Santee slam certain

Weather, conditions lining up for Stren Series catchfest in South Carolina

MANNING, S.C. – Just a few months ago, if you wanted to fish Santee Cooper – lakes Marion and Moultrie in South Carolina – you needed a truck or four-wheeler instead of a boat.

At that time water levels were some 6 to 7 feet low, and most boat ramps were high and dry. In fact, for many areas around the lake, the water’s edge was a long walk from shore – or what used to be “the shore.”

For a while it looked like some of the major bass tournament trails scheduled to visit the sister lakes, including the Stren Series Southeast Division, were going to have to pass on the famed South Carolina reservoir and head for wetter ground, so to speak.

But early spring rains over the last few months have brought Santee Cooper water levels back up almost flush with “the shore,” and as Stren Series Southeast pros are reporting, the big lakes are producing bass once again.

Pro Ken Ellis of nearby Bowman, S.C., has recorded seven top-10s in Stren Series competition on Santee Cooper, including two wins.

“The lake is back up, and the fish are biting,” Ellis said. “It’s going to be a good tournament. I think things will get off to a slow start today because of the weather. But by Friday, this place is going to be producing big limits of bass. The full moon is Sunday, so there is a whole new wave of fish coming to the bank as we speak.”

The weather Ellis is referring to is the passage of a strong cold front, which dropped temperatures into the upper 30s in some parts of South Carolina overnight. Plus the wind is supposed to blow near 15 mph today. But after that, the rest of the week is picture perfect for Santee Cooper fishing, especially for sight-fishing, the tactic many pros will employ at Santee Cooper.

Logistics

Anglers will take off from John C Land III Landing located at County Road S-14-260 (Greenall Road) in Summerton, S.C., at 7 each morning. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins also will be held at the landing beginning at 3 p.m.

Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2010 Paxville Highway in Manning beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

The Santee Cooper Stren Series tournament is hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce.

Pros will fish for a top award of $25,000 plus a $40,000 198VX Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance electronics if contingency guidelines are met. Ranger will award another $3,000 to the winner if he or she is a participant in the Ranger Cup program. If the winner is not a Ranger Cup participant, Ranger will award $1,500 to the highest-finishing participant in the contingency program. Yamaha or Evinrude will match 50 percent of Ranger Cup earnings if “Powered by Yamaha” or “Powered by E-Tec” guidelines are met.

Co-anglers will cast for a top award of $5,000 plus a $30,000 Ranger boat and trailer if contingency guidelines are met.

Wednesday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:43 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 40 degrees

Expected high temperature: 71 degrees

Water temperature: 65 degrees

Wind: N at 10 to 15 mph

Day’s outlook: sunny and cool