September is a month of change on Marion and Moultrie, the Santee Cooper lakes. To be consistently successful, fishing techniques must change to cope with the transition from summer to fall patterns as the month progresses.
Largemouth bass are a prime example. Forage is always a key to success, but it’s crucial at Santee during September, according to guide Inky Davis.
“When looking for largemouth, I think forage year-round,” Davis said, “but in September and into October, the forage factor is the key. In addition to requiring forage in the general area to hold bass on localized cover, the September transition time also begins the flurry of fall topwater schooling activity for largemouth. Topwater schooling can occur throughout the summer, but as the forage reaches this stage of development, bass more frequently take advantage of the shallow-water schools of baitfish. If a fisherman is prepared, this schooling activity can add several fish to the daily catch.
“Actually, there’s much less pressure on bass in the fall, but the fishing success can rival spring fishing at times,” he said. “One transition technique I employ is to scale back on the size of lures I use, especially the crankbaits. I’ll use the Little-N and quarter-ounce swimming minnow lures that can be cast long distances. My color preference for this time of year is a basic chartreuse pattern, with crawfish colors often productive as well. I also keep a shad-pattern Little George tailspinner rigged and ready for long-range schooling fish.
“I’ll work points, coves and pockets of cover in five to seven feet of water where baitfish is present. Often, the fish will be holding on woody cover, but they’ll usually chase a crankbait. I work an area quickly, looking for aggressive fish.
“Plus, along the way, we’ll usually see fish breaking into the pods of shad,” he said. “A quick response is crucial to get a bite. Cast just beyond where the fish are schooling and work the lure through. Even if the fish school for only a few seconds, you can still hook up. Typically, you’ll only get a fish or two from a single spot, but on a good day you’ll encounter a number of opportunities.”
Other than the schooling fish, the bite is still good and gets better as October approaches, Davis said. One key to consistent success is to move around as the batfish migrate around the lake.
“Water temperature, forage fish and the weather are all in transition,” Davis said. “There will be changes in places bass are found based on these changing factors. Stay on top of the forage, and you can make a smooth, fish-catching transition and enjoy some great fall fishing action.”
Catfish action also really begins to perk up during September and runs right through October on both lakes. September also marks the National Championship Catfish tournament, held annually out of Randolph’s Landing on Lake Marion. According to Nick Lucas at Randolph’s Landing, this year’s tournament dates are Sept. 26-27.
“Fishermen can go on-line to our website (www.randolphs-landing.com) and get complete details on the tournament. They can also register by calling 1-800-BIG-CATS or send an email to Big_Cats@FTC-I.net, and we’ll get fishermen signed up.”
Lucas said that the action for both the blue and flathead catfish get cranked up this month.
“During September, the flathead action seems to improve considerably,” Lucas said. “We start seeing about as many flatheads as we do blues. The fishing does get really good at this time of the year for both species.”
Lucas said catfish will generally associated with deep water, but some fish will be caught shallow.
“The blue catfish will typically be caught using cut bait ,and the big flatheads generally prefer live bait,” Lucas said.
Tangled Lines and Broken Dipnets
There’s no shortage of outdoor opportunities this month. Deer season is in high gear, the highly-popular early goose season gets underway, and fall fishing opportunities are numerous.
The only wrong choice we can make is to not go do something outdoors. While I’ll certainly be in the deer woods, the fall fishing season does cast a spell over me as well. September is traditionally a good month to take some nice bucks around the agricultural fields in our part of the state, but a Devil’s Horse worked around an isolated log in upper Lake Marion is often more temptation than a 6-pound largemouth can handle. Of course the locally popular shrimp-baiting season opens at the coast this month.
My thought is a simple “Thank you Lord” for letting us live in such an outdoors oriented, target-rich environment.
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