South Carolina DNR freshwater fishing report 11-3

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: Slow to fair. Captain Steve Pietrykowski reports that a few trout are moving shallower as water temperatures cool, but the best pattern is still fishing in 65-80 feet. Spoons are a good choice at this time of year, and fire tiger and silver/blue are good colors.
Black Bass: Fair. Captain Pat Bennett reports that as air and water temperatures drop the fishing is improving. Early and late try topwater lures such as Spooks and Jitterbugs around long points. Also target bass related to shoreline cover proximate to deep water, where they can be caught on shakey head worms, Carolina rigs and spinnerbaits. The first drop-off is often strong. Fish can also be caught on soft plastics fish around bluff walls. Many bass continue to be out in deep, open water following roaming schools of baitfish, but many of these bait schools should make their way up the rivers and creeks as the fall progresses. Water levels continue to drop, so be careful putting in and running on the lake.

Lake Keowee: (unchanged from Oct. 27)

Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Guide Brad Fowler reports that fish are scattered out across the whole lake from shallow to deep. They haven’t grouped up in good fall schools yet, but should soon. Fish can be caught around the banks on topwater lures, drop shotting in 60 feet, or anywhere in between – but nothing is hot. Early and late look for school activity when fish are feeding on balls of threadfin shad. Right now fish can be found on the main channel, just off it, or in the front third of creeks, but as the fall progresses bass will move further into the creeks. Fishing shakey head worms around docks is a reliable technique as fish settle into a pattern.

Lake Hartwell:

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. Captain Bill Plumley reports that striper fishing remains strong, and schooling activity is especially good right now. From the 24 Bridges down to the dam a mix of big, medium and small fish can be found feeding on top, and they will take topwater plugs. When fish quit schooling they go deep to 60-80 feet of water where they will eat down lined live herring. In the next 2 or 3 weeks fish should move shallower as water temperatures drop.
Catfish: Good. Captain Bill Plumley reports that channel catfish continue to feed well. Fish are scattered out across the whole lake in 12-20 feet of water, with catches of small to medium sized fish strong. Dip (stink) bait, especially Hoss’ Hog Bait, has been most productive. There have also been some big channel catfish picked up recently in 50-60 foot deep water on cut herring. Black Bass: Fair. Guide Brad Fowler reports that there is still some main lake topwater activity, although as temperatures drop it may be easier to catch main lake fish on a worm or drop shot rig instead of trying to draw them up with a big topwater plug. In the creeks there is a decent shallow bite on small crankbaits, spinnerbaits, frogs and buzzbaits. Fish are also starting to move into the traditional fall schooling pattern where they ball up schools of shad in the big creeks and then feed on top intermittently.

Piedmont Area

Lake Russell:

Catfish: Fair. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the best bet for catfish is fishing on the bottom around the large bait schools found in major coves. Anchor and put out cut herring offerings on the bottom, and don’t be afraid to chum to draw in the cats. Lately catfish catches have been a bit off.

Lake Thurmond: (unchanged from Oct. 27)

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good to very good. Captain William Sasser reports that the bigger fish have moved out of the very deep water, and there is now schooling activity across the lake. Poppers, Ice Flies and other lures will catch fish. Besides targeting schooling fish the best pattern is fishing the mid-lake by pulling planer boards and fishing down lines in 15-20 feet. Look in the back of creeks, particularly Soap Creek.
Crappie: Good. Captain William Sasser reports that crappie have moved into the backs of creeks where they can be caught in 15-20 feet of water by anglers pulling jigs or minnows. Mid-lake Buffalo Creek and the South Carolina Little River have been strong.
Black bass: Fair to good. Buckeye Lures in Augusta reports that bass fishing continues to improve on Clarks Hill. Schooling activity has really picked up, and schooling fish can be found across the lake. Most fish have started to make a move towards the backs of the creeks, and buzzbaits and spinnerbaits are working well.
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. Channel catfish are being caught on the bottom in 30-40 feet of water.

Lake Wylie:

Catfish: Good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports the afternoon bait is parked in the backs of creeks, and there is lots of surface feeding activity late in the day where mainly small largemouth bass are shattering the surface feeding on shad. Channel catfish are also present and can be found under the bass; they are feeding well in the creeks and shallow flats less than 25 feet deep. Drifting cut bait is the best technique. Out near the river channel medium sized blue catfish are feeding well. White perch: Good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that white perch are still biting well but they are not as consistent as before the recent rains. Fishing 17-24 feet deep with small minnows has been the best technique. Largemouth Bass: Good. FLW Professional and Guide Matt Arey reports that fish have moved into the very backs of creeks and pockets following the large schools of threadfin shad. Scattered fish can be caught in most of the backs, but to find concentrations of bass you need to find large schools of bait. The bait the fish are feeding on is mostly less than two inches right now, and matching the hatch with a relatively small lure is important. Small square billed crankbaits and Rattle Trap-type baits are both working well, and a few fish have also been caught on Spooks fished on the top. Look out for schooling activity. Fish should stay in the backs for a few more weeks, but within about a month most fish will likely have moved back to the main channel as water temperatures drop.

Midlands Area

Lake Greenwood:

Catfish: Good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that the drift bite has been strong. Some days fish are stacked in the river channel and making drifts in the channel, parallel to the channel or in and out of the channel is the best bet. On other days fish are scattered out across 18-25 foot deep flats where they can also be targeted drifting. Cut shad and herring have been the best baits. Largemouth Bass: Fair. Sportsman’s Friend reports that there have been good reports of fish schooling across Lake Greenwood. Some schooling fish have been caught on topwater lures, and crankbaits and jigs fished under the schools have worked at times. Fish have also been caught where wind is blowing into dips and creek channels on crankbaits and plastic worms. Crappie: Fair. Sportsman’s Friend reports that not a lot of people are after crappie right now, but they can be caught on minnows or jigs fished around brushpiles in 18-25 feet of water.

Lake Monticello:

Catfish: Good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that big fish continue to feed well on Lake Monticello. The fall drift bite is on, and big fish are being caught drifting on the bottom with a Santee-style rig in 60-90 feet of water. The depth can vary from day to day, and fish have been caught as deep as 115 feet of water. Now is also a good time for free-line drifting higher in the water column, and a range of different sizes can be caught with this technique. Cut shad and white perch have been the best baits.

Lake Wateree: (unchanged from Oct. 27)

Catfish: Good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that bait is abundant. Large gizzard shad are easily netted in shallow water near docks and aquatic grass along the banks, and huge schools of smaller 2-4 inch shad are present on the flats in 5-10 feet of water. Day to day results vary, but fish can be found drifting cut bait on the shallow flats. If fish don’t cooperate with that technique, try anchoring in deep water near the river channel drop. Fishing long sloping points is a good bet. Fishing may be stronger when there is current, and the bite should only improve as the fall progresses.
Crappie: Fair to good. Will Hinson of the Southern Crappie Tournament Trail reports that the best crappie fishing on Lake Wateree is at the upper end of the lake around Wateree Creek. Fish just off the bottom in 14-18 feet of water tight-lining jigs tipped with minnows or plain minnows. It is typical for fish to make a fall migration towards the riverine end of the lake, but it seems a bit early this year. Some fish have moved into the mouths of major creeks like Taylor Creek, Singleton and Dutchman’s, but they are holding a bit deeper and can only be found in the front ½ of creeks. Depending on how fast the water cools they will move as shallow as 11-12 feet before turning around.
Largemouth Bass: Tough but improving. FLW Professional Dearal Rodgers reports that shad and the fish are moving toward the creeks, but fishing remains a little tough on Lake Wateree. As water temperatures continue to cool and the shad move further into the backs, look in coves around grass, rocks and docks. Double willow blade spinnerbaits and shallow running crankbaits are a good option, and soon Rattletrap-type baits should be strong.

Lake Murray: (unchanged from Oct. 27)

Catfish: Very good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that the fishing is very strong, and catfish can be caught either anchoring or drifting depending upon an angler’s preference. For anchor fishing position the boat in 15-45 feet of water and cast out to cover a variety of depths. For drift fishing cover humps, points, flats and gullies in 20-45 feet of water. Cut herring and gizzard shad are tough to beat.
Shellcracker: Very good. Lake World reports that the shellcracker bite is very strong. Look for fish around points and fish worms on the bottom in 3-8 feet of water.
Striped Bass: Fair. Lake World reports that fish scattered out with the first cold front, and striped bass are scattered from the middle of the lake on up. Trolling live bait behind planer boards and fishing down lines in 30-40 feet of water are good options. Also be sure to look out for schooling activity.
Largemouth Bass: Poor. Captain Doug Lown reports that the lake has recently turned over, and an already tough bass bite has gotten even tougher. In the recent big bass tournament anglers struggled to catch fish over two pounds, and a fish under 5 pounds was big bass for the large tournament. Because of the turnover fish are spread out from 2-20 feet, but they aren’t biting well anywhere. Most fish that are being caught are taking lures fished on the bottom, and shakey head worms fished around points and docks are as good as anything. Some small fish can also be caught on flukes. In a week or two the bite should drastically improve.

Santee Cooper System

Bream: Good. Captain Steve English reports that bream have moved back to brushpiles in 10-20 feet of water where they are feeding well on crickets. In the canal fish are biting well on worms fished 7-10 feet deep around grass. Catfish: Fair to good. Captain Jim Glenn reports that fish appear to be scattered in 15-40 feet of water, and he is finding the best concentrations of fish in 25-35 feet. Quality fish up to the 40 pound range have been frequent, and the average fish size has been about 12 pounds. Cut herring, gizzard shad and menhaden have been the best baits. Largemouth bass: Fair. Captain Jimmie Hair reports that fishing is improving. With water levels very low many anglers will find their preferred spots unfishable, and the best areas to concentrate around are the eel grass. Cypress trees can also be productive at times. Soft plastics are effective around both types of cover, and shallow running square billed crankbaits are also good producers. Bouncing the baits right off trees and stumps can generate strikes. Early, late and on cloudy days frog baits worked around grass can also catch fish. Captain Inky Davis reports that fishing has improved with cooler temperatures. Crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, tail spinners and soft plastics have all been producing. Striped Bass: Captain Jim Glenn reports that schooling activity can be seen almost daily, although it appears that many of these fish are sub-legal being under the 26 inch limit.