Moncks Corner guide finding largemouth ready to bite in places current is moving baitfish
All the water flooding into Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie has curtailed largemouth fishing in some areas, but not all. Guide Chris Orvin of Moncks Corner is using the high volume of water to his bass-catching advantage on Lake Moultrie.
“One of the real keys to success right now is that all the water passing through lower Lake Marion and into Lake Moultrie sets up current situations creating an ideal opportunity for catching largemouth,” Orvin said. “In these areas we have a unique opportunity for mid-summer bass fishing for big bass.”
Orvin (843-509-2306) said that an important link to his recent success has been the way baitfish have been moving because of the current.
“Find the forage and you’ll find the largemouth,” Orvin said. “Red hot (are) the backwaters and ponds where the water is high, with a bit of current. Topwater lures such as frog type lures are getting explosive bites. A lot of this action is in the 2- to 5-foot depth range. The ‘Spit and Spook’ lure, a walk-the-dog type lure that has a spit finish to it has been great. Early and late has been best, but on the numerous rainy days, all-day topwater action has been good.”
Orvin, 25, said fishing around islands has also been productive.
“There is so much water movement that the big bass are holding on the slightly deeper cypress trees in four to seven feet of water and then ambushing forage that passes by in the current,” he said. “I may fish 20 to 30 trees without a bite, then catch a 5- or 6- pound bass. Then repeat the process. This is an excellent pattern to catch a number of quality fish.”
Orvin said a third productive pattern is fishing brush piles in the 12 to 15 feet of water.
“The current in the open-water part of Lake Moultrie is quite prevalent right now,” he said. “The brushy cover will attract the forage as a place to hide, and the bass get in there with them. In this case, I am catching bass on big, 10-inch plastic worms. The water is turbid, so the big worm, rigged Texas-style is producing enough vibration to attract the fish.”
Back in the creeks where the water may be a bit higher – but with less current – that has also been some productive fishing.
“Using topwater frogs and a lure called the Skinny Dipper, I’m catching good bass around heavy cover,” he said. “Back here, you don’t have to have current, because the unusual water condition is ideal right now for shallow water bass back in the coves.”
