Wildlife

Catfish action good; bass fishing better

Terry Madewell

As the typical late-winter weather patterns bring us rain on a regular basis, the wet weather does have an influence on fishing in Lake Marion. However, it does also create some opportunities for the short-term as well as good news for the long-term. With ample water in the lakes, our spawning season for bass, crappie and bream has a chance to be very good. Plus, the current will likely attract the stripers up the river soon, as well. We’re almost midway through February now, so it’s time for bass, crappie and striper action to improve. Plus the steady and faithful catfish has been and will likely continue to produce good fishing.

 

Clarendon’s squirrel season is slipping away

Terry Madewell

Slowing stalking though the woods, Chuck Porter and I had a plan. We were basically working parallel to one another, taking a few very quiet steps and then stopping next to a big tree and looking, listening and waiting. We were communicating silently with eyes, looks and slight hand gestures. It was like a high-tech Delta Force stalk right out of a Chuck Norris movie. We were on the stalk … for bushytail squirrels.

 

Catfish action good despite conditions

Terry Madewell

The weather and water conditions are creating problems for a lot of fishermen right now, with striper, largemouth and crappie fishermen all having to work hard to find their targeted species of fish. Much of the issue is the water flowing through the lakes creating unstable situations with water levels and watercolor. In addition, the dingy to muddy water, depending on where you are fishing, is making finding fish that are willing to bite difficult for many anglers. However, the catfish, particularly the blue catfish, are still biting well and are locked into wintertime patterns right now. Not a huge number of catfish are being caught, but numerous quality fish are being hooked.

 

Mobility is the key to lake catfish connections

Terry Madewell

During late January and February there’s often a period when fishing gets pretty tough for several of our favorite fish species on Lake Marion. If conditions are perfect, stripers and crappie can be caught in good numbers. But overall, there’s one species that provides very good fishing throughout the winter and is the one that provides dependable fishing action right on through rain, muddy water, high water, low water or whatever occurs.

 

Fish patterns change with water conditions

Terry Madewell

The expected water coming through our lakes from upstream rains is occurring and has made the upper portion of the lake dingy to muddy in certain areas. According to Andy Pack at Pack’s Landing, the lake has come up a couple of feet with the recent influx of water. However, while maybe that’s not so good of news in the short term, overall the water is needed, especially with spring fishing just around the proverbial corner. The water conditions can change quickly for the better in the upper end of the lake, Pack said, and as soon as it takes a turn for the better, the action will likely return to excellent in that area.

 

Wintertime tactics for catching largemouth bass

Terry Madewell

There’s been a good bit of weather and water changes recently, both of which will impact the largemouth bass on the lakes. The changes will usually dictate where the bass will be in terms of specific depths, cover and type of lures with which they can be caught. But overall, the fish are still there. It’s our job as fishermen to figure out the patterns.

 

Area winter patterns impact lake fishing

Terry Madewell

The big slug of rain that dumped on us, plus what was generated upstream that will pass through Lake Marion, will have a noticeable, short-term impact on the fish in terms of making the water conditions a bit more unstable, especially in the upper end. The long-term impact of the rain is probably good, with some rain in the watershed to help the overall lake level, as we approach spring over the next few weeks.

 

Wintertime is the time for red-hot redfish action

Terry Madewell

While it’s still a bit early for the end of Wintertime and cold weather, it does not spell the end of shallow water fishing action for a diverse saltwater species such as redfish.

 

Lake Marion upper end producing good fishing

Terry Madewell

While it’s still a bit early for the striper action to kick into high gear in the upper end of Lake Marion, conditions in the swamp are good right now for fishing for several species of fish. A trip last week with Andy Pack out of Pack’s Landing was a foray into the swamp and the fishing produced a variety of fish species and more importantly, according to Pack, demonstrated that the water conditions in the swamp are prime for excellent fishing right now.

 

Largemouth, crappie action remains good

Terry Madewell

As described in the feature this week, there is some very good largemouth bass fishing in the upper end of Lake Marion right now, around the Pack’s Flats and up into the swamp. In addition, the crappie fishing is getting good in that sector of the lake and overall, fishing conditions have been good throughout the lake.