Lake Thurmond

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. The Clark's Hill Herring Hut reports that stripers and hybrids are now being caught on both ends of the lake.  Fish are being caught 30 feet down over 60 feet of water on live herring in the lower lake, and beside the dam on the South Carolina side (near the Welcome Center) striper are being caught off the bank by cut bait fishermen.  There are also good numbers of fish up at the top of the lake near the Russell Dam.  The water only gets to about 20 feet deep there and fishing cut bait on the bottom is the preferred technique. Crappie: Good.  Guide Rod Wall reports that crappie fishing on Clarks Hill is getting stronger and stronger.  Long-line trolling and tight-lining will both catch fish right now, and while some fish are being caught around brush, trolling is generally better.  Look in deeper creeks and fish 8-12 feet down over 20-25 feet of water.  Multiple two pound fish are being caught, and all combinations of minnows and jigs will take fish. Black bass: Slow to fair.  The Herring Hut reports that the bass bite continues to be slow to fair but seems to be improving.  Fish are still coming in 30-40 feet of water on Buckeye Lures Mop Jigs, but some fish are starting to pull up into shallower water.  Bream and perch: No reports.

Lake Greenwood

Catfish: Fair.  Captain Rodger Taylor reports that the overall the bite remains off.  Anchoring has been most effective, and Captain Taylor is finding it necessary to stay on a spot for longer than usual to get bit.  Remember that drifting the deep flats can turn on at any time, and so be prepared to try either anchoring or drifting.  Use cut bait with either method.  Look for warmer temperatures to increase the catch rate. Crappie: Good.  Will Hinson of the Southern Crappie Tournament Trail reports that the bite has improved as the water has started to clear.  He has been finding fish 20 feet deep over 26 feet of water on the river channel around the State Park area.  Tight-lining plain minnows has been most effective.   Some fish can be found shallower, but those are mainly smaller fish.  Look for warmer weather to move the fish up.  Largemouth Bass: Fair.  After a very tough first Carolina Anglers Team Trail Tournament of the season a few weeks ago the bite improved for the CATT event on Lake Wateree. Jigs and spinnerbaits are good choices right now.  Look for warmer temperatures to improve the fishing and bring fish shallower in the next few days.

Lake Murray

Crappie: Very good.  Captain Brad Taylor reports that crappie fishing continues to be very good, although perhaps a bit off of where it was a couple of weeks ago.  Both long-lining and tight-lining in the Little River area are working, and he is fishing 10-12 feet deep over 18-20 feet of water in the channel.  Dark jigs like black/blue and black/chartreuse tipped with minnows are working very well.  Lake World says that so far this appears to be the best crappie year they have witnessed in a while, from the mid-lake on up. Bream: Good.  Dooley's reports that the bream bite is good, with bluegill and shellcracker mixed together.  Look around hard bottoms in 6 feet of water. Striped Bass: Fair.  Lake World reports that striper are being caught across much of the lake, from the rivers most of the way down towards the dam.  Trolling bucktails in 4-30 feet of water is working, and fishing cut herring on the bottom is starting to catch fish.  Dooley's Sports Shop is hearing most of their reports from the Gap up to the Little River area; casting bucktails and ice flies into areas where birds are found is working.  Little down rod action is being reported yet. Catfish: Fair.  Captain Chris Simpson reports that the water is clearing up and the fish are biting a bit better, but blue catfish are still extremely scattered. Some good concentrations of channel and white cats are gathering in the backs of the big feeder creeks and up in the rivers in 10 to 25 foot of water. Drifting cut herring in and out of those areas will catch some channels and whites, and every now and then a blue or two. Largemouth Bass: Slow.  Captain Doug Lown reports that bass fishing on Lake Murray remains inconsistent.  Fish are still in school mode, and with cold water temperatures they don't have to feed every day.  Bass can be found both deep and shallow, but substantial numbers of fish have not moved up yet.  One popular pattern is covering lots of water with crankbaits like Shad Raps or Rattle Traps, while other people are still fishing deep with spoons and football jigs.  Spinnerbaits are popular mid-depth lures.  Look for warmer temperatures to bring fish shallower this week.