2/14/08
Crappie and catfish top fishing news
By Terry Madewell

Probably the biggest news from around lakes Marion and Moultrie in the past week or so is the improved crappie fishing. While the action is not red hot, the early spring crappie catching has begun. Typically once things get underway, the crappie fishing can get really good, very quick.

In addition there a few fish of several species being caught on lakes Marion and Moultrie right now. The blue catfish certainly seems to be one of the more consistent species being caught. A few large blues have been reported in the past week.

There have also been some good reports of largemouth bass action as well. Not a lot of news has been received on stripers, but again, that fishing action should only be a couple weeks away from improving significantly, if it hasn’t started already. Sometimes anglers will keep it quiet for a week or two before words gets out. A few stripers have been taken recently by drifting live bait and more frequently by trolling. The area near the dam on Lake Moultrie seems to have the best reports for live bait fishing and the mouths of some of the larger creeks on Lake Marion have produced some trolling action. Deep diving lures have produced the trolling success.

The bulk of the catfish action seems to in or near deep water. The best baits have been cut bait, shad minnows, cut perch or herring. Drifting has been very productive in some areas on the lower lake. Vertical fishing in deep water has been good in the upper lake.

For the largemouth bass, bottom-bumping lures, specifically jigs with pork frog or plastic trailers has been good. Also, plastic worms have produced largemouth bass action. By the end of the month, both the quantity and quality of bass fishing will likely heat up.

The crappie news is fair by fishing live bait or small jigs in 15-25 feet of water on both lakes Marion and Moultrie. Live minnows as well as tiny green, chartreuse or blue jigs have been productive, based on recent reports.

Saltwater fishing is still very good right now for trout and redfish, but not a lot of other reports have been received. Trout are being taken by casting or trolling jigs, or by using live bait about two-feet deep under a cork. Live bait on the shallow flats is great for the redfish.