Santee Stringer Archives - Carolina Sportsman

Santee bass are still biting in shallow water

Anglers catch bass in the shallows at Santee throughout the hottest part of summer. […]

Glow tips are a great idea for fishermen targeting Santee Cooper catfish after dark; they are a tremendous help seeing and recognizing bites.

Catfish fishing after dark

Catfish action on the Santee Cooper lakes is excellent by day, but by mid-May and into early June, the nocturnal action perks up considerably. […]

A long pole, even a long fly-rod, enables a fisherman to nestle a bait tight to heavy cover.

May is unmatched for Santee Cooper bream

Terry Madewell

May is an outstanding month for fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes, but the bream fishing is off the charts in popularity and productivity. […]

Shellcrackers are easy to identify by their markings; the ear flap will have a light-colored outline.

Target Santee’s April triumverate

Terry Madewell

If it swims, it’s biting right now on the Santee Cooper lakes. […]

With bass moving into extremely shallow water for the spawn, stealth tactics like a push pole instead of a trolling motor can make a big difference.

Bless the Santee Cooper bass spawn

Terry Madewell

Experienced bass anglers at Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie begin looking for big bass moving into shallower water by late February. […]

Guide Bobby Winters caught this big winter blue catfish from Lake Marion.

Is it time yet for the big move?

Terry Madewell

February starts off cold on the Santee Cooper lakes, but as the month progresses, temperatures warm, pushing fish into an early spring pattern. […]

The Santee Cooper lakes probably have more blue catfish in the 10- to 15-pound class than anglers could ever hope to catch, but the occastional 30-pound and up monsters are always a possibility.

Keep your cool; big catfish will

Terry Madewell

The colder it gets, the hotter the catfish bite is on the Santee Cooper lakes. […]

As water temperatures dip in December, with frequent cold fronts blasting through South Carolina, the fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes, Marion and Moultrie, seem to defy logic and actually improves instead of slowing.

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Double dipping for stripers, cats

Terry Madewell

Veteran guide Dave Hilton from Ridgeville, S.C., has long cherished the opportunity to catch multiple species of fish at Santee Cooper. During November, the striper and catfish action is exceptional on Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, so Hilton set out to learn how to double-dip.

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New Santee striper regs are popular

Terry Madewell

The new striper regulations implemented on the Santee Cooper lakes this past June have received rave reviews from fishermen, guides and landing operators around Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie. This has created a lot of optimism for the striper fishing season that reopens Oct. 1.

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