Stripers in the Canal

Santee Cooper’s Diversion Canal is an April striper hotspot

The Diversion Canal at Santee Cooper is one of South Carolina’s prime spots for catching striped bass in April. As the weather warms and stripers migrate between lakes Marion and Moultrie, the canal becomes a highway for hungry fish. Anglers who know how to work this stretch of water can find themselves in the middle of fast action as stripers make their seasonal run.

April’s warming temperatures trigger the stripers to move, and the Diversion Canal offers both current and structure that attract these fish. The moving water creates a natural feeding lane, and stripers use it to ambush baitfish like threadfin shad and herring. Early mornings and late afternoons are often the best times to find stripers actively feeding, though cloudy days can extend the bite well into midday.

Live bait is a top choice for targeting stripers in the canal. Free-lining live herring or shad along the current breaks or near the canal’s edges can produce strikes. Many anglers also find success drifting bait rigs with the flow of the canal. Using circle hooks helps with solid hooksets and improves the odds of releasing fish unharmed.

Drifting is one of the most popular methods for catching stripers this month, and one that Capt. Joe Dennis of Captain J Hook Charters enjoys with his clients.

“These fish have run up the canal, through the Upper Lake and into the Wateree and Congaree rivers for their annual spawn. And by April, many of them are heading back to the Lower Lake. Their return trip through the Diversion Canal lasts over several weeks, so this is as good a spot as any to catch a limit,” said Dennis (843-245-3762).

Dennis drifts with numerous rods placed in rod holders all around the boat. He said the main thing to keep in mind is the depth of the water you’re drifting through. He stresses that drifting into water that’s too shallow will foul your lines and cause tangles.

Artificial lures can also be effective. Swimbaits, flukes, and bucktail jigs are go-to options, especially in white or chartreuse. Casting these lures along eddies and current seams mimics injured baitfish, often triggering aggressive strikes. Trolling deep-diving crankbaits along the canal’s deeper stretches can also be productive, as can Alabama rigs.

April’s striper run in the Diversion Canal draws anglers from across the region, and for good reason.

Canal Lakes Landing and Hill’s Landing are popular access points along the Diversion Canal. They both feature restaurants, tackle stores, and concrete boat landings directly on the canal, offering immediate access to top-notch fishing spots.