Photo credit to David Head
The spotted bass are very aggressive and pound for pound are more sporty to catch than largemouth, but spotted bass don’t grow as large as largemouth … It’s rare to catch a spotted bass in excess of 4 lb. However, the spotted bass population is large, and they taste great.
That said, many have found catching bass on Lake Keowee a humbling experience. Most anglers experienced in other bodies of water look for bass around weed beds where baitfish like to hide, but Lake Keowee has no weed beds. Here the baitfish tend to suspend out in the middle of the lake or hide in the rocks or fallen trees along the shore. In addition, the clear lake water allows the fish to see you coming, so stealth and the ability to make long casts are critical skills.
Successful anglers on this lake find bass using knowledge of the bottom contours of the lake, the shoreline structure, the temperature variations in different parts of the lake, and the daily and seasonal migration patterns of the bass.
For newcomers, one way to acquire the knowledge and skills that work to catch bass on Lake Keowee is to participate in the activities of the Keowee Anglers, an organization dedicated to sharing the knowledge and skills of experienced Lake Keowee anglers.
Lake Keowee was created by Duke Energy to provide power to the Carolinas and recreation for residents and visitors. Because Duke Energy keeps the water level within a specific range, Lake Keowee is ideal for boating year round.
The clean, pristine, blue waters offer a lovely background for boats of all kinds: kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, pontoons, and speed boats. There is room for everyone, but boating courtesy is a must. If you encounter unsafe boating while on the lake, please call the DNR 24-Hour Hotline at 800 922-5431 to report the problem.
South Carolina Boating Regulations are enforced on the lake by both the SC Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR) and local law enforcement. For current boating regulations, click here.
America’s Boating Club–Golden Corner Lakes, TowBoats U.S., and SC DNR offer boating courses. Everyone that drives a boat or watercraft should take a class. Safety on the lake is paramount.
Boaters born after July 1, 2007 are required by law to pass an approved boater education course before operating a boat, personal watercraft, or a specialty propcraft powered by 10 hp motor or more.
There are numerous public boat ramps on Lake Keowee and visitors are encouraged to check their boats prior to entering the water in order to make sure no foreign plant material is introduced to the lake.
And remember, no open fires are allowed on any Lake Keowee Islands or Duke Energy access areas. If you see open fires, please report them to the DNR.
Our goal is to keep Lake Keowee clean with the help of our volunteers. FOLKS Lake Sweeps are supported by Duke Energy, Palmetto Pride, and our local Keep America Beautiful affliliate, KOBA.
Thank you for agreeing to participate in our Spring and Fall Sweeps of Lake Keowee. Welcome Back to those of you who have participated before and Welcome Aboard to all newcomers.
Our lake Sweep is part of a larger U.S. and State wide program sponsored by Palmetto Pride, the Governor’s Task Force on Beautification and Litter. Semi annually we join with thousands of others throughout the state to clean our waterways. A major purpose of the co-coordinated effort is to raise public awareness of the serious problem caused by aquatic litter and debris. Trash in and around our fresh waters and oceans may not appear to be an important issue, but aquatic litter and debris pose serious problems for our economy and our environment. Accumulated trash threatens recreational activities such as swimming and fishing. Life threatening situations are also created for creatures that make their home in the water.
A team of Sweep Co-coordinators recruit eighteen individuals to serve as Co-commanders for the nine sections of the Lake. These Co-commanders then recruit the necessary number of Boat Captains to cover their assigned sections. The Captains then recruit their crews. The Co-coordinators provide the Co-commanders with a Survey/Sweep package for their sub-sections which they distribute to their Captains. This package contains a Kingfish Lake Map, a colored sub-section map indicating the area to be swept, a Captain’s report sheet, the documents you are now reading, and the bags provided by Duke Energy for trash pick-up. The Survey suggests current and/or future problems, while the Sweep shows the quantity and types of debris collected.
Upon completion of the Survey/Sweep sub-sections, the Captains report their findings to their Co-commanders who then return these reports to the coordinators. When the entire Survey/Sweep is completed, the Co-coordinators analyze the results and send a final report to FOLKS and Duke Energy. Items too large to boat by Captains are identified by sub-section location and reported to Duke Energy’s Shoreline Management staff for barge pick up to resolve. Their contact is Lakeservices@duke-energy.com or 1-800-443-5193. Be sure to detail the GPS location of the large trash item.
Please complete the form below. This information will be sent to Glenn Coggins.
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