Rattletrap Ramblings

The BWS Nationals on Santee Cooper whooped my butt this past week. I came to a fork in the road and took a wrong turn as far as I’m concerned. My plan for practice was to run upriver to the Swamp, Packs Flat, and Jacks Creek one day and to check out Moultrie another day and then decide where to fish the last half day of practice.

Well, let’s just say I didn’t stick with the plan. I ended up going to the lower lake for whatever reason on the first day and stayed there all day. There was clear water and lots of eel grass. I didn’t catch much but thought that I liked fishing grass so I’ll eventually find a stretch loaded up with fish. I searched for basically 3 days and never did find any grass with a group of fish.

I concentrated on grass in 3 to 5 foot of water thinking you’re more likely to find a group in slightly deeper water than really skinny water but I guessed wrong. The groups of fish were actually in real skinny water for some reason but they weren’t in the grass for the most part.

Since the fish were ultra shallow, the best bet would be to find a little more stained water but there was none on the lower lake. The water was down quite a bit and it took me the entire practice period to figure out how to navigate the lower lake. I knew the water upriver would be more stained but I had no idea how to run it up there. I decided I’ll figure out how to get there if nothing pans out on the lower lake but ended up not going at all.

The first day I started on the lower lake and fished grass for about 2 hours without a bite. I decided to run up to Jacks Creek but decided to make a stop in the Diversion Canal before I make that long run. Of course I get 3 bites right away but only 1 keeper. I then run to Eutaw Creek only to find a merry go round of bass boats along the best stretch. I get in line with everyone else and witness 5 other fish being caught with one being an 8 pounder… ouch.

I weigh in only 2 fish but I figured I was on the board and can make it up the next day. I run to the Diversion Canal first thing thinking I’d get a limit with a few hours but only short fish bit that day. I run to Eutaw and catch a 2 pounder and then a 4 pounder on a green pumpkin senko. Then the bass turned into mudfish for some reason caught 5 monsters of the wrong flava. I weigh in only 2 fish again and Santee Cooper is not fun any more with no chance of winning.

The wind got up so much the third day that I decided not to stray too far since I didn’t have a chance at doing anything and caught 2 keepers again but threw them back since there was sense in weighing them in.

I believe my mistake in this event was fishing clear water instead of stained water. Typically the stained water has more baitfish this time of the year and fish are way easier to catch when they’re shallow.

I really needed to go there before the cutoff and at least learn how to run the place but never could get time off of work.

I’d say Santee was a let down for sure but as always a humbling learning experience.

On a side note, I did hear from a few competitors that cashed a check at this event and heard their checks were reduced significantly from what was advertised. Also heard they bounced when they took them to the bank. Very suspicious.