Does anyone generally fish the lower saluda in seasons other than for trout and striper? I tear trout up in the winter on the river, but am looking to get on it more with my canoe. Any luck with bass, brim, or pickerel? I know this isn’t striper related, but most people on this section seem knowledgeable about midlands fishing, so any help is appreciated, thanks.
Fish under logs and cover by the bank with red worms for big hand sized bream. I would imagine that flipping jigs or creature baits (or a combination of both) under cover would produce strikes from largemouth. I know for a fact that popRs and frogs will tear up largemouth as I have landed 3lbers on small top water lures. Crankbaits are ineffective because of the high amount of weeds in the river. Hope this helps and good luck
“Cause there’s more birds on that side”
If you drop down to the congaree there is a good population of smallmouth bass. The guy that runs the scfishingreport webpage always posts about smallmouth fishing there. Pound for pound one of the best fighting fish.
I saw a group of 3 Mexicans walk out of a park (I think Granby?)with about 30 catfish a few years ago.
As far as the Saluda goes I have caught the occasional catfish/pickeral/LM bass, but never any numbers.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
I have only targeted stripers and trout, but ocassionally pick up a pickerel. I used to would also occassionally catch some of the biggest yellow perch I have ever seen while trout fishing, but for some reason didn’t get a single one this year.
Better go soon. Once they start dropping the lake at the beggining of Nov it will be runnning too fast to fish from a canoe.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Steelytom, I agree that smallmouth fight hard. But I must conclude that the peacock cichlid (or bass) fights much harder even a 2lb peacock feels like a 10lb striper
“Cause there’s more birds on that side”
I know drank a lot last night, but when did peacock bass start coming up in convos around here?
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
I was saying that many people consider the peacock bass the hardest fighting freshwater fish even at a small size. If you ever take a vacation around the Miami area just throw some live minnows or a topwater frog in a pond or a water hazard on a golf course. It is possibly the most fun you can get out of a pond
“Cause there’s more birds on that side”
Yeah, I know what you meant. Just giving you a hard time. Got a kick out of seeing peacock bass brought up.
On another note, if I ever go to Miami I am usually looking for peackocks along the beach instead of in the ponds. 
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Thanks for all the help! I will get out as soon as I get the stickers for my canoe. I put a little 4hp and a trolling motor on it to get up and down and fish