Santee Stringer Archives - Page 17 of 20

May 1, 2026

A spinnerbait can be a dynamite lure later in the month as the water warms, and largemouth bass begin to stir and move toward the shallows.

Better stay on the move

Several species of fish in Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie are on the move this month, which typically begins with some of the coldest water temperatures of the year. […]

Crested floating heart is an exotic plant that can grow quickly, shade out native vegetation and take over a lake system.

More good than bad

Terry Madewell

January begins a new year and is a great month to discuss the overall condition of our lakes, especially since it seems to be very good and improving. […]

December brings excellent fishing for big blue catfish to the Santee Cooper lakes.

With cooler weather settling in, most fish species are locked into winter patterns, but that doesn’t mean the fishing has cooled off. In fact, the fish on Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie get red hot for some species this month, and the action will last until after the first of the year. […]

Surface schooling activity is a common November happening on the Santee Cooper lakes.

November is striper time

Terry Madewell

November is action time on the Santee Cooper lakes. With falling water temperatures, shad schooling ever tighter and big fish ready to chow down, it’s time to get in on the annual fall feeding frenzy. […]

Guide Inky Davis said largemouth bass will really hit a crankbait this month, but there will also be great schooling action.

A bass blast; October brings great schooling action

Terry Madewell

October is the prime month for overall fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes, according to several professional guides. […]

Crappie fishing has picked up on the Santee Cooper lakes the past several years after what some guides considered a ‘sub-par’ stretch.

Snag a crappie rebound: Guides predict exciting fall for slabs

Terry Madewell

September is a month of change on the Santee Cooper lakes in terms of weather, fishing conditions and patterns. […]

Deeper holes in the Congaree and Wateree rivers upstream from Lake Marion will hold big catfish during the summer’s hottest months.

Beat the heat: River beckons, and early/late is okay

Terry Madewell

Despite the intense heat and humidity, there’s plenty of ways to be catching fish on the Santee Cooper lakes in August. […]

A key to finding summer largemouth bass is to fish around vegetation that’s close to deeper water.

Go deep, young man: Bass, crappie, catfish beat the heat

Terry Madewell

The summer heat may be bearing down, but the fishing on Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie can be just as hot as the weather. […]

The photo is of Steve English with a nice crappie taken in deep water on Lake Moultrie on a tightline minnow rig.

Santee can be on throughout June

Terry Madewell

While the water temperature may be heating up on the Santee Cooper lakes, but don’t expect any slowdown in the fishing action. […]

The sun sets on Santee Cooper striper fishing on June 1, but May is an excellent month to catch some quality fish as Santee Cooper anglers like Kevin Davis enjoy a tremendous resurgence in numbers and sizes of stripers.

Santee’s May action is on fire

Terry Madewell

If the term “wide-open fishing” is ever correctly used, it would be appropriate at Santee Cooper during the month of May. […]