Santee Stringer Archives - Page 20 of 20

May 1, 2026

Mark Bollenburg’s efforts to keep alive a 108-pound catfish he caught in early April in the Tailrace Canal below Lake Moultrie included taking it to the hatchery in St. Stephens for a swim in the fish tanks before it was moved to Bass Pro Shops aquarium i

This big one didn’t get away

There’s no doubt that catfishing is on the minds of many Santee Cooper fishermen during the summer. […]

Catfish, like these two flatheads, take center stage on the Santee Cooper lakes in June, especially when action heats up in the late-afternoon and early-evening hours.

Release stripers, keep those catfish

June is a busy fishing month on the Santee Cooper lakes, Marion and Moultrie, and there’s excellent fishing for numerous species. […]

Shellcrackers are a wonderful spring diversion at Santee Cooper. When they’re on their spawning beds, action can be fast and furious.

Bream beds draw hungry fishermen

Terry Madewell

There is so much technical equipment and electronic fishing aids available these days, it’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of the gizmos. […]

Warming temperatures in the spring bring lots of big bass into the shallows to spawn, with April being a tremendous month to catch nice numbers and big fish.

For Santee, spawn is the big ticket

David Sweat

As the calendar pages turn slowly with the winds of March blowing through the trees, it’s not hard to know that spring is just around the corner. […]

There are numerous ways and even more numerous baits and lures on which you can catch a big, slab crappie at Santee Cooper.

Time for trophy cats and slaying the slabs

David Sweat

March is upon us, and some cold weather remains. But cold-weather fishing has become popular and very productive, especially for blue catfish, crappie and bass. […]

The time spent building and sinking brushpiles during the winter to attract crappie during the spring prespawn and spawing periods is usually well worth the effort.

February fishing: a labor of ‘love’

David Sweat

February is one of my favorite times to fish, but I can’t think of fishing this month without thinking about how I prepared for this occasion. […]

Cold weather won’t slow down the bite, even though it may slow down all but the heartiest fishermen.

Cold-weather crappie, catfish are a challege on Santee lakes

David Sweat

Capt. Steve Sexton is widely known for some of his oceangoing feats, but for fishermen who frequent the Santee Cooper lakes, he is better known for the tactics he uses to catch and — and often release — catfish, crappie and bream. […]