Reply With QuoteAll I can tell ya is Russell and the Hill are some good crappie lakes. Russell can get crowded with all the bass tourneys though. But being retired....you can always fish it during the week.
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Crappie Wall Hanger II
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Looking for retirement advice
Hey guys, I'm gonna retire in about a year and am looking for some advice.
I live in Upstate SC and already have my retirement boat fully decked out with LS and all the other equipment needed (2022- 19' Xpress bay). I have been somewhat successful in catching crappies, but need for some of you to chime in about where you think are some of the best lakes in the Carolinas to fish for specks. All of the big lakes are about 1 1/2 hours away and when retirement comes, I will be able to drive that distance and possibly stay overnight.
Trying to figure which body of water yields the better results, Wylie, Greenwood, Russell, the Hill, or Murray. Hartwell is too crowded except in the coldest months!
Equipment and skill is not really a problem, been fishing all my life, just wanting to pick a few brains of those who get to spend a lot of time on the water.
I know that there are many variables such as time of year and sections of lake. Planning on using a variety of techniques to fill the boat.
Thanks for your help as I start to venture farther and farther out to ensure success.
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All I can tell ya is Russell and the Hill are some good crappie lakes. Russell can get crowded with all the bass tourneys though. But being retired....you can always fish it during the week.
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.happycaster58 thanked you for this post
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Looking for retirement advice
Depends on the time of year and weather conditions but Clark hill Russell and santee would top my list for the big girls. I would throw Murray, high rock and Jordan
in there too for honorable mentions.
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I grew up fishing the Hill and it fishes the same now as it did in the 70's and still my number one lake to fish. Russell will fill in the second best lake in the upstate for me. It's a shame that people do not respect fisherman and if they did Hartwell would be in the mix as it holds some huge crappie and is a great cold months lake. Greenwood is another lake I have fished for 50 plus years and enjoy fishing there but it can be over crowded on most days but is also a cold weather lake to fish. All this being said the upstate has many smaller lakes that have good crappie that I try to mix in some trips each year. We are blessed here in South Carolina with many great lakes to fish and many more lakes in Ga/NC that are great lakes as well. I am 64 and have never fished Santee, just hard to pass up the lakes here in the upstate to make that drive down I-26 but just read the reports that come from Santee and it's hard not to want to go fish the lakes there. Have fun and enjoy your retirement when it gets here.
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I too am all in on Clark’s Hill and both Santee cooper lakes. All SC lakes are good, but the large impoundments mentioned allow one to find waters that aren’t crowded. That’s a big plus for me.
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Thanks for the advice folks. Wondering where's some of the better and safer places to launch from? Also, does anyone have any recommendations for where to stay in a room that also has secure parking? I'm looking to spend a long weekend in mid-March this year. Appreciate all your help.
Minnow
I like fishing the Hill. I live close to the dam but I enjoy fishing the upper part of the lake as it’s less crowded and less pleasure boats around. Fishing Creek all the way up to the Russell dam is some really good fishing.
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