10/18/07
Fishing good; lake access remains tough
By Terry Madewell

Even with the rain we had a couple weeks ago there isn’t any noted improvement in gaining access to the lake according to fishermen I’ve talked to. Plus, with the lake so low, a lot of hazards are now just below the surface that we normally don’t have to worry about.

Bottom line; be safe while cruising around the lake.

The fishing conditions are still good but the low water has changed where we catch fish from previous Octobers. At least the specific places are changing. The shallow water bass fishing is still good around shoreline cover, it just in different areas from previous years.

One key for most species according to a few successful anglers is to fish closer to deeper water. The fish may still be caught around shallow water cover, but with the low, and dropping water, the fish seem to prefer begin close to a deep water escape route.

It is smart to call around to landings before going to ensure you can get your boat in the water.

The largemouth bass action is good on crank baits, worms and topwater lures. Plastic worms are producing some quality largemouth right now, with the Texas rig in purple with a chartreuse tail and pumpkinseed colors working particularly well. The Carolina rig is producing good results on drops and ledges.

Successful reports indicate the catfish action remains very good in the lower end of Lake Marion and throughout Lake Moultrie.

The catfish are being caught on a variety of baits including live bait, cut bait stink baits and nightcrawlers. Several big flatheads and a few good-sized blue catfish have been taken recently. Most of the catfish are coming from the ledges and flats near deep water. However some of the big catfish are being hooked in fairly shallow water.

Some striper schooling is reported, but the stumps and debris exposed in the low water are making quick response to schooling fish tough. If you get on a good school of fish, the action can be excellent. However, the overall action is still scattered. Reports are that you may find fish in an area one day, not much activity the next.

The crappie fishing action is fair and some crappie catches have been made recently in water six-to-twelve-feet deep. The fish are beginning to scatter a bit in the creeks and coves and a few can be caught around shallow water cover such as brushpiles.

Along the coast, the shrimping action has been awesome. Quick limits of huge shrimp are being reported by some shrimpers. We’re approaching the time that many feel offers the best combination of big shrimp and weather conditions. If you enjoy shrimping, I’d say go now.

Also at the coast there’s very good action on speckled trout, redfish and flounder in the inshore areas. The redfish are being taken on live bait (mudminnows) and trout are being taken on green grubs and live bait such as finger mullet. Trolling live bait such as mudminnows has been effective for flounder.