Going to Santee Cooper in mid Feb.

[kyelkhunter3006]

On Feb. 16th I'll be heading down to Santee Cooper in South Carolina for some first class catfishing!  It's been about 15 years since I was last there.  Going to be fishing with some friends and hopefully putting some trophy cats in the boat.

The anticipation is starting to drive be crazy!

[30-30man]

Try cut or whole shad around the I-95 bridge. The water is way up, so the stumps are not that much of a danger now.  I've had good luck on any fish scraps this time of year. You can put in right at the bridge either at Big Water campground or Polly's Landing.  They are both right near the bridge. I've had good luck in the deep safe channels during the day and up on the flats at night.  Also try fishing around the other bridge that is no longer used.   There are some pilons that go for about 50-60 yards on the other side that seem to hold blues.  The SCDNR sunk a bunch of garbage as a fish attractor near the park which is in seeing distance, don't anchor around that or you will lose it.  I've lossed some good anchors around that spot.  Another good spot is near goat island.  I'm catching the blues in deeper water this time of year. When the weather warms up, I can give you more spots.

[kyelkhunter3006]

If that's where the cats are, I'm sure we'll be there.  My buddies are all local to the area, they live on the lakes and rivers, chasing cats.  We're staying at Canal Lakes, they got buy two nights, get a third free special going.  I'll be fishing of the bank of the canal too, when we're not on the boat. 

Dad caught a 27lb blue right off the bank in front of the cabin on the first day we were there, last time. 

I hooked a MONSTER one night at the same spot.  I was alone, everyone else was in the cabin playing cards.  Dumb me didn't have a light either.  I was using a 12" live herring as bait, 9/0 hook, 40lb Big Game line on an Abu 6500 and a heavy action 7ft stick.  Got a run, hung him, and fought him for almost an hour, before he wrapped me up around something and broke off.

Next someone caught a monster blue on line at the camp next to Canal, I think it's Black's?  Still had my hook in it's mouth.  Oh well.

[J-Train]

Well, '06, how did it go?  Any big 'uns?

[kyelkhunter3006]

Ah, not so good.  HIGH water, colder than average weather, and a tremendous shad kill meant that fish weren't hitting at all.  Two 7lb dinks for two days of fishing.  Still had a good time being out and with friends.  The guides were leaving to go other places to fish.  That's pretty bad!