Latest Santee Cooper Fishing Report
Provided by Captain Joe Dennis with Father and Kyle Austin
Striper
Lots of big stripers are being caught in deep water trolling stretch 25’s and umbrella rigs. Schooling fish are being caught in the afternoon in 25 plus ft of water. Look for the birds. Buck tails and swim baits working good. Carolina rigs fished with live herring above the schools are producing also.
Bass
B.A.S.S. report from captain Kyle Austin
Bass are in their winter patterns. Lot of fish will be moving shallow chasing threadfin Shad and crawfish! Fish will be schooling throughout the day on shad. These fish will be targeted with swimbaits, crank baits, and walking top waters. With the expansive amount of eel grass and hydrilla throughout the lakes this will make for some great cover to find largemouth. Frogs, Texas rigs, and lipeless crank baits will be great techniques to target those fish relating to the grass. Overall the fall bite is coming and the bass fishing will continue to get better.
Bream
The big bream are on the deeper brush piles in 25-35 ft. Crickets on drop shots or Carolina rigs work the best.
Catfish
In the main lakes Anglers are drifting on the 20-25ft hills, flats and small creeks for all sizes but lots of larger 20 plus lb fish coming out the 50 plus foot depth. Use Santee Cooper rigs .Cut herring and shad will be your best baits
Crappie
Most of your crappie will be on brush this time of year. 25-35ft. Casting small jigs or minnows on corks will work the best.
