South Carolina DNR Freshwater report 3-10

* 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

***Note winter fishing conditions will make for sporadic reports***

Lake Jocassee:

* Black Bass: Slow. Captain Pat Bennett reports that water temperatures are beginning to creep up, but the bite remains tough. Most of the fish still seem to be suspended offshore where they are difficult to locate. Try looking for bait schools on your graph, and then lower down a jigging spoon or drop shot rig. Water temperatures only need to warm a few more degrees before fish should begin moving towards the banks and prepare to go into prespawn feeding mode.
* Trout: Captain Steve Pietrykowski reports that the best pattern is trolling 25-30 feet deep behind down riggers or dipsy divers with spoons and small Rapala plugs. Slow trolling with live bait will yield smaller numbers of fish, but could results in catching bigger ones.

Lake Keowee:

* Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Guide Brad Fowler reports that even though water temperatures have come up a couple of degrees, Lake Keowee bass are generally still in a winter pattern. The main exception is in the mid-lake area around the warm water discharge, where smaller fish have moved shallow and can be caught on jerkbaits and flukes. The best spotted bass fishing remains in 50-80 feet of water, where fish are bunched up around depressions, creek channels and ditches. Fishing drop shot rigs, jigging spoons and doodle rigs (akin to shakey head worm fishing, with minimal motion) very slowly should produce for deep fish. Largemouth bass are still difficult to catch right now.

Lake Hartwell:

* Catfish: Very good. Captain Bill Plumley reports that he is 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. Captain Bill Plumley reports that after a very cold winter the striper bite is finally improving, and he is beginning to catch fish free lining big bait. 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.
* Black Bass: Fair. Guide Brad Fowler reports that water temperatures have risen a few degrees, but bass are still basically in a winter pattern. The main exception is that in creeks with stained water some fish have moved shallower, where they can be caught on small crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Look around rocks and in sun warmed pockets for these fish. Other fish remain in water ranging from 30-50 feet deep, with the bulk of these fish scattered around the main lake or at the mouths of major creeks. Within those areas bass will be found around the mouths of feeder creeks and in underwater ditches and drains, and some fish are also holding around deep standing timber. Many fish are lying just off the bottom, and drop shot rigs, jigging spoons and doodle rigs worked very slowly will all catch fish.
* Crappie: Captain Bill Plumley predicts that when water temperatures warm another 5 or 6 degrees into the mid to upper 50s the crappie bite will turn on. For now it’s still pretty slow.

Piedmont Area

Lake Russell:

* Crappie: Slow. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the crappie bite has yet to improve much, and the fish are still relatively inactive. Crappie remain in deep water in the 30-35 foot range, and because most brush piles on Lake Russell are shallower they are relating to bait schools and depth changes instead of brush. When water temperatures move up a few more degrees the fish should turn on.
* Black Bass: Slow to fair. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that bass fishing is just beginning to improve, although water temperatures remain cold. When temperatures rise a few more degrees the fish will get much more active. For now spotted bass continue to be bunched up in 20-30 feet of water in coves off the main channel. Look for schools of bait on your depth finder before choosing an area to fish, and then lower a drop shot rig baited with either a medium minnow or a four inch finesse worm to the bottom. Most of the fish are in the 1-2 pound range, and about 90 percent of the bass catch is spotted bass.
* 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: Slow. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the best bet for catching winter catfish is to fish cut bait on the bottom in 35-40 feet of water in the creek channels.

Lake Thurmond:

* Black bass: Fair. Buckeye Lures in Augusta reports that bass fishing is finally starting to improve, and some fish have moved up into pockets where they can be caught on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Most fish are in a prespawn mode, but the bucks have moved shallow first. The bigger females are still out on points, and they can be caught with jigs and three-quarter ounce spinnerbaits.
* Crappie: Good. Captain William Sasser reports that crappie are feeding in the very backs of creeks, and Buffalo Creek looks like a fishing pier right now! Many anglers are fishing jigs or minnows very shallow under bobbers, and others are trolling in the creek channels or jigging around shallow brush in 8-10 feet of water. Lots of small to medium sized males are being caught right now. On the upper end of Clarks Hill Guide Wendell Wilson reports that he is catching some crappie very shallow, and some are still out deeper. The bite has been strong, but productive locations vary from day to day.
* Striped and Hybrid Bass: Fair. Captain William Sasser reports that planer boards and free lined herring are popular in the Amity and Baker Creek areas right now, and fish are being caught around shallow pockets. Some fish are also being caught on downlines about 20 feet deep. Fish are very spread out, and pulling herring over shallow water down by the dam has also been productive. Some fish are even being caught on cut bait fished on the bottom by bank fishermen on both sides of the dam.

Lake Wylie:

* Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. FLW Professional and Guide Matt Arey reports that fish are beginning to transition out of winter areas and into a prespawn pattern, and fish have started to pull up shallower as water temperatures have risen. One major pattern is to look around secondary points at the mouths of major creeks, where fish will group up before spreading out to look for spawning grounds. Points with docks are particularly good. The other main pattern for catching late winter/early spring fish is to fish in the center of pockets that hold bait, where bass will concentrate before going to the bank. Little crankbaits like Shad Raps and Speed Traps will both catch fish, and jigs are good for fish that have already pulled up to docks.
* Catfish: Good to very good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that drift fishing for blue catfish has been very strong in 30-55 feet of water below the Buster Boyd Bridge where major creeks intersect the main river channel. Make long runs moving along the channel. On warmer days fish may move up onto deep flats to feed. While winter is the time for blue catfish, which continue to make up the majority of the catch, a few channel cats are thrown in. Fish can also be caught anchoring up the lake when there is some current moving.
* White perch: Spotty. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that perch fishing remains unpredictable from day to day.

Midlands Area

Lake Greenwood:

* Crappie: Good. Will Hinson of the Southern Crappie Tournament Trail reports that crappie are starting to turn on and become aggressive. Some fish are being caught against the banks in the backs of creeks, including Singleton and Beaver Creek. Small jigs or minnows 2-3 feet under a float will catch fish in less 4 feet of water. The bigger crappie are generally still out in the mouths of creeks, where they can be caught trolling jigs (with or without minnows) or tight-lining plain minnows from 6 feet down to the bottom over 13-17 feet of water.
* Catfish: Very good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that fish seemed to have turned on all across the lake, and he is catching good blue catfish drifting and anchoring in the mid lake areas and anchoring up the river. Shad are concentrated in the main channel and around bridges. Cut bait has been most productive.
* Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. FLW Professional Dearal Rodgers reports that fish have started to move up all over Lake Wateree, although they are still grouped up and have not scattered out yet. Fish can be found on the bank out to about 8 feet of water, and they will go up and down with the sun. Points, secondary points and docks are good places to look, and early in the morning fish may be staged on steeper banks while later in the afternoon they may spread out more. Mop jigs, Rattle Trap-type baits, size 8 or 9 Shad Raps in shad or especially crawdad color and large spinnerbaits will all catch fish. It is a good idea to keep an eye on the water temperature, but don’t overlook fishing an area just because it is still cool.

Lake Wateree:

* Crappie: Good. Sportsman’s Friend reports that crappie are starting to feed up, although they are still out deep over brush. They may be found anywhere from 6-8 feet deep down to the bottom over brush as deep as 30 feet. The majority of fish are still being caught on minnows, but the jig bite is also improving. Black and chartreuse is a good color choice.
* Largemouth Bass: Good. Sportsman’s Friend reports that the bass fishing has started to improve, and fish are hitting a crankbait well in 2-8 feet of water. Work the bait slowly as temperatures are still cold, and look around rocks. A few fish are also being caught on spinnerbaits worked in 6-8 feet of water around brush. The best bite has been in the mid-lake area where the water has some color, but the fish have also been biting down the lake.
* Catfish: Slow to fair. Captain Chris Simpson reports that the cold water still has the channel catfish congregated in the main river channel. 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. As water temperatures warm, look for fish to come up out of the channel and spread out on flats, humps and points.

Lake Monticello:

* Catfish: Good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that the bite for blue catfish in the 10-20 pound range is still good, and for patient anglers big fish are still available. Many shad and catfish remain glued to the bottom, and the most productive depth range has been 50-65 feet. Anchor around shad schools that are not tight to the bottom and slightly broken up, which indicates that fish are feeding on them. "Blacked out" schools on your graph may indicate dead areas where no predators are feeding. White perch, gizzard shad and even herring are working well, and cutting the bait in cubes about the size of a mussel has been catching the majority of the fish. Don’t overlook fishing around mussel beds. When nothing else will produce, try fishing the edges of tree lines.

Lake Murray:

* Striped Bass: Good. Lake World reports that striper have turned on all over the lake, although the mid-lake area has been the hottest recently. The most successful technique has been free-lining live herring over deep water, shallow water and across points. There is some schooling activity being reported, and very soon fishing cut bait off points will produce. Shellcracker: Very good. Lake World reports that the warming trend has really turned the shellcracker 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.
* Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. Captain Doug Lown reports that the bite varies day to day, but warming water temperatures have definitely made the fish more active and started to move them towards the banks. Fishing warm pockets with small crankbaits should catch fish that have pulled up following bait, and fish are just beginning to orient to the bottom where they will take jigs and worms. Some fish are also starting to stage around docks. The best fishing is still taking place on windy days.
* Crappie: Fair. Captain Brad Taylor reports that crappie fishing has been inconsistent at best, especially for numbers of fish. The fish he is catching are averaging a pound and a half or better, though. Usually it is possible to catch fish right now tight-lining at medium depths in the channels up the rivers, but this late winter many of the fish are pushed up shallow into the warm water. They are in some of the same places where they will spawn, but haven’t started bedding yet. Two techniques that should catch fish are tight-lining in the middle to the very backs of creeks with jigs and minnows, and casting jigs shallow to docks.
* Catfish: Fair. Captain Chris Simpson reports that fishing remains inconsistent. Some days are strong, while getting bit on other days is tough. In general 25-50 feet has been the best depth range for numbers of fish, and drifting cut herring is the best pattern. Expect to pick up a few striper. Drifting in and out of the channel in 55-80 feet will increase your chances of hooking up with big blue catfish, but decrease the action overall.

Santee Cooper System

* Largemouth bass: Fair. Captain Jim Glenn reports that bass have started to move towards the banks as they enter pre-spawn mode. Look around shoreline cover, and fish soft plastics, jigs or spinnerbaits.
* 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 bluegill probably won’t get going until the first full moon in March.
* Crappie: Good to very good. Captain Steve English reports that water temperatures in the shallows have hit 62-63 degrees at times, although main lake temperatures are still in the mid-50s. Early and late crappie can be caught on jigs and minnows fished as shallow as 1-2 feet of water. Captain Jim Glenn reports that crappie fishing is good near the shore and up the creeks in Lake Marion. In Lake Moultrie the Bonneau area has been strong, and reports indicate fish are being caught in back bays and sloughs on the west side of the lake. Black crappie traditionally reach bedding areas as the water temperatures approach 60 degrees.
* Shad: Good. Captain Jim Glenn reports that American shad are being caught in the Tailrace Canal and the Santee River. Catches are improving daily as the water warms and more fish migrate up the rivers. There have been reports of anglers reaching the 10 fish limit in the tailrace, but the peak of shad season is still ahead. Shad are typically angled using white or chartreuse curly tailed grubs up to 1/8 oz weight with light gear for sport. They are also caught on ultra light silver or green spoons and a jig-like lure known as a shad dart which is not too different from the grub rig on a jig head.
* Catfish: Slow. Captain Jim Glenn reports that catfishing remains slow in both of the Santee Cooper lakes, and few fish are being caught either deep or shallow. Fresh cut shad and herring will be the most popular baits for this early spring period.
* Striped Bass: Few reports. Captain Jim Glenn reports that striper are not being targeted very much right now, although there are some reports of schooling activity in Lake Moultrie since the water has started to warm a little. The spring spawning migration will begin soon as the water continues to warm.