How have recent rainstorms impacted the fishing?

Should anglers wait for weather to stabilize?

With the recent rains that have dumped on most portions of the Carolinas, what do anglers — especially freshwater river anglers and inshore saltwater anglers do? Many rivers are overflowing, and some dams have water pouring over their tops. Inshore waters, at least those with rivers emptying into them, are seeing a big influx of fresh water. Will that drive the fish out into saltier waters?

We ran an article recently about TC Lloyd of Southern Angling Guide Service catching big bream on rivers across the Carolinas. Several of our readers commented that the waters are too high, the current too strong, the rain too disrupting for the fish — or the fishing — to be worth it. Yet there was Lloyd, catching huge bluegill as the water raged.

And for Capt. Jason Wolfe of Wolfe’s Guide Service, and Capt. Tom Siwarski of Carolina Aero Marine Adventures, the answer is easy. Just like Lloyd, they fish. And they suggest other anglers do the same.

It hasn’t slowed the fishing at all

One of Wolfe’s main springtime fishing haunts is the Wateree River just below the Lake Wateree Dam. For several days, water has been pouring over the top of the dam. The river is much rougher than it normally is. And his anglers are absolutely crushing the stripers on topwater lures. Simultaneous hookups from different anglers on his boat have been the norm.

“The river is running hard, but the stripers are on fire. In the past three days, my anglers have boated over 100 stripers. I’m feeling very blessed and worn out,” said Wolfe (803-487-3690).

For Siwarski, the rains and winds haven’t slowed the fishing at all. The speckled trout bite hasn’t slowed at all. And the redfish bite, if anything, has picked up. He and his anglers caught plenty of both yesterday, and left them biting.

“I didn’t know what to expect after the crazy wind and rain we have had the last few days. But the big trout were biting. We caught enough of them for dinner, then moved on to redfish every cast. We left them biting. (My anglers) did a fine job catching today. I’m not sure we can even call it fishing,” said Siwarski (843-327-3434).