Fishing on the South Edisto

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Back to the river today -  a nice spot. It's all-natural, too. This is deep woods stuff:

 

This is your typical Southern black water stream. Pretty tough fishing - not for the faint of heart. Lots of snags and overhangs. But it suits a swamp booger like me :)

 

Caught some nice redbreasts, over by the blow down seen in the second pic:

Here's my man, "Stogie," with an average size fish.

(I call him Stogie cause he always has that danged cigar in his mouth. Helluva a nice guy.)

 

Another look...

Stogie was killing 'em on a #6 cricket hook, below two 1/4" split shot. BAIT - two crickets.

 

The other end of the spectrum were fish like these:

Slip floated natives, they were plentiful if not big.

 

I couldnt scare up any catfish today, and no bass, although I did get a visit from one of the local copperheads. A quick pop on the head with the tip of my cane pole kept him moving on, The redbreast were the big fun.

 

Tight lines - hope you hooked up!

 

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Thanks Johnathan.

I guess its true what they say - one you've done the work, luck is where you find it.

South Cackalacky is a pretty nice place, all in all. There're are probably more jobs in CALI, though.

[JBplusThuy]

Well, yeah, that's why I'm in Silicon Valley - it's the center of the computer universe, but there ain't a whole lotta water. Between the jobs and having family here on both sides, it's enough to hold us in California for as far out as I can see and them some. But to retire to a place with lots of water and fish, that would be grand :)

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

The river was pretty barren today. We've had a slew of rain this week passed, and the flow is about two feet above last weekend. Places I could fish from, high and dry, were a meter out in the water today. This is how it goes on a river. Unlike ponds an lakes, which remain fairly constant, the river can change with a snap of the finger.

 

This high water certainly had an effect on the fishing. Two small redbreasts, a pan sized bullhead and a few pee-popper brim were all that could be scoured up. The fill moon was supposed to heat things up, but the high water seemed to have other plans.

 

Instead of eager, concentrated fish, in predictable places, they were anywhere - and nowhere. The usual holes held nothing and the normal practices found only new snags and hang ups where none were before.

 

But I did find some new access points to the river, well off the beaten path. These spots require some hiking, so I've had to pare down my usual load of gear, tote-alongs and kitchen sinks, to something like the bare necessities. I also learned the joys of the nearly snagless Beetle Spin today.

 

I know many people love the 'Spin, but it is one lure I've never had much confidence in. But Ive been making myself use it over the last few sessions. I've become impressed with it's abilities to be fishend slow or fast, and often right through weeds, snags and sometimes even tree branches. Try that with your average spinner or spoon!

 

There is reason to hope that these new sites will offer up some fishing that has been less than pressured, if I can figure out the key. Which is how it always goes.... Fishing Is The Wellspring of Hope.

[Tommy Hughes]

Thanks for the update, David.  It seems that a heavy dew can make rivers like the Edisto rise overnight, sometimes.  I like the pictures!  I haven't tried the snagless beetle spin, but I used to love using a snagless style Rooster Tail (no longer made).  I mostly use crickets or other live bait these days, though,  but sometimes use spinners to locate fish.  You have to be on the water to catch fish, so keep at it, and good luck.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

More from the South Edisto, today.

 

It is amazing the difference a day can make. I've hit this section of the river exclusively the last couple weeks. After this weeks rain and the fast conditions seen yesterday, the river today was back down a foot. The flow had smoothed to more like it's usual pace, which is to say - slowed. The tops of the usual snags were back and I made sure I got hung up in a few of them for good measure. Things seemed a something like normal after that.

 

The fish were also back. I got a mixed bag of sunfishes - brim, redbreast, 'seeds and a weird one that maybe someone can ID (Tommy?)

 

Early on, a park ranger came stroking by in one of the state parks' rental canoes. Saturday is a busy day around the state park, and he was out checking things over before the "guests" arrived. Lots of "townies" drive out to rent canoes and kayaks on the weekend, to get a dose of nature, paddling style. It tickles me, when they see me working among the tree roots along the river side. They are surprised that I am there, eyeing my alip float in the eddies and dark overhangs. Nature isn't something one actually climbs around and fishes for, I guess. Apparently it is something you view as you float by.

Pine Log Bridge, South Edisto River

 

Some of the fish caught today - 

A fat, Edisto River sunfish.

Another chunky "black hole" 'gill ('black hole' because they have to be snatched out of the deepest, root infested holes, right in along the bank.Pretty, mid size Redbreast Sunfish - this one pulled from within a foot of the nastiest weed bed you could want to find.

Not terribly big, but interesting. Lookit that big 'ol mouth....

I'm not sure what to make of this last one, seen here and in the pic before. I want to say Warmouth, at first glance.

Or maybe it's a Punkinseed, as I have caught many juvenile 'Seeds lately. One thing was for sure, I simply HAD to strike an Andre Sturkey pose with it.

 

I also ran into a DNR agent near the bridge seen in the first pic. He was a lanky, ambling sort of fella, with a "countrified" air to him - tI liked him right off. He wanted to see my license, of course. After showing him, I asked about setting limb rigs during the day. He scratched his head a little and shoved his hat back.

"You mean, like, with a hook on a line, tied to a tree branch?"

"Yeah, that's right. I want to set a couple early, and then fishing along the river 'til lunch. You can only do it at night, right?"

"Huh? No, I don't think so. I don't see any problem with doing it anytime, but I don't really know all the rules about that kinda stuff. We don't see that much - you know, running lines, traps and so on. We mostly deal with litterers, people smoking weed and folks without licenses. I could go get the book outta the truck, if you want...."

"No, no that's alright, you've said enough to suit me," and I slapped him on the back.

He shook my hand and went on his way, with a knowing nod.

 

I'm hoping a few catfish might come along home, next time. We can hope, eh?

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

P.S. I caught these, and all other, fish on crickets. They weren't having any worms.

 

6 lb. test line, 4 lb. leader

#6  long hook, or,

Jig-and-grub heads (1/32 - 1/80), tipped with cricket.

4" Slip Float rig

2 BB shot

 

[Tommy Hughes]

Definitely a Warmouth, David, and good eating, too.

I spent several hours fishing yesterday, but it was really slow.  Must have been at least 30 other boats in the lake (Wee Tee) and everyone I spoke with was having about the same story to tell.  Spoke with a couple of wardens, and they said they hadn't seen any big catches at all that morning.  I missed the full moon bedding cycle this time, and they must have gone into hiding or something; fished all the spots I normally catch fish, and just couldn't find any size or numbers.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Thanks for that ID on the Warmouth, Tommy. I tossed it back - I normally do that with something I'm not sure about or have never caught before. I mean, if it isn't common then it is rare by default. Maybe even the last one...

I'd rather have it in the water than dead.

 

I hadda look up Wee Tee...

 

"Wee Tee State Forest, contains 12,439 acres. Approximately 11,500 acres of the area is located in the Santee River floodplain and is subject to periodic flooding. The property contains two oxbow lakes - Wee Tee Lake and Ferry Lake. There is also a large freshwater spring located on the property near the upper end of Wee Tee Lake."

 

Says it is only open to the public on Wednesday and Saturday. That can work to your advantage if you try a little baiting on Wednesday - "chumming," in other words. Poke a bunch of holes in a 3 litre soda bottle and fill it with cheap dog food, cat food, or chicken feed. Then suspend it below the surface from a tree branch in your favorite holes. Alternatively, you can attach some foam to the bottle and float it a few feet off the bottom around weeds or snags near deep water. Anchor it with a brick or stone.

When you come back on Saturday, the fish will be waiting for you.

You can't take or attract fish with explosives, poison, electrical devices or similar means in South Carolina - but the DNR doesn't mind if you feed 'em!

 

[Tommy Hughes]

Good tip there on the baiting.  I don't normally do that because I seldom 'plan' a fishing date.  I remember once a long time back, though, when I hung a dead varmint in a tree overhanging a favorite fishing spot, then went back several days later and just tore them up!

I managed a few hours in Santee River yesterday morning, and did much better than the previous day on Wee Tee.  Not many really large bream, but I culled out 10 or so for a meal. 

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

It takes a lot of influences coming together, in just the right way, to make for monster 'gills. The least of which is you showing up. But enough for a meal is, well... enough.

 

The dead varmint trick is a classic and probably works very well. I've wanted to try it for a long time. On waters that see a lot of traffic, however, I cant imagine the thing would last for long. That's why I suggested the chum feeder. Its something you can make cheaply, has the same general effect, and wont be taken down by the first person that runs across it.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Ever had one of those days where things turned out well - and then went to crap?

 

On my latest trip to the Edisto, I started catching some redbreast, right off.

 "I knew getting up earlier was a good idea!" I exclaimed.

After two fish were on the stringer, I began to hum a happy tune. Having caught yet another fish, I reached for the stringer and lifted it from the water. As I held it up, the two fish already on gave a flip of their tails and BOTH fell back into the water. I stood there holding a still dripping fish in one hand, and a now empty stringer in the other. I'm dimly aware that words were spoken - but this is a family forum. I dare not repeat them.

The first two fish lingered in front of me for a moment, while I thought about diving in after them. But they soon revived their wits and darted off into the depths. I looked at the third one, uttered few more choice words and threw it back into the black waters of the Edisto. I'm sure it is still laughing somewhere in the river with its companions.

 

But things went better for some of the others at the river. This section is usually all mine, but this day some other guys showed up and found a spot. Well, they did pretty well. Catfish, bullheads and various Lepomii managed to stay on their stringers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, again I got taken to school at the Edisto.

The first lesson was to make sure the fish on MY stringer are firmly attached.

Lesson two is keep my stringer in my bucket.

Lesson three is to do what these guys were doing to catch their fish - I didn't catch another fish after my three escaped.

 

But its all good - there is always another day, God willing. America's longest black water river, The ageless Edisto, flows on.