S.C. freshwater fishing report for early June

Jocassee trout, Hartwell stripers are keeping anglers busy

With recent rains throughout the state, most of South Carolina’s lakes and rivers are flooded. But the S.C. freshwater fishing report remains strong on Upstate lakes, despite the high water.

Many anglers have vowed to wait out the high water. But those who are still fishing have been having plenty of luck.

Lake Jocassee

On Lake Jocassee, the trout are deep. Big browns and some rainbows have been biting for Capt. Sam Jones of Jocassee Charters. He’s been catching them with downriggers in depths between 38 and 53 feet. One of his clients caught a 6 1/2-pound brown trout last week. And numerous other anglers have caught 4 1/2 to 5 1/2-pound browns while fishing with Jones lately.

Jones (864-280-9056), fishes year-round on Jocassee and has all the equipment and knowledge to catch fish in the Upstate lake’s deep waters. He said anglers shouldn’t be surprised if they bring a spotted bass up from the depths along with the trout.

Lake Hartwell

Lake Hartwell is slightly over full pool, and the bass fishing has been sporadic. One great day of fishing has been followed by a day of fair fishing, and vice versa in the past 10 days or so. Anglers are catching them in a variety of ways, and with about every lure you can think of.

Buzzbaits and Rebel Pop-Rs have been working in the early morning hours, especially around docks and creek mouths with rocky points. Buzzbaits have also been working around vegetation, along with hollow body frogs, spinnerbaits, and finesse worms.

Lake Hartwell’s striper bite has eased into a more consistent pattern than the bass. It’s also been better — and more consistent — in the past week than it has been throughout the spring. Fishing guide Capt. Mack said the water has fallen lately, helping stabilize the striper bite.

“The fish have returned to a normal pattern and with herring still spawning on many points, the early morning beaching the boat on one of these points is a good technique. Stripers and hybrids are being caught all over the lake, from the upper rivers and creeks all the way to the dam. And the fishing should continue to improve for the rest of this month,” said Capt. Mack (770-235-8135).

Umbrella rigs fished over 20 to 30-foot humps and points are catching plenty of stripers. Anglers are also catching them pulling gizzard shad and herring over these same humps and points.