Info on Santee Cooper

A buddy and I are thinking of a weekend camping trip to one of the campgrounds. We'll be taking our kayaks and this will be a one shot deal so we're not going to be a threat to anyone's secret spots or honey hole.
Looks like the best shot at "catching" will be shellcrackers or bluegill, with the opportunity to shoot for some bass too. I suppose the crappie spawn is over and they may be a bit elusive.

We just don't know where to go. I'm looking at Rockspond campground on down Lake Marion. This will allow launching from the campground or a couple other spots up and down the road, like Taylor's landing and Spiers Landing Park, if we can't find 'em from Rockspond.
I also looked on up the lake, north of 95 at Elliots Landing and Campground, who also has some reasonable johnboat rentals. But it's way up the lake.

So, obviously we don't want to paddle 3 miles to get to good water, but we really don't have any experience here and just looking for a little guidance on best approach and best general area. Thinking about the first weekend in June.
Thanks in advance for any help and info.

Santee is a big body of water, so fishing with a Kayak it would make the most sense to be able to fish near where you are staying. Not many places still offer camping the old fashion way with tents so that reduces some possibilities. I would consider calling Poplar Creek Landing, Poly's Landing, Bells Marina, and Taw Caw. All four are on nice black water creeks that offer decent fishing near the boat ramps and camping areas.

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Originally Posted by Inkdabber

Santee is a big body of water, so fishing with a Kayak it would make the most sense to be able to fish near where you are staying. Not many places still offer camping the old fashion way with tents so that reduces some possibilities. I would consider calling Poplar Creek Landing, Poly's Landing, Bells Marina, and Taw Caw. All four are on nice black water creeks that offer decent fishing near the boat ramps and camping areas.

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You mentioned camping the old fashioned way I probably wouldn't want to camp the old fashion way down there in early June with all them critters (gators, cotton mouths, rattlers, fire ants, giant red wasps) and paddling around in a kayak. No not me lol. But Blacks may be a good option also. HAPPY FISHING

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Originally Posted by MFQ

You mentioned camping the old fashioned way I probably wouldn't want to camp the old fashion way down there in early June with all them critters (gators, cotton mouths, rattlers, fire ants, giant red wasps) and paddling around in a kayak. No not me lol. But Blacks may be a good option also. HAPPY FISHING

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Of course you can encounter snakes and gators in a swamp but none of the campgrounds mentioned are going to be a problem. Plus the camps get lots of use so snakes and gators keep their distance. You might check with Santee State Park also. It's also on a black water creek and offers good amenities.

I took the State Park as a given, but an excellent choice if not aware. Same goes for Blacks, Harry’s , or Canal Lakes on the diversion canal.

So what I'm seeing, or think I'm reading here, is anywhere there is access to a creek would be a good place to set up. And yes, I'm talking about an established campground, not roughing it in the backcountry. Like I said, I'm not asking for anyone's honey hole, just approximate locations that may be good, like mid or lower lake, near canal vs. upper end, etc. But good access to a creek is good info. Being nearby would be critical as we don't want to have to paddle miles to get to good water, and would really hate to spend the whole weekend looking for fish. If the creeks are where to go then that'd be doable. Certainly narrows the search options.


I don't know if shell cracker spawn goes on for the next several weeks or not, I've gotten mixed info there. I assume bluegill will spawn for a while, and bass may be around anytime.

I don't want to be in the sweltering heat of July or August but we're only talking about two weeks from now. Frankly, weather is my biggest concern considering how this spring has gone thus far.
Wasn't sure the state park would be open. For sure, it is difficult to get much info online. Apparently detailed websites, or websites at all aren't much of a concern to most of the marinas and camps down there.

Thanks for the info thus far, looking for more info from anyone and anything that may help us out.

All parks and marinas are back open. The choice is really up to you. The Shellcracker spawn is still active but winding down. Bluegill are bedding, Crappie and bass are still being caught both shallow and deep. All areas of the lake can and are producing nice catches of all species.

Shellcrackers are on the bed here in if now so will probably be done in a few weeks. Crappie have gone mostly deep here as well. Good luck!

That was supposed to say here in nc. I am just north of the sc border.

@ Inkdabber. Thanks for the info. We're set up for Poplar Creek Landing for that weekend & looking forward to getting away from the Twilight Zone world for a few days. Really hoping to find some big bluegill or shell crackers. Or crappie, would LOVE to get into some good crappie.
@ cwright. I used to work (and fish) with a cwright, more commonly called Marty.

Attachment 376062Attachment 376060
Popular Creek has the best breakfast on the lake. I double dog dare you to eat their pancake breakfast pictured here (2 plates)

An excellent choice! My home marina and one that I’ve enjoyed for nearly 50 years.

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Originally Posted by Bigtrout

@ Inkdabber. Thanks for the info. We're set up for Poplar Creek Landing for that weekend & looking forward to getting away from the Twilight Zone world for a few days. Really hoping to find some big bluegill or shell crackers. Or crappie, would LOVE to get into some good crappie.
@ cwright. I used to work (and fish) with a cwright, more commonly called Marty.

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If I come over to fish want time do they open (love breakfast)

I believe 6:00am, but I would call to verify. 803-897-2811

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Originally Posted by hobo

If I come over to fish want time do they open (love breakfast)

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Originally Posted by Inkdabber

An excellent choice! My home marina and one that I’ve enjoyed for nearly 50 years.

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We've got one of their Jon boats reserved for Saturday. I suppose we should head up the creek, or that little cove in the other direction. We want to find some fish close enough for kayaking and the Jon boat will give us some more mobility to search & try to find fish. I don't know if crappie will be on those docks up the creek or if we can find them in brush. I have a small Garmin on my kayak but not sure how useful that would be just randomly searching with no local knowledge. We could load up the kayaks and go up to stumphole landing and from there cross into the timber on the other side. We're good with catfish even, just don't know where to even start with them. I've spent the last 30-35 years in a trout stream & really haven't kept up with the warm water stuff. Last time, only time, I was at Santee I was maybe 15. Maybe we'll find someone to point us in some direction and not spend all our time on the hunt!
Like I said at the start, we're not looking to drain the lake, and it's all about the trip and just getting away. But it IS about catching a few too as a bonus.
Thanks again for the info!

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Originally Posted by SeaRay

Attachment 376062Attachment 376060
Popular Creek has the best breakfast on the lake. I double dog dare you to eat their pancake breakfast pictured here (2 plates)

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Whoo boy yeah! That'll be enough to fuel you up to skip lunch and keep you on the lake!

If the wind is low, going across from Stumphole into the woods is a good choice. It's one of the most productive areas that's kinda close to you. You'll love the kayaks back in the trees.
When we fish for Bream and Shellcracker we use 10' telescoping poles, basically cane pole fishing. No reel, the water averages around 6' in that area so a simple rig like with cork and hook are fine. We try to drop a worm or cricket by every cypress tree.
Good luck.I
PS But pay attention to the wind. You don't want to cross in white capping water.

Thanks for the info SeaRay. I was looking at the crossing thinking it looks like maybe 3/4 mile of open water, just guessing. No problem but yeah, high wind would be a concern. Been thinking all along the kayaks will be handy back in the trees. I plan to take some light crappie rods 8'-9' and an 11' B & M. Redworms and crickets is the plan!

Just a follow up. We went last weekend. Friday evening found just a few smallish bream and one large shellcracker right around the mouth of Poplar Creek. Saturday we tried all over Poplar Creek, found just a few keeper bream and got some nice fillets off a half dozen or so channel cats. We targeted the panfish but stumbled into these catfish willing to grab crickets or redworms. Still not what we were looking for. Sunday we took the kayaks up to Stumphole landing and paddled across. People had told us the water was way high and it was evident with the lower limbs of the Cypress in the water. We kept poking around in Stumphole and my depth finder was consistently at 7'-9'. I kept saying "We aren't going to find bream bedding in water this deep, we need to find shallower water." Ended up all the way back at the river and hit 'em in 4-4.5'. My buddy got a limit, I caught a couple dozen I guess. A mixture of bluegill, Redbreast and a few nice shellcrackers. I released a lot of pretty good size fish, my buddy wasn't quite as discriminating! All were good fish though. Fighting those big bream on an 11' B & M jigging rod was a hoot. They can get some leverage on that long rod. I caught a nice Blue cat on a 1" C. Brewer panfish jig. He wouldn't fit in the cooler and considering the numbers of gators we'd seen, I didn't think it wise to hang him on a stringer! We got two other catfish but my buddy was unhooking one that flopped back into the water. We paddled back in there Monday morning before heading home and dropped another dozen or so in the cooler. Anyway, a pretty good trip and I really appreciate all the help on here! Thanks again!

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Glad it all worked out. Stumphole has cabins too but not in sheltered creek like Popular Creek.
Did you eat the breakfast special????

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Originally Posted by SeaRay

Did you eat the breakfast special????

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NO! Doggoneit! They didn't open until 7:00 and we were on the water before then each day! I was looking forward to that too!
They do make a fine burger too, however.