Fishing Report (Updated 2.4.2010)

Lake Russell remains very cold and water levels are at 473, temperatures are 41 or 42 degrees and the water is muddy by Lake Russell standards.

Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Slow.  Guide Wendell Wilson reports that ever since the cold snap the fishing has essentially been shut down, and he has had to turn down a couple of parties looking to bass fish.  Before the cold snap he was catching bass mid-lake in 25-35 feet of water just off the main channel, but with the very cold weather fish seem to have gotten lockjaw.  Fish probably gorged during the cold snap and accompanying major shad kill, and only had to open their mouths to bite.  It will take some more warm weather to get their metabolisms going again to the point where they want to eat.  When the bite is back on whether Wendell is fishing over trees, other cover or a clean bottom probably won’t matter – the key in the winter is fishing near the schools of bait.  Jigging spoons will be the artificial lures of choice, and minnows will also catch fish.  80% of the bass caught are spotted bass, but largemouth are also mixed in as well as other species.  The best fishing seems to come in the middle of the day when the sun has been on the water for several hours. 

Perch and crappie: Slow.  Guide Wendell Wilson reported that before the cold snap he was catching lots of white perch, yellow perch and crappie fishing around schools of bait in 30-35 feet of water.  However, the cold snap and shad kill has given the fish lockjaw.  When the water warms fish medium minnows just off the bottom and expect a mixed bag with some bass and catfish thrown in, too.

Catfish: Slow.  Guide Wendell Wilson reports that he is not spending much time targeting catfish but before the cold snap he was picking them up on minnows while fishing for crappie and bass.  When the water warms look in 20-25 feet of water around bait schools and fish cut bait on the bottom. 

Striped Bass:  Slow.  Guide Wendell Wilson reports that striped bass usually make their way down to the lower lake by this time.  Anglers can fish for them by looking for seagulls and then casting half ounce bucktails towards the birds, or pulling free lined live herring through the same areas.  This year, however, the striper are very difficult to locate in the muddy water.  The bite will probably not improve until temperatures warm and the water clears up a bit. 

DHEC Fish Advisory: Only one meal per week of largemouth or spotted bass.   

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