07-06-2006, 03:59 PM
This is not the best time of year, you just missed it. April-June the pigs are running up the river, some are still there[
]. I don't recommend the diversion right now, it is a good place to catch them coming through but is not a staging area. You want to focus on nice deep water 30+ near the mouths of creeks close to the dam. Look for the fish hanging between 30' -50'. Look for Structure! Put you 6+ inch live bait and drop them down to 5 foot over where you see the fish and hold on! Or you can go way the hell up the river and fish the nice cold tailrace waters. Right now the area behind river banks zoo should produce some decent fish. Look for shad schooling in the eddying pools. Throw your cast net, load the bait tank, and fish! Cut bait Blue backs work great, so do live gizzards and trout if you can find them. I don't have any gps locations because my gps was stolen a year ago, and haven't been back since.[mad] But since you live near florence, I would head towards the dam. Don't buy those frozen blue backs they sell around there, go with live. If you prefer cut bait, keep them live until use, or throw them on ice. Santee Cooper is in the process of recovering. The fishery was greatly damaged for a while, fortunately it is coming back to life though. I could write and write so just ask me some questions and I can probably answer them.
[signature]
]. I don't recommend the diversion right now, it is a good place to catch them coming through but is not a staging area. You want to focus on nice deep water 30+ near the mouths of creeks close to the dam. Look for the fish hanging between 30' -50'. Look for Structure! Put you 6+ inch live bait and drop them down to 5 foot over where you see the fish and hold on! Or you can go way the hell up the river and fish the nice cold tailrace waters. Right now the area behind river banks zoo should produce some decent fish. Look for shad schooling in the eddying pools. Throw your cast net, load the bait tank, and fish! Cut bait Blue backs work great, so do live gizzards and trout if you can find them. I don't have any gps locations because my gps was stolen a year ago, and haven't been back since.[mad] But since you live near florence, I would head towards the dam. Don't buy those frozen blue backs they sell around there, go with live. If you prefer cut bait, keep them live until use, or throw them on ice. Santee Cooper is in the process of recovering. The fishery was greatly damaged for a while, fortunately it is coming back to life though. I could write and write so just ask me some questions and I can probably answer them.[signature]