7/26/07
Hot weather, tough fishing are the trend
By Terry Madewell

The hot weather and climbing water temperatures are making fishing conditions tougher, which is typical for mid-summer fishing at lakes Marion and Moultrie. While some decent catches are being made if you work hard and/or get lucky, the simple fact is that the heat and humidity we associate with the months of July and August are here. The fishing news has slowed according to the numerous reports received. It may be partly from fewer fishermen out on these hot and humid days as well as from the fish being deep and slower to bite.

The news on largemouth bass would be rated as fair to good at best. A few good-sized fish are being taken early and late in the day, but most anglers have to work hard to make a respectable catch. Some catfishing action has occurred in deep water and some scattered striper activity is reported. A few bream have been caught hither and yon and some crappie are being taken at night under the lights.

Overall, the fishing on lakes Marion and Moultrie, as well as other lakes and ponds in the region, is fair, but take plenty of water and cold drinks to stay hydrated. Or, jump in the water every hour or two to cool off. That’s something I’ve been doing more of this summer and it works great. Once back in the boat, I’m refreshed and ready to work hard for a while again.

Fishing for largemouth has been most popular during the early and late in the day time periods. Some fishermen are still having their best success by fishing deep water with plastic worms along the drops, ledges and points in the 10- 20 foot depth range. Both Carolina- and Texas-rigged worms have been productive in the early morning hours.

Bream fishing has slowed but a few decent catches have been made. We’re coming up on another full moon phases so there should be an increase in activity here, providing us with some hope for a few bedding fish. Bedding action will not be anything like earlier in the year, but there will be some action. Deepwater is the key for several anglers who have scored well using worms or crickets along the drops in 8-10 feet of water. Small beetle spin type spinners continue to produce good results along the edge lines especially around heavy cover such as brush and submerged stumps.

Catfishing is still fair in deep water for blues and flatheads. At night the fish will move to more shallow water and offer a chance to avoid the summer sun. The standard catfish baits are still producing, with cut bait best for blue catfish, and the big flatheads being taken on live herring as well as other forms of live bait such as bream, perch and shiners. The channel catfish are being taken on stink bait and night crawlers.

Striper fishing is basically tough right now but a few fish are being taken using live herring and shad along the channel edges and drop-offs. The action is best during the early morning hours with dawn until about eight-to-nine o’clock being the best time. Anglers fishing at night are making a few scattered catches of stripers using live bait.

Fishing along the coast is very good for a wide variety of species and actually offers some of the best fishing available right now. The Spanish mackerel are schooling near the jetties in the Charleston Harbor and good fishing exists for redfish, flounder, trout and sheepshead in the inshore areas.