1/11/07

Bass and catfish action good
By Terry Madewell

There have been several reports of big largemouth taken in the upper end of Lake Marion recently. One great report was received from Chuck Porter where he and Bobby Mims caught a seven-and-one-half and a six-and-one-half pound largemouth within a few minuets of each other in very shallow water. Seems like the warm weather is having a big influence on the largemouth for sure. Other good reports of shallow water largemouth action continue to filter in as well.

In addition, the fishing for catfish, especially the blue catfish, has been an on and off affair over the past couple of weeks, but basically the action has been pretty good. The cold, then warm, weather patterns do put a hitch in the overall scheme of fishing because it can cause fishing patterns to change dramatically almost overnight.

The crappie news is fair by fishing live bait in deep water in 12-22 feet of water based on recent reports.

The biggest detriment to the catfish action has been windy, unstable weather. The blue catfish are basically being taken using shad dropped to the depth the fish are being marked on the depth finder. Some days the fish seem to be congregated up real well, other days, particularly if the water has warmed a few degrees, the fish are much more scattered.

The striper action has slowed, but you may still get in on some action. Some of the best fishing seems to have been by drifting bucktails tipped with live bait, or just 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.

Largemouth bass fishing success has been very good considering the time of year. Some reports of fish begin taken by working spinner baits slowly and by the jig and grub or jig and pork frog as well as the plastic worm. Some good fish being are now caught on bottom bumping baits with both jigs and trailers and plastic worms producing decent action, according to recent reports. When the water temperature begins to really dip down, you can expect live bait, big shiners particularly, to produce very good bass fishing action. Slow-rolling a spinner bait has will also continue to be productive as well as the stop-and-go retrieve using a shad-colored crank bait.

A few decent reports on crappie continue to be received, but not many anglers seem to be fishing for them. Most of the fish are now being taken in deeper water.

Fishing action along the South Carolina coast continues to be fair for trout and good for redfish, with a flurry of activity reported around the Charleston to Georgetown area. Jigs for trout and live mud minnows or gold spoons for the redfish have both been very productive.