Santee Cooper System / Lake Marion / Lake Moultrie

[CaptainMorgan!]

The striper fishing on the upper end of Lake Marion is good in the river on the flats as well as in the lower end of the lake and on Lake Moultrie. Herring has been the bait of choice for most anglers, with shad also producing some action as well.

[CaptainMorgan!]

Lake Moultrie-Stripers on live herring near powerhouse at night.

[CaptainMorgan!]

Lake Marion: Largemouth Bass: Fair, using artificial worms, and topwater Rebels fishing along the banks and point early in the morning. Striped Bass: Fair, using shad and live herring with down rods in 25 feet of water. Bream and Shellcrackers: Excellent, using redworms and crickets in 4 to 8 feet of water.

? Lake Moultrie: Largemouth Bass: Fair, casting, spinnerbaits, plastic worms and lizards along docks and structure in shallow water. Striped Bass: Good, with down-rods in 30 feet of water with live herring near the powerhouse and also trolling stretch 25's when live bait does not produce fish in 30 feet of water. Night fishing has been the most productive. Bream: Excellent, using crickets, redworms, and small minnows, around manmade fish attractors. Water temperature is 82 degrees. Lake is clear and full.

[CaptainMorgan!]

SANTEE-COOPER RESERVOIR: Lake Marion -- Lots of crappie in deep water around bridge pilings, piers. Stripers on shad, herring 25-30 feet deep. Lake Moultrie -- Stripers on live herring, Stretch 25 lures 30 feet deep, mainly near powerhouse. Largemouth along shoreline on variety of lures.

[CaptainMorgan!]

SANTEE-COOPER RESERVOIR--Lake Marion: Stripers on live herring and shad fished 25 feet down. Scattered largemouth in early morning on topwater lures. Lake Moultrie: Stripers on live herring fished 30 feet deep. Also on jigged spoons and trolled Stretch 25 lures

[CaptainMorgan!]

SANTEE-COOPER RESERVOIR: Lake Marion- Stripers on herring, shad fished 25 feet deep. Lake Moultrie- Stripers on jigging spoons, live herring 30 feet deep near powerhouse. Largemouth on artificial lizards, spinnerbaits around structure.
e pilings on minnows.

[CaptainMorgan!]

SANTEE-COOPER RESERVOIR: Lake Marion- Plentiful bream, catfish on live baits. Scattered largemouth on artificial worms, topwater lures along shoreline. Scattered stripers on live shad, herring. Lake Moultrie- Best for bream, catfish on traditional baits. Stripers near power house on live herring, trolled Stretch 25 lures. Largemouth around docks, deep structure on spinnerbaits, artificial worms, lizards.

[CaptainMorgan!]

The striper action has improved and reports are coming in from throughout the lake with fish schooling and being caught drifting and trolling. The fish have been schooling early and late in the day, but some of the best fishing seems to have been by drifting bucktails or live bait. Shad are the preferred live bait, but shiners will work very well if you can?t get shad. Find the areas where the baitfish congregate and drift your lure or bait at the depth the shad are schooled. Generally the stripers will readily move up a couple of feet to take your offering so most angers will lower the bait no deeper than to the top of the baitfish depth.

[CaptainMorgan!]

SANTEE-COOPER RESERVOIR: Lake Marion -- Lots of stripers on live baits fished 25 feet deep. Big catfish on live and cut herring, shad on bottom in deep water. Crappie around brush, man-made attractors, bridge pilings on minnows. Lake Moultrie -- Striped bass in topwater lures cast to surfacing schools. Largemouth on a variety of lures worked in shallow water at Hog Swamp. Crappie around thick cover on Beetlespin lures, minnows. Catfish on traditional baits 35-50 feet deep.

[CaptainMorgan!]

SANTEE COOPER SYSTEM

LAKE MARION: No new reports. Largemouth Bass: Good, using artificial worms, and bucktails fishing along the banks and point early in the morning. Striped Bass: Excellent, using live shiner with down rods in 25 feet of water.

LAKE MOULTRIE: Largemouth Bass: Poor. Try casting spinnerbaits, plastic worms and lizards along docks and structure. Striped Bass: Fair, trolling with Stretch-25s, no live bait fishing at present, some schooling. Crappie: Fair to Good, using small to medium minnows and Beetlespins around fish attraction areas and brush piles. Catfish: Excellent, using cut herring, menhaden (which are schooling), 25-50 feet deep near the bottom along dike edges.

[CaptainMorgan!]

SANTEE-COOPER RESERVOIR: Lake Marion- Big catfish on cut shad in deep water. Some stripers on shiners fished 25 feet deep. Scattered largemouth along shoreline. Lake Moultrie- Lots of catfish on cut baits along dike edges. Stripers on trolled Stretch 25 lures. Crappie on minnows, Beetlespin lures around thick cover.

[CaptainMorgan!]

LAKE MARION: Largemouth Bass: Good, using artificial worms, Carolina rigs and bucktails fishing along the banks and points, especially in the morning. Crappie: Excellent. Try using small and medium minnows over deep brush piles, bridge pilings and piers. Catfish: Excellent, using cut bait, cut shad, herring and shiners off the bottom in deep water. Good catches in shallow water at night. Bream and Shellcrackers: Very good. Good size fish being caught using redworms and crickets in 4 to 6 feet of water and moving shallow.

LAKE MOULTRIE: Largemouth Bass: Good. Try casting spinnerbaits, plastic worms and lizards along docks and structure. Striped Bass: Good. Good catches in the early morning and at night fishing with live herring 40 feet deep around the power plant and the Pinopolis Dam. Crappie: Good, using crickets, small to medium minnows and Beetlespins around fish attraction areas and brush piles. Catfish: Good, using cut herring, menhaden (which are schooling), chicken livers and shiners 10 to 20 feet deep near the bottom along dike edges and around the dam. Bream: Good, using crickets and red worms around fish attraction areas and crappie beds.

[CaptainMorgan!]

LAKE MARION: Largemouth Bass: Good, using artificial worms, Carolina rigs and bucktails fishing along the banks and points, especially in the morning. Striped Bass: Slow, using live shiners with down rods in 25 feet of water and trolling with red headed rebels. Some schooling reported and catches with top water plugs. White Perch: Slow. Try jigging off the bottom with Hopkins spoons. Crappie: Good. Try using small and medium minnows over deep brush piles, bridge pilings and piers. Catfish: Excellent, using cut bait, cut shad, herring and shiners off the bottom in deep water. Good catches in shallow water at night. Bream and Shellcrackers: Excellent. Good size fish being caught using redworms and crickets in 4 to 6 feet of water and moving shallow.

LAKE MOULTRIE: Largemouth Bass: Good. Try casting spinnerbaits, plastic worms and lizards along docks and structure. Also, casting Rattletraps and Rapala lures around the Pinopolis point and the old hatchery. Striped Bass: Good. Good catches in the early morning and at night fishing with live herring 40 feet deep around the power plant and the Pinopolis Dam. Also some catches trolling with Stretch-25s. Crappie: Fair, using crickets, small to medium minnows and Beetlespins around fish attraction areas and brush piles. Catfish: Good, using cut herring, menhaden (which are schooling), chicken livers and shiners 10 to 20 feet deep near the bottom along dike edges and around the dam. Bream: Good, using crickets and red worms around fish attraction areas and crappie beds. Shellcrackers: Good. Try crickets and red worms along the banks along river runs and points.

REPORTERS: The S.C. Department of Natural Resources appreciates the cooperation of fishing trend reporters for South Carolina's major lakes: Jocassee - Hoyett's Tackle; Keowee - Fishing Hole; Hartwell - Lake Hartwell Fishing and Marine; Russell - Tony's Bait and Tackle; Thurmond - Bladon's; Wylie - Catawba Tackle; Greenwood - Sportsman's Friend; Wateree - Wateree Marina; Murray - Dooley's Sport Shop; Marion - Lanes; and Moultrie - Atkins Boat Landing.

[CaptainMorgan!]

SANTEE COOPER SYSTEM

LAKE MARION: Largemouth Bass: Good, using artificial worms, Carolina rigs and bucktails fishing along banks and points, especially in morning. Crappie: Good, using small and medium minnows over deep brush piles, bridge pilings and piers. Catfish: Excellent, using cut shad, herring and shiners. Bream and Shellcrackers: Excellent, using redworms and crickets in 4 to 6 feet of water.

LAKE MOULTRIE: Largemouth Bass: Good, casting spinnerbaits, plastic worms and lizards along docks and structure. Also, casting Rattletraps and Rapala lures around Pinopolis point and Old Hatchery. Striped Bass: Good, casting and trolling Stretch-25s . Crappie: Fair. Catfish: Good, using cut herring, menhaden (which are schooling), chicken livers and shiners. Bream: Good, using crickets and redworms around fish crappie beds. Shellcrackers: Good, using crickets and redworms along the banks in river runs and along points.

[CaptainMorgan!]

LAKE MOULTRIE: Largemouth Bass: Good, casting spinnerbaits, plastic worms and lizards along docks and structure. Also, casting Rattletraps and Rapala lures around Pinopolis point and Old Hatchery. Striped Bass: Good, casting and trolling Stretch-25s early morn. Good catches at night with blueback herring. Fish are schooling. Crappie: Good, using crickets, small to medium minnows and Beetlespins around fish attraction areas and brush piles. Some 1.5 pound and 2 pound crappie being caught on the bed with minnows and jigs. Catfish: Good, using cut herring, menhaden (which are schooling), chicken livers and shiners 10 to 20 feet deep near the bottom along dike edges and around the dam. Bream: Good, using crickets and redworms around fish crappie beds. Shellcrackers: Good, using crickets and redworms along the banks in river runs and along points.

LAKE MARION: Largemouth Bass: Good, using artificial worms, Carolina rigs and bucktails fishing along banks and points, especially in morning. Striped Bass: Slow. White Perch: Slow. Try jigging off bottom with Hopkins spoons. Crappie: Good, using small and medium minnows over deep brush piles, bridge pilings and piers. Catfish: Excellent, using cut shad, herring and shiners off bottom in deep water and at night in shallow water. Bream and Shellcrackers: Excellent, using redworms and crickets in 4 to 6 feet of water and fishing shallow in river channel.