EDISTO RIVER
The Edisto River stood out among South Carolina's blackwater rivers last year, according to Bales. While he did not know a specific reason, the Edisto produced a disproportionately large number of quality bass for fishermen last year.

"We heard about quite a few big bass coming from the Edisto last year," Bales said.

Bales noted that anglers shouldn't travel to the Edisto with expectations of huge catch rates. Far less fertile than reservoirs or even than most rivers, blackwater systems simply don't hold as many fish. However, anglers who are used to reservoirs will find a completely different kind of experience, and they may hook into chunky largemouths.

The Edisto rises as a network of creeks that wind through the swamps in the western Midlands. Its upper end is best suited for floating in a canoe. The midsection, beginning around Colleton State Park, is large enough to fish with a boat, but anglers must be aware of sandbars and deadfalls, which create navigational hazards. As the river continues toward the coast, it gradually broadens and becomes a little less twisty. The lower reaches become tidal and split into several large arms.

Bales suggested the lower half of the Edisto's run as the best destination for most bass fishermen who are accustomed to more open water. Throughout the river, anglers must consider the impact of the current. Through the river's lower reaches the current becomes more complicated, as tidal influences cause the flow of the river to change direction depending on the stage of the tide.

Early in the spring, most bass will be in backwater areas, out of the main river channel. As the season progresses, they will move to the trees and vegetation that border the main river, generally holding in slack areas where the current is broken, but where they can ambush food carried past them by the moving water.

Food sources are widely varied in the Edisto, according to Bales. Important forage species include bluegills, redbreast sunfish and crawfish.

SPOTS FOR SPOTS
While spotted bass are not native to South Carolina waters, they are apparently finding some Palmetto State waters very much to their liking. Spots moved by anglers into Lake Keowee and more recently into the Savannah River lakes have thrived and offer very good fishing.

On Lake Keowee, spots actually dominate the black bass population, outnumbering largemouths and native redeye bass. Most anglers who visit this upstate lake do so with spotted bass in mind. Numbers of large spots aren't quite as high as they were a few years ago, according to SCDNR fisheries biologist Dan Rankin. However, anglers still expect to catch chunky spots when they probe Keowee's deep, clear waters. Topwater lures and finesse-type soft-plastic lures are favored offerings by Lake Keowee anglers.

More recently, spotted bass have become established in the Savannah River chain, especially in Lake Russell. Relatively deep and clear and full of blueback herring and shad, Russell offers bass everything they need to stay fat and happy.

The first spots showed up in Lake Russell less than 15 years ago, and they now outnumber largemouths two to one in the lower main body of the lake. Largemouths remain more abundant than spots up creek arms and farther up the Savannah. Spotted bass numbers continue expanding and growth rates and condition are very good, based on reports compiled by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, which shares management responsibilities for the Savannah River lakes with the SCDNR.