Sizzling Santee Action

The hot air temps made the fishing conditions less than pleasurable, but the bite more than made up for the arid conditions. I made two trips this week as is the norm. Thursday solo, Friday my bud Tommy joined forces with me. The shallow bite was off compared to weeks prior, but the mid range depths of 12-14 feet held plenty of fish. We are also seeing our deeper, main channel brush began to pay off nicely as well. Schools of small bait fish are being seen by the millions, as the shad fry are schooling near our structure. We fished with both jigs and minnows. Jigs seemed to have the upper hand during the early parts of the day, with the minnow bite heating up as the sun got high. Blue skirt/green wing seemed to be the best color jig. Being persistent this time of year is key, as some brush will be void of fish while others will be loaded. Limit catches were had on both days, along with a nice tan line. As we do so often, we took the time to sweeten a hole or two with fresh brush, along with establishing a few new ones. No pics were taken on Thursday, but the results were similar.

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A fine specimen caught by Tommy.

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Friday's cooler shot.

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My smiling face framed by two slabs.

Good job guys. I bout got the wife talked into renting a cabin for a few days at the Marina on Jacks Creek. She likes the idea of a screen porch and swing overlooking the water.

Nice! Good to see y'all are finding good fish in this hot weather :) Thanks for the report and pics, looks like y'all had fun :)

Great report guys!!!!! Hard work pays off!!!

Nice fish, I was able to hold my thumb over the face in the middle :-)

looking good keep up the great reports

good job Ink and Tommy thanks for the report and pics ==== don't know bout you two yall keep it up you might just make crappie fishermen yet :dono

Another great report INK. You and tommy are about the best in the business. I just finished up cleaning the mess I brought home from down there. And you are exactly right, it was hot. Friday just about whipped me as I couldn't get anything going but was bound and determined not to leave the water without some sort of pattern to follow on Saturday. Ended up finding a few and got off the water for a cool down. Back at it Saturday morning and results were better but not great. Ended up cleaning 37 fish from the two days which is more than I like to keep anyway. We had a few good fish but nothing to write home about. I was happy with the way things turned out considering its my first trip to Marion in summer months. Only 2nd trip ever. Never made it to moultrie but maybe next time. Scared of going back there since it will be very hard to top my 1st and only trip back in spring. Anyways enough rambling from me and a big thanks for all the help

Congrats on the trips, y'all had a pretty mess of fish. It's hard to beat one pole brush fishing!

gettn the fever to travel south again!!!:biggrin