"We started this event back in 2010," said Hank Weldon, youth director at B.A.S.S. For the most popular fishing spot in Georgia, Lake Hartwell has an abundance of panfish, trout, striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish, and bream. The lake holds state records for five fish species, three of which come from the bass family. While other baits will work in the cool months, Charles spends most of the time with a rod in his hand rigged with a spoon. Lake Keowee doesnt get a whole lot of love sometimes because of a lot more attention being devoted toward its sister lake, Lake Hartwell. Water actually passes under the wall to enter the canal, so the strongest currents and consequently the most-active fish tend to be close to the bottom. Lake Keowee Oconee - South Carolina 127 catches 994 followers 181 spots Known for its state record Yellow Perch, Keowee also has excellent largemouth, smallmouth, Crappie and catfish opportunities. View our maps and read detailed fishing reports from nearby anglers. Hatchery WMA on Lake Moultrie is closed to fishing each Saturday until 12:00 noon and all day the last Saturday of the waterfowl season. The AHQ Report is your source for exclusive fishing reports, tournament updates, and more! You can catch fish in all parts of the pond, he said. Wagner Runs Away From Field with Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Keowee. 27 de fevereiro de 2023 | usssa baseball tournaments 2022. Some saltwater species are measured with fork length. I like to use a jigging spoon or a dropshot rig. Lake Keowee Ln. The lower 50s is about as cold as Lake Keowee gets, again because of the hot hole effect. Shop by brand or reel type. The source of the lake is the Appalachian mountain rivers which fall from dozens of waterfalls which are only visible by boat. There are bream and catfish in Lake Keowee, and with an 89-pound blue cat caught this spring that may be an-up-and-coming fishery on the lake. Shad pattern baits and moving style-reaction baits are very key in the springtime on any Spotted Bass Lake. Because Keowee fish follow schools of herring and shad and commonly suspend over open-water structure and because of the lakes normal clarity topwater lures can work over any depth. Experienced members share their fishing knowledge. There are bream and giant catfish in Lake Keowee, with an 89-pound blue catfish caught in the spring of 2020 and there is little doubt that there are still larger fish swimming. Like all naturally reproducing species, spotted bass can only survive because of successful spawns. In windy conditions you can get a more vertical presentation if the boat is moving by casting a little ahead. Oh my god. Close to its mouth, Cedar Creek makes a hard bend, narrows significantly and wraps around an island collectively providing great habitat for bass. The bad part is that always-abundant natural forage and heavy pressure can make those fish tough customers. Weight: 2lbs and 9oz., Length: 165in. In 40-60 feet he opts for a ounce spoon, and in 60 plus feet he fishes ounce spoons until water temperatures get in the lower 50s and he picks up a 1-ounce spoon. TL=total length measure; Tip of snout with mouth closed to tip of tail. Are you in the know? The first 73-pound striper was caught in 1973 by Charles Church at Quicks Hole. For bass fishermen, it can be a mix of both on the same day, maybe even just an hour or even a few casts apart. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. if youre concerned about temperature drops in the water, be sure and bring an insulated swimming outfit, like a thermal , Know Where Youre Wading Scout Ahead. Just around the corner from the Hot Hole, a long concrete barrier known as the Skimmer Wall serves as a giant filter at the mouth of the canal that draws water for cooling purposes within the nuclear station. Freshwater Fish Family Bass live on the main lake the year round, and so you can certainly fish there the whole year, but Charles finds that relatively higher numbers of fish seem to be in the creeks in the fall. So, its a great back up bait to the Alabama Rig. Your email address will not be published. However, birds can also tip off anglers. Even though the mid-lake section is most affected by the cooling station, due to the massive amounts of water moved around the lake due to the pump-back mechanism between Keowee and Jocassee the whole lake is warmed. There is good bank access and a boat ramp. There was a time when the spotted bass was not king on Lake Keowee, and perhaps as a result of changes such as the DNR habitat restoration project things could change again. Anyone interested in fishing Lake Keowee or waters within the wider area around Seneca should consult with local resources before heading out to fish. In fact, it is probably why they have out-competed native species. Look for dark spots on long, main-lake points, humps or islands. Keowee Lake is a large freshwater reservoir with a maximum length of 26 miles and a width of 3 miles. Or enjoy Free Shipping on orders over $50! A drop shot rig consists of line tied to a hook with a trailing leader that comes to an end with a weight so that the weight is at the bottom and the hook and bait are above it. Theyre great to take before bed to wake up feeling more rested and ready to go. . The Skimmer Wall area also stays well lighted all night, which keeps baitfish in the area and makes it a very good area for night-fishing during the summer. Hell also work riprap on both sides, the point thats in front of the dam and blow-downs along the banks just down from the direct outflow. Thats always a good tip for Lake Keowee, Green said. A beautiful, generally clear lake, it is about 25 miles long and oriented north/ south, covers approximately 18,500 acres, and has around 300 acres of shoreline. Even after the last of March, when I can almost guarantee theyre going to be spawning, its not unusual for a spot to make a bed in 10 foot of water., Another thing is that spotted bass in Keowee spawn way before largemouth are even thinking about (it), and they spawn way after largemouth are done spawning, he said. Again, Lake Keowee doesnt get a whole lot of love sometimes from tournament bass anglers, but it can hold its own in the springtime for tournament trails that hold events there. 18,500 acres. Even when the weather is not perfect outside, the water is a perfect 80 degrees due to the water output from the power plant. SCDNR - Freshwater Game Fish Records for SC Freshwater Fish Records for South Carolina Affidavit for Record Freshwater Game Fish is in the PDF file format. Smallmouth Bass. The good news about Lake Keowee is that it isnt terribly huge, with waters that cover a little more than 18,000 acres. The water from this body of water is used to cool the nuclear station. The bridge also attracts schools of crappie and is a popular spot for crappie fishing. . . 1 pick. No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids Latimer targets main-lake areas, concentrating on main-lake structure, main-lake points, main-lake islands, short main-lake coves and pockets. Although best known as a winter spot because of the warmth of the discharge, this areas holds high numbers of fish year round because of the current, and the abundant structure and cover. An angler who drags a Carolina rig across the bottom in this area usually will find a fair number of snags, but that same angler is likely to find some bass in the process. The jigging spoon resembles a small dying baitfish, but more importantly an easy meal to the hungry Spotted Bass living in Lake Keowee. The bass will school up and down the wall, so keep an eye out for breaking bass, and keep a topwater lure and jerkbait handy, Green said. Call (877) 444-6777 to reserve. Among the most popular are Lake Jocasee, Lake Murray, Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion, and Lake Strom Thurmond. Green points toward the large eddy that forms just to the right of the dam (facing the dam) and the cove on the opposite side as good places to look for schooling fish. Any game fish or species with a size limit listed must be landed with head and tail fin intact. Smallmouth and redeye bass, although less numerous, can be caught in certain areas. The pattern stays the same in March as it does in January and February, so you can still catch them 30 foot to 40 foot deep. A lot of smallmouths live in Cedar Creek, but you can also catch largemouths by going up it.. GEORGIA'S MCCAY WINS T-H MARINE FLW BFL SAVANNAH RIVER DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE KEOWEE PRESENTED BY NAVIONICS . The Cane Creek ramp is north of Seneca just off SC 188. The lake has warmed to about 60 degrees on the north and south ends, with the mid-lake rising to the mid-60s over the last couple of days. . Look for dark spots on long, main-lake points, humps or islands. These records include fish taken in interstate waters including Lake Tahoe, Topaz Lake, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and the Colorado River. While spots are roaming fortunately there are some particularly areas where it is worth looking for them, and the day we fished we spent a lot of time following creek channels. Read now. Sometimes as anglers, its hard to turn off our mind at night when were exhausted which causes intense stress the next day fishing when youre battling other circumstances. Does Lake Keowee Have Alligators? About: - Lake Keowee, SC. However, while spring is often considered the peak of bass fishing on many lakes, on Lake Keowee the most exciting time is often when the weather starts to get cold. There are fish that will stay in creeks through the winter, but since 60-80 feet is a better depth range in the winter it needs to be deep creeks. With maximum depths of 120 feet the water does not reach incredible depths, but because of the steep terrain there is a relative absence of flat, shallow areas. Be sure to tell us what book with the order. The club sponsors five yearly member-only tournaments and participates in community service projects and fishing events for the handicapped. Captain Thames will often fish around rocks in the sunniest and warmest parts of the lake. The lower lake is least affected and generally the coolest in the winter. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This dive offers warm water and is performed as a drift dive due to the swift outflow from the waters in the power plant. It also worth noting that because of the temperature variance on Lake Keowee in the spring you can more easily target fish at one stage of the spawn by moving around than on many other lakes. You can catch them just casting to dark spots on main-lake points and islands, said Latimer. , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. Usually around the first or second week of November water temperatures on Lake Keowee have begun to drop into the 60s and seasonal changes begin, although Charles believes that fish also start to behave differently because of day length. In Pickens County access to Crowe Creek is west of Pickens off SC 133 at the intersection of County Road 172. For deeper fishing he wants a heavier bait that will get down faster. The state record striped bass was caught from Lake Russell. There are lakes nearby where you can catch more, lakes where you can catch bigger ones, etc., but Keowee is a darn nice lake in general. And If in the future the lake changes, someone who is on the water every day like Charles will be among the first to know about it, and Im sure his patterns will adapt. Statewide except on the Savannah River and Lakes Hartwell, Russell and Thurmond see below. Outdoor. Latimer said traditional bed fishing for spots is not the same as it is for largemouths. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". When fishing for stripers concentrate on the deeper waters in the lake. Two styles of baits that will produce great results on Lake Keowee in the springtime are Alabama Rigs, and jigging spoons. Campsites are available through reservation only and the fee is $15 per night. Keowee is a beautiful, clear-water reservoir that's filled with spotted bass and home to far more bruiser largemouths than most bass fishing fans probably realize. At 26 miles long and 3 miles wide (at its max), Lake Keowee covers 18,500 acres and has 387 miles of shoreline. Special limits and regulations apply to SCDNR managed lakes. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. Both of which are very good when fished around the brush piles found on Lake Keowee, or brush piles found underneath some of the docks on Lake Keowee. Learn more. You can also pull a Carolina rig or drag a jig. , Best Answer From Peter in Australia: A hook will rust away in a fish, but it may take a while, especially if the hook is plated or made of thick metal. Fishing deep water is never like casting at a visible stump or laydown on the shore, but fishing deep water in Lake Keowee is even more remote from traditional bass fishing. Lake Keowee is known for its clear green waters. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! If I wanted to catch largemouth this time of year, Id probably run to the backs of pockets and throw jigs around docks, swimbaits, things like that, Latimer said. Most Alabama Rigs sink at a rate of 2 feet per 1 second count. Crawfish is a great meal to Spotted Bass in Lake Keowee because it provides a high protein meal, and the essential nutrients Spotted Bass need for extra strength when thinking about the spawn. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. But Lake Keowee is best known for its massive population of non-native spotted bass that feast on the main forage base of threadfin shad. "It took me a long time to. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Read now. The state record hybrid striped bass came from the Savannah River. Hell also work the rest of the inundated pond by dragging a jigging spoon across its contours. A shallow shoal on the river-channel side of Island 2B and a broad flat that stretches out toward the channel attract quite a few schooling fish during the summer. The shoreline of Lake Keowee measures out to approximately 300 miles. Fishing spots and baits to use at Lake Keowee? Famous for its fat spotted bass, this steep-banked Upstate impoundment also produces fine largemouth action along with crappie, native redeye bass and the occasional smallmouth. Green said that, while current from the power-station discharge influences a fairly large area down the riprap bank on one side and spreads into a big cove on the other, most anglers only fish the immediate discharge. A few days ago I was fortunate enough to go out on Keowee with Guide Charles Townson, who has been fishing Lake Keowee since 1996. Bass pro Brian Latimer of Anderson said that Keowee fishes like to different lakes, depending on whether you are targeting largemouths or the more dominant spots. The Hot Hole, where warmer water gets discharged from the Oconee Nuclear Station, produces such dependable action and has the potential to create so much crowding that it is off limits in many local tournaments. Shop our collection of fishing rods to find the one that best matches your needs. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This is partly a result of Keowees unique geography and physical aspects, but also a result of the species that are in the lake. Mission is to help members learn how to fish for bass on Lake Keowee and have fun in the process. Interestingly, Charles notes that on Keowee it is very rare to get schooling action unless conditions are calm the opposite of other area lakes. Jocasseeoutdoorcenter.com - Xranks. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. My information base and my knowledge grew from there, said Rubio. All freshwater fish species in the state of South Carolina are measured using total length. Separate dams that impound two different river arms make it almost like two lakes in one, and the Oconee Nuclear Station complicates things further by pulling water from one side and pushing temperature-altered water into the other side. Green shared some of his vast experience by hand-picking 10 spots that offer especially good prospects for early-summer fishing at Lake Keowee. The water tends to be a lot murkier in the backs of places like Stamp Creek, Cane Creek, Little River and Crowe Creek. Treble hooks are illegal in South Carolina on certain trout streams where artificial lures with a single hook are required. Compartilhar isto Beyond black bass, varieties of fish that get significant attention from anglers include crappie, catfish and bluegill. 1. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Are there water moccasins in Lake Keowee? The lake covers approximately 18,000 acres of surface area and is home to excellent spotted bass fishing. While there are random trout caught in Keowee each year due to nearby Jocassee or some of the feeder streams, DNR also does not stock it with trout. These are areas just off main-lake points, secondary points, or areas relating to the river channel leading into the spawning pockets. Competitors from area colleges will compete on Lake Keowee, Feb. 22, for the chance to win the coveted College Classic trophy, and then they'll weigh in on the largest stage in the world of bass fishing. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Close to the Chattooga River, Walhalla State Fish Hatchery, Oconee State Park, Ellicott Rock Wilderness, and the Foothills Trail. Statewide except the water bodies listed below: No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids, Lakes Hartwell, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell tailwater), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah; Stevens Creek Reservoir; the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers, No more than 10 combined total of black bass, Lakes Hartwell, Keowee, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell tailwater), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah; Stevens Creek Reservoir; the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers, Lakes Blalock, Greenwood, Jocassee, Marion, Monticello, Moultrie, Murray, Secession, Wateree, Wylie and the middle reach of the Saluda River and the upper reach of the Santee River. Green fishes the tops and sides of the points, and will work around the islands with topwater lures, jigging spoons and a variety of soft-plastic offerings. Its very deep around there, Green said. January 30, 2023. This total shall not exceed more than the limits or exceptions listed below. Youll have to access Horsepasture and Toxaway by boat, but they are easily the most scenic of the four and are best for trout fishing in the summer months. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Much of the year these eating machines roam the lake following the schools of threadfin shad, and it is plainly obvious that they have taken over. Outside of the obvious similarities to nearby Lake Jocassee, Keowee does not look like a typical impoundment in this state. Since moving to the lake in 2013 he has fished it about two hundred days a year, and for several years now he has provided the regular reports on this site detailing what the fish are doing from week-to-week. Rigs, and jigging spoons is north of Seneca just off SC 188 full-time career and launched Safe! Rest of the sport them just casting to dark spots on long, main-lake points and islands, Latimer! The handicapped time to its a great back up bait to the opening day trout. 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