Fishing Report (Updated 1.15.2012)

Lake Wylie is at 98% of full pool.   

White perch: Very good.  Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that white perch fishing remains the most consistent that it has been in months, and fish are feeding in open water on the edges of humps 30-35 feet deep.  Schools are a mix of large and small fish, so don’t move on just because you catch a few small ones.  Fishing small minnows on a modified Sabiki rig is the best technique.  To read about white perch fishing on Lake Wylie visit: http://www.scfishingreport.com/Pages/sc_message_boards/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=176&t=2378

Catfish: Good to very good.  Captain Rodger Taylor reports that a typical winter pattern is fishing in or proximate to the river channel, but recently fish have not been bunched up in the river bed.  Fish have been scattered across a variety of depths, and bait concentrations are varied from creek to creek.  35-40 feet has been a good depth for drifting cut bait.  The percentage of channel catfish seems to be dropping as winter progresses, and blues are making up more and more of the catch.  Don’t overlook the warm water discharges which can offer some of the best fishing on the lake at this time of year. 

Largemouth Bass: Fair. FLW Professional and Guide Matt Arey (704-484-7715) reports that fish are in a typical early winter pattern, and fishing spoons and grubs – such Yamamato single tail grubs fished behind a ¼ or 3/16 ounce jighead - around channel swings, points and at the mouths of creeks in 20 feet of water is producing.   The key is finding the bait.  Shad have still not started to die off as water temperatures have not yet hit the mid-40s, but once shad kills start to occur subtle jerkbaits, flukes, and crankbaits with a tight wobble such as a #5 or #7 Shad Rap will all catch fish.  Be sure to work the bait slowly and try an erratic retrieve.  As always in the winter on Lake Wylie fish can be caught near the lower and upper hot holes using a variety of shallow water techniques. 

DHEC Fish Advisories: Due to PCB advisories visit http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/water/fish/Advisories/hartwell.htm before consuming any Lake Wylie fish. 

Check out the South Carolina Fishing Tackle Store at www.scfishingtackle.com.

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