Anyone that keeps up with the sport of catfishing has learned that Mr. Whiskers can be caught practically year 'round. But the traditional favorite time of the year for many is still the good ol' summertime.

During the hot weather months of July and August, anglers also have a choice of fishing by day or by night because of warm weather. This option certainly enhances odds of success. Plus it significantly expands the number and types of techniques and tactics available to anglers.

While good catfish action is available on many lakes and rivers in South Carolina during the summer, there are a few that really stand out. Some of the better options are lakes with fairly clear water, which might surprise some anglers. But the key to these lakes is to fish at the right depths depending on the weather and time you fish. Typically, that means fishing deeper on bright days and shallower at night.

Lakes Monticello, Murray and Hartwell are all very productive catfish producers during this time of the year -- if you understand the basic patterns that lead to success.

LAKE MONTICELLO
Lake Monticello is becoming known as a trophy blue catfish fishery. During the day, anglers looking to hook a bruiser blue should focus on deep water. Although the fish are not always found in the deep water, they will generally be orienting with respect to it.

There are a couple of very interesting items that anglers need to know about Lake Monticello summertime fishing, according to professional guide Chris Simpson (864-992-2352; Fightindablues.com). Simpson, who guides on this lake (among others) year 'round, rates summertime as a very productive time for outlandish sized blue catfish.

"First, because of the unique type of lake that Monticello is, there is a real opportunity to catch fish over 100 feet deep during the summer months," Simpson said. "The reason is because the lake is constantly having water pumped into and out of it. This apparently creates enough water turnover that a thermocline does not develop, at least not down to 120 feet deep. And second, because of this situation and the very clear water, we do catch fish that deep, on the bottom, during the summer months."

Simpson does his fishing on the lake bottom during this time of the year. He said about 75 percent of his fishing time he anchors and fan-casts around the boat. About 25 percent of his fishing time will be drifting, but drifting with bottom-bumping rigs, not suspended.

"The drifting I do will be on the lake bottom," he said. "Some fishermen will drift the open water and fish for suspended fish and they can produce really well at times, but sometimes they can be hard to get to bite. I tend to have better luck fishing for the really big catfish that are marked on the bottom. A good graph is very important to my success on Monticello."

Simpson said the fish tend to be very deep during the daytime and the key is to find identifiable structure on the lake bottom.