July 7, 2013

B6

OUTDOORS THE ITEM

SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2013

Daily afternoon rainfall means it’s time to catfish

FISHING REPORT

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Santee Cooper System

truth be known, the bigger ones just aren’t that great on the plate.

A few years later, using the same bait, I took my son, Robert, on repeated trips to the catfish grounds.

We’d leave the lake house around 10 a.m., motor out to our spot and start casting bait. I can still see the young ’un with the piece of cloth stitched to the back of his cap to keep the sun off of his neck, greased up with SPF 30 and reeling in one Earle fish after the other. Of WOODWARD course, when you’re 6 to 8 years old, you have to keep every fish and that means Daddy has to clean them all.

I prefer some catch and release. We were generally back at the house an hour or so before the afternoon storms popped up.

More recently, a couple of my church buddies invited my lovely bride, Sherri, and me down to their lake house for a Fourth of July outing with full knowledge that the guys would be fishing.

We left the dock almost before it was light enough to see and fished hard until about 10 a.m. without the first bite. We finally hit a spot shortly after 10 that was in about six feet of water and cast out our “secret baits.” It didn’t take long.

For the next five to six hours we caught one catfish after the other, ranging in size from one-half to about 20 pounds. We filled a 120quart cooler up.

I promise you that the temperature inside that boat was over 100 degrees, and the water temp had to be 85 or more. The sun was directly afield & afloat

Y

ep, it’s summertime, and I’m just about tired of the afternoon thunderstorms and rains.

What that does is keep me from getting out in the afternoons after work and trying to catch a bass or bream.

Think about it for just a moment; when was the last time we weren’t looking at a 60 percent or greater chance of rain in the afternoon?

It kind of puts a stop to any plans made for an outing.

So, since it’s hard to get out during the afternoons, what is a fellow supposed to do?

Well, my answer to that is — catfish.

I know that conventional wisdom is to start fishing for catfish as the sun goes down and fish throughout the night. Yes, I’ve done it and I’ve caught plenty of cats doing it that way, but there is a better time to fish for them. Try high noon on the hottest days of July, and in relatively shallow water; I’m talking four to eight feet.

Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? The first couple of times I was told about it I thought exactly what you’re thinking, “He’s nuts.” But guess what? It’s true.

Years ago — I’m talking more than 20 — a fellow outdoor writer friend of mine, Terry Madewell, got me hooked up on Doc’s Catfish Getter Dip Bait. It is some truly vile stuff that is impossible to wash off of your hands if you get it on yourself, which we always did.

Anyway, we’d set up in shallow water in mid-afternoon and cast out two rods each. Within 30 minutes, we would usually be down to a rod apiece.

The action was just too fast to fish two rods. Most of the fish were one-half pound to about three pounds, the kind of fish that are perfect for the table.

Hey, I like to catch big fish, but the

overhead and beating down unmercifully, absolutely the worst possible fishing conditions, right? Well, from the catch that day I’d have to say no.

And it wasn’t just that day; my two buddies continued to catch fish for weeks to come, albeit without me.

The things that all of these stories have in common is that they are all related to catfish, they all took place in extremely hot weather, and they all occurred during the middle of the day. Because we used two different types of bait, I’ve got to conclude that the bait had nothing to do with it. Both produced large numbers of fish, but the “secret bait” did produce the larger fish.

Granted, it’s not the most comfortable fishing to be done. When the breeze stops in the middle of July, and the lake gets a glass-like surface, and the sun reflects into your eyes and burns the skin after just a few minutes, it’s awful. You just have to prepare for it.

If your boat has a canopy, great; that will certainly help, but a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt is also comfortable if worn with a widebrimmed hat and sunglasses. Take more water and drinks than you think you can drink, because you are going to need it.

Keep a weather eye out for those afternoon storms that like to pop up after 3 p.m., and remember, if you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning. In a boat, you’re probably the tallest thing around. It’s time to go home.

Above all else, prepare for a great time of catching fish, and faster than you thought you would.

Oh, and take a big cooler of ice to keep the fish fresh.

Catfish: Fair. Captain Jim Glenn reports that catfishing is fair on the lakes.

The most productive pattern may be drifting and covering a range of depths, including 8-9 feet of water and 35 or more feet of water. Try using a variety of fresh cut baits. Some fish are still being caught in the Diversion Canal but not as consistently as a few weeks ago. Night fishing may be more productive than daytime fishing if fishermen can cope with the threat of thunderstorms. Largemouth bass: Slow to fair. Captain Jimmie Hair reports that some fish can be caught in the lakes around cypress trees as well as docks with at least 3 feet of water around them. Soft plastics have been the best baits, including Senkos and Zoom magnum finesse worms. In the Cooper River some fish are being caught at the mouths of the rice fields on the dropping tide, with Zoom magnum worms in watermelon seed color working best. On the lakes and in the river fishing early is key - late afternoon thunderstorms have kept the evening bite from being strong.

Lake Murray Bream: Good to very good. Lake World reports that shellcracker can still be caught in 6-10 feet of water. To locate shellcracker look for freshwater clams washed up on the shore and fish nearby with night crawler sections. The bream bite remains hot, and fishing is very strong around docks with crickets. Peak spawning activity should occur on the new and full moons, and fish can also be found on the beds in between. Striped bass: Good. Lake World reports that striper have moved into a typical summer pattern where fish are grouping up in the big water on the lower end of the lake. Fish are being caught 30-80 feet deep over humps and depth changes, with most fish being caught on down lined live herring. Fish can also be caught trolling plugs.

Lake Wateree Catfish: Good. Captain Rodger Taylor reports that a typical summer pattern involves drifting or anchoring on the flats in 9-12 feet of water with cut bait.

Cut white perch and shad are both equally strong baits. This is an excellent time to catch a mess of eating size catfish. Crappie: Fair. Veteran tournament angler Will Hinson reports that crappie fishing has slowed a bit on Lake Wateree. Nonetheless, fish can be caught from one end of the lake to the other (“dam to dam”) around brush in 15-21 feet of water. Don’t head too far away from the main river channel, though. Fish are suspended high in the brush early in the morning, but as the sun gets up they will head to the bottom. Crappie are staying tight to the brush and so anglers really need to fish close to it and be patient, whether using jigs or minnows. Fish can still be caught around bridges but that bite has slowed a bit as temperatures have warmed.

Lake Greenwood Largemouth Bass: Very good. Veteran tournament angler Stan Gunter reports that bass fishing is very strong on Lake Greenwood with very good numbers and sizes of fish being caught. The best pattern has been fishing crankbaits, big worms and jigs deep in the 18 foot range around brushpiles.

Early in the morning some very nice fish are also being caught on Pop-Rs and floating worms fished shallow.

Lake Monticello Catfish: Fair. Fishing for big fish is slow overall, mainly because fish are at various stages of the spawn. Scarred up males, laid-out females and females busting with eggs are typical right now. Some of the best reports have been from anglers anchored around mussel beds in 5-25 feet of water.

Post-spawn fish typically like to feed on mussels because they provide an easy meal for recovering fish. Using small pieces of cut bait about the size of a mussel is a good option. A few large fish are also being caught around deep, open water humps when current from the hydroelectric station is flowing over them.

TIDE TABLES MONDAY, July 8 02:49 AM 0.36 08:47 AM 4.72 02:42 PM 0.11 09:02 PM 5.77

L H L H

| TUESDAY, July 9 03:26 AM 0.33 09:28 AM 4.71 03:21 PM 0.18 09:38 PM 5.71

L H L H

WEDNESDAY, July 10 04:02 AM 0.31 L 10:07 AM 4.71 H 04:00 PM 0.27 L 10:12 PM 5.62 H

THURSDAY, July 11 04:37 AM 0.29 L 10:44 AM 4.73 H 04:41 PM 0.37 L 10:46 PM 5.52 H

FRIDAY, July 12 05:12 AM 0.26 11:21 AM 4.78 05:23 PM 0.47 11:22 PM 5.41

L H L H

SATURDAY, July 13 05:50 AM 0.21 L 12:01 PM 4.89 H 06:10 PM 0.55 L

PUBLIC RECORD Property Transfers Clyde M. Baker to Dorothy H. Baker, one lot, one building, 26 Barnette Drive, $5 etc.; Jeffrey William Brenneman to Charles F. and Charlotte C. Marshall, one lot, one building, 307 Wilson St., $20,000; Claude F. Lathan III to Wells Fargo Bank NA, one lot, one building, 3136 Mayflower Lane, $2,500; Lenell F. McFadden to Lenell F. McFadden Estate, two buildings, 703 S. Sumter St., $5 etc.; Brian M. and Kelly M. Meeks to Brian M. Meeks, one lot, one building, 1864 Mossberg Drive, $5 etc.; Harry M. Mixon Jr. et al to Harry M. Mixon Jr. et al, one lot, one building, 39 Hilltop St., $5 etc.; Curtis E. and Doroth Waddell to Curtis E. Waddell, one lot, one building, 19 Yellowstone Circle, $5 etc.

Victor J. Miller to Andrew R. and Brittany C. Huckeba, one lot, one building, 401 Haynsworth St., $134,500; Fredericka Pearson to Palmetto Properties of Sumter LLC, one lot, 111 W. Patricia Drive, $5,250; Mark Chavez to Sierra Home Group Inc., one lot, one building, 419 Seminole Road, $5 etc.; Jason E. Haggard to Secretary of Veterans Affairs, one lot, one building, 3338 Annie St., $50,000; Harry V. Thomas to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., one lot, one building, 1035 Decatur St., $2,500; Hurricane Construction Inc. to Roosevelt Terry and Vernice C. Glisson, one lot, 10-20 Riles Court, $274,990; Julia S. and E. Prioleau to Julia S. Prioleau Estate and Elias Prioleau Jr. Estate, one building, 750 Eagle Road, $5 etc.

George G. and Katherine H. Richardson to Katherine Richardson, one lot, two buildings, 26 Harby Ave., $5 etc.; William M. and Ka Reeks to William M. Reeks, one lot, one building, 380 Katydid St., $5 etc.; Carrie Richardson (lifetime estate) to David Richardson et al, one lot, one building, 119 Perkins Ave., $5 etc.; Rosa Lee Taylor to Rosa Lee Taylor Estate, one lot, two buildings, 406 W. Oakland Ave., $5 etc.; Anna Watson to Anna Watson Estate, one lot, one building, 105 W. Second St., Pinewood, $5 etc.; Alice R. West to Alice R. West Estate, one lot, three buildings, 375 Teeboy Lane, Wedgefield, $5 etc.;

SUNDAY, July 14 12:03 AM 5.3 H 06:31 AM 0.14 L 12:47 PM 5.05 H 07:02 PM 0.62 L

| Alice R. West to Alice R. West Estate, 5725 Dowry Road, $5 etc.

Thelma I. and Tommy Ray Willard et al (as trustees) to Thelma I. Willard et al (trustee), 4164 S. Lake Cherryvale Drive, $5 etc.; Thelma I. and Tommy Ray Willard et al (as trustees) to Thelma I. Willard et al (trustee), one lot, 1341 Alva Drive, $5 etc.; Thelma I. and Tommy Ray Willard et al (as trustees) to Thelma I. Willard et al (trustee), one lot, 4168 S. Lake Cherryvale Drive, $5 etc.; Leroy A. and Thelma Willard to Thelma Willard, one lot, 4245 S. Lake Cherryvale Drive, $5 etc.; Carl and Patricia Weatherly to Carl Weatherly Estate, 1160 Craig Road, $5 etc.; Joyce B. Wharton to Joyce B. Wharton Estate, one lot, one building, 420 Haynsworth St., $5 etc.

Howard E. Whitehead Jr. (lifetime estate resident for Howard E. Whitehead) to Howard E. Whitehead Jr., 510 Pudding Swamp Road, $5 etc.; Howard E. Whitehead Jr. (lifetime estate resident H.E. Whitehead) to Howard E. Whitehead Jr., Shiloh, $5 etc.; Henry Timmons Whitehead (lifetime estate resident for Howard E. Whitehead) to Henry Timmons Whitehead, Shiloh Township, $5 etc.; Lila Follin Turner to Lila Follin Blackmon, two buildings, 1965 Follin Drive, $5 etc.; Howard E. Whitehead Sr. to Howard E. Whitehead Sr. Estate, one lot, two buildings, 302 Aldersgate St., $5 etc.; Janett L. Wilson to Janett L. Wilson Estate, one lot, one building, 170 Cromer Drive, $5 etc.

Daisy M. Moore to Dwight C. Moore, one lot, 6425 Panola Road, $5 etc.; Ernestine B. Yates to Ernestine B. Yates Estate, three buildings, 960 Santa Fe Trail, $5 etc.; Beaty Stevens Zeigler to Beaty Stevens Zeigler Estate, one lot, Constitution Drive, $5 etc.; Beaty Stevens Zeigler to Beaty Stevens Zeigler Estate, one lot, Brushwood Drive, $5 etc.; Beaty Stevens Zeigler to Beaty Stevens Zeigler Estate, Brushwood Drive, $5 etc.; Beaty Stevens Zeigler to Beaty Stevens Zeigler Estate, one lot, two buildings, 101 Nash St., $5 etc.; Beaty Stevens Zeigler to Beaty Stevens Zeigler Estate, one lot, two buildings, 2820 Loretto Drive, $5 etc.

John H. and Evelyn Lee to John H.

Lee, one lot, one building, 2375 Autumn Terrace, $5 etc.; Mary Glenn F. Givens (trustee) to Mary Glenn F. Givens, one lot, one building, 112 Snowden St., $5 etc.; Hurricane Construction Inc. to Tanya Moore, one lot, 5516 Schellin Drive, $209,990; Lori Reeves to Lori and Anthony Dwayne Seamon, one lot, one building, 2170 Waterwheel Drive, $5 etc.; Virginia Metts Estate to Norman Williams, one lot, one building, 2678 McCrays Mill Road, $68,000; Virginia Metts to Norman Williams, one lot, 2674 McCrays Mill Road, $68,000; Norman Williams to Artis Augustus McCabe III, one lot, one building, 2678 McCrays Mill Road, $68,000.

Norman Williams to Artis Augustus McCabe III, one lot, 2674 McCrays Mill Road, $68,000; Donald J. and Sherril L. Kendrick to Sean Thomas Deberry, one lot, one building, 40 Turnrow Court, $130,000; James and Mable D. Levine to Vernie E. Levine, one lot, two buildings, 3090 Carter Road, $5 etc.; Scott R. and Lisa J. Bartz to Secretary of Veterans Affairs, one lot, one building, 1220 Fallingwater Lane, $110,000; Federal National Mortgage Association to Lakisha D. Wade, one lot, two buildings, 2881 September Drive, $100,000; Forfeited Land Commission to Dirreck Williams, one lot, two buildings, 567 S. Main St., $2,700; Forfeited Land Commission to Alex Dayyeh, one lot, one building, 406 Dingle St., $1,400.

Forfeited Land Commission to Nasser Chehimi, one lot, 2625 Fall Drive, $12,430; C.S. Leviner Construction Co. Inc. to James D. Stanfield, one lot, 10 Pyramid Court, $5 etc.; C.S. Leviner Construction Co. Inc. to James D. Stanfield, one lot, 20 Pyramid Court, $5 etc.; C.S. Leviner Construction Co. Inc. to James D. Stanfield, one lot, one building, 40 Pyramid Court, $5 etc.; Wells Fargo Financial South Carolina Inc. to Ronald and Maria Moody, one lot, one building, 2008 W. Oakland Ave., $42,000; Bely Inc. to Joseph Jr. and Donna H. Jackson, one lot, two buildings, 1232 Collingwood Drive, $120,000; Samuel David Peagler to Samuel David and Tanya A.D. Peagler, Edgehill Road, $5 etc.

Secretary of Housing & Urban De-

velopment to Brenda K. Whaley, one lot, one building, 2595 Springbank Drive, $52,000; Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to Brenda K. Whaley, one lot, 2575 Springbank Drive, $52,000; Sandhills Bank to Brett E. and Ruth A. Crannell, one lot, 2175 N. Main St., $29,000; Justin A. and Tasha E. Lehman Dyer to Justin A. Dyer, one lot, one building, 3367 Annie St., $5 etc.; Anna McDonald Estate to Linda McDonald et al, one lot, one building, 110 Willow St., $5 etc.; Thomas B. and Mary Elizabeth Littleton to Horace and Vandretiss M. Gilbert, one lot, one building, 3265 Home Place Road, $296,000; Bank of America NA to Eh Pooled 912 LP, one lot, one building, 1109 Manning Road, $16,050.

Warren B. Kolb Estate to Hazel Kolb, 2219 Pinewood Road, $5 etc.; Sylvia M. Anderson Estate to Samuel D. Anderson, one lot, one building, 860 W. Glouchester Drive, $5 etc.; Sylvia M. Anderson Estate to Samuel D. Anderson, one lot, 655 Portsmouth Drive, $5 etc.; Leslie B. and Benny Ray McIntosh to BRL Properties LLC, Reynolds Road, $5 etc.; Hazel Kolb to Patrick H. Kolb, 2219 Pinewood Road, $5 etc.; Robert T. Dennis et al to Ashley S. Moore et al, one building, 6380 Pisgah Road, $5 etc.; Raymond Capers Dixon et al to Andrew L. and Katie R. Degner, one lot, Eveningshade Lane, $40,500; Janie Lou and Willie L. James to Janie L. James et al, one lot, one building, 1110 Porter St., $5 etc.

Sandra N. Cone et al (1/4 interest) to Booth Farms LLC, one lot, 455 Pioneer Drive, $5 etc.; Sandra Strickland to Lareatha Goodman, one lot, one building, 695 White Pine Way, $82,000; Charles B. Ross (lifetime estate) to Jennifer R. Jones, three buildings, 4145-4147 Red Lane Road, $5 etc.; George M. and Hilde G. Reardon to George M. Reardon, one lot, one building, 654 Pringle Drive, $5 etc.; Willie and Thelma McBride to Willie McBride et al, one lot, one building, 12 W. Williams St., $5 etc.; Leslie P. and Helen H. Livingston to Dwight D. Lashley, one lot, 4210 Livingwood Drive, $15,000; Cristina E. Tataru to Cristina T. Dillard, one lot, one building, 20 Spanish Moss Circle, $5 etc.