Freshwater Fishing Trends
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Piedmont Area
Lake Russell
Black bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that bass were still shallow to start June, but this month they will eventually go deeper. Fishing with deep running crankbaits or plastic worms around deep structure will be the best pattern for anglers who don’t want to use live bait.
Striped bass and hybrids: Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that in June fish should be on both ends of the lake, with herring on free-lines working in the shallower upper lake and down-lines working in the deeper lower lake. Pay special attention to timber which most of the deeper fish will be related to in some way.
Crappie: Guide Wendell Wilson reports that fish will stay relatively shallow as long as temperatures are mild, but they will likely eventually move onto deeper brush or natural timber this month. They can be caught on jigs and minnows. Night-fishing around bridges will also be productive.
Catfish: Guide Jerry Kotal reports that Russell has a very healthy population of channel catfish, and it’s basically a matter of putting out cut bait to catch fish in June. They had some excellent catches at the start of the month and don’t expect those to slow down.
Most detailed Lake Russell Updates
Clarks Hill (Lake Thurmond)
Black bass: Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia, report that low water levels seem to be making for a phenomenal bite on the lake, and in May catches were far above average. They hope that continues throughout June. Fish should continue to take flukes all month early, while later in the day you may have to target deeper brush with sub-surface baits. There should also be a good shallow bite with so many bream around the banks.
Striper and hybrids: Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that to start off the month fish were still fairly shallow early, or at least high in the water column, but in June they should move down the lake and deeper – and then continue to go deeper from there. Down-rods with herring will be the main technique for most anglers this month.
Crappie: Little River Guide Service reports that this month fish should be found around brush, but they may be sitting deeper in the brush with water levels low. Anchoring and then fishing vertically with minnows is usually the best pattern although at times the fish will show a preference for jigs.
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the best fishing in June will be in the early morning or late evening. Anchoring on humps and points and fishing with cut bait at a variety of depths is the best bet.
Most detailed Lake Thurmond Updates
Lake Wylie
Bass bass: Tournament angler Reid McGinn of Fort Mill reports that rising water levels at the end of May and beginning of June have put a lot more shallow areas into play, after a long very low period, and so the group of fish feeding around the banks on bream seems to be much larger than usual to start the month. Typically in June one group of fish will be shallow feeding around bedding bream, and another group of fish will be offshore in well-known community holes, but this month shallow patterns could dominate. Shallow fish can be caught on topwaters and deeper fish can be caught on crankbaits and worms.
Crappie: Captain Chris Nichols (704-860-7951) reports that in June you are targeting post-spawn fish, and the best way to catch them is slowly trolling jigs or double rigs with minnows in deeper creek runs. White perch will frequently be mixed in with the crappie. There will also be crappie on deeper brush
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that in June the blue catfish should be pretty intent on spawning, which often corresponds to a decline in the bite – at least for big fish. Still, you can catch some good fish anchoring while numbers can usually be caught drifting. It usually isn’t until later in the month or July that night fishing outpaces the daytime bite.
Most detailed Lake Wylie Updates
Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood
Black bass: Veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter of Greenwood reports that in early June the fishing was picking up a bit. In June there should still be a topwater bite first thing in shallow water around sea walls, but during the heat of the day most fish should be caught deeper on crankbaits and worms around offshore brush. The population of spotted bass is very strong right now but largemouth can still be caught.
Crappie: Captain Roland Addy (864-980-3672) reports that to start June fish were on brush in the creeks and on the main lake, but as it gets hotter more fish will be on the main lake. By the heat of the summer better fish will almost exclusively be on deeper, main lake brush. Both minnows and jigs will catch fish.
Catfish: Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the best fishing for channel catfish in June can be found anchoring with dip baits or drifting with cut bait or shrimp. To catch a big flathead try anchoring live bait around brush at night.
Most detailed Lake Greenwood Updates
Lake Monticello
Black bass: BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that to start the month it will still be a transition period, but a week or two into June during the day most of the fish will be in deeper water where they can be caught on crankbaits and spoons around offshore structure when there is current moving. When conditions are still then shaky head worms are usually a better option. All month there can be a topwater bite in the shallows early.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that numbers of fish will be caught on free lines drifting over deep water, while bigger fish can be caught anchoring cut bait on points and humps. There is also always the chance to catch a giant catfish high in the water column on Monticello.
Most detailed Lake Monticello Updates
Lake Murray
Black Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria reports that in June a good pattern is to fish shallow with topwater baits early and late and then to target deeper brush with soft plastics in between. You can also look for suspended fish offshore and throw topwater lures and flukes.
Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that to start June rising water levels and current has fish feeding well, and they are optimistic the good bite will continue all month. As temperatures rise fish will go deeper where they can be caught on down-lined live herring, and they will likely move towards bigger water and out of the creeks by the end of June. However, it is unlikely that striper will complete the final push into the lower pool of the lake until next month.
Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor reports that in early June fish were stacked up on brush and feeding well in much of the lake, although in the areas with the most current the bite was tougher. As things settle out brush from one end of the lake to the other should produce in June, with the key depth range gradually shifting deeper further down the lake. Both jigs and minnows will catch fish.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that during the day you need to fish deeper off points and humps, but at night catfish will move closer to the bank. The summer is a good time for dip baits.
Most detailed Lake Murray Updates
Lake Wateree
Black bass: Tournament angler Dearal Rodgers of Camden reports that generally in June he expects the fish to be mixed between shallow and deep, but if it gets very hot even the shallow fish will usually want to be close to deep water. Frogs, shaky heads, Carolina rigs, and deep-diving crankbaits will all catch bass. Especially during hot periods the best action will be found early and late. .
Striped bass: Captain Justin Whiteside (803-417-0070) reports that June should see strong fishing for striped bass up and down the lake, and it’s really just a matter of looking for fish on electronics and having live herring ready to drop down to them. There can also be schooling activity all month so be sure to have something ready to throw at fish that break the surface.
Crappie: Veteran tournament angler Will Hinson of Cassatt reports that fish will mostly all be on brush (or other cover, as opposed to roaming) this month, and they can be caught on both minnows and jigs. As it gets hotter they will move deeper towards the river channel.
Catfish: Captain Rodger Taylor (803-517-7828) reports that June is often a tough month with the spawn going on. However, with such a strong population of catfish drifting with cut bait for scattered fish is likely to be the most productive pattern to target juvenile cats that are still feeding well. When there is current you can also try the river area for a bigger bite.
Most detailed Lake Wateree Updates
Santee Cooper
Black bass: Captain David Murdaugh Sr. (843-452-9566) reports that this month fish will start off both shallow and deep, but as it gets warmer more fish will move to deeper structure. Fishing usually gets tougher as June progresses, but with an improvement in the amount and quality of aquatic vegetation fishing has stayed better through the summer in recent years. Soft plastics will work both shallow and deep.
Crappie: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that fishing was fair throughout May, but as more fish stack up on brush June could be more consistent. Crappie should continue to be caught on mid-depth brush with minnows.
Bream: Captain Steve English reports that bedding activity was good on the May full moon, and almost certainly around the new and full moons in June waves of bluegill should also come shallow to spawn. They can be caught on crickets and worms. Some shellcracker will also continue to spawn although others will be starting to stack up on brush.
Striped bass: Captain Bobby Winters (843-751-3080) reports that until the season closes it’s mostly about night fishing in deep water, and he will be targeting his efforts in Lake Moultrie with live herring fished near the bottom. A range of techniques can be used to draw in the fish. Note that from June 16 to Sept. 30 the Santee River system is closed to striped bass fishing except for the Lower Saluda River where catch-and-release is allowed..
Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that it has been an excellent spring for catfish, and they expect more of the same in June. This month it’s hard to beat drifting with small pieces of cut blueback herring in mid-depths, although anchoring in the shallows is often a go-to pattern for bigger fish.
Most detailed Santee Cooper System Updates
Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee
Trout: Guide Sam Jones (864-280-9056) reports that the trout fishing has been exceptional this spring, and obviously there was another very successful winter stocking. Water temperatures were still mild to start June, but as things heat up this month the fish are certain to move deeper. Spoons should work for most of the month but if the bite gets tougher you can switch over to minnows and sometimes have improved success. Night fishing is another option.
Most detailed Lake Jocassee Updates
Lake Keowee
Black Bass: Guide Charles Townson (864-324-2065) reports that by the beginning of June the bass spawn was essentially over and fish were in normal early summer patterns. This month they will be caught early and late off points on topwaters, while during the day fishing deeper with worms is the best option. Also keep your eyes open for sporadic schooling activity.
Most detailed Lake Keowee Updates
Lake Hartwell
Black Bass: Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that in June the offshore topwater bite should be the best thing going – as it was to start the month. However, with lake levels beginning to come up there are also more fish around the banks feeding on bream that can be caught with a range of baits including soft plastics.
Striper and hybrids: Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that as it gets warmer the shallow early morning bite tails off in June, although at some point this month an offshore early morning surface bite should turn on. But for most of June the key will be fishing down-rods in mid-depths around points and in the front of coves. Fish should be spread throughout the lake this month, and it won’t be until the water gets very hot that they will begin to concentrate in the lower lake.
Crappie: Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that there is a good mid-depth brush bite to start June, but as the month progresses fish will head deeper. At some point the bite should slow down when it gets very hot, although night fishing around bridges with lights can be productive.
Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that during June channel catfish will bite well on dip baits and worms. The flathead catfish action should also be good and fish should be caught on both live and fresh cut bait, especially in low light conditions around brush. Blues will be harder to target as they return to the deep timber after spawning.
Most detailed Lake Hartwell updates
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