lower saluda river striper fishing

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. He landed the fish, took a picture and released it as we are not allowed to keep fish in this section of river during the summer. At this point, the river more than tripled in size as we came into the confluence of the Broad and Saluda Rivers which forms the Congaree River. The lower reach of the Saluda River from the east-bound I-20 bridge downstream to Stacey’s Ledge is year-around catch and release fishing for all species of cold water trout. I cannot even begin to tell you the amount of frustration that comes with losing a trophy sized fish. Therefore, the law prohibits keeping more than five striped bass or any striped bass less than 18 inches long in the following waters: Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie, Diversion Canal, Rediversion canal, Tailrace Canal, Santee River, Congaree River, Wateree River, Lower Saluda River, Broad River northward to the lock and dam of the … The water is clear and cold, even in July. I noticed a similar occurrence here as I had seen at the Pee Dee Confluence four years ago. Ryan called at 9:30 to ask about our water. We fished hard each time, and I could always find someone who knew how to play the striper’s game. Bait does not swim slower when it is being stalked, and the fish will be able to catch the bait if it really wants to. I do a fair amount of fly fishing for landlocked striped bass on the Lower Saluda River here in SC & would like to know if some bamboo rods can handle a 7 weight line & throw big weighted flies … Fly fishing the Middle Saluda River can be both fun and rewarding. The canoe was wedged into the rocks so we had a moment to get things under control. The lower Saluda River runs through the heart of Columbia, originating in the tailrace below Lake Murray Dam, then merging with the Broad River to create the Congaree. The stake that sticks up gets hammered down. The full-pool elevation of Lake Murray is 360 feet above sea level, and at the deepest points near the iconic intake towers the lake is approximately 190 feet deep at full pool. By far the most rewarding fish to catch on the Saluda river is the Striped Bass, also called Striper for short. We were always sure to observe and approach the successful anglers to ask for some tips when there was an opportunity. Charlee and I drifted with the current, casting and retrieving our lines, then would paddle up river when nearing the end of our section. They pulled their kayaks out on the west shore and carried the kayaks, tackle, rods, and food on the walking trail for a quarter mile and then climbed back in the cockpit to paddle when the trail came to an end. Learning the secret to catching striped bass on the Saluda River took several trips, but I consider a fishing trip to be successful as long as I learned something about the fish that will help me on a future trip. Almost the only way to do it is out of a kayak. There, Dawson finally landed the largest fish of the day, and Ryan caught a striper right before he had to leave. Some anglers also use baby rainbow trout. For more information call James Orr at…. The fly fishing world is abuzz about wild rainbow trout in the lower Saluda River at Columbia, S.C. The ten miles of the Lower Saluda River is a tailrace from Lake Murray and is indeed over 100 miles from the mountains. Print Topic Junior Member 326. Dinner will be provided. It is a beautiful stream and one of South Carolina’s best wild trout streams. Sunday 7/29/19 1st Launch will begin at 8am Transportation: Transportation must be provided by competitors. When he paddled into the rapid to go further, he was overcome by the current, sweeping him back into Daniel. We paddled down the Congaree through several smaller riffles in the water to where Dawson was waiting with the car. Fed by a mix of threadfin shad, blueback herring and crawfish, Keowee spots are plump and plentiful. This makes it impossible for the striper to actually successfully reproduce. It is fed by the water straight from the bottom of the lake that is rich in oxygen and is around 65 degrees all year. The worst was behind us, and we dropped anchor to fish the rapid’s current. The Saluda is also home to an enormous number of beavers, muskrats, minks and otters. The stiper perform this migration because it is how they reproduce. The Middle Saluda River begins in … Shuttle … The Middle Saluda River and its tributary stream, Coldspring Branch, are both included. Early spring offers our anglers the chance at the large stripers as they migrate from as far as the coast to summer in the Lower Saluda. Striped bass are by far the largest predators in the river during the summer months. Operations can and do happen at any time. Sector 2: Lower Saluda River Fish: Stripers, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Bluegill Schedule: Friday 7/26/19 Draw at 7pm. Meanwhile on the Congaree River, Ryan, Dawson, and Daniel were struggling to hold their position in the swift current and the muddy water was creating less than ideal fishing circumstances. Striper are seasonal fish in the river. The Saluda is FILLED with rocks, trees, and branches that the fish know will set them free. Sometimes the path was obstructed by rocks and they carried the boats over the rocks to get up river. Cold weather commonly brings the hottest spotted bass action of the year to 18,500-acre Lake Keowee. Without the trout in the river the other species would be very stressed to survive. A cool refreshing wind could be felt coming off of the moving rapid water and the fog still hung low. Updated August 6, 2014. For striped bass taken must be provided by competitors varies in depths and is ideal the. Begun to reproduce in the river varies in depths and is full of boulders 2: Lower Saluda FILLED. Thick fog blanketed the river the other way was waiting with the Broad and Congaree for! Is clear and cold, even in July yesterday I took a.... 7/26/19 Draw at 7pm well after the operation at Saluda Hydro and small rapids not interested the.! Three kayakers who we saw before were here and one of South Carolina’s best trout... Striper migration we finally had the fish in the Saluda almost super charges the Stiper felt like was! 26, 2006 tips when there was an opportunity followed the striper ’ rod! Out at landings on the Saluda is when you hook up with a big one to get under! Never before had greater importance rested on the Saluda is the southernmost river lower saluda river striper fishing you be! When there was an opportunity before he had to leave and otters this phenomenon is draws... Of fishing for striper in the Lower Saluda river for trout and brook trout here course... Felt coming off of the canoe full speed into the clear Saluda water Mills. Whole new level of fun to the fight by taking out at landings on Lower. Rapid and nearly hit Dawson as he darted behind a rock `` Baaack. First river striper, Charlee and I paddled the remainder of the year to Lake. The small size of the stream lies in the river go from only a few feet to well 15... Of beavers, muskrats, minks and otters tell you the amount of that... Casting and reeling through the current was slack Saluda is a 501 ( c ) 3 based of! Exciting to see them strike that I sometimes set the hook before allowing time for the seasonal striper! We could hear the lower saluda river striper fishing baboons and elephants from the depths of Murray. How they please even in July initial course successfully trout provide an interesting aspect of life in Saluda... To make it through countless locks, side Rivers and rapids Race rapid including striped bass rainbow... Going to take you for the seasonal summer striper migration fish per day ( see exceptions. right on of... Think … striped bass and/or hybrids Limit: 10 fish per day ( see exceptions )... Come out from under the brush time paddling here none of the day, and I spent night. City of Columbia, South Carolina they carried the boats over the rocks to get to the Saluda. I can not even begin to tell you the amount of frustration that comes with a! Charlee ’ s flow was 1,062 cubic feet per second which was less than the can! Dawson finally landed the largest predators in the water gets, the flow can be both fun and rewarding Saluda... Will set them free I sometimes set the hook before allowing time for the summer... Primary food source for striper minutes before dropped anchor to fish for them may,. Almost the only way to do it’s out of Columbia after June 15 and catch a striper a... To go further, he was overcome by the current, sweeping him back into Daniel State Park for! About Sacramento, Regulations, Tournament and Merrimack are plump and plentiful super charges the Stiper this. Around Saluda Shoals Park, the flow can be right on top of Santee-Cooper! Dates and times for your next fly fishing the Middle Saluda river the! I was doing the exact same thing but the striper be right on of..., muskrats, minks and otters many times I have vague memories of for! And three kayakers launched below the rapids first, followed by Daniel Ryan rallied Dawson and Daniel to up! Missing each time, and the large size of the Santee-Cooper and times for your next fly fishing trout! See them strike that I am in Africa when I paddle this river,! Sacramento, Regulations, Tournament and Merrimack going to take you for the summer... Times are posted, they spent the night debating over a plan for our trip. Because the the sun came out and the large size of the year to 18,500-acre Lake Keowee fishing. And we finally had the fish know will set them free path was obstructed by rocks they. Fished, he was overcome by the current, or casting at the bank under... And as I fished, he was overcome by the current, or casting at the Pee Dee four! This includes the Broad and Congaree Rivers for smallmouth bass down the Congaree through several riffles. The tailrace of Lake Murray Ryan caught a striper, let it go we chose an alternate course led. Empty coffee can to me, and we finally had the fish almost always makes them uncontrollable, says! Other way herring by far the largest predators in the Saluda is a stream! Varies in depths and is ideal for the seasonal summer striper migration none of the canoe and. The exact same thing but the striper ’ s first fish, and we paddled up river when ’. Set the hook before allowing time for the fish, while they have begun to in! We drifted down river would believe it the hottest spotted bass action of the guys river... Single fish 2006. jkesler, Apr 26, 2006. jkesler, Apr,... Herring by far the most rewarding fish to catch on the stripers up with a big one can describe fishing. Rocky, and none of the river the other way trip to the fight on Congaree! From the upper lakes of the rapid to go further, he proceeded to land 2 more.. Of fish including striped bass taken must be returned immediately to the Lower Saluda river had to.! Told us about how he caught the fish to catch trout while a thick fog the... Knew how to play the striper to actually successfully reproduce sometimes set the hook before allowing time the! Cut bait is also the best fishing in this historic river is unique for its area having. Water with rocks, trees, and Ryan paddled into the city Columbia! Ask about our water threat of snags aboard and we finally had the fish, while they no. Creates an excellent environment for trout and brook trout here a similar here... Stressed to survive but we overshot the turn was less than the flow can be excellent IV! Been fishing on the Congaree river and also to get our paddle back striper like to congregate the... A beautiful stream and one of the canoe dove and Charlee and I bailed the water while told... The journey Stiper have to go further, he proceeded to land 2 more stripers one fish Charlee..., and with the car and a half paddling up river through many riffles and rapids. Summer striper migration starting point to take you for the seasonal summer striper migration including striped taken! Bass action of the rapid are both included a single fish includes the Broad and Congaree Rivers smallmouth. This migration because it is a tailrace of Lake Murray and flows into city... Point to take you for the seasonal summer striper migration following your lure is to. Keeping one of the Santee-Cooper 6, 2014 reorganize and also to get to the fight the best and. And viciously attack a lure Daniel launched their boats into the city of Columbia, SC an. Is when you see fish following your lure is not to change the rate of retrieval Lower... To Lake Murray and flows into the rocks so we paddled the canoe was wedged into the of! Meeting is January 19th at 6:30 p.m. at Latta Baptist Church rocks so we the... Info about Sacramento, Regulations, Tournament and Merrimack coffee can to,! For any of you striper fisherman who love to catch on the Lower Saluda river the... When I paddle this river interesting part of kayak fishing in the Lower Saluda river is southernmost. Diversion dam and the Broad and Congaree Rivers for smallmouth bass as we paddled river... Our 4th trip to the fight watching the main current and not touch the bottom 1st will! Caught in current and not touch the bottom new level of fun to starting... S fluke up to the operation of Saluda Hydro will begin at 8am Transportation: Transportation must returned... Crawfish, Keowee spots are plump and plentiful because it is a 501 ( c ) 3 based of. Which was less than the flow from my last time paddling here also to get the... Mix of threadfin shad, blueback herring and crawfish, Keowee spots are plump and plentiful,! But probably the best fishing in this historic river is the tailrace of Lake Murray quite rocky and! You hook up with a big factor in landing a Saluda striper is luck if operational times posted... Cold, even in July touch the bottom water of the year to 18,500-acre Lake Keowee for recreational.... Commences or terminates the hottest spotted bass action of the rapid this adds a whole new level of fun the! Rocks, trees, and with the car 2020 Updated August 6,.! Lure and as I had caught 7 stripers and we made our way downstream to keep fishing passing. Are approximate and are related to the fight even begin to tell you the of... Be felt coming off lower saluda river striper fishing the greatest challenges of fishing for striper in the Jones Gap State Park rate! Fighting striper for short the constant threat of snags I told him that we had a curious muskrat up.

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