Stay shallow for spring catfish
Viewing a weedy shoreline, dotted with a myriad of cypress trees growing in the shallow water, from the front porch of our cabin at Relaxed Retreat Resort at dawn made the trip worthwhile before we lobbed the first chunk of catfish bait towards a target. Located in the upper reaches of Lake Marion, the scenic views here rank high among the fishiest-looking spots I’ve ever been to.
Nestled in Jacks Creek, a legendary tributary of this famous lake, my 8-year-old granddaughter, Anneslee, and I joined Mike Watts, his daughter, Christy, and his grandson, Rivers, on a skinny water sortie for fat catfish.
Upper Lake Marion offers spectacular year-round fishing, and even in the dead of winter, fish are caught around the standing timber, dormant weed beds, and cypress trees.
The only thing that makes this fishing haven better is the arrival of spring, when multiple events coincide creating incredible fishing opportunities. One, the cypress trees green up, as do all the living trees around the lake and on the islands peppering this watery landscape. Also, the vegetation along the shoreline begins its annual flourish, breathing aquatic life into the water.
By April, this shallow-water wonderland is alive with multiple fish species, either feeding heavily or in spawning mode.
But we couldn’t wait for spring; our trip was this February (2026). Our catfish guide, Capt. Dewayne Proffit, a full-time guide for 20 years, said plenty of catfish were in the shallows now, and by April, the skinny-water catfishing is on fire.
“Catfish migrate seasonally as do many fish species, and during the spring, they migrate up the lake and into the shallow flats and coves,” Proffit said. “We’ll catch lots of catfish, including trophy fish, from these places. By March and April, many species are in the shallows, including bream, shellcracker, bass, and crappie, plus the river herring are on their spawning run. The big blues have plenty to eat in the shallows; they’re in pre-spawn mode by April, and are feeding heavily. It’s perhaps my favorite time of the year for quality and quantity of catfish.”
The day we fished with Proffit mirrors what he does in April, but with even more catfish packed into these skinny water hotspots. One of his favored places is to fish a windblown flat in shallow water.
“Wind is a given in March and April, and while that’s a turn-off for some fishermen, it’s a huge advantage for catfish anglers at Lake Marion,” Proffit said. “Granted, there are extreme conditions, but I’ve set my pontoon boat to handle windy days, and I’ll find windblown shallows, and the blues move in to feed voraciously.”
Proffitt said he believes the choppy water also helps stir the catfish up, creating conditions where they can actively feed on shallow-water forage and mussel beds.
“When the wind is blowing into a shallow area with mussels and clams, it’s ideal,” he said. “Catfish are feeding in the shallows, and it’s common to hook fat blues in very skinny water, creating some serious excitement for fishermen.”
A huge blue catfish hooked in skinny water is going to make water-spraying surface splashes.
The coves and pockets where ample vegetation thrives in the shallows are another area Proffit prefers. These are often-overlooked by anglers, but were our most productive spot that day.
“The hard bottom pockets are best, and the weeds and grass are full of aquatic life, with minnows, snails, and small fish of various species serving as forage for catfish,” he said. “Wind is not essential here, but I welcome it if it’s blowing in. Blue catfish are here to eat, and the bites are aggressive.”
Proffit generally fishes from about 5 feet of water and fan casts around the boat. Anchoring, or using an electric motor to hold your boat position, works well.
On our first setup, we didn’t have to wait long before one of Proffit’s rods horseshoed three-eyes-deep into the water. Rivers grabbed the rig and was immediately pulled to the boat’s railing by the strong blue. Mike held Rivers steady while Proffit netted the 17-pound fish. The two kids got quite hyper about the fishing at that point.
Some days Proffit loads the cooler in one area, other days he’ll move from spot to spot. Proffit gives an area a fair opportunity to produce, but he doesn’t invest time in non-productive areas.
“I’ve learned not to wait long, because someplace else we’ll likely find active, biting catfish, so I’m going to keep searching,” he said.
That tactic worked well for us because we moved multiple times and caught fish at most stops, with Rivers and Anneslee catching big catfish and having a blast between bites.
His bait selection includes both natural forage and assorted baits. Included in his arsenal of baits were gizzard and threadfin shad, and by March, river herring are available and productive. He also uses chicken breast, coated in a ‘special sauce’ that turns them blue. He didn’t give the ‘secret’ recipe, but it caught fish.
“I also use deer heart and liver chunks, and on some days, they’re best,” he said. “I use a variety of baits to begin, and sort out a specific bite pattern during the day.”
“My recommendation is to fish the shallow water and windblown areas, and don’t settle for slow fishing,” he said. “The entire area looks fishy, but if the action is slow, move and set up in another spot. When you hit the right place, you can catch a bunch of fat cats in skinny water.”
Capt. Dewayne Profitt (803-478-6479; takiniteasyguideservice.com) said the upper Lake Marion area is his home base. Plus, the personable guide is kid-friendly and was a great coach when Rivers and Anneslee were fighting big blues, and patiently answered their inquisitive questions. Allowing them to help ‘help’ with their guide’s chores kept them busy, and they also received a personal lesson in how to drive a guide’s fishing boat.
Catfishing is typically great throughout the Santee Cooper lakes in spring, but upper Lake Marion offers a picturesque setting everyone should experience while fighting fish. We’ll be back, because there’s a lot more than just catfish finning in that skinny water. ■
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