7/5/07
Bream, bass, catfish action still good
By Terry Madewell

Fishing reports from around lakes Marion and Moultrie, as well as other area lakes, remain good. The action is not wild and crazy for most species, but with some patience and skill, some good catches are being made.

Most of the fish are in hot weather, summertime patterns right now. The action is in or near deep water most of time.

One exception is around the mayfly hatches. Some excellent shallow water bass, bream and catfish action is occurring around the mayfly hatches. This action is somewhat scattered, but if you happen up on a good hatch, be prepared to take advantage of it.

Many fishermen still report they are fishing early and/or late in the day for best fishing results. However those who are toughing out the heat are doing quite well with bream and catfish. The largemouth bass action is fair during the heat of the day. Some striper action is reported early and late in the day, mostly on live bait.

Bream were caught on the beds last weekend but look for that action to taper off. Look for big bream in shady spots back in cover or in deeper water. Some fishermen caught good bream by drifting crickets and worms in 10-12 feet of water along the drops.

Some shallow water bream action was also reported, however it can be slow fishing right now.

In addition several anglers made limit catches on area lakes, not just Marion and Moultrie, with some really big bream being caught around the mayfly hatches. Around these areas, the live bait, fly rods and popping bugs and small beetle spin spinners are all producing.

All three major species of catfish are being caught right now with blue catfish and the flatheads orienting to deeper water in the main lake area. The channel catfish are averaging about 2-6 pounds each and are being taken along the drops and ledges in 12-20 feet of water. The best baits for the channel catfish are stink baits and cut shad. Cut bait has been best for blue catfish, and the big flatheads being taken on live bait, such as herring as well as other forms of live bait such as bream, perch and shiners.

Good largemouth bass fishing action continues on a variety of lures; however the slow moving worms, both Carolina and Texas rigs, have produced the majority of the action according to most reports. Early morning top water action has been good. Mid-day action seems better by fishing cover such as brush piles or deeper water along the ledges using plastic worms. Some hefty fish continue to be caught in these areas on plastic worms and 3/8 ounce chartreuse spinner baits.

Striper action is decent and anglers fishing live bait in the deeper areas of the lakes reported good results. Both lakes Marion and Moultrie are producing good catches on live bait fished along the drops.

Excellent reports have been received from the coastal areas, particularly around Georgetown and Charleston on redfish, flounder, trout and sheepshead. Best results for flounder have been trolling the ledges with mud minnows and for redfish; the action has been best fishing live bait along the grass beds on the outgoing tide. Good action is also reported on sheepshead around the jetties and bridges in the Charleston area and for black drum and a variety of other species in the surf.