South Carolina DNR Freshwater report 8-28

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: (unchanged from Aug. 18)

Trout: Good. Capt. Steve Pietrykowski advises that numbers are a little down in the heat, but especially for quality fish the catch rate has overall been pretty good. Trolling in the big water 60-100 feet down with spoons and live shiners has been most effective. The intakes are still producing some fish off and on, but night fishing has slowed. Night fishermen should try suspending nightcrawlers and shiners 25 to 40 feet down near the intakes.
Black Bass: Fair. Capt. Pat Bennett reports that some fish will still feed in the middle of the day, but really it’s too hot to be fishing except early, late and at night. The majority of the fish seem to out in deep, open water following roaming schools of baitfish, but early and late some fish move shallower. First thing and at dusk there can be a good bite on topwater lures such as Spooks and Jitterbugs worked around points that extend out a good ways. In the morning and evening some fish will also relate to shoreline cover proximate to deep water, where they can be caught on shakey head worms, Carolina rigs and spinnerbaits. Lake Jocassee is down to 88 percent of full pool.

Lake Keowee: (unchanged from Aug. 18)

Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Slow. Guide Brad Fowler reports that fishing remains slow on Lake Keowee. Early in the morning there may be a little topwater activity, but after the sun gets up anglers need to drop back and fish drop shot rigs, Carolina rigs and shakey head worms over deep structure such as points and humps. Sporadic schooling activity may take place throughout the day as fish feed on threadfin shad, but getting these fish to bite is difficult. Most anglers continue to head up the lake to the cooler, running water below the Lake Jocassee dam. At night some fish move shallower where they can be caught on worms around brush and lighted docks. Lake Keowee is at 96 percent of full pool.

Lake Hartwell: (unchanged from Aug. 18)

Catfish: Good. Capt. Bill Plumley reports that channel catfish don’t seem to mind the heat and they continue to feed well. Fish are scattered out across the whole lake in 15-30 feet of water, with catches of small to medium sized fish strong. Dip (stink) bait, especially Hoss’ Hog Bait, is vastly outperforming both cut bait and nightcrawlers. The best times to fish are early, late and at night. Blue catfish have generally moved out to deeper water where they are difficult to catch in the Lake Hartwell timber, although a few have been picked up at night. There are some strong reports of flatheads being caught at night on live bream, including a reported 70 pounder last week.
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Fair. Capt. Bill Plumley reports that striper and hybrid fishing remains a little off, with catch rates down from last year at this time. The best bite is still fishing around main lake points or along the edge of the main river channel over trees. Fish have not yet moved super deep, as they should by the end of the summer, and best results are coming on down lined live herring fished 35-50 feet down.
Black Bass: Slow to fair. Guide Brad Fowler reports that Lake Hartwell bass fishing continues to be tough. While the topwater bite off deeper, main lake points remains fair, average sizes continue to be down. Fish will hit Spooks, flukes, swimbaits and assorted topwater lures all day long, especially on windy days when there is surface disturbance. Small fish can also be caught fishing a drop shot rig or Carolina rig around points 25-30 feet deep. The bigger fish seem to be very deep in 40-50 foot deep timber, where they are mixed in with striper and blueback herring schools. You can catch a big fish dragging a 10-12 inch worm through the deep timber, but fish are tough to pinpoint. Finally, there is a decent night bite when some good fish move shallower. Try working a buzzbait around the banks.
Crappie: Slow. Capt. Bill Plumley reports that some crappie are being caught under lights at night around deeper bridges and brush piles in 20-30 feet of water. Anglers are fishing both minnows and jigs. Daytime action is very slow. Lake Hartwell is down to 656.

Piedmont Area

Lake Russell:

Black Bass: Fair to good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that spotted bass mixed in with other species can be caught on minnows around brush in 25 feet of water. They can also be caught early and late around main lake points. Soft plastics, including Spot Removers and Carolina rigs, are both effective. For largemouth bass head into the timber flats just off the main lake and fish a Texas-rigged curly tail worm around cedar trees. Let the bait fall 12-20 feet down around timber in 30-40 feet of water. In the creeks there is also some topwater activity and bass can be caught on small Spooks and poppers.
Catfish: Fair to good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the best bet is fishing around main lake points between Pickens and Vans Creeks. Beach your boat and cast worms and cut herring out to a maximum depth of about 15 feet.
Crappie and white perch: Fair to good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that crappie, including a few very large fish, are being caught around brush by anglers fishing 10 feet down in 20-30 feet of water. Threadfin shad schools are already gathering around cover in this range, and crappie, bass and white perch are all mixed together in a typical late summer/ early fall pattern. Both shad and minnows will catch crappie, and the best fishing is in very slightly stained water in creeks off the main channel – not in the dingy backs.
Striped bass: Fair. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that some big fish are in a typical summer pattern of grouping up around the Hartwell tailrace, but overall the bite at the top of the lake is still pretty hit or miss. The best bet is trolling big gizzard shad or free lining big live herring in the Sanders Ferry Bridge area.

Lake Thurmond:

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Captain William Sasser reports that catches of striper and hybrids remain very strong on the lower end of the lake within 4 or 5 miles of the dam both sides of daybreak and dusk. The best fishing is in troughs at the entrance to coves – fish on the bottom in 35-40 feet of water with live herring. There are also some good catches of 3-4 pound hybrids trolling bucktails front of the dam in the evening. Use the gas motor and troll the lures about 25 feet deep. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that striper are still grouped up in the Savannah River just below the Russell Dam, but with the heat the bite is strictly an early morning phenomenon.
White perch: Very good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that white perch fishing remains on fire at the top of Clarks Hill, and the size has been excellent. Fish are up to 1 ½ pounds or better. Fish minnows just off the bottom in 20 feet of water.
Shellcracker: Good to very good. Captain William Sasser reports that lots of big fish have been caught lately off of beds. Fish a worm on a split shot rig and expect fish to be grouped up.
Crappie: Fair. Captain William Sasser reports that crappie fishing is in a bit of an August lull, but even though numbers are down the fish he is catching are good ones. Fish 20-25 feet deep in 25-30 feet of water around man-made brush piles on flats just off the main channel. The best action has been between the Little River Bridge and the Raysville Bridge.
Catfish: Fair. Captain William Sasser reports that big flatheads are being caught on the Parksville and Georgia flats at night, but they are scattered. Anchor live bream on the bottom in 15-20 feet of water to catching roaming, feeding flatheads.
Black bass: Slow. Buckeye Lures in Augusta reports that bass fishing remains tough on Clarks Hill. The best fishing is on the bottom over humps in 15-20 feet of water. Jigs, Carolina rigs and big Texas rigged worms are good options. There is also a decent buzzbait bite early in the morning. Some sporadic schooling activity is occurring around the lake, but it is unpredictable.

Lake Wylie: (unchanged from Aug. 18)

Catfish: Very good. Capt. Rodger Taylor reports that, despite the intense heat, the catfish bite on Lake Wylie is very strong. Many anglers are choosing to fish early, late and at night, but fish will bite throughout the day for fishermen who can handle the temperatures. Channel catfish are scattered across relatively shallow flats from Belmont to the dam, with 10-20 feet being a productive depth. Cut bluegill are a good bait. The big blue catfish in the 20-30 pound range are very active, and some are being caught on the drift. Fish sometimes seem to be holding in tight groups, which can make for some exciting multiple hook-ups. For anchor fishing gizzard shad are available in the backs of most of the major creeks on the southern end of the lake, and are easily cast netted. The head makes a very good anchor bait for big blues. Finally, flatheads as well as big blue cats can be caught night fishing with live bait around cover and structure.
White perch: Very good. Capt. Rodger Taylor reports that sizes are down but perch are biting very well on the flats in 15-20 feet of water. Fish minnows or worms on a Sabiki rig vertically. Targeting perch is a good way to catch catfish bait or just get your line pulled.
Largemouth Bass: Slow. FLW Professional and Guide Matt Arey reports that the bite has gotten even tougher on Lake Wylie, and tournament anglers are really struggling. The bream bite is dying off as the spawning season winds down, and the majority of the good bags are being caught by anglers who happen upon schooling fish. These bass are roaming in open water following schools of threadfin shad, but to the extent they are related to anything they can be found over humps, channel swings and around creek mouths. One positive to these fish is that they are feeding and aggressive, and so they will take most shad imitations including small swimbaits, topwater lures, etc. Another possible pattern is fishing near the bottom around humps, bridges and points with DD-22s, Hopkins spoons, football jigs and big plastic worms.

Midlands Area

Lake Greenwood: (unchanged from Aug. 18)

Catfish: Good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that the daytime bite is slow but the night bite is very good. The best approach remains anchoring on humps and points in 5-20 feet of water and fan casting baits to different depths. For numbers of fish use dip (stink) bait and shrimp, and for fewer but larger fish put out cut and live bait offerings. The average size of fish caught at night is much better than during the day.
Largemouth Bass: Slow. Sportsman’s Friend reports that a few fish are being caught early and late, particularly on topwater lures and floating worms fished around block walls at dawn. Catching fish during the heat of the day is very difficult right now. There is sporadic school activity scattered across the lake, with largemouth, striper, and white perch feeding together. On cloudy days the topwater action may be better and last longer.
Crappie (unchanged from Aug. 11): Slow. Sportsman’s Friend reports that the best fishing is at night around bridge pilings, brush and other manmade structure and cover in 20-30 feet of water. Cover and structure in creek channels may be best, and both minnows and jigs will catch fish.

Lake Wateree: (unchanged from Aug. 18)

Catfish: Excellent. Capt. Rodger Taylor reports that in spite of the heat the catfish bite is awesome. Drifting the mid-lake flats in 4-10 feet of water is producing large numbers of channel and small blue catfish, and larger blue cats in the 10-20 pound range are also mixed in along with some much bigger fish. The cats are schooled up around large schools of threadfin and gizzard shad, and herons will often give away the bait locations. Small pieces of cut bluegill and white perch are both strong baits, with white perch staying on the hook longer. An anchored large gizzard shad, bream or perch head is the ticket for a huge blue. A mayfly hatch is underway, but the easy availability of insects doesn’t seem to be slowing the bite. Early and late are most comfortable for anglers, but the bite is hot all day long.
White Perch: Excellent. Capt. Rodger Taylor reports that huge schools of white perch are roaming the mid-lake flats in the same areas as the catfish, and cut pieces of shad make excellent bait on Sabiki rigs. Catching six fish at once on a Sabiki rig is very possible, and some big perch are mixed in with the smaller ones.
Largemouth Bass: Fair. FLW Professional Dearal Rodgers reports that the best fishing on Lake Wateree remains off deep ledges, humps, underwater points and other offshore structure. When fish first move offshore they will take a variety of baits, but after a few weeks of being out there and getting hammered by anglers they have become much more finicky. Downsize your lure and make your presentation as natural as possible. Small jigs, small worms on Carolina rigs, and other finesse-style baits are a good bet. The best offshore bite is in the evening, and during the day bass will often be suspended. Some fish will also be caught around docks in or proximate to deep water on jigs or worms. Finally, some fish will always be found very shallow.
Crappie: Fair. Will Hinson of the Southern Crappie Tournament Trail reports that the key to catching crappie right now is hunting for good brush piles, and the best brush is in 15-21 feet of water close to the channel. Lake Wateree has a lot of 14-15 foot brush piles, but finding deeper ones can be tough. The end of the lake does not matter much, with fish scattered from the top to bottom of Lake Wateree along the river channel. Early in the day fish are often suspended just above the brush, while later in the day they will be lower down in the thick of it. Jigs are working best, especially Fish Stalker Ugly Green, Pearl White and Robin Egg (blue with metallic flakes). Minnows will also catch fish.

Lake Murray:

Bream: Very good. Lake World reports that shellcracker fishing remains very strong, but fish have gotten a little harder to locate. Look in 12-15 feet of water and fish worms on the bottom. For bluegill fish around docks or brush in 3-7 feet of water with crickets.
Catfish: Good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that the daytime bite has really slowed but a hot night bite is making up for it. During the day fish are feeding in 10-30 feet of water, but at night start out looking in 2-15 feet of water. Target points and humps that will allow you to cover a wide range of depths until you find the most productive zone, which can vary quickly. Cut herring, shrimp, and stink bait are the best baits. A few blues will be caught off of points while targeting channels. Be careful not to anchor in open water at night, and if you do have plenty of lights so that your boat will be highly visible.
Striped Bass: Good. Lake World reports that striper are being caught 30-80 feet deep with down lined herring on the lower end of the lake, particularly over open water humps. Some days fish will also feed on the surface – particularly on cloudy days pull some free lined baits over the deep water. Trolling 30-50 feet deep with a variety of lures, including Roadrunners, bucktails and Grandma lures, is also catching fish.
Crappie: Fair. Captain Brad Taylor reports that the bite has slowed, but he is still doing most of his fishing in the mid-section of the lake around 25 foot brush. The best brush is on main lake drops in the big water. Use your trolling motor to stay over the brush and drop minnows down 12-20 feet.
Largemouth Bass: Slow. Captain Doug Lown reports that even though fish are still feeding finding catchable fish right now is pretty difficult. You have to work really hard to get a handful of bites. Many fish are suspended and feeding on bait schools, and they can be very hard to target. Fishing shakey head worms around deep points, particularly those with current, is a decent option.

Santee Cooper System

Catfish: Slow to fair. Captain Jim Glenn reports that some decent catches are taking place at night on Lake Marion in relatively shallow water while anchoring Some good fish have also been caught in both lakes drifting during the daytime in less than 20 feet of water. There are also reports of intermittent success fishing around mussel beds in shallow water both day and night. Some fishermen have switched to mullet fillets but most are using cut herring and perch.
Largemouth bass: Slow. Captain Jimmie Hair reports that fishing has gotten even tougher, and you pretty much have to fish before 10 a.m. or after 5:30 p.m. One technique is to fish in the shade of cypress trees in 5-10 feet of water with soft plastics. In the main lakes the shallow bite has turned off, but a few fish can be caught off drops or around stumps on Carolina rigs fished in 12-18 feet of water.