I know it is way early, but we have had so much warm weather that I thought there may be a few fish heading up the Congaree. Anyone been out yet to see?
Went Sat. and Sun. Water temp was 55-56 nada,zip nada nada.
Thanks. I’m going to try it Friday. What section did you try?
Put in at Packs,went up river several miles Sat., down river Sun. Lots of people fishing,didn’t see any fish.
I stopped by Rosewood at lunchtime yesterday. 80 degree weather on a Friday and only 3 or 4 trailers in the parking lot.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
DF90 Suzuki
30# fish caught at Gervais the other day. Fish was brought into bait shop on meeting Street is what I was told…
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki
quote:
Originally posted by Murrymaker30# fish caught at Gervais the other day. Fish was brought into bait shop on meeting Street is what I was told…
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki
Heard or read that too, and it may be true, but I was skeptical after pulling in there late yesterday afternoon. Not a soul fishing from the bank on either side of the river or a boat in sight. Water is super low.
Surprised to see the river bed from the canal discharge totally dry and overgrown with brush. Must be a long time since any discharge from the canal.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
DF90 Suzuki
The canal discharge has been dry since the 2015 flood when the canal levee was breached. They have been diverting water to the main river channel so as not to put any pressure on the levee.
quote:
Originally posted by rivermanThe canal discharge has been dry since the 2015 flood when the canal levee was breached. They have been diverting water to the main river channel so as not to put any pressure on the levee.
Didn’t realize that. I hadn’t been down there in a long time.
Too bad, it’s not many places on the river with such easy access to such a good fishing spot without a boat. Crazy to think how many fish have probably been caught over the years just below the bridge there where the canal tailrace converged with the river.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
DF90 Suzuki
Must’ve been caught by an amateur, a real fisherman would’ve put that breeder right back in the water.
quote:
Originally posted by Murrymaker30# fish caught at Gervais the other day. Fish was brought into bait shop on meeting Street is what I was told…
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki
No matter how many variables I have control over, I never expect a bite. I only hope.
Keeping a 30# fish in a fragile river ecosystem, during pre-spawn is just despicable. At least wait until they lay their eggs and harvest them closer to June. Besides taking it straight to the baitshop just screams that they needed to brag badly. Well here is how you brag… I fish this river 250 days a year and catch fish that size every year and put them ALL back. If I harvest one, It (**() sure has already spawned and is right at 26", not a trophy fish. Those bigguns get photographed and RELEASED always. The Congaree river system isn’t some one month a year place to come rape between trips to the lake. Its my backyard and you’d do well to respect it.
No matter how many variables I have control over, I never expect a bite. I only hope.
quote:
Originally posted by RoddyBuiltKeeping a 30# fish in a fragile river ecosystem, during pre-spawn is just despicable. At least wait until they lay their eggs and harvest them closer to June. Besides taking it straight to the baitshop just screams that they needed to brag badly. Well here is how you brag… I fish this river 250 days a year and catch fish that size every year and put them ALL back. If I harvest one, It (**() sure has already spawned and is right at 26", not a trophy fish. Those bigguns get photographed and RELEASED always. The Congaree river system isn’t some one month a year place to come rape between trips to the lake. Its my backyard and you’d do well to respect it.
No matter how many variables I have control over, I never expect a bite. I only hope.
I understand your frustrations. Been screaming that for years on the lake. But when it comes down to it, it’s a put and take fishery and as long as what they are doing is legal; it is what it is. As sad as that sounds.
I am not saying it’s morally right and I am not condoning it.
Here is a twisted looked at it. How do you feel about DNR coming into your back yard taking your brood fish, taking their eggs, hatching them and sending the fry to Hartwell, the hill, greenwood or any other lake except Santee system? Yes it’s for the greater good of the striped bass itself, but is it for the greater good of your back yard?
Again I am not saying it was right but there are people who monitor the system and make the rules. If they felt the system could not handle the spring time fishing pressure they would make a slot to protect the breeders during this time.
On a side note. A 30# fish is not a healthy brood fish from what DNR tells us. A younger 20-25# fish will out produce any size when it comes to spawning.
Caught two last Friday at the locks - one on a paddle tail and one on free lined herring.
quote:This tickles me:wink:
Originally posted by Murrymaker but there are people who monitor the system and make the rules. If they felt the system could not handle the spring time fishing pressure they would make a slot to protect the breeders during this time.
quote:
Originally posted by Loonquote:This tickles me:wink:
Originally posted by Murrymaker but there are people who monitor the system and make the rules. If they felt the system could not handle the spring time fishing pressure they would make a slot to protect the breeders during this time.
I know it does…I have come along way. It wasn’t very long ago that I was making post like Roddy
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki
quote:
Originally posted by Murrymakerquote:
Originally posted by RoddyBuiltKeeping a 30# fish in a fragile river ecosystem, during pre-spawn is just despicable. At least wait until they lay their eggs and harvest them closer to June. Besides taking it straight to the baitshop just screams that they needed to brag badly. Well here is how you brag… I fish this river 250 days a year and catch fish that size every year and put them ALL back. If I harvest one, It (**() sure has already spawned and is right at 26", not a trophy fish. Those bigguns get photographed and RELEASED always. The Congaree river system isn’t some one month a year place to come rape between trips to the lake. Its my backyard and you’d do well to respect it.
No matter how many variables I have control over, I never expect a bite. I only hope.
I understand your frustrations. Been screaming that for years on the lake. But when it comes down to it, it’s a put and take fishery and as long as what they are doing is legal; it is what it is. As sad as that sounds.
I am not saying it’s morally right and I am not condoning it.
Here is a twisted looked at it. How do you feel about DNR coming into your back yard taking your brood fish, taking their eggs, hatching them and sending the fry to Hartwell, the hill, greenwood or any other lake except Santee system? Yes it’s for the greater good of the striped bass itself, but is it for the greater good of your back yard?
Again I am not saying it was right but there are people who monitor the system and make the rules. If they felt the system could not handle the spring time fishing pressure they would make a slot to protect the breeders during thi
DNR did propose a slot this past session and passed either the house or senate, but then got rejected by some legislature who said his constituents want to be able keep a trophy should he catch one.
DNR manages the hell outta the fishery and make science based decisions, but it’s up to the legislatures to actually introduce a bill and get it passed into law.
Also I’m pretty sure that the hatcheries release the brood back into santee after getting the eggs. It’s not like they need to kill the fish to get its eggs.
My point is pretty general, not just about the keeping of one 30# fish. I watch every year as boats go by me throwing cigarette packs and candy wrappers in the water. Then they keep 20" fish out of the water for 2 minutes straight while they take 10 different pictures of it, then they take 2 more minutes to remove the hook because they don’t remove their hook barbs. Then they spike the fish back into the water like they are spiking a football in the endzone. And they do all this **** while their boat is anchored right where I was casting as they showed up, which they failed to notice or respect. The spring run on the Congaree needs to stop being amateur hour, all around. Just because its the only event/month a lot of fishermen will even put a boat on the water in this river. The rest of the year its lakes or ponds or where ever. Well I have no problem giving boat number to DNR for infractions or launching a 3 oz Pencil Popper at someones head if they got no respect.
No matter how many variables I have control over, I never expect a bite. I only hope.
quote:
Originally posted by RoddyBuiltMy point is pretty general, not just about the keeping of one 30# fish. I watch every year as boats go by me throwing cigarette packs and candy wrappers in the water. Then they keep 20" fish out of the water for 2 minutes straight while they take 10 different pictures of it, then they take 2 more minutes to remove the hook because they don’t remove their hook barbs. Then they spike the fish back into the water like they are spiking a football in the endzone. And they do all this **** while their boat is anchored right where I was casting as they showed up, which they failed to notice or respect. The spring run on the Congaree needs to stop being amateur hour, all around. Just because its the only event/month a lot of fishermen will even put a boat on the water in this river. The rest of the year its lakes or ponds or where ever. Well I have no problem giving boat number to DNR for infractions or launching a 3 oz Pencil Popper at someones head if they got no respect</font id=“red”>.
No matter how many variables I have control over, I never expect a bite. I only hope.
The violators you speak of (who I’m sure are more the exception than the rule) would get a ticket for the infractions you mentioned while you would be arrested for assault, so let me know how that works out for you. Nothing says “fixing the problem” like compounding the problem. 
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
50#</font id=“size6”> fish caught yesterday. Verified by DNR…
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki