Santee 06/26/2014

Just a quicky report of a quicky trip I made on Thursday. Got to the lake around 9:30am, went to the bait store only to find out that no minnows were available. Checked around a few other places to no avail. Hit the lake around 10:30 with jig pole in hand. Hit the first 8 brush with only a couple of dinks to show for my efforts. I finally caught a couple of nice fish on some of the new brush Tommy and I put out last week. I was near a boat landing and decided to go in and see if they had any bait. The owner was in the middle of cleaning out her bait tank, and had around 5 dozen minnow left, so I bought them all. The bait was obviously old and weak, but she gave me a good deal on them. What a difference they made. I went back and refished a few brush along the way and the minnows were able to entice quite a few more bites and fish. I ended with a nice limit, and a so so day turned into a good one.

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Tim,
congrats on sticking it out a catching a nice limit of quality fish !!!! thanks for the details and the picture !!!

Tim, do you fish minnows on a jig like you do just using jigs or do you use a cork and plain hook?? If you use a cork do you set the depth so it is just over the top of the brush?

To answer your question Ray, the answer is yes to all. I will use jig and minnow, just hook and lead, or float, hook, and lead in combination. It depends on how the fish are relating to the cover, and what presentation they prefer. If suspended on top, or around the brush, the float technique works best. If holding tight to the cover, the other two methods are the preferred presentations. I let the fish tell me which they want or prefer and adjust accordingly.

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Originally Posted by SeaRay

Tim, do you fish minnows on a jig like you do just using jigs or do you use a cork and plain hook?? If you use a cork do you set the depth so it is just over the top of the brush?

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Seems like it is getting harder to find places that carry minners.

Thanks for the report. If you don't mind me asking, where did you try to get minnows. I am planning on going early Thursday morning and hate to spend time looking for bait. I might even go Wednesday afternoon to try to find some. Just hate to ride to Santee just to get bait.

Good report Tim, congrats on staying after them and catching a good box of crappie.
It is amazing how crappie will hit one bait and not the other at times. I like to have minnows with me even if I don't use them I can store them at home for the next trip.

Nice catch Tim. Congrats. Seems most of the tackle shops are through carrying minners during the hot months as they have problems keeping them alive too.

Good catch Ink. Here in the town of Lincolnton we are only 2 miles in any direction to the Hill but there is not a store that sells minnows any time of the year. I use to always pushed poles but with the problems getting bait I totally switched to pulling so I don't have to worry about bait. Keep after the crappie and keep the reports coming.

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Originally Posted by blackhawk961

Thanks for the report. If you don't mind me asking, where did you try to get minnows. I am planning on going early Thursday morning and hate to spend time looking for bait. I might even go Wednesday afternoon to try to find some. Just hate to ride to Santee just to get bait.

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Give Dave a call at Stumphole 803-826-6111. He had them last month as did the store at the corner where you turn off 267 to go to Stunphole. May be too hot now, but I would check with him to see.

I tried the country store, the river store, and popular creek landing. Bait was supposed to be delivered on Friday, I didn't make it down to see if it did or not.

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Originally Posted by blackhawk961

Thanks for the report. If you don't mind me asking, where did you try to get minnows. I am planning on going early Thursday morning and hate to spend time looking for bait. I might even go Wednesday afternoon to try to find some. Just hate to ride to Santee just to get bait.

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Thanks guys. I will call a few places Wednesday. Hope the storm off the coast doesn't affect the weather much.

Ink,Im glad you were able to find some minnows,and as allways,I enjoy reading you post and especially the pictures.