Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Angling For Santee Cooper Fishing Guides

By Jeanette Riggs


Santee Cooper fishing guides take anglers out on the lakes and waterways throughout the year. The surging demand is not just because of Lake Moultrie or Lake Marion. The appeal is more on account of the fact that the lakes, canals and rivers are interconnected into one huge navigable water body that totals a whopping 756 billion gallons. Not to mention the humongous swamp and the coastline that stretches along for hundreds of miles.

The SC Lakes are well stocked with everything from striped bass and largemouths to bream and crappies that attract anglers from all over South Carolina and North America. The huge blue catfish are justifiably famous. Many state and world records belong to the SC Lakes, including the title of the world's largest channel catfish.

Many people bring their own boats and camp out along the lakeshore. There are in excess of a thousand campsites along the shores, so there's no dearth of space. Anglers can choose to fish by day or night. The fish bite more during the day, but the big record-breaking catches tend to go to the night owls. On the minus side, the bugs will make life hard at night while the heat takes a toll in the daytime, especially during summer.

Thankfully, the catfish abound in these lakes throughout the year, hanging around near the shallow flats at r below ten feet. The stripers come back in March, while crappies can be hooked in the spring in blackwater ponds before they go for deeper waters. Bream spawns from May through July.

The SC Lakes are famed for bass fishing. The best spots are again in the grass in shallow waters from February through June, after which they retreat to the depths until late in the fall. Visitors in need of assistance with finding the right place and time should easily be able to get hold of a professional guide with a boat.

These guides can help with the fishing license if required, and they know all the state laws and local ordinances that need to be observed by anglers and hunters. They can also provide the gear, food and drinks, and most will also lend a hand in cleaning the fish afterwards. These are people who were born in Santee or nearby communities, and know the lakes and waterways like the back of their hand.

The familiarity with the waters and patterns of marine life means they can find the latest spots where the fish are plentiful. Look for an experience that includes the lakes, the Santee River, both the Diversion as well as the Re-Diversion Canal, and perhaps even some salt water fishing out on the ocean. At the same time, it's also important to select a guide based on their expertise in one or two specific kinds of fish.

Recreational visitors can always take a break from angling to enjoy some of the other pleasures of the region. Santee Cooper fishing guides are just as good at guiding visitors to the best seafood restaurants offering a large helping of Southern hospitality. Enjoy the magnificent golf courses and do some sightseeing. History buffs can visit the battlefields and museums, while nature lovers may find bird-watching and walking trails at the National Wildlife Refuge extremely refreshing.




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