[blackwaterkatz]

This thread is for those of you who fish the lower Santee, maybe in the Wilson's Landing or Arrowhead areas or even below Jamestown. Right now, the river level is fluctuating around the 7-8' mark, or 4-5' above normal. I've been wanting to go try the cats, but just can't find the time. Maybe this week. :sad:

 

[Mr Phatkat]

I was fishing out at wilson's a few times this month and doing nicely on the smaller catfish. I did a lot of communicating with other people fishing out there and the big talk was that when the water is up thats when youll catch the big ones out there. Anybody else bear witness to that? Im seriously considering finding out for myself. Guess im waitin on a little more encouragement. Its a pretty reasonable drive (80minutes) but if high water generally means minimal bank access then i have to count myself out. So any advice would be appreciated.

 

[blackwaterkatz]

I had heard folks were catching a lot of cats up there earlier this month, but didn't get to go. We rode over there while staying at Harry's a couple of weeks ago, lots of vehicles around the landing on Sat. but didn't talk to anyone. Sunday was only 1 vehicle there.
Do you fish from the bank or boat, Phatcat? I've been promising myself for a week now to go fishing there and at Lake Moultrie, but just haven't been able to work it in. If I do I will definitely post here.

 

[blackwaterkatz]

Fished lower Santee at Jamestown today. The bite was pretty slow, but managed 4 blues up to about 8#, 1 nice channel 10# maybe, that broke off at the boat, and a few extra bluegills for supper. The channel hit a live bream, and the blues were on cut bait (mullet/bream). Also used some garlic cured chicken livers, but didn't get a bite on them.
Water level was extremely low, but not terribly muddy, considering the levels have just dropped over the past week or so. I saw a quite a few logs that I've never seen before, even hit one hard enough to bend the steering rod at the motor. It made it very hard to turn left, but I managed to straighten it enough to be ok until I got home. No other damage to the motor, at least.

 

[blackwaterkatz]

Fished lower Santee today. Cloudy, windy, and cooler after a cold front came through last night. Caught 8 Blues from 2 - 17 lbs. All were caught in 6' of water or less, where fresh water was entering the river. Was fishing with nightcrawlers for channels, but didn't get anything but blues. Most of the bites were from 10AM - 2 PM, then it dropped off. Something changed with the weather, things got really dark, quiet and calm, almost like it does just at dusk. After that the bite was almost completely gone.

 

[blackwaterkatz]

My grandson, Doug and I fished Santee near jamestown Monday afternoon, after I fished waccamaw earlier in the day.
We used herring for bait. The river was falling after being up for several weeks, but current was running hard and water temp was about 50 deg. We only had time to fish one place, a break behind a log jam, before dark, but Doug managed a blue about 5# on the edge of the current, and we missed a couple of bites, too.
Doug and a friend went to the farm pond yesterday and caught about 40 small bream, so I will be leaving shortly and using them for bait today.

 

[ironbelle]

That's funny, I saw the word "Santee" and thought this thread was about Santee Lakes in San Diego. We too in San Diego, CA have a Santee fishing hole.

 

[RiverratSC]

Ours are named after the Santee Indians and the Santee Power Company.

 

[blackwaterkatz]

Anyone remember the L'il Abner comic strips about the guy with the black cloud over his head? That's me, lately.
Fished the lower Santee above Jamestown one afternoon last week and Bigboy managed a couple of small blues. I went back the next day, fished all day and I don't recall even getting a bite.
I caught some herring for bait in Moultrie last Wed. morning, then Doughboy (from Ohio) and I went to the rediversion canal above Arrowhead that night, fished for several hours with only 1 blue, maybe 8-10# to show for it, other than good conversation. I think by now he is convinced there are no (well maybe one) catfish in SC. Two trips out and only 1 fish.....
Mr Phatkat and I went to the same spot today, fishing for american shad. Did a little better, carried 2 shad home and lost 3. OK, now I have plenty of fresh cut bait, but I don't know if I can find anything to feed on it. Should last me quite awhile, what with my recent luck.

What would it cost for a witch doctor these days, to remove the hex someone has put on me? :crying:

 

[roundhill]

tommy that is fixing to change cant wate till wed see you soon

 

[blackwaterkatz]

Roundhill, speaking of clouds, "they" are forecasting 60% rain on wednesday, but I don't think my lucky streak has anything to do with it. Glad you've got a lid on your 'toon, though. Did you get my pm about the herring? I don't think I can make it over there to verify, but I am sure they are in there now.
Has anyone ever pondered about just how generic a name "they" is? Oh, well, I think I'll go to bed early tonight, and maybe I'll wake up with a new outlook on life; which reminds me of.....never mind, that's a story for another day.


Doughboy, glad to see you made the trip home ok.

 

[blackwaterkatz]

Fished the lower, lower Santee today. This is only the second time I've ever fished there for catfish, but I keep hearing about lots of fish being caught and I wanted to try it. I had fresh shad that I caught yesterday and kept on ice; also had some frozen bream and herring. I spent a good deal of time searching for fish, and found them, but they were scattered out. A lot of baitfish, with fish beneath them, but it was really hard to get a bite, except for small ones. (I even caught a 12" long blue on a 3"X5" strip of shad filet and a 10/0 circle hook) Finally managed to land 5 fish from 1# to maybe 15# during the falling tide. I caught a few fresh bream on earthworms, used them for bait, but it didn't make a lot of difference. I also caught 2 roe American shad on crappie jigs. I saw a lot of suspended fish near the bottom of some deep holes, just had to find out what they were. LOL
One surprise was just how many boats were out today, and the number of trotlines and limblines (which are illegal) was astounding. Seems like everywhere I looked, people were fishing trotlines. I felt lucky to catch the few cats that I did. LOL

 

[snooker_hooker]

what do you mean by the lower santee. the tailrace. thats why i like the lake. i cant stand all the boats

 

[snooker_hooker]

never mind it would help if i would read more.

 

[blackwaterkatz]

Nick, I launched from the US17 bridge on North Santee River, south of Georgetown. I fished probably an 8-10 mile stretch of river, including some of the south santee. The boats weren't as much of a concern farther upriver, but I was just surprised that most of them were fishing for catfish. In years past, that was a rarity. My biggest concern was the number of trotlines. I don't see how a catfish can get very far. Almost every deep hole had a shad net in it, too, course they have to be taken up before noon on saturdays, so that wasn't a problem, other than navigating around the buoys.

 

[chrisblue]

Tommy how far is the Santee river from Mt. Pleasant my momma just moved there so I'm gonna try it soon or do you think I need to try the cooper.How far up the cooper from the cooper river bridge do I have to go to catch catfish.And where would be the best to catch bait or buy bait.

 

[blackwaterkatz]

Tommy how far is the Santee river from Mt. Pleasant my momma just moved there so I'm gonna try it soon or do you think I need to try the cooper.How far up the cooper from the cooper river bridge do I have to go to catch catfish.And where would be the best to catch bait or buy bait.

There is "Pole Yard Landing" on the right immediately after you cross the bridge over North Santee River. That is probably about 40 miles up 17 north from it's junction with I-526. I don't know of anyplace near there to buy bait, but in McClellanville you may be able to get fresh mullet or shad. I'm sure you could catch some bait downstream of the boat landing on the lower tides.
As for Cooper River, I've never catfished there enough to know where the best places are, but once you pass YellowHouse Creek, you should be in good shape. The 'tees' where the east branch parts, is generally considered the fresh/saltwater dividing line, though. I bet you'd be surprised what you can catch right there in Charleston harbor, especially after you pass the old navy base. I know folks that catch lots of cats in Winyah Bay at Georgetown, and thats only a short run from the ocean.

 

[chrisblue]

Thanks for the info Tommy I've been in a boat on the cooper before we put in at the cooper river bridge and went up to where all the big ships are and there were some big arches on the graph the anchors I had wouldnt big enough to hold in the current so we couldnt fish em.

 

[blackwaterkatz]

That's right, Chrisblue. Also, be aware, if you aren't already, that the coast guard issues restriction near the Navy Base/Weapons Station area frequently. They are dead serious, from what I'm told, about boats violating those restrictions. Just a heads up. I haven't been through there, but I think you would be smart to keep a steady speed and stay away from any docks or ships. LOL

 

[chrisblue]

Yeah we stopped and threw the anchor out and just as I was starting to bait a rod the national gaurd pulled up and told me to leave, because I never seen the signs so I didnt know.