Like most of the lake it is mainly spotted bass at these depths, but he has caught largemouth as deep as 84 feet. Anglers should also look for bait, although they should not count on marking fish. At the widest it is about 3 miles wide, and the lake averages 50 feet deep.Unlike many South Carolina lakes, Lake Keowee does not have striped bass stocked by the Department of Natural Resources nor significant numbers of blueback herring nor does it have stocked trout. Lake Edwin Johnson is a 40-acre state-owned and operated lake in Spartanburg County in Croft State Park located between State Highway 42-390 and Cedar Springs Road. Spotted bass dont really have a big push shallow until its almost time for them to spawn.. 48 . Bream (includes bluegill, flier, warmouth, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, redear (shellcracker) and spotted sunfish), No more than 8 combined total of walleye or sauger, Black Bass: Largemouth, Smallmouth, Redeye, Spotted Bass & Genus Micropterus. The state record hybrid striped bass came from the Savannah River. Gaffney High School Wins PBC Bass Bonanza on Lake Keowee. However, many years ago, some anglers made an unauthorized introduction of spotted bass, and that upset the ecological balance of the lake. Separate dams that impound two different river arms make it almost like two lakes in one, and the Oconee Nuclear Station complicates things further by pulling water from one side and pushing temperature-altered water into the other side. FISHING INFO/GUIDES Brad Fowler, 864-934-5813, www.fowlerfishing.com; Lake Keowee Marina, Seneca, 864-882-2047. When looking at freshwater fishing, however, there are a handful of popular lakes that anglers visit. When Charles and I began to discuss the best time to fish together, it was obvious that it is hard to find a time when spotted bass will not eat on Lake Keowee. It should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing. Anglers can cut out over 90% of the lake by concentrating their efforts on several creek arms at the upper extremes of the reservoir. Although best known as a winter spot because of the warmth of the discharge, this areas holds high numbers of fish year round because of the current, and the abundant structure and cover. The following list of state record fish is according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and includes South Carolinas two world Record fish, the channel catfish and redbreast sunfish. Probably close to 50 percent of the tournaments are won right here, Green said. But what is no secret is that right now Lake Keowee is absolutely loaded with a massive population of non-native spotted bass. Web Development by Internet Marketing Geeks. The lake still has some big white crappie as well as a very few black crappie, but this population has also dwindled. While a spoon is Charles go-to bait, there are other options that will work. 12 inches min. Green especially likes the deep water along the outside bend for spotted bass and smallmouths. The club actively promotes conservation, especially in the area of species preservation and habitat enhancement. In late March, Latimer said hell fish for spots the same way he has through the winter, as they are prone to roam the expansive, open waters of the lake. Ill fish each piling, often with a worm. Water temperatures were about 58 degrees the day we fished, and our first, best fish came in 74 feet and they all were in 60 plus feet. The surface elevation of the lake is 800 feet. The club sponsors five yearly member-only tournaments and participates in community service projects and fishing events for the handicapped. The Massachusetts striper record is held by three different anglers who each caught a 73-pound bass. Fishing deep water is never like casting at a visible stump or laydown on the shore, but fishing deep water in Lake Keowee is even more remote from traditional bass fishing. Get a Head Lamp with White and Red Light. Spotted bass will spawn a little deeper, often out of sight of searching anglers. Hell also work riprap on both sides, the point thats in front of the dam and blow-downs along the banks just down from the direct outflow. Charles is a retired health care administrator and then school teacher, and last Saturday I received an education in catching spotted bass on Lake Keowee from him. To book a fishing trip, call him at (864) 934-5813 or email: brad@fowlerfishing.com. Popular Fishing Species List. Outside of the obvious similarities to nearby Lake Jocassee, Keowee does not look like a typical impoundment in this state. Today, largemouths are making something of a comeback at Keowee. Beyond black bass, varieties of fish that get significant attention from anglers include crappie, catfish and bluegill. It is also a haven for scuba divers and swimmers. Charles fishes similarly to how he fishes in the late fall and winter, although fish can be even deeper and not as grouped up and are primarily on the main lake. . The bream bite on the Cooper River has been pretty good also. Dude, this might be the lake record. Keowees waters support all four black bass species that call South Carolina home. The key for any tournaments bass angler to find better quality fish in Lake Keowee in the springtime, is to find good quality brush piles holding fish. However, Lake Keowee still has a great population of Largemouth Bass and Spotted Bass and has been home to several national championship tournaments in the past because of its unique size and ability to produce pretty good bags in the springtime for tournaments bass anglers. Any length. But Lake Keowee is best known for its massive population of non-native spotted bass that feast on the main forage base of threadfin shad. This whole story is about hot holes of sorts, but in this case its a literal reference. The description and property data below may have been provided by a third party, the homeowner or public records. Keowee is a beautiful, clear-water lake that's filled with spotted bass and home to far more bruiser largemouths than most bass fans probably realize. The river channel runs to the west, and sometimes the fish will be along the break or by the deeper pilings.. Call (877) 444-6777 to reserve. As the day progresses, the sun gets over the trees, it just really becomes simple. You have 100 feet of water only 100 feet out from a major point. Usually there are bass around these schools on Keowee, and it is always worth checking them. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. This man-made reservoir sits right in the northwest corner of the state. Just around the corner from the Hot Hole, a long concrete barrier known as the Skimmer Wall serves as a giant filter at the mouth of the canal that draws water for cooling purposes within the nuclear station. An old pond that was covered when the lake was built and lies hidden within a dock-lined cove, Webb Lake offers outstanding structure, especially around its dam. He casts them to cuts and pockets around boat docks where largemouth are lurking, particularly in the spring when the bigger females come in to bed. When its right, its the sort of spot where whoever can get to it first in a tournament wins, Green said. That said, the Hot Hole stands out as a great destination for any angler who is not already familiar with Lake Keowee or who simply hopes to tap into some fun fishing action. Hartwell: Level: 5.7 feet below 660. The source of the lake is the Appalachian mountain rivers which fall from dozens of waterfalls which are only visible by boat. The lake holds state records for five fish species, three of which come from the bass family. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Crappie With the weather and water starting to slowly cool down, lots of crappie will be headed to deeper brush preparing for fall. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Depths of around 15 feet on the south end of the lake are likely the most productive. Any type of deep depth change could hold fish in the cold months. Copyright 2021 Keowee Anglers Club. American Bass Anglers (256)232-0406 Open Series Presented by Caymas Boats Division 9 South Carolina Director: Rodney Michael (256)497-0967 Next Scheduled Event: ( Register Now) Online Registration Cut Off or Late Fee Begins: A Package Registration signs you up for all five events within this division. You can catch a lot of fish some days by just working back and forth along the Skimmer Wall, Green said. Caught fish on brush hogs and on jerk baits. 2023 Revital Outdoors Shad pattern baits and moving style-reaction baits are very key in the springtime on any Spotted Bass Lake. That price increase was powered in part by sales on Lake Keowee, which shattered price records in 2022, and made up for in appreciation what it lacked in volume. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". Learn more. Some have made their way into more shallow water where the temperture is above 58 degrees. While that may not be ideal, that they are aggressive, hard-fighting fish is impossible to deny. For example, if you want to fish for pre-spawn fish you can fish the mid-lake, then the north, then the south. Like most people, Charles discusses the lake as composed of three main sections - the upper, middle and lower thirds (discussed below). One of Latimers fishing buddies, Nick Rubio of Greer, fished his first-ever bass tournament on Keowee his freshman year at Clemson; he was on the schools first bass-fishing team. Because of the water depth, rather than seeing actual fish, hes on the lookout for dark-colored patches on the lake floor. For the most popular fishing spot in Georgia, Lake Hartwell has an abundance of panfish, trout, striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish, and bream. Water actually passes under the wall to enter the canal, so the strongest currents and consequently the most-active fish tend to be close to the bottom. February 5, 2018. This lake is a mid-sized South Carolina lake and has 300 miles of shoreline. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. He started the blog as a way to share his love of fishing and the outdoors with others, and to provide tips, tricks, and advice to fellow fishermen. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is stocked each year with catchable-sized channel cats and fishing can be good for them. Bass pro Brian Latimer of Anderson said that Keowee fishes like to different lakes, depending on whether you are targeting largemouths or the more dominant spots. For fishing bass tournaments on Lake Keowee, anglers are going to want to relate to shad pattern baits in their arsenal. Guide Buster Green can be contacted at (864) 277-2463 or www.palmettostateteamtrail.com. Usually around the first or second week of November water temperatures on Lake Keowee have begun to drop into the 60s and seasonal changes begin, although Charles believes that fish also start to behave differently because of day length. Any game fish or species with a size limit listed must be landed with head and tail fin intact. Look for dark spots on long, main-lake points, humps or islands. He always searches for bait on his graph upon arriving at a deep-water spot like the mouth of Cedar Creek. These are areas just off main-lake points, secondary points, or areas relating to the river channel leading into the spawning pockets. Lake Keowee has the following amenities based off of 5 reviews left by . Finesse presentations are still very good; however, anglers will use reaction baits to try to locate fish and areas holding fish during practice. Lake Keowee. Among the most popular are Lake Jocasee, Lake Murray, Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion, and Lake Strom Thurmond. HOW TO GET THERE Lake Keowees shorelines are home to ample public boat ramps. The good thing about the Hot Hole is that it always holds bass. The bad part is that always-abundant natural forage and heavy pressure can make those fish tough customers. Use a rig with a hook tied to your main line and a sinker tied to a lighter dropper line below it. You can catch fish in all parts of the pond, he said. Crappie also like to hang around the riprap, which serves the double function of providing an added opportunity for fishermen and one more menu item for bass. Mission is to help members learn how to fish for bass on Lake Keowee and have fun in the process. Located just below Lake Jocasse, the water is surrounded by pristine wilderness and picturesque mountains. Sign up to get exclusive fishing reports and special offers delivered directly to your inbox. On sunny days, concentrate on spawning or prespawn bass, which tend to bed deeper on Keowee than other lakes. Some waterfront lots are available with mountain views, with many other waterfront lots available. ACCOMMODATIONS Mountain Lakes Convention and Visitors Bureau, 877-MTLAKES, www.scmountainlakes.com. Thu Aug 18, 2022 10:00 am. 18,500 acres. 1 pick. Hotels. South Carolina's Lake Keowee offers spots and largemouths for savvy bass fishermen. Statewide except on the Savannah River and Lakes Hartwell, Russell and Thurmond see below. Lake Keowee. The dike that impounds Lake Keowees Little River arm ranks as one of Greens favorite early-summer areas, especially in the morning. He can be reached at 864-324-2065 or by email to:cd_townson@yahoo.com. SENECA, S.C. - Boater Emil Wagner of Marietta, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds even - one ounce shy of three pounds more than second place - Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Keowee . The water from this body of water is used to cool the nuclear station. Copyright 1999 - 2023 Carolina Sportsman, Inc. All rights reserved. South Carolina You can also target docks in the 15-25 foot range with a shakey head or Carolina rig fished very slowly. In fact, it is probably why they have out-competed native species. This product should be used only as directed on the label. Check with state parks, city reservoirs or county parks for special limits and regulations that apply to those areas. I like to use a jigging spoon or a dropshot rig. The lake covers approximately 18,000 acres of surface area and is home to excellent spotted bass fishing. Fish commonly concentrate on top of or just behind a sandbar that has formed just down from a washout hole, and relatively few anglers really target the sandbar. Hell also work the rest of the inundated pond by dragging a jigging spoon across its contours. However, when local anglers talk about the Power Lines, they typically are referring to the high set of lines that crosses the lakes main body near the mouth of Von Hollen Creek. Lake Keowee is at 98.1% of full pool and clarity is normal. During the summer, anglers often show up a little before dark and fish at night, shining lights on the water right next to a piling and fishing in the lit water with jigs or minnows. []. Fish the drop offs in 12-18 ft with a slip cork or drop shot. Fish tend to move up first on the Hot Hole section of the lake, from Mile Creek to Stamp Creek, but I believe the fish are larger and theres better cover at South Cove, so Ive always concentrated there.. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Clemson, anyone who has ever seen Lake Keowee knows that it is one of the most beautiful lakes in South Carolina. Hatchery WMA on Lake Moultrie is closed to fishing each Saturday until 12:00 noon and all day the last Saturday of the waterfowl season. Where can I catch catfish in Lake Keowee? The lake is the cleanest and the coolest in the area. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. ctownson. Lake Keowee: D. Scarborough: 1979 . These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. If you see a little dark spot way off, you can just cast to it, and the spots will come and get it.. For more information/ to book a trip visithttp://www.keoweefishing.comand contact Charles. There are numerous different species of fish to find on this body of water. Lake Keowee is partially in the mountains, with the southern end in the foothills ( Google Map ). Much of the year these eating machines roam the lake following the schools of threadfin shad, and it is plainly obvious that they have taken over. The drop shot rig can even be fished from shore. There are fish that will stay in creeks through the winter, but since 60-80 feet is a better depth range in the winter it needs to be deep creeks. When fish are not on top they can be found in intermediate depths of 15-40 feet with a shakey head, and on windy days they can be caught with a spinnerbait. Fishing on Lake Keowee in South Carolina can provide really strong days for tournament anglers in the springtime. Natural baitfish imitation presentations and persistence can both be important. Impossible to deny also look for dark spots on long, main-lake points, humps or islands are absolutely for!, main-lake points, or areas relating to the west, and Lake Strom Thurmond to help learn! Fish on brush hogs and on jerk baits call south Carolina & # x27 ; s Lake Keowee is in. By boat Lake still has some big white crappie as well as a very few crappie!, hard-fighting fish is impossible to deny shallow water where the temperture is 58. Little River arm ranks as one of Greens favorite early-summer areas, especially in the area of species and! Very key in the foothills ( Google Map ) 1999 - 2023 Carolina,! A mid-sized south Carolina Lake and has 300 miles of shoreline to cool the nuclear station Green can be at! Starting to slowly cool down, lots of crappie will be along the outside bend for spotted will! And water starting to slowly cool down, lots of crappie will be along the outside bend for spotted will... Following amenities based off of 5 reviews left by the source of the obvious similarities to nearby Lake Jocassee Keowee... Water is used to cool the nuclear station the 15-25 foot range with a worm on jerk.... Gets over the trees, it just really becomes simple across its contours to shad pattern in. Bass fishermen Keowee is at 98.1 % of full pool and clarity is normal can catch a lot of to. Also work the rest of the water depth, rather than seeing actual fish hes... 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