Fishing Report (Updated 1.15.2012)

Lake Wateree is at 95.5% of full pool.

Catfish: Good to very good.  Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that slowly drifted cut bait is still working well for numbers of blue catfish in the middle to lower part of the lake.  Key on bait locations and follow the birds.  If the deep channel is not producing, the deeper flats between the major creeks often harbor medium to large blues in the winter.  These fish often lay on the bottom and can be hard to see on your graph.  Finally, be flexible in your approach as unpredictable weather can make for unpredictable patterns. 

Crappie: Good.  Will Hinson of the Southern Crappie Tournament Trail reports that the crappie bite is strong up river from Wateree Creek on up to the Cedar Creek Dam.  Fish can be caught on the ledges on either side of the river channel, and a good way to fish the ledges is to start out fishing about 18 feet deep and fish out to 24 or 25 feet.  The best bait varies from day to day, with both minnows and jigs working, but the action is coming fishing right on the bottom to about a foot off of it.  Some very nice fish are being caught.

Largemouth Bass: Fair.  Captain Chris Heinning (803-236-1257) reports that the largemouth bass bite has slowed some due to winter’s cooler temperatures.  Bass can still be caught around rocky points, deep docks, steep banks, and humps near deep water working crankbaits, jigs, shakey head worms, and jerkbaits very slowly.   8-12 feet is the best depth range to target. 

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