Catch of the Week: A Sunny Outlook on Santee Cooper!
Welcome to this week’s fishing report for the Santee Cooper lake system! As we dive into the week of September 20-27, prepare for mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures, with highs reaching the low 90s early on, tapering off to the high 70s by week’s end. Expect patchy fog in the mornings, but don’t worry; by midday, the sun will be shining bright. Water conditions will be fairly calm and clear, perfect for fishing! Target species like largemouth bass and bluegill will be active, particularly in the early mornings and late evenings, so don’t miss your chance to reel in some trophy catches!
The Week’s Weather and Water Conditions: A Bright Forecast!
Sunday, September 20:
Daytime: Patchy fog before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Night: Patchy fog after 4am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind 0 to 5 mph.
On the Water: Water temp rising. Water conditions calm with a clarity of 5 feet. Sunrise 6:51 AM, sunset 7:10 PM.
Monday, September 21:
Daytime: Areas of fog before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind 0 to 3 mph.
Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
On the Water: Water conditions calm with a clarity of 5 feet.
Tuesday, September 22:
Daytime: Showers and thunderstorms likely after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
On the Water: Water conditions slightly choppy with a clarity of 4 feet.
Wednesday, September 23:
Daytime: A slight chance of rain showers before 8am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8am and 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
On the Water: Water conditions choppy with a clarity of 3 feet.
Thursday, September 24:
Daytime: Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
On the Water: Water conditions calming with a clarity of 4 feet.
Friday, September 25:
Daytime: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
On the Water: Water conditions calm with a clarity of 5 feet.
Saturday, September 26:
Daytime: Sunny, with a high near 79.
Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
On the Water: Water conditions calm with a clarity of 6 feet.
This Week’s Top Species to Target: Get Hooked!
Largemouth Bass
Fish for largemouth bass this week in 5-10 feet of water over a rocky bottom using a crankbait. A slow retrieve with erratic action should encourage a strike at 6-8 feet.
Bluegill
Target bluegill in 3-6 feet of water over sandy bottoms using small jigs. A steady retrieve with a hopping action will work best for enticing bites.
Channel Catfish
Channel catfish are available in deeper waters (10-15 feet) over muddy bottoms using cut bait. A slow and steady retrieve with a bottom bounce action will bring success.
Prime Fishing Times This Week: Timing is Everything!
Largemouth Bass
Due to warming weather trends and stable water conditions, largemouth bass will be actively feeding in the early morning and late evening. Specific fishing times are 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM and 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Bluegill
With the warming water, bluegill will be feeding in the shallows during the late morning. The best time to target them will be from 10 AM to 12 PM.
Channel Catfish
Channel catfish will be more active during the cooler night hours due to rising temperatures. Target them from 8 PM to 10 PM for the best results.