have been most effective, but once fish are on the beds the best baits will change.
* Catfish: Very good. Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is still catching very strong numbers of blue catfish in the 15-25 pound range, and breaking off some bigger ones. Look around main lake and secondary points in the 10-20 foot range and fish cut bait on the bottom. While anchoring will work, Captain Bill finds it is often easier to keep your boat in place by pulling up on the points.
* Striped and Hybrid Bass: Fair to good. Captain Bill Plumley that he continues to catch fish free lining big bait, especially around pockets. Fish are scattered across the whole lake, but pulling both gizzard shad and large herring should help locate fish. Look for the birds to narrow your search. Fish also continue to be caught on umbrella rigs. This is an excellent time to try and catch a trophy Lake Hartwell striped bass.
* Crappie: Captain Bill Plumley reports that some anglers are catching crappie on minnows and jigs fished around blow downs near the banks. Look in approximately 4-10 feet of water.

Piedmont Area

Lake Russell:

* Black Bass: Good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that bass are starting to move towards the banks, and while they have not yet gone onto the beds they are feeding well in medium depth water. Soft plastics have been the go to baits, especially Carolina and Texas rigs. Look for bass to begin spawning very shortly.
* Crappie: Fair. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that crappie fishing is improving, but the bite is a little behind what he is finding on Clarks Hill. It is about to really take off, though. For now some fish can be found in shallow pockets with wood in about 2-3 feet of water. The afternoon bite seems to be better than the morning bite right now. Striped bass: Slow. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the striper bite remains elusive on Lake Russell. The most successful pattern should be fishing free lined live shiners (because of their durability).
* Catfish: No reports. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the catfish bite should start to take off very soon.

Lake Thurmond:

* Crappie: Very good. Captain William Sasser reports that crappie fishing is awesome, and he is catching fish throwing minnows to shallow brush and casting jigs at the banks. Look in the shallow coves and the backs of creeks all across the lake, including the Georgia and South Carolina Little Rivers. Sizes and numbers are very strong right now. On the upper end of Clarks Hill Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the crappie bite is very strong. He is anchoring and casting minnows 2 feet under a float towards little pockets with driftwood and spawning banks, which are characterized by steep sandy or gray dirt bottoms (not clay or rock) with scattered stumps, trees and rocks. Smaller fish can also be caught trolling in 8-12 feet of water.
* Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Captain William Sasser reports that striper are being caught on cut bait and lures by anglers fishing right in front of the dam in the evenings. Fishing down lines close to the bottom in 20-22 feet of water is also productive, and pulling herring slowing behind weighted planer boards has also been effective. Fish are being caught in the Georgia Little River, around Shrivers and in troughs a good ways back into the creeks – but rarely at the very backs. Some fish are also schooling mid-day around points, including largemouth and hybrids. Anglers are starting to fish at night by tying up to the cable in front of the dam, and these fishermen are catching mainly hybrids in the 3 pound range.
* Black bass: Good. Buckeye Lures in Augusta reports that bass have moved towards the banks in preparation for the spawn, and some fish have started to go onto the beds. Fish can be caught shallow on soft plastics, jigs and spinnerbaits.

Lake Wylie:

* Catfish: Good to very good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that drift fishing for blue catfish has been very strong in major creeks mouths. The channel catfish bite in the upper Catawba has also been very strong where creeks are flowing into the main river. Trophy blue cats can also be caught anchoring in the river sections of Lake Wylie when the current is moving.
* Largemouth Bass: Good. FLW Professional and Guide Matt Arey reports that bass are looking to move into protected spawning pockets with firm bottoms and good cover. Spinnerbaits, shallow crankbaits and jigs are all good for pre-spawn fish that are staging, and once fish are on the beds he likes to throw small plastic baits or small finesse jigs.
* White perch: Good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that he has been finding white perch feeding well in the upper sections of major feeder creeks. A good white perch bite has also been reported in the mouths of major creeks near the channel down to 32 feet.

Midlands Area

Lake Greenwood:

* Largemouth Bass: Good. Sportsman’s Friend reports that bass have moved shallow and they can be caught in pockets, around docks and near shallow cover. Lots of fish are being caught in 2-4 feet of water over most of the lake, although some bigger fish can be caught in 10-12 feet off points. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms are all working, and for the deeper fish off points try throwing a spinnerbait, especially where you can find brush.
* Crappie: Good. Sportsman’s Friend reports that crappie can be caught around most any shallow cover with jigs and minnows. Look around docks, trees, and spawning banks.
* Catfish: Slow to fair. Captain Chris Simpson reports that channel catfish are still moving in and out of the main river channel, and they can be hard to locate from one day to the next. On days when the wind will allow it, try drifting parallel to the channel and in and out of it. On other days, try anchoring in the channel and waiting for the fish. Cut herring, gizzard shad and threadfin shad are the best baits right now. Look for fish to very soon come up out of the channel and spread out on flats, humps and points.

Lake Wateree:

* Crappie: Very good. Will Hinson of the Southern Crappie Tournament Trail reports that crappie fishing is on fire in the backs of almost any creek, and fish are moving very shallow. Very strong fishing should continue for the next couple of weeks, and trolling, tightlining in 2-3 feet of water, casting to cover and dock fishing will all produce. Jigs and minnows will both work.
* Catfish: Good to very good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that an early spring means that many fish are moving into the river or laterally into the creeks. The early spring bite usually includes some of the biggest catches of the year, and so this is an excellent time to anchor up and try to catch a trophy. The best baits include gizzard shad, crappie heads, and white perch.
* Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. FLW Professional Dearal Rodgers reports that the fish have made a big move shallow, and big prespawn females can be caught around rocks, docks and shallow brush – most any shoreline cover. Jigs, Rattle-trap type baits and shallow crankbaits will all catch fish, as will a variety of soft plastics. When there is some wind spinnerbaits are a good bet.

Lake Monticello:

* Catfish: Good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that the baitfish are moving shallower and the big blues are following. Many fish are also feeding on mussels. The most productive depths have been 10 to 40 feet deep, and fishing mid-way to all the way back into the coves has been productive. Shallower humps and points are also producing. Anchoring has been most effective, and right now fish are taking a variety of sizes and types baits.

Lake Murray:

* Crappie: Poor. All reports indicate that crappie fishing is extremely tough across the lake. Shellcracker: Very good. Lake World reports that shellcracker are still turned on, and fish are biting very well around points and secondary points in 2-10 feet of water. It is sometimes possible to see large schools of shellcracker in the clear water down the lake. Fish worms on the bottom.
* Striped Bass: Good. Lake World reports that some monster fish have been caught recently. On the lower end of the lake trolling lures has been productive, and on the upper end down lined live herring fished in about 20 feet of water have been productive. Fish are scattered and cut bait fishing off points is starting to be effective. Little to no schooling activity has been reported.
* Largemouth Bass: Good. Captain Doug Lown reports that pre-spawn, spawning and post-spawn fish can all be caught right now, but the majority of fish are pre-spawn or spawning. The jerkbait and crankbait bite is about over, and right now fishing Texas rigs and shakey head worms has been most effective. Up the creeks and in the river where the water has some color spinnerbaits can also be effective. Pockets and the sides of secondary points are both fishing well, and some fish can be found around shallow docks and wood. Spawning fish will be over hard, clean bottoms. The best bite has been early in the morning, with the fishing winding down until noon then really slowing down. There has been little deep bite reported.
* Catfish: Fair. Captain Chris Simpson reports that drifting the far upper reaches of the lake in 15 to 35 feet of water is the most consistent way of getting fish in the boat right now. Some exceptionally large blues have been caught over the last couple weeks, but overall numbers are way down from normal. Cut herring has been the best all around bait, but anchoring on points and using half cut bait and half stink bait will be most effective very soon.

Santee Cooper System

* Crappie: Good to very good. Captain Steve English reports that crappie can be found both deep and shallow, and not all the fish have started to spawn yet. For shallow fish look around shoreline cover and use a minnow or jig under a bobber.
* Largemouth bass: Very good. Captain Inky Davis reports that largemouth bass fishing has been very strong, and pre-spawn and spawning fish can be caught around most any shallow cover. They will take soft plastics bumped on the bottom and reaction baits pulled through the water column.
* Shad: Good. Captain Jim Glenn reports that American shad are being caught in the Tailrace Canal on curly tail grubs. In the Rediversion Canal shad fishing has slowed. Striped Bass: Few reports. Captain Jim Glenn reports that striper fishing is rapidly improving, and striper are being caught on the flats and in the river between Pack’s Landing, Elliotts Flats and below Low Falls. Steve Pack is anticipating a better season than in recent years based on catching in the past few days. Most fish are in the 23-25 inch range, but some 26 inch keepers have also been in the mix. Cut and live herring will both work.
* Bream: Fair. Captain Jim Glenn reports that in both lakes red ear sunfish (shellcracker) are starting to feed in their traditional spring areas. Red ear may congregate at the mouth of the diversion canal on either side inside and outside the channel. They will frequent areas on the flats Northwest of the canal toward Angel’s landing over to Russellville flats. On Lake Marion they are more frequently angled above I-95 from the State Park down to Stump Hole and across to Jack’s Creek. They will also congregate in the shallow water between Harry’s Fish Camp and Spier’s Landing. Some prospecting with worms on the bottom is the preferred way to find them. Captain Steve English reports that a few bluegill are starting to show up around the brushpiles.
* Catfish: Fair. Captain Jim Glenn reports that in both lakes catfishing is only fair during the daytime, when blue catfish can be caught both deep and shallow. Night fishing is more productive, when most fishermen are fishing shallow. Fresh cut herring and shad are the baits of choice, and a few catfish are being caught in the river and on the flats out of Pack’s Landing.