Savannah Lakes Fishing Guide

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Welcome to the Savannah River Lakes

Fishing Guide *Click here for a Printable Version of this Chart

Species	Best Fishing Temperature	Natural Food & Feeding Time	Best Season	Peak Hours	Area	Depth	Lures & Baits
Largemouth Bass	65 - 75°	Crustaceans, insects, crayfish, frogs, fish. Feed mostly during the day.	April – early June	Dusk & dawn	Shoreline	1 – 4’	Plastic worms, spinner baits, plugs
			Late June – September	Dusk & dawn	Day = Deep water	15 – 35’	Plastic worms, spoons, jigs
			Late June – September	Dusk & dawn	Night = Shallow water	1- 8’	Plastic worms, spoons, jigs
			October – November & March	Daylight	Shallow	1 – 8’	Plastic worms, plugs, spinner baits
			December – February	10 a.m. – 4 p.m.	Deep water	20 – 50’	Plastic worms, spoons, jigs
Hybrid Bass	55 - 70°	Fish, insects. Feed during day.	March – May	Day	Tributary headwaters, open water near the dam	1 – 15’	Blueback Herring, minnows, jigs, plugs, spoons
			June – September	Day	Deep water	15 – 40’	Blueback Herring, minnows, jigs, spoons
			June – September	Dawn, dusk & night	Points on flats with deep water access, bridges	2 – 15’	Blueback Herring, minnows, jigs, plugs, spoons
			October – November	Early & late	Open water	Surface	Blueback Herring, jigs, plugs, spoons
			Dec - Feb	Day	Open water near creek beds or islands	20 – 50’	Blueback Herring, jigs, spoons
Bluegill	65 – 75°	Insects, vegetation, larvae, snails, fish. Feed in daylight.	April – June	Day	Weeds & brush	1 – 5’	Worms, crickets, spinners, flies
			July – August	Dusk & dawn	Weeds, rocks, brush	10 – 12’	Worms
			March & September – October	Day	Weeds & brush	3 – 8’	Worms
			November - February	Day	Brush & rocks	10 – 15’	Worms
Crappie	60 – 75°	Mollusks, insects, crayfish, shad, minnows. Feed mostly during the day.	April – June	Dawn & late afternoon	Brush, steep banks	3 – 8’	Minnows, jigs, spinners
			July – August	Night	Submerged brush	10 – 35’	Minnows, jigs, spinners
			September – October & March	Dusk	Brush	5 – 15’	Minnows, jigs, spinners
			November - February	Day	Submerged brush	10 – 30’	Minnows, jigs, spinners
Striped Bass	55 - 70°	Fish, insects. Feed during day.	March – May	Day	Tributary headwaters, open water near the dam	1 – 15’	Blueback Herring, minnows, jigs, plugs, spoons
			June – September	Day	Deep water	15 – 40’	Blueback Herring, minnows, jigs, spoons
			June – September	Dawn, dusk & night	Points on flats with deep water access, bridges	2 – 15’	Blueback Herring, minnows, jigs, plugs, spoons
			October – November	Early & late	Open water	Surface	Blueback Herring, jigs, plugs, spoons
			Dec - Feb	Day	Open water near creek beds or islands	20 – 50’	Blueback Herring, jigs, spoons
White Bass	55 – 70°	Crustaceans, insects, shad, minnows, crayfish. Feed most actively at dusk & dawn.	March – April	Day	Headwaters, rip rap	2 – 8’	Minnows, jigs, small spoons, spinners
			June – August	Dusk & dawn	Open waters	Surface	Minnows, jigs, small spoons, spinners
			September & May	Day	Steep banks	3 – 15’	Minnows, jigs, small spoons, spinners
			October - February	Day	Windy points	Surface	Minnows, jigs, small spoons, spinners
Channel Catfish	60 – 75°	Insects, larvae, crayfish, snails, clams, worms. Feed mostly at night.	April – June	Dusk & dawn	Coves	1 – 8’	Worms, crayfish, minnows, cut bait, stink bait
			July – August	Night	Flats off channels	6 – 18’	Worms, crayfish, minnows, cut bait, stink bait
			September – October	Dusk & dawn	Mud flats	6 – 12’	Worms, crayfish, minnows, cut bait, stink bait
			November – February	Night	Channels & holes	15 – 40’	Worms, crayfish, minnows, cut bait, stink bait
			March	Day	Flats	6 – 12’	Worms, crayfish, minnows, cut bait, stink bait
Trout* *Hartwell tailwater only	65°	Insects, larvae, snails, fish, crayfish.	March – May	Day	Riffles, channels	0 – 4’	Worms, crickets, flies, spinners, corn
			June - August	Dawn	Riffles, channels, deep holes	1 – 6’	Worms, crickets, flies, spinners, corn
			September - November	Day	Riffles, channels	1 – 6’	Worms, crickets, flies, spinners, corn
			December - February	Day	Deep holes	4 – 12’	Crickets, spinners, sinking flies

Species

Peak Hours

Area

Lures & Baits

Largemouth Bass

Trout*