Freshwater Fishing Archives - Page 239 of 292

July 15, 2026

Cane Creek in Mitchell County has plenty of nice stocked trout like these rainbows just waiting to be caught.

Mitchell County’s Cane Creek produces good summer fishing for mountain trout

One of the many small creeks throughout western North Carolina, Cane Creek is proof that big things come in small packages. […]

Bream will be heading to their spawning beds soon, and it will be a great time catch a mess for the freezer.

Upcoming full moon will mean bream, shellcracker heaven

Matt Coffey

Bream and shellcrackers are heading to their spawning beds on the Santee Cooper lakes, and they’re at their most vulnerable as they protect their territory. […]

Stripers like this nice one are being caught in their summer patterns on Lake Thurmond.

Thurmond striper fishermen loading the boat with summer-pattern fish

Matt Coffey

Lake Thurmond, aka Clarks Hill, has always been a place to catch big stripers, and guide William Sasser said it’s been producing both good fish and good numbers in recent days. […]

The hot weatgher hasn't stopped catfish from biting at Kerr Lake.

Catfish action heating up at Kerr Lake

Craig Holt

July usually is too hot and humid for anglers to chase most varieties of freshwater fish except two — mountain trout and catfish. […]

Crappie have been holding on brush piles in at least 8 feet of water lately on the Santee Cooper.

Santee Cooper crappie are biting around deep brushpiles

Matt Coffey

Summertime can sometimes mean that fish aren’t as active as they are in cooler months. The heat also moves fish that would normally hold in coves have a tendency to move to deeper, cooler water. […]

Chuck Porter caught this nice Lake Wateree catfish on Doc's Stink Bait in 15 feet of water.

Get out early for Lake Wateree catfish

Terry Madewell

When Chuck Porter goes fishing early, he’s not talking about dawn. During the sweltering heat of late July and August, he’s talking about being anchored up on a hump or ledge on Lake Wateree while it’s still dark. […]

Kevin Davis wouldn’t join the author on a paddling trip for catfish on the Santee Cooper lakes, but he showed him exactly where to go to get one.

‘Kayak-catting’ around

Phillip Gentry

Kevin Davis’ resume is long and varied. At the top of the list, he’s a fishing guide. […]

A variety of catfish species can be caught during the summer in the Santee Cooper lakes, plus there’s quality and quantity day and night.

A cup of ‘half and half’

Terry Madewell

July fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes is a hot proposition, both because the heat and fishing patterns are quite dependable. […]

Guide William Sasser said Lake Thurmond is capable of producing this size crappie all summer long -- if you fish deep enough and find the right structure.

Deep bite producing some nice Thurmond Lake crappie

Matt Coffey

Lake Thurmond – or Clarks Hill, as the locals call it – is one of the premier spots in South Carolina to catch big stripers, but it’s also a great lake for crappie fishing. Dredged in flour and fried to a golden brown, crappie are one of the best-eating fish found in any lake. […]