Diversion Canal catfishing

Blues and channel cats bite strong on Santee’s Diversion Canal

For many anglers, Santee Cooper’s Diversion Canal is simply a travel route between the upper lake (Lake Marion) and the lower lake (Lake Moultrie). But it’s more than just a connecting point for anglers like Capt. Joe Dennis of Captain J Hook Charters (843-245-3762). It’s a great place for catching catfish of all sizes.

“We still have plenty of hot days throughout September, so I like to be on the canal before sunrise,” said Dennis. “On many days, we will have a good cooler full by 9 a.m.”

It’s never a good idea to be overconfident when starting a fishing trip, but Dennis said his expectations are high for catching good numbers of quality catfish here this month.

Dennis uses four to six Catch The Fever Striper Stealth rods, baits them all with fresh shrimp, then puts the rods in rod holders. He operates his bow-mounted trolling motor just to keep his steering correct. The he drifts with the current.

“You’ll get a lot of nibbles, but it’s best to leave the rods in the rod holders until the rod doubles over and stays that way. A lot of anglers miss fish because they want to pick up the rod and set the hook as soon as they see the slightest bite. Just leave the rod there, let the fish hook itself, then pick up the rod,” he said.

Dennis likes to make a mental note of any area downcurrent that he drifts to. If the drift was productive, he’ll crank his outboard, head back up the canal, then drift it again. Otherwise, he’ll either keep drifting and keep searching for fish, or he’ll move to an entirely different area of the canal.

“The main thing is, you want to stay in water that’s deep enough. If your lines start dragging the bottom, you need to move closer to the middle of the canal,” he said.

Dennis passes the point of his No. 3 hook through a piece of shrimp a single time. And instead of casting, he drops the bait straight down, lets it hit bottom, then reels up two or three cranks.

“This keeps you from getting hung on the rocks or weeds, and it lets your bait pass right in range of the fish, which feed on whatever washes past,” he said.

Fishing this way, anglers catch a mixture of blue cats and channel cats, ranging anywhere from a pound to 15 pounds, and always have the potential to catch one much bigger.