South Carolina DNR Freshwater report 7-31

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:

Black Bass: Good. Captain Pat Bennett reports that daytime fishing can be slow in the heat, and many fish are offshore in a traditional summer pattern of following roaming schools of baitfish. However, early and late some fish move shallower. First thing and at dusk there has been a good bite on topwater lures such as Spooks and Jitterburgs worked around points that extend out a good ways. In the afternoon start on the shady side of the lake. 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 and spinnerbaits. When the sun is overhead move offshore and fish Caroline rigs or shakey head worms deep.
Trout: Fair. Captain Steve Pietrykowski advises that the fishing has slowed. Bites are spread out and you have to work to catch fish. Trolling in the 60-70 foot range has been most productive and live shiners are outfishing spoons right now. A few fish are still being caught on hardware. The best action is in the main lake and fishing at the intakes has been hit or miss. Night fishing has only been fair, but suspending nightcrawlers and shiners 25 to 40 feet down near the intakes should catch some fish.

Lake Keowee: (no change from July 21)

Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Slow to fair. Guide Brad Fowler reports that early in the day there is occasional topwater activity, but overall fishing has slowed in the dog days of summer. 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. Many anglers are heading 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 Hartwell:

Catfish: Good. Captain Bill Plumley reports that channel catfish are scattered out across the whole lake in 15-30 feet of water and catches of small to medium sized fish are really strong. They will take both dip (stink) bait and cut herring. 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.
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Fair. Captain Bill Plumley reports that striper and hybrids fishing has slowed down a little in the last week or two. Overall, catch rates are down substantially from last year. The best bite is still fishing off points along the edge of the main river channel. Fish down lined live herring 35 feet deep in 60 feet of water.
Black Bass: Fair. Guide Brad Fowler reports that Lake Hartwell bass fishing is starting to get tougher. While the topwater bite off deeper, main lake points remains pretty good, but average sizes are way 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 off points 25-30 feet deep. The bigger fish seem to have moved very deep into 40-50 foot deep timber, where they are mixed in with striper and blueback herring schools.
Crappie: Slow. Captain Bill Plumley reports that some crappie are being caught under lights at night around bridges and brush piles in 20-25 feet of water. Anglers are fishing both minnows and jigs. Daytime action is very slow.

Piedmont Area

Lake Russell:

Black Bass: Fair to good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that spotted bass can 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 riprap bite has died down with the end of the blueback herring spawn, and 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. 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. The best fishing is in troughs at the entrance to coves – fish on the bottom in 50 feet of water or 40 feet deep in 60 feet of water with live herring. The best fishing is early in the morning, from one hour before to two hours after daylight. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that striper are grouped up in the Savannah River just below the Russell Dam, but with the heat the bite is strictly an early morning phenomenon. By 8 a.m. the fish pretty much stop feeding. His boat has been catching fish free lined live herring and topwater lures.
White perch: Very good. Guide Wendell Wilson reports that white perch fishing is on fire at the top of Clarks Hill, and the size has been excellent. Fish minnows just off the bottom in 20 feet of water.
Crappie: Good. Captain William Sasser reports that crappie have moved a little deeper again, and his boat is catching fish 20 feet deep in 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.

Lake Wylie:

White perch: Very good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that perch are biting very well on the flats in 15-20 feet of water. Fish minnows or worms on a Sabiki rig vertically.
Largemouth Bass: Slow to fair. FLW Professional and Guide Matt Arey reports that a typical summer pattern has set in on Lake Wylie and tournaments limits have been very rare. One productive pattern is fishing offshore around humps, bridges and points with DD-22s, Hopkins spoons, football jigs and big plastic worms. The other major pattern is fishing shallow for bass related to bream. Look for bass cruising in packs and targeting bream around docks and in the backs of sandy coves. Prop baits, swimbaits and weightless Senkos will all work.
Catfish (unchanged from July 21): Very good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that both channel and blue catfish are biting very well despite intense heat and high water temperatures. The best fishing has been drifting in 15-22 feet of water, and fish are not expressing a clear preference for cut bluegill or white perch. Flatheads can be caught night fishing with live bait around cover and structure.

Midlands Area

Lake Greenwood:

Catfish: Good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that the channel catfish bite remains pretty good and catches of big fish will increase now that the spawn should be over. The best approach is anchoring on humps and points, setting up so that you can fan cast offerings in 5-20 feet of water. The best option is fishing with stinkbait and shrimp, but adding in some cut or live bait will increase the chances of catching bigger fish (and gars) but decrease overall numbers.
Crappie (unchanged from July 21): Slow to fair. 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.
Largemouth Bass (unchanged from July 21): Slow to fair. Sportsman’s Friend reports that it’s really too hot for bass fishing, but anglers who insist on getting out on the water have the best chances of catching fish early in the morning, especially around block walls.The baitfish like the cooler water from the blocks and settle in overnight. Topwater lures and floating worms are a good bet. A few fish can also be caught working plastic worms in 15 to 18 feet of water around brush piles. At night some fish will be caught around brush in 12-18 feet of water by anglers pulling dark worms.

Lake Wateree:

White Perch: Good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that huge schools of white perch are roaming the mid-lake flats, and most any bait will catch them. Worms, minnows, small spoons and more will catch fish, which can be taken on the surface, on the bottom or in between. Catching six fish at once on a Sabiki rig is very possible.
Catfish: Very good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that the summer catfish pattern is in full swing and in an average day of fishing you can expect to catch 25-35 fish drifting. Bullheads, channel catfish and blue catfish are mixed together, but it is the 2-8 pound blue cats, with larger fish 15-30 pound fish mixed in, that you want to pursue. Try drifting cut white perch on mid lake flats at depths of 10 to 15 feet. Early in the morning or at night trophy blue catfish can be caught anchoring bluegill heads on the bottom.
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.
Crappie: Fair. Will Hinson of the Southern Crappie Tournament Trail reports that fish can still be caught around brush in 12-18 feet of water by anglers who can stand the heat. Most fish are out in the main river channel, scattered from the top to bottom of Lake Wateree. Some days fish will be suspended over the brush, and some days they will be holding very tight to it. Jigs are working best, especially Fish Stalker Ugly Green, Pearl White and Robin Egg (blue with metallic flakes).

Lake Murray:

Bream: Very good. Lake World reports that shellcracker and bluegill fishing remains strong. For bluegill fish around docks in 3-7 feet of water with crickets. For shellcracker target 4-12 foot deep coves with worms on the bottom.
Catfish: Good. Captain Chris Simpson reports that his boat is still making some very strong catches but the bite has slowed a bit. There has been a major freshwater grass shrimp die-off, and the channel cats have gorged on the crustaceans. This is slowing down their feeding, although the conclusion of the catfish spawn should be a positive factor. Fish are feeding in 15-25 feet of water, but they can also be found in 5-15 feet on certain days. 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 from day to day or even change as the sun gets higher. Cut herring, shrimp, and stink bait are the best baits. A few blues will be caught off of points while targeting channels.
Striped Bass: Fair to good. Lake World reports that, unusual for this time of year, the best bite is coming on free lined live herring pulled over deep water in the lower lake. Usually the fish should be suspended in 60-90 feet of water, but right now they are feeding shallower. There is also some down line activity 40-50 feet deep on the lower end. There continues to be some schooling activity early and late over shallow points that run out into deep water, but these are mainly smaller fish.
Crappie: Fair to good. Captain Brad Taylor reports that he is 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. Brad is using his trolling motor to stay over the brush and dropping minnows down 12-20 feet.
Largemouth Bass: Slow to fair. Captain Doug Lown reports that fish remain in a typical summer pattern and not many people are fishing. A few fish are shallow, some fish are deep, and some are suspended, but pretty much no matter where you fish the bite is better early in the morning. Try to work 15-20 feet of water around rocks and rocky points close to deep water with a shakey head worm or a Texas rig. Up the rivers there is a decent buzzbait bite first thing in the morning around secondary points near deep water. The fish may turn on a little after rain storms.

Santee Cooper System

Crappie: Good. Captain Steve English reports that the crappie bite remains strong around offshore brushpiles in 7-18 feet of water in both the upper and lower lake. Some really nice fish over 2 pounds have been caught in 10-12 feet of water. The best brush is proximate to depth changes, and fish will take both minnows and jigs. Use your trolling motor to hold over the brush. Summer heat does not necessarily force the fish deep, and so fish may stay around brush at this depth for some time.
Bream: Good. Captain Steve English reports that bream are scattered out in 3-5 feet of water around grass, lily pads and shallow brush. Crickets are the best bait. They will spawn throughout the summer on the full moons, and at those times they will be found over shallow beds.
Largemouth bass: Slow to fair. Captain Jimmie Hair (843-553-1139) reports that fishing remains more difficult with the intense heat, and he is still targeting much of his effort in the swamp above the I-95 Bridge. Fish in the shade of cypress trees in 5-10 feet of water. Captain Hair is making his best catches on a creature bait called an Ugly Otter. In the main lakes the shallow bite has turned off, but a few fish can be caught off drops on Carolina rigs. In the Cooper River fishing remains strong because of the current and cooler water temperatures. 1-2 pound fish can still be caught at the lower stages of the tide on Senkos, with the best tide being the outgoing around the ditches and rice fields. The best river bite for larger fish is in the late evening and after dark. Big worms and buzzbaits will catch quality fish, b