The upper lake and even part of the lower lake is still stained to dingy. 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 divisions best sticks proved last week. Fishing on the santee cooper lakes is a yearround sport and we do our very best to ensure you have a fun day of fishing with a chance at some of the biggest fish of a lifetime. Excellent fishing exists as trophy largemouth bass, slab crappie, giant catfish, spawning stripers and even bull bream kick off the bedding season. All reight nice looking fish there fellows oh an dif yall by chance happwn to hook into one of the big kittykats while yall are bass fishing be sure to get a of it too. These brawny bream returns the favor by filling up empty space in large coolers.
Hilton fulmer fights a big santee cooper shellcracker around some typical shallowwater cover. We rented a condo on lake marion just above the i95 bridge and im looking for any advice i can get about the bass fishing. These fish are bottomfeeders, meandering along the lake bed seeking and cracking open snails and other shelled creatures. Water temperatures have dropped all the way back into the mid50s. Robert put on a dropper sinking trailing lure in a black pattern and it wasnt long before he was catching shellcrackers and bream on the trailing hook. With the diversity of cover and water depths, some outstanding fishing will occur during the spring during bedding season. Anchoring on same bars using stink baits have been productive for smaller fish. Indeed, while not a hub for fishing tournaments, the lake does play host to regular touring. He never keeps females that are full of roe, so many of the larger fish he caught were released.
Examples of the worldclass fishing are the state records currently held by santee cooper anglers. Santee cooper lakes catfish crappie bream fishing guide. A video of springtime shellcracker fishing in lake marion swamp. Anglers know long waiting lines to launch a boat even at remote access areas signals shellcracker action is smoking hot. Shellcracker, or redear sunfish, are the biggest of the beam, with the world record a 4 pound ounce monster caught in florida in 1986. Shellcrackers on the bed at santee stumphole area fishing worms on the bottom. Santeecooper southeast bass fishing bass fishing forums. Shellcracker redear sunfish spawn in april and may during the full moon phases. Huge crappie slabs in the swamps of santee cooper, sc with whitey outlaw and russ bailey duration. Angler guide provides fishing enthusiasts with relevant information about fishing santee river and other rivers, streams and lakes in south carolina. The crazy thing about wb is that its a smallish lake at about 800 acres tops. I do most of my fishing on lake okeechobee in south florida.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the rss 2. Jul 05, 2012 western branch has recently produced two crackers that im aware of that were 14inches apiece and 2. Western branch has recently produced two crackers that im aware of that were 14inches apiece and 2. One day their cooler was so full they had to use a stringer. I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my tackle and. Blacks is located in cross, sc on blacks camp road, a long country road that leads right to the middle of santee cooper country, a fishing and. Many of the private ramps are open as well as the private fish camps. I got skunked trying the shell crackers tooso i went bass fishing.
Diverse fishery also offers excellent largemouth, catfish, crappie and bream. Hi, im a new member to the forum but ive been reading for a long time so i thought i would try to get some info. David hilton crappie, stripers, cats, bream 8438704734 website. Although we caught only a few fish on that trip since it was too early, it did bring back memories of how much fun bream fishing can be. Please support your privately owned fishing camps, the virus has been hard. These characteristics describe the shellcracker redear sunfish with its nicknames of stumpknocker and yellow bream. Your only reasonable option for fishing the river would be to. Shellcracker and bream fishing robert webster of hamlet, nc who has a camper at the lake tillery family campground, adjacent highway 2427, has been keeping a watch on the fishing conditions for shellcrackers and bream. Im looking for a guide or local who would be willing to take us out and put us on some big shellcrackers. Santee cooper winter shell cracker fishing 2019 youtube. Only 1 fish larger than 36 inches per person may be taken. Shell pointparris island fishing report inshore anyone that wants to do a little inshore day fishing and just wants a tug on their line well, the whiting kingfish, southern bite is on wide open. Santee cooper lakes fishing guide capt bill saltzman call 8035241951 captain bills fishing guide service 803 524 1951 offers affordable catfishing excitement for the whole family fishing santee cooper lakes, lake marion, lake moultrie and the diversion canal.
Its shellcracker time on the santee cooper lakes, and anglers show this panfish species a lot of love in april. I went fishing for shellcracker at clarks hill the week after easter last year. Offering the finest food and lodging on the lakes, we strive to make your stay a relaxing and memorable experience. Lakes 1 through 5 are for day use fishing, while lakes 6 through 7 are for registered campers. Fishing reports canal lakes fish camp on the santee cooper. And the inshore fishermen are catching some nice spotted seatrout seatrout, spotted, redfish drum, red and flounder flounder, southern. He called the lakes world class for fishing redeared sunfish known locally as shell crackers because of their mostly shellfish diet. The souths best shellcracker holes hunting and fishing. Lake clarks hill fishing report, updated weekly to keep up on. Florida has more than 7,700 named lakes and ponds and over 10,000 miles of streams and rivers, all brimming with bream. Anglers come from all around to target largemouth bass, crappie, shell crackers and catfish.
The top 10 pros primarily relied on chatterbaits, punch rigs and finesse soft plastics to make the cut. Turn left if getting off i95 n and right if getting off i95 south. Its a passion i enjoy sharing with others, making new friends and memories. Santee cooper fishing guide capt bill saltzman, 510.
Great family vacation, fishing trips, group outings. Naff fishing articles page naff home page naff message board shellcracker, the bully of the shallows by. Brushpile fishing whitey outlaw on lake marion, sc duration. Fishing the bluegill spawn on lake marion, santee cooper, sc. The site contains current fishing conditions along with articles of interest. Shellcrackers at santee cooper night hawk publications.
This river is full of downed logs, trees and other debris and provides ideal habitat for bream species, with bluegill and redbreast being among the most common species caught. Part of the famous santee cooper system and home for trophy stripers. May 23, 2015 fishing packs landing for shellcrackers woodys reeltime fishing. Together these guides have over 200 years fishing experience on the lakes marion and moultrie and the cooper river. Apr 08, 2018 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 divisions best sticks proved last week.
Fishing reports canal lakes fish camp on the santee. These early season shellcrackers are good and healthy, are a blast to catch, and. Fishing report provided by kevin davis, blacks camp, cross, sc april 28, 2020. Gators outdoor adventures and guide service 4,146 views. You went to santee and didnt see saw grass you had to have your eyes closed lol.
As a resident santee cooper fishing guide at lake marion resort and marine in santee, south carolina, ive fished. It must have just the right mix to grow studly crackers. Canal lakes fish camp santee cooper lakes hwy 45 on the diversion canal 9 canal landing road, cross, sc 29436 open 5. Its shellcracker fishing time on the santee cooper lakes. Dirt road traveler by audionautix from youtube audio library. The santee cooper lakes lake marion and moultrie are owned and operated by santee cooper power.
Most of the time, they bed near or in the vegitation, but can also be found in open water. Blacks camp, located on the famous santee cooper lakes, is a full service fishing camp. The shell crackers have been on deep ledges and fish over 3 lbs. They also eat other food like insects, worms, and crawfish, but feed on the bottom. Freeman said the shellcracker fishing on santee will only get better as the. Santee cooper charters is a close association of the most experienced guides in santee cooper country.
We both wanted to go after them with our fly rods aka buggy whoppers as acey wall, deceased use to call my fly rod. Lake clarks hill fishing report, updated weekly to keep up. Son and i attempt to find the great shellcrackers or redear sunfish that everyones talking about. Born and raised in sc, i have been fishing the santee cooper lakes and rivers for over 30 years. Black and white crappie are big and plentiful in south caroinas santee cooper lakes. With south carolina s subtropical climate, theres never a bad time to come fishing on santee cooper. The santee cooper lake system consists of two lakes, marion 110,600 acres and moultrie 60,400 acres. Boat ramps at lake marion lake marion, south carolina. Sonnys blood bait and murrells stink bait are your best baits.
Hook the worm a couple of times or three just enough to leave about 2 of worm hanging of the hook so it can squirm around and just drive a cracker to suckem up. Redear sunfish, or shellcrackers, are giants of the sunfish clan. Sonar with lowrance pro staff ken sturdivant and captain john mccalpin. I get to come down to santee about 3 or 4 times a year. These worldclass fishing lakes were created from 1939 to 1942 for a hydroelectric project by the south carolina public service authority, commonly known as santee cooper because. The closest accommodations would be either georgetown, near pawleys island, or mt pleasant, near charleston. Shellcrackers on the bed at santee one of my buds has been catching a cooler full of nice fish every day this week. Although highway 17 crosses over it, the santee river area is remote and undeveloped. According to kevin davis, owner and guide out of blacks camp on lake moultrie and the diversion canal, 8437532231, bream fishing means both bluegill and shellcracker fishing. As the winter comes to a close and the days start getting longer, most anglers start getting the itch for the coming fishing season. Florida lake tarpon and lake guntersville shellcrackers. I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my tackle and my angling skills an d taste delicious when i eat them.
Bream is a local term throughout the southeast that includes a variety of deepbodied panfish belonging to the sunfish family. Tv show spotlights santee cooper fishing third season of. Santee pro guide service specializes in crappie and catfish on lake marion and lake moultrie. Santee cooper lakes fishing reports santee cooper country.
Fisheagle tours conducts 2 to 3 hour historywildlife ecoboat tours on lake marion, lake moultrie, the pinopolis lock, the tailrace canal and the cooper river. Santee shellcrakers i get to come down to santee about 3 or 4 times a year. Santee shellcracker bite is already hot carolina sportsman. The santee cooper lakes are some of the few lakes in the country that are not like that, he said. Both of those places would offer accommodations and perhaps boat rentals, although i dont have any experience with trying to rent a boat on the lakes. For river fishing, its hard to beat the santee river. Shellcracker fishing tips sheelcracker fishing florida. Santee cooper anglers of all pursuits dream about april because most gamefish and panfish species are in shallow water either feeding, spawning or both. One of my buds has been catching a cooler full of nice fish every day this week. As their name tells, they eat snails and muscles, crushing the shell with a tough muscle in their gullet. The city of charleston is located on the shores of the atlantic ocean at the junction of the ashley and cooper rivers.
Santee cooper lake in south carolina probably has a bluegill population just as good, if not better, as any other southern state. Our 7 lakes are stocked with catfish and rainbow trout on a seasonal basis. It has good shellcrackerfishing in the spring and the summer. South carolina, united states posts 8,710 post thanks like likes given 2877 likes received 3680 thanks given 494 thanks received 257. Sent from my moto z3 using tapatalk last edited by catdaddy. You can view these fish over on under the virginia state board.
Shellcracker lakes that seem to be hot right now bluegill. Fishing packs landing for shellcrackers woodys reeltime fishing. Me and dad normally catfish 2 weeks in june and crappie fish late nov. A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day.
On march 14, 2020 come to the outdoor expo in gainesville georgia. Visit your local old country store cracker barrel store at 250 britain st. Catfishnfool santee cooper fishing guide captain wayne vining 8032380596 specializing in catfishing,crappie and bream fishing on lake marion, diversion canal, and lake moultrie south carolina. Santee river fishing reports recently shared catches and fishing spots.
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