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Lakes & Reservoirs

Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Guide

South Carolina

Lakes Marion and Moultrie, known for trophy blue catfish and landlocked stripers.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Santee Cooper Lakes for largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and blue catfish. The best months overall are Oct to Apr. In October, largemouth bass and striped bass are in season, and Soft Stick Bait, Bass Jig and Spinnerbait are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 45 miles; the closest is Reel Outfitters in Eutawville, 4 mi away. Charleston Harbor is 54 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Best Months

Oct to Apr

In October

Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass

Methods

Spin, cast & bait

Season at a Glance

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What You'll Catch

Santee Cooper Lakes Species

Largemouth Bass

Prime Now
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Best: Jan to Apr, Oct to Nov

Striped Bass

Prime Now
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Best: Apr to Jun, Sep to Nov

Crappie

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Best: Nov to Mar

Blue Catfish

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Best: Nov to Mar

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

12 picks for October. ● means in season that month.

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass · Surface blitzes.

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  • Soft Stick Bait 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Largemouth Bass

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  • Bass Jig 3/8 to 1 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Largemouth Bass

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  • Spinnerbait 3/8 to 3/4 oz

    Lure

    Moving Bait · Largemouth Bass · Stained water.

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  • Bladed Jig 3/8 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Moving Bait · Largemouth Bass · Around grass.

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  • Squarebill Crankbait 1.5 to 2.5 in

    Lure

    Crankbait · Largemouth Bass

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  • Lipless Crankbait 1/2 to 3/4 oz

    Lure

    Crankbait · Largemouth Bass

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  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Striped Bass

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  • Crappie Jig 1/32 to 1/8 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Crappie

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  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Striped Bass

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  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Blue Catfish, Crappie, Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass · Live shad or skipjack.

  • Cut Shad Chunk or fillet

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Blue Catfish · Fresh is best.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Largemouth Bass

Fly 9 ft 7 or 8 wt rod, bass-taper floating line, 12 to 16 lb leader for poppers and divers.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-heavy baitcasting rod, 7:1 reel, 15 lb fluorocarbon or 50 lb braid around heavy cover.

Striped Bass

Fly 9 ft 9 wt rod, intermediate or sinking line, 20 lb leader. Clousers and Deceivers.

Spin / Cast 7 to 8 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 30 lb braid with a 20 to 30 lb leader.

Crappie

Fly 8.5 ft 4 wt rod, floating line, small jig flies and minnow patterns.

Spin / Cast 10 to 12 ft jigging pole or 6 ft ultralight spinning rod, 4 to 6 lb hi-vis line.

Blue Catfish

Spin / Cast 7.5 to 8 ft medium-heavy casting rod, 5000 to 6500 levelwind reel, 30 to 50 lb line, 7/0 to 8/0 circle hooks.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Santee Cooper Lakes

Crankbaits

Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap

The classic lipless rattling crankbait for flats and schooling fish.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Panfish Lures

Bobby Garland Baby Shad Crappie Jigs

A go-to crappie plastic on a light jighead, under a float or vertical.

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Rod & Reel Combos

Ugly Stik Catfish Special Combo

A stout, long rod with a large reel for heavy sinkers and big cats.

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Reels

Pflueger President Spinning Reel

Light and smooth for its price. A favorite for finesse and panfish rods.

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Topwater

Heddon Zara Spook

The walk-the-dog topwater that works in fresh and salt.

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Rod & Reel Combos

Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo

Nearly unbreakable and sensitive enough for most freshwater fishing. A safe first combo.

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Rods

St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod

A sensitive, lightweight rod for finesse plastics and jigs.

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Within 45 Miles

Shops Near Santee Cooper Lakes

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · South Carolina · 54 mi

Charleston Harbor

Marsh, creeks, and jetties around Charleston with flood tide tailing redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Sheepshead

Lakes & Reservoirs · South Carolina · 72 mi

Lake Murray

A big reservoir near Columbia famous for spring herring spawn bass fishing and stripers.

Striped Bass · Largemouth Bass · Crappie