| Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie are where | | | | since the 40s, guides and local anglers |
| crappie, largemouth, striper and monster | | | | have sunk their own structure to create |
| catfish are hunted by anglers in the | | | | their personal honey holes. |
| know when they take to the water in | | | | Consequently, it only takes a short run |
| South Carolina. There is plenty of room | | | | by boat to find productive water. |
| for all comers; Marion covers 110,000 | | | | If you hire a guide you can expect to |
| acres while Moultrie weighs in at 60,400 | | | | pay for it. Unless you've got very deep |
| acres. | | | | pockets you might want to consider using |
| Now, these lakes weren't always what | | | | a guide the first day to get a feel for |
| they are now. As a matter of fact, they | | | | the lay of the water and then take it |
| were not there at all. They were created | | | | from there for the rest of your trip. |
| when the Santee River and the Cooper | | | | For two people you can expect to pony up |
| River were dammed. This occurred in the | | | | $150 to $280 depending on if you furnish |
| 1940s and as little as twenty years | | | | your own bait/lures and tackle or leave |
| later the lakes had already gained a | | | | that up to the guide. Accordingly, the |
| reputation as a crappie fishing hot | | | | fee for 6 people can be as steep as |
| spot. | | | | $480. So you see, how much you rely on |
| Types of Fish in the Santee Cooper Arena | | | | the guide service or your own |
| Of course it's become a haven for trophy | | | | adventuresome spirit determines how you |
| Crappie, or "papermouths", as they are | | | | structure your trip. |
| commonly referred to. But don't be | | | | When and Where to Fish for Crappie |
| surprised if you reel in a monster | | | | Although crappie can be caught year |
| catfish. These range from five pounders | | | | round, the most productive time starts |
| up to fifty pounds, rivaling anything | | | | in early March and ends in mid December. |
| caught in the Mississippi or anywhere | | | | Crappie have their temperature comfort |
| else for that matter. Try putting one of | | | | zone and they try to stick to it while |
| those babies in your pan. | | | | staying in structure. This has them |
| But crappies are what we are talking | | | | moving deeper and the temperatures fall |
| about and the best way to fill the boat | | | | and then moving back closer to shore as |
| with keepers. This won't be hard to do | | | | spring approaches. |
| in these two lakes if you can just find | | | | As the weather warms, crappie start |
| them. | | | | getting ready for spawning. They spawn |
| How to find Keeper Crappie | | | | in structure in the shallow water, |
| Crappie like to hang out in and around | | | | depositing eggs in structure for the |
| underwater structure. If you are not | | | | safety of the eggs and the subsequent |
| familiar with the Santee Cooper lakes, | | | | minnows. After depositing the eggs they |
| consider using a fish finder to reveal | | | | will move back into slightly deeper |
| underwater structure. The lakes are | | | | water. |
| fairly dense with it. In the first | | | | Once they begin spawning, the best place |
| place, the damming of the rivers and | | | | to fish is where permanent grass might |
| subsequent flooding left plenty of | | | | be found. |
| growth underwater. In addition to that, | | | | |