5/8/08
Fishing still very good on lakes and rivers ... it’s time to go now
By Terry Madewell

Fishing remains very good for several species of fish around lakes Marion and Moultrie. In addition, excellent fishing reports continue to be received from local ponds. The reports from Black River and Lynches River are beginning to pick up as well as the water temperature continues to warm.

On Lake Marion, the largemouth fishing is still good. Bream fishing is very good and the upcoming full moon phases should ensure excellent shallow water bedding action. Crappie fishing is good on the deep brush and drops. Catfish are being caught in many different depths of water in very good sizes. The striper action is good on both cut bait and live bait.

Yes, it’s time to be fishing.

Largemouth bass continue to be the most sought after species, but a lot of anglers are also beginning to focus on bream and catfish now as well.

Some large bass fish are being taken in shallow water and there are not many artificial lures that won’t produce some action right now. Among the most productive according to recent reports are spinner baits and crank baits. As usual, the plastic worms and plastic lizards bumped along the bottom cover are producing good results as well. So are top water lures such as buzz baits being worked around shallow water cover. The no-weight “trick worm” is also producing excellent results around the edges of brush, weeds, and under the cypress trees.

Crappie fishing is productive in the deeper water and some very good catches are now being made at night under the lights. In the deeper areas away from the shoreline, either trolling minnows or jigs will produce good crappie action.

Catfish action is excellent, with blues, channels and flatheads all being hooked in good numbers and sizes. Catfish are being caught just about everywhere in Lake Marion in respectable numbers and sizes. Some of the fish are still holding in the shallows, others are deeper along ledges and drops.

For striper fishing, herring has been the bait of choice for most anglers. Cut bait has been working uplake and live bait has been producing well further down the lake. The striper fishing should continue to improve and become more consistent as the warm weather, live bait, patterns begin to settle in.

The coastal fishing news continues to be excellent. Inshore, the redfish, trout and flounder fishing is very good. The sheepshead action is good according to some very recent reports. The offshore fishing is also excellent with tuna and dolphin now being taken as well.