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!

 

[Steve Crowder]

You're a lucky man David. Miss those days down on the black water rivers. One day soon hopefully. These pesky storms have been keeping us busy and working day and night. Need to get out on the water fishing!. Send more pictures. 

[Tommy Hughes]

I've been on the Edisto a few times, but have never fished for the bluegill or redbreast there, bad as I want to.  I live near the Black River, which is very similar water.  Beautiful rivers!

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Hey Tommy, thanks for the comments. I've lived near the river for the past 20 years and never really paid it much attention. This season Ive decided to change that and focus more on it's unique environment.

 

I'm gearing up now for catfish, which should kick in soon. I'll fish the mornings for 'Bass & Brim,' take a break from noon til 7pm, and then fish the evening catfish bite. Small brim are the preferred bait, live and as cut bait.

Lotsa chum, too!

[Tommy Hughes]

I love the catfishing, too.  I have been down there doing some electrofishing as part of my job with SCDNR, and we sometimes shock catfish as incidental catch to targeted species.  We got a 72# Flathead, the largest catfish I've personally seen there, but there are larger ones.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

"Electrofishing with the SCDNR" - brother, I want YOUR job! Please put in a good word for me :-)

 

I'd sure like to haul a 72 lb flattie out of the S. Edisto. After that monster, I could die a whole and complete man

[Jim McCants]

Tommy, my father grew up fishing the Black River. Long time ago! I'm 72 and heard him talking about the huge red breast and copperhead blue bream that he caught in that river. He called them copperhead, so that is what I have called them all my life. I see on this site that they are called copper nose - I like copperhead better!! Ha!  Live in Walterboro, SC and haven't fished the Edisto in 45 years or so. Some great fishing in that river.

 

Jim

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Jim,

Thanks, both for your comments and your many years. Ill be tackling some of those redbreasts Friday, God willing.

[Tommy Hughes]

Jim, we always called them Copperheads, too, still do.  I'm only 10 minutes at most from launching on the Black, but actually don't fish there as much as I do on the lower Santee.  Both are good to fish, but the fish out of those black waters really have beautiful colors.

[Jim McCants]

Tommy, guess the 'copperhead' came from the Lowcountry. My father was from the Andrews, Kingstree area. Don't  know where you live, but would love to go fishing with you one day on the Black river - if possible. Some weekend in June or July.

Family commitments once you are retired seem like they never stop! All of you that are looking forward to retirement - if you have children and grands - don't plan on having too much free time!!

 

David, catch a mess of redbreast for me!

May the Lord bless all of you and your families.

Jim

 

[Tommy Hughes]

Jim, I live a couple of miles outside of town, but haven't even had a chance to fish Black River this year yet.  I have been on the Santee system a couple of times, but I fell and banged up my casting shoulder last week, and haven't fished this full moon, when the bream are bedding.  I'm going to try someplace in the morning, and hope the shoulder will let me catch a few.

I know all about the family commitments and such.  I was retired from 03-07, when I decided I needed something to keep me busier, and lucked into what I'm doing now. 

[Jim McCants]

Tommy, where do you live? Hope the shoulder is better and you had a great morning on the water with a mess of copperhead and redbreast. How did you get the job?

[JBplusThuy]

What an awesome place to fish! You lucky ones in the south make me wish I could move Silicon Valley down there and have that kind of fishing at my doorstep :)