NEW for 2021! “The fish are not only plentiful but average very large sizes, also some of the best I’ve seen in a long time.”. Everything you need to know about fishing in South Carolina's Santee Cooper lakes for catfish, crappie, bream & more. Almost 80 years after the lakes were impounded and the first population of landlocked striped bass in the United States was discovered, Santee Cooper has had a fishable population of stripers. Thought I would share my lineup of heavy hitters for targeting Santee's spring time largemouth. Craig does most of his fishing on the Cooper River; his plan is to get on the water before dawn and work the shallows. On Santee, 99% of the field fished Lake Marion, only about three fished Moultrie and about 50% of the water wasn’t touched. They received a Lews Baitcast reel for weighing in the BF at 7.96 lbs! “The Cooper River is a larger river and one that seems to always have current flow with some generation at the Pinopolis Dam,” he said. Major Chad Ardis and I show you how To Catch big Bass from Cypress trees on Santee-Cooper lakes in South Carolina. But having reliable current and deeper water can be important. The striped bass limit in the Santee River system is three fish between 23 and 25 inches with one fish greater than 26 inches from Oct. 1-June 15. But it’s teeming with largemouth bass. 2nd Place went to Don Pendavis & Bobby Gibbs with another great bag weighing in at 25.21 lbs! “I’ll target the edge lines of big grass mats along the river, as well as the edges of rice fields with deep water nearby,” he said. “The mouths of the small creeks are excellent, as are most of the breaks or pockets with a good weed lines. The Cooper River flows to the Atlantic via Charleston from the Pinopolis Dam that impounds Lake Moultrie in Moncks Corner. Based out of Cross, you’ll head out onto Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion looking to fill the boat with some monstrous Catfish and exciting Striped Bass. Dennis said that the contrasts are important considerations for the two rivers. Deer season remains open for several more weeks, and the final segment of duck season reopens Dec. 12. Inky Davis, who grew up on Santee Cooper and has guided there for more than half a century, said a key depth could be the first drop – where the level goes just a foot or so to 4 or 5 feet. Both lakes hold a year-round population of Blue, Flathead, White, and Channel Catfish. “I cast the worm around heavy shoreline cover in shallow water, and also around deeper cover in the slack water holes that may be 6 to 8 feet deep at times. “Early and late in the day, the topwater action is great. The upper of the two Santee Cooper lakes is prime largemouth territory. Veteran guide Leroy Suggs believes the fishing … Another angler who runs the rivers this month is Joe Dennis, a 45-year-old resident of Bonneau who is one of only a handful of guides who fish for bass in both river systems. DAY 1 : 6:00 AM ET John C. Land III Landing 4404 Greenall Road Summerton SC 29148 Phone: 803.435.4405. “The bass action is sensational, but with so many other outdoor opportunities available as fall approaches, fishing pressure slacks a bit. November 2020 Fishing Report (Credit SCDNR Freshwater Fishing Trends) Bass: Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that when it finally gets cooler in November fish will start to follow shad into the backs. You got to be able to put the lure in tight places, under limbs, around shoreline bushes and other natural objects. Tap in the Phantom Logo to get started! “The boat may be in 15 feet of water, but the targets will be very shallow. Hit up the deep waters of Lake Marion or Moultrie in summer, and you can … Dennis said the Santee and Cooper rives offer great diversity in fishing style, with the common denominator of great bass fishing. Remember, somebody's going to catch fish … Santee Cooper … The best lures for me have been Tiny Torpedoes and Flukes, and the best color for the Flukes has been white. $5,000 1st Place! Pleasant Hill Landing on FS 204 F, midway between US 17 and SC 41, downstream from Jamestown, offers good access to the Santee. Sonar equipment and other high-tech tools are important to success. Then, when the sun lights up that side, he’ll head to the shady size of the river. “But plenty of bass in the 3- to 5-pound class are caught, and these larger fish certainly  keep us from getting complacent, and we’re occasionally catching some really big fish,” he said. “They’re both outstanding bass factories,” he said. DAY 1 : 3:30 PM ET John C. Land III Landing 4404 Greenall Road Summerton SC 29148 Phone: 803.435.4405. Important … AHQ INSIDER Santee Cooper (SC) Fall 2020 Fishing Report – Updated October 9 October 9 Santee Cooper water levels are at 75.14 in Lake Marion (full pool is 76.8) and 74.97 in Lake Moultrie (full pool is 75.5). “You’ll get bites on heavier line for sure, but the light line and weight does make a difference in bites,” he said. Matthews said one lure that’s ideal for this type situation is an unweighted plastic worm. I tried to make it fall back to the same spot every time. Find a local fishing guide in Santee Cooper Country. FISHING INFO/GUIDES — Joe Dennis, Bonneau, 843-245-3762; Angler’s Sporting Goods, Moncks Corner, 843-761-1171, www.anglersportinggoods.com. Baits that should produce in the canal would be a walking type topwater early and a heavy white bucktail jig later in the day. September is a sensational month for an assortment of outdoor activities, but one that’s often overlooked is river fishing for largemouth bass in the coastal plain. The shad spawn, bass spawn and ample shallow cover make for fantastic fishing on Santee Cooper in the spring, as the Costa FLW Series Southeastern Division’s best sticks proved last week. ... "My best technique was to throw the Senko out and let it fall straight down on a slack line. HOW TO GET THERE — The Santee and Cooper rivers flow from Wilson and Pinopolis dams downstream to the coast. Santee Cooper Country Bass Fishing With Inky Davis Please Click Here to Visit My New Site. Bass Basics; Fishing and Boat Licenses; Smallmouth Fishing; Lunker Club; Top Lures; Gear. Ready? BEST TECHNIQUES — Fish topwater baits early in the morning for schooling bass on both rivers. Matthews said that his favorite lures have been topwaters and plastic worms. One longtime Lake Marion guide told me once that "if we get three days of really warm weather in January, fast-forward your thinking to March." But for adrenalin junkies looking for non-stop action, the fall season for striped bass can bring steady, heart-pounding action on a daily basis. All fishing guides listed on our site are US Coast Guard licensed. Jason Morse fishing solo won the Santee Fall Final Saturday with 5 bass weighing 25.68 lbs! Tournament Results Santee Cooper, SC Fall Final Dec 19, 2020 Tournament Results Smith Mtn Lake, VA Fall Final Dec 13, 2020 Tournament Results James River Fall Final Dec 13, 2020 The top 10 pros primarily relied on ChatterBaits, punch rigs and finesse soft plastics to make the cut. 2nd Place went to Don Pendavis & Bobby Gibbs with another great bag weighing in at 25.21 lbs! River fishing is a change of pace type fishing for many and on these dynamic rivers that change can mean catching more bass. “I’ll cast the lure to the edge of cover and allow it to drift downstream with the current as it falls. Description ; Description. After it soaked a minute I'd jump it up real fast and let it fall straight down again. PHOENIX BASS FISHING LEAGUE - 2021 - Santee Cooper. Based on both the strength of its tournament bass returns and its tremendous fisheries for other species, such as catfish, striped bass, and crappie, the Santee-Cooper … Add in the BONUS $ and Jason took home $2,200.00! Located in Historic Berkley County, www.berkeleysc.org Blacks is 45 minutes from Charleston and 1 1/2 hours from Myrtle Beach, SC. Right now is one of the best times to fish Santee Cooper in South Carolina. Bass guide Inky Davis (803-478-7289) considers September a transition month for largemouth bass and it initiates a … “The comparisons I’ve found work well for fishermen in that many of the basic fall tactics and patterns are the same, so lures won’t vary that much from one river to the other,” Dennis said. The water temperature is still quite high in September, so most of the fish are oriented to the main river with the current flow.”. This website will give you examples of how exciting bass fishing in Santee South Carolina can be with the right guide to show you around, Inky Davis the bass fishing guide for Santee Cooper Lakes invites you to come and visit him and his family of fisherman for a day of fun on the Santee Cooper … Boat access is somewhat limited. Use PHANTOMCATT15 at checkout and earn 15% off your order! Add in the BONUS $ and Jason took home $2,200.00! Take Off. Springtime bass fishing on Santee Cooper Lakes, SC during FLW Costa 2018. Matthews said action is better with current. The bass fishing remains excellent on Santee Cooper, and Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that there are fish at all stages of the spawn. “They have lots of bass for fast action, and both produce quality fish. The Santee Cooper … This little trick will add some larger fish to your catch.”. Other lures will produce for different anglers, but for Matthews, other than a worm, he will use a Tiny Torpedo in frog pattern early and late in the day for topwater action. Tweets by @nchuntnfish “Fast action and hefty bass make a great summertime combination.”. Early in the morning, before sunrise, he’ll work the side of the river the sun hits first. First, fishing … “The river fishing has again become very popular with fishermen, and with good reason,’ Matthews said. Get info on facilities, guides & reports. “It’s not that the fish aren’t biting like crazy,” said Craig, 50, the head football coach at Timberland High School in St. Stephens for the past 18 years, a stint that included Class 2A state championships in 2011 and 2014. He said the largemouth bass fishing has been better for the past couple of years than he’s seen in many years. “Fishing the river is different than fishing Lake Marion,” he said. Dennis said that when the topwater action slows, the bite does not. “Current enables me to get the lure in tight cover otherwise obscured by branches covering the water,” he said. 803-379-7029 Call or Text Email Us … Dennis said comparison and contrasts between the two are interesting. “The Santee River is smaller (and) also a good bit more difficult to run in a large boat, especially in the upper end,” he said. Take Off. The first waves of fish have completed the spawn and there is a smaller group of fish currently on beds, but there will be another big group on the next moon cycle. “I’ve fished the rivers for about five years for both bass and bream,” Craig said. That’s why catfishing here is often ranked among the best in the country. I don’t begin my retrieve until it gets under some bushes or heavy cover. “This works well, because it’s not all that unusual that I may fish both rivers in a day — one in the morning and one in the afternoon, depending on the patterns,” he said. Yet at Guntersville, no … Bob Matthews, a 68-year-old pastor from Ladson has a farm adjacent to the Santee River and has fished it for the past 60 years. “White has been a very good color, but different fishermen have their own preferences,” he said. I’d give the Cooper River the edge for top-end size as the most likely to produce a double-digit sized largemouth. “At this time of day, I’ll use a Texas rigged plastic worm, usually a 6-inch worm with a 3/16-ounce sinker. SKU: N/A Categories: Bass Tournaments, Santee Cooper Division, Tournaments. Mitchell thinks that there will be two potential tournament winning patterns going on in late October at Santee Cooper. Dennis said he gets on the river early, just at first light, to take advantage of some sensational topwater schooling action. DAY 1 : 2:00 PM ET John C. Land III Landing 4404 Greenall Road Summerton SC 29148 Phone: 803.435.4405. “Most mornings for about an hour, the fish will be topwater schooling,” he said. “On the Santee River, success depends on casting ability. “I’m also having a lot of success casting to the middle part of the river in deeper holes where bass congregate as the sun gets high.”. But excellent launching facilities exist along both rivers.”. “I access the Santee River from the St. Stephens area and the Cooper River from Moncks Corner, just below the dam. Fishing with Brett Mitchell Santee-Cooper Guide and Instructor Specializing in Trophy Size Largemouth Bass - Blue Catfish - Striped Bass (In season) CALL 803-379-7029 BrettMitchell@bellsouth.net Fishing With Brett only Uses rod holders from. According to angler Art Craig of Moncks Corner, fewer bass fishermen are on the rivers at this time of the year, especially during the week. Depending on the water level in the river, patterns may change in terms of types of cover and depths. Look for something different along the course of the river. Surface water temperatures are around 70-74 degrees. But the rivers are September treasures for bass fishermen.”. 4th went to Nelson Walker and Chris Brunson with 19.86 lbs! DAY 1 : 7:30 AM ET John C. Land III Landing 4404 Greenall Road Summerton SC 29148 Phone: 803.435.4405. A trip to either river, or both in the same day, is an option for potentially great September bass fishing. Bucky DeBerry & William Thigpen win the Santee Cooper Fall Points! Craig said that under normal conditions, the river is fairly clear unless there’s been a lot of rainfall. He simply switches gears and starts working a Texas-rigged plastic worm.