Santee Cooper tips?

[Milehibird]

Hey guys,
I'm in Colorado but I might be heading to Charleston area for a few days mid-January for a youth hockey tournament. Seeing as how all my lakes are frozen that time of the year and I've always wanted to fish Santee, anyone have some tips of what I should be expecting? What kind of patterns and conditions? What kind of tactics? I don't normally have my boat out until March here, so fishing in January is out of my normal realm without an ice auger.

[c rig]

Are you bringing your boat, or looking for a guide?

January can be tough, the weather can change so quick. I’ve been in flip flops throwing topwater, and I’ve been bundled up like an Eskimo throwing a jig or dragging a c rig.

It’ll likely be cold by our standards, while there’s always something shallow somewhere your best bet will be looking out a bit, 8’-12”, deeper if it’s really cold.

Crankbaits, slow spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, jigs or soft plastics fished slow.

[Milehibird]

Yeah, if I go, I'll be bringing my boat. I'm used to fishing in colder weather and those depths. Thanks for the advice.

[GOTTA BIG SACK]

Me and some buddies are headed there the first week in April. I was looking at the navionics and see a lot of marked channels and a lot of 20' water. Is there standing timber on this lake? Are there objects to worry about hitting or just running aground?

[jamey1e]

Me and some buddies are headed there the first week in April. I was looking at the navionics and see a lot of marked channels and a lot of 20' water. Is there standing timber on this lake? Are there objects to worry about hitting or just running aground?

Best I can tell you is if your boats in the water you stand a chance of hitting something made of wood.

[5 Alive]

Best I can tell you is if your boats in the water you stand a chance of hitting something made of wood.

LOL!!! +1000

[Pulsare2020]

Me and some buddies are headed there the first week in April. I was looking at the navionics and see a lot of marked channels and a lot of 20' water. Is there standing timber on this lake? Are there objects to worry about hitting or just running aground?

I used to live on Moultrie (I am not an avid fisherman). If you leave the channel markers on Lake Marion, you better know the lake. On Lake Moultrie you have a bit more leeway but there are still unmarked stump fields often just below the surface. In most of the really good fishing spots close to shore you will be running the troll motor or idling anyway.

[2dwoods]

Lower lake watch your depth finder while running those humps of stumps come up quickly, and anytime your 200 300 yards from shore slow down and idle in,but dont be worried about it I've been a bunch and never tore anything up .I live hour away and I have alot of friends that won't go there scared of hitting stump but in my opinion that's silly go fishing be careful common sense goes a long way its a big place