Freshwater fishing has been really good this winter in Charleston, SC. Yes, you read that correctly. The blue and flat catfish bite on the Edisto River has been phenomenal, as well as the crappie bite. They LOVE cold water.
Unlike Saltwater cousins, freshwater species of fish are better equipped to handle the cold snaps that we have experienced this past winter.
There have been 65 to 85 pound cats pulled out of the Edisto during this winter and crappie that are good pan fried size.
Obviously, when you think about fishing in Charleston and the Sea Islands South, salt water is most often talked about to wet a line. In the areas around Seabrook, Johns Island, Edisto, Hollywood , and Ravenel, there are a host of freshwater ponds that you could spend a lot of time in catching redbreast, brim,bass, cats, crappie, bluegill, and bowfin.
There are many spots open to the public. One starts at the brackish line on the South Edisto that will eventually turn into the freshwater Edisto River. Another is the brackish line on the Ashley River that starts around the Plantations and heads to Summerville.
Most people have no idea that Hwy 17, or Savannah Hwy, is a marked freshwater line that constantly is at war with saltwater. Any rivers that do not connect back to a saltwater source will eventually turn freshwater, and there is a battle between salt and fresh in polarizing directions. This is true with Wallace and Rantowles Creek off the Stono River.
Around the generalized fresh water line on a river, bait options to catch fish are vast. You have the luxury of using crickets and worms to catch redfish and flounder and shrimp and muddies to catch catfish and bass.
Saltwater fish know their environment and can sense where the salt becomes thin, and the same is true with freshwater fish, they can sense the growing concentrations of salt. During times of low salt content on Rantowles Creek, freshwater fish will push all the way to the train trestle at the inlet
to the Stono River.
There is something about fishing a pond for bass that is nostalgic to us. It brings back memories of our childhood. It is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to fish. No boat gas money and a boat ride, just walk out your door. A child can do it.
We Charleston locals have been spoiled who are born and bred here; we can pick and choose fresh or salt water.
Only a limited population of the United States lives on the coast, most live inland and most of them learned how to fish as a child on freshwater.
Kyle Comen / South Side Bait and Tackle
SouthsideBaitandTackle.com
(843) 203-6561
