SCLakes.com

Sheesh, didn't realize that SClakes.com had a river section! Guess with the name I never thought to look. I was posting some on another SC site and then all of the sudden the site disappeared??

So, a member of a smaller sc river fishing website I am also a part of told me about this site. I think he goes by Dux-n-dawgs there and probably here too. Anyway, thanks again to Dux-n-dawgs for clueing me in about this site.

I am a big time creek and medium and small river fisherman. I often get on the larger rivers as well, but the medium size and smaller are where you will find me and my kayak most often. Something about being in your own little world away from everyone and everything and catching nice fish that just sits right with my soul I guess.

Anyway, I am from GA and just moved to SC last year. I love to fish for shoal bass, but I have to drive back to GA to fish for them obviously - since that is the only place on earth they are found. I hope to hit the Broad for smallies very soon so maybe I can hook up with someone that knows the river a little better than I. I look forward to future discussions about river fishing with you folks on this site.

Here is a report from a recent shoal bass trip I took in GA with one of my buds. I hope to share more pictures and stories with you fellas in the future!

Pictures say so much more than words so we'll let them do the talking. I'm boring anyway.

5-11 shoalie


5-9 shoalie


5-3 shoalie


5-2 shoalie


underside of the 5-2


underside of the 5-11


Releasing the 5-11 for future C&R anglers to catch!


My pal Swampthang and I were seperated on the river for a few hours but when we got together he said "How have you done?" I replied, "Well, I caught a 5-2 and a 5-11 so far." and then he says "You make me sick!" We continued to head downstream and then he tears into a 5-3 shoalie. About 20 minutes later he catches a 5-9 shoalie and I am thinking to myself, "Who makes who sick now?....lol" I was stoked for ST. Boy, the look on his face while he was fighting that second fish was priceless. He was just laughing all through the fight almost to say "I can't believe this!" That fish was jumping and fighting like no tomorrow. He finally got her in and was super pumped. I believe his words after we took off the river were "Well, I am going to sleep good tonight!" Ha! Way to go, ST!

We had a great day on the river and to think we slept in at our campsite thinking that there was no need to get on the river early. I dont even think we put in until 12:30 and took off around 6:30.

I wish everyone could stumble upon a day like we had, we're still pumped!

_________________

Great report and some nice fish, Welcom e to the site.

_________________
Joey

Keep It Wet! Take One Make One! Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs! In God We Trust! Happy Trails To You Until we Meet Again!

Welcome BasserDrew---------I saw your postings on the other site and the "100 pictures" You guys really have a ball in them "little yellow boats" ----How the heck do you keep from turning them thangs upside down , when you get a'hold of them good fish
Good luck and enjoy the site-----------Monk

WOW I didn't know Shoalies got THAT big!!!Welcome BD.

_________________
The ONLY thing we have to fear is--------EVERYTHING!!!!

Thanks for the welcome Boogerman.

Big Monk, they are really a lot more stable than one would think. I stand in mine and fish just like you guys probably do from the deck of your bass boat or jon boat. I use braided line and make sure my hooks stay super sharp to ensure good hooksets. I suppose it does take a bit of balance. Most people sit and fish in theirs, but there are a growing number that stand. I really am having a hard time answering your question because I dont know how I do it, I just know I do it - I just set the hook. It all happens so fast (a hookset) that I dont really think about how I do it or how I dont flip over. I just know I have never come close to flipping on a hookset or fighting a fish. Good question though.

bobldoit, the world record shoal bass is 8lbs and 12oz. They are very commonly caught in the 4lb-5 1/2 lb range. My largest is a 6-1 followed by a 5-15 and then tons in the 5lb range. Some guys on georgiariverfishing.com have caught them as big as 6-7, 6-6, 6-5, 6-4 etc. However, I have seen some that would probably go 7 or 8lbs in the water. One day soon I am going to catch one that weighs 8lbs, if it is the last thing I do!!! lol. Anyway, they are a fun fish to try for if you ever get over to the Appalachicola drainage or the Ocmulgee River (where they were illegally introduced in the 70's). They are a complete different species from a redeye bass that do inhabit many of the south carolina rivers and lakes. They look similar, but redeyes dont get that big. Redeyes will have a tooth patch like a spotted bass on their tongue - shoal bass do not have that. If you have ever caught a redeye out of the saluda river or Hartwell or any of those lakes, they look almost like a shoal bass - but they are not a shoal bass unfortunately.

_________________

_________________
Joey

Keep It Wet! Take One Make One! Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs! In God We Trust! Happy Trails To You Until we Meet Again!

_________________
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.....

_________________
Thomas Constant, Jr.
Loyalty before all else exept Honor.
Its all fun and games until they open the trunk.

welome to the site.... ...man them are sum FREAKIN` GOODINS` !!!!!!! them thangs look like a hybrid of a smallmouth and a largemouth...the head and jaws look close to the bucketmouths and the body and colors of a smallie, and noticed the bellies are destictive to the el-gran-das...any way you look at em they are N-I-C-E !!! dang..that makes a man want to plan a trip with you guidin the outing.....sure bet them were sum fighters...TIGHT LINES FOR SURE...

_________________
BASS FISHIN` IS NOT A HOBBIE FOR ME ITS A ADDICTION

yea, they are a truly amazing and rare fish. GA is blessed to have them. If you ever want to make a trip over there then you should hook up with the guys from georgiariverfishing.com and they can steer you in the right direction. Or, just PM me and I can tell you some places to go catch them.

I was actually in your area with some guys from the SC river fishing website fishing for smallies on the Broad. It was my first time and we did ok. Didnt exactly slay em, but we caught some. Fishin Freak, do you fish the Broad for smallies much?[/google]

_________________