if you want to visit it and find out what the gang said here is a link to it! Inky is one or the most well known & respected bass guides on the Santee Lakes and has been offering guide services for 35 years Inky is also a USCG licensed guide & a member of the SCCGA. Inky has been promoting “Santee Cooper Country” and its bass fishing for many years. Lake Marion Resort and Marina is the perfect vacation get-away located on the shores of the beautiful 110,000 acre Lake Marion in Santee, S.C. Odds are good you'll find a pattern that will provide you the opportunity to catch wintertime bass. If you can find one spot that produces well, your biggest challenge may be to merely find others that are very similar. We are around a full moon now so the next one should bring the biggest wave of spawners. Extensive areas of riprap are found around the dams of both lakes Marion and Moultrie, as well as along the dikes on Moultrie and the I-95 and Highway 301 bridges on upper Lake Marion. Following are 10 strategies that can help you be highly successful in your bass fishing efforts. Santee Cooper Country Bass Fishing With Inky Davis My first shiner fishing trip certainly hooked me. Finally, there are just a lot of bass finning around these lakes. A popular spot for locals employed by the nearby Santee-Cooper electric and water company, it’s arguably one of the best starting points for fishing on Lake Moultrie. Should the fish retreat, you can resort to some deep-water tactics in the same area you had been catching fish and you may considerably extend your bass catching. Fish from a 21 foot Gambler bass boat that is built for the comforts of bass fishing. Where the water is warmer, the fish will more readily bite. Santee Cooper Country Bass Fishing With Inky Davis Please Click Here to Visit My New Site. But a few big Arkansas blue catfish changed all that. Just as in the summer months, in winter night-fishing a prime pattern is to fish lighted piers. If you work an area and catch a few bass or get several bites, don't hesitate to work right back through the same area if the action slows as you move along. Indulge in the stunning surroundings of the towering pine trees around the lake, or head out onto the heart of the lake and get your fill of Catfish, Bass, and delicious Panfish. Generally, these riprap areas will lead from shallow water to some of the deepest water in the area in the shortest distance - a perfect recipe for success on cold-weather Lake Marion bass. October 8 ~ 11, 2020 . Usually 17-pound-test on a heavy baitcasting rod is adequate, but odds are good you will occasionally hook a big, maybe a giant, catfish that couldn't resist the shiner. ... You can stay up-to-date on Santee Cooper's response to COVID-19 on our COVID-19 Response ... Lake Data; Lake Data. The bass will be close to the same places you had found them during the daytime, except they are often even shallower and more aggressive. The influx of water can be good, especially if it's a warm rain and the water temperature jumps up in these areas. Now is the time to catch the fish of a lifetime. While there would like to do a day of Bass Fishing on Lake Marion with a local guide. The rocks I refer to are generally manmade riprap areas. Essentially, the predator must truly think like the prey to ensure success. No State license is required, just a permit from the General Store, and probably some bait. Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County, SC . If I see you doing something wrong, I am the teacher. If you do, you're likely in for an exceptional day if you find more places like that one. Tomorrow: 60° / 52° F Summerton. I `offer my guide services to adults & mature young people who have the  patience to enjoy a long day of serious bass fishing. Another reason for big baits is that this time of year is not the best time to expect large numbers of bass to come to the boat, but it is an excellent time of the year to hook a really big bass. The Santee Cooper Lakes offers some of the best fishing in South Carolina and we have some of the top fishing guides in South Carolina working out of Blacks Camp. We have 23 Confirmed World Records, and have been featured in numbers of TV Shows and Magazines. During this time of the year you'll find a lot of the largemouths in the creeks on Lake Marion. If you do, you can expect to continue catching bass. Re: Santee Cooper Bass Fishing Report « Reply #12 on: November 17, 2005, 04:32:54 PM » Hay gang I moved the rest of this topic to information area to give it back to lake reports. Bass, especially big bass, will lie around the edge of this defining edge of light and dark to ambush their prey. If you've caught some fish on ledges, then work the top of the ledge, especially if you can find some woody cover to go with it. Because striped bass need flowing water to spawn successfully, most reservoir populations are maintained solely by stocking. 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. The bass can feed in the more shallow water, but have quick and definable access back to the safety of the depths. Fish are about to start moving shallow. Dewayne Proffit . 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. Sep 7, 2019 Summerton . The top three places in the event were claimed by anglers throwing different baits to different types of targets. Lakes 1 through 5 are for day use fishing, while Lakes 6 through 7 are for registered campers. Other creeks that deserve a good look when the water conditions get dirty include Taw Caw, Eutaw, Potato, Popular and Wyboo creeks. When that occurs, bass tackle will seem mighty lightweight in shallow cover-laden water. ... Santee-Cooper Fishing Report . In South Carolina, only the Santee-Cooper reservoirs have suitable tributary rivers, the Congaree and Wateree, to meet their spawning needs. California Sport Fishing Licenses are not required to fish at Santee Lakes. On Lake Moultrie, the Angels and Black's camp areas are good, as are the deeper areas of the Hatchery. Text Capt Darryl Smith 803-367-6275 Catfish on the Santee Cooper Lakes and Rivers in SC with Guide and Pro Angler Capt. Please Click Here to Visit My New Site. all day working this pattern if you don't get some success. The lakes system provides 15,000 acres of federally managed land and water at the Santee National Wildlife Refuge, and an additional 18,250 acres are managed as Wildlife Management Areas by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. shows,5 radio interviews,65 major newspaper articles and 59 magazine articles such as (Bassmaster , Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Field & Stream, Fishing Facts, Fur-Fish & Game, Fishing World, Bassin, Southern Outdoors ,South Carolina Game & Fish & several others) .Inky has been in 6 books(1-Advanced Bass Fishing, by John Weiss was dedicated to Inky) .Inky also has an island (Inky Island) named after him on Lake Marion that is on most maps. To say that whetted my appetite was the understatement of the eon. Increase a lure’s effectiveness by pairing it with the ideal reel speed. In addition to jigs and plastic worms, slow-moving crankbaits will work very well. If we can be of any further assistance or if you're looking for A camping spot, food or any other lodging Look no further. The lighted piers attract baitfish, which attract game fish that attract fishermen. Keep that positive outlook and you will likely find fish more willing to cooperate. Fish this spot first. Late December can be a particularly good time to catch a big fish. Good availability and great rates. We're talking spinnerbaits in the shallows fishing here. There are no "off" seasons for a diehard largemouth bass angling addict. Inside look at how hunting, fishing and land-management priorities are established, and how... Give a Gift   All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Submit a Fishing Report The Fish have been spawning really well for the last couple weeks on Lake Marion and the bite has been on fire! Live bait generally means shiners and typically the most productive area is the upper end of Lake Marion, above the I-95 bridge. In addition, the jig-and-pig combo will certainly produce plenty of action and may actually get the nod as the best big-fish producer of the bottom bumpers. Miscellaneous . First of all, the two lakes are huge, offering over 170,000 surface acres of water to fish. Great savings on Santee-Cooper, United States fishing charters online. Mountains Area. These fish are not likely to notice the effects of a brief warming trend and won't rush to the shallows like their already shallow brethren. by FLW Communications. The 10 strategies we've discussed can obviously be used in various combinations, some of which can help you work out solutions quicker. Mud Hole makes rod-building simple and fun for novice rod builders. When it gets really cold, go fishing, but think heavy cover or deep water and slow, slower and slowest. Bottom bumpers are always a good bet here, but slow-rolling a spinnerbait down the rocks is another excellent method of hooking a big bass. The only thing their Santee Cooper bass had in common was a shallow water home. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. One tactic I've had really good success with in this situation is flipping. These places can be especially productive after those three-day warm spells noted earlier. Top Santee-Cooper destinations. The Santee Cooper Lakes are filled with a wide variety of fish for all levels of sportsman. The bite has been similar in both lakes. We supply all rod and reels, bait, tackle, boat, and boating equipment. Trout: Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that in December an upswing in the fishing will begin, and by the end of the month some of the best trout action of the year will be taking place. Check with Inky about taking parties out for. When cold water lowers the metabolism of bass, slow, bottom-bumping baits, especially sizeable baits, are worth the effort to catch these sometimes-lethargic fish. Sometimes, it just won't seem to make sense. Some of the best fishing, boating, and golfing in the country is in Santee Cooper Country. The bottom bumpers fit the speed and depth requirements of the fish perfectly. The upper part of Lake Marion, in the river during normal flow conditions, can be excellent, as can the area around the Diversion Canal. All Rights Reserved. The most productive fishing is in the West Branch of the Cooper. Fishing guide Joe Dennis of J Hook Charters had planned to take his clients out to catch striped bass on the Santee Cooper lakes last week. Lake Marion is South Carolina’s largest lake, and Lake Moultrie is the state’s third-largest. When flipping, you can literally drop the lure on their nose, very quietly with barely a ripple on the water. The fishing is often slower because anglers must take more time to probe the depths; doing so is a more reliable way to catch fish in the long haul. With the Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system, anglers have ultimate kayak control... Get ready to braise ground venison with all the traditional chili ingredients, directly on the... A custom rod can be affordable and enjoyable to build when you use a kit that comes with... Op/Ed from the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Anglers. Santee Lakes is open daily with variable hours. Simplify breakfast or brunch for a crowd by making this savory venison chorizo quiche recipe. Christmas Presents, Birthday Presents & Anniversaries. These fish are often very spooky as well, so quiet can be very important. With a 7 1/2-foot rod, you can work the lure very slowly right in the midst of very heavy cover. Santee Cooper in mid-March is some of the best fishing in the country. Three months of studying the lake, the time of year, tournament reports, weather reports, bombarding Facebook groups for water reports, a hefty tackle order and tons of support from friends, family, and most importantly, my fiancee, and I was ready for the KBF Open on Santee Cooper. Some will drift over stumpy flats near deeper water and still others will slow-troll the edges of weedlines or ditches that course through the many flats in these areas. Bottom bumpers are the lure of choice for most anglers in this situation. Elite Field; AOY Standings; ROY Standings; Opens AOY; Central Opens ... Bass Basics; Fishing and Boat Licenses; Smallmouth Fishing; Lunker Club; Top Lures; ... 2020 Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes brought to you by the United States Marine Corps. Tactic I 've had really good success with in this situation is flipping bass fishermen land some big every! Santee South Carolina 's Santee Cooper Country bass fishing for 1 to 2 people for 8 to 10 including... 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