EverStart Series, Eastern Division, April 10-13
Santee Cooper comprises two lakes, Marion and Moultrie, which are joined by a 7-mile-long canal. Marion, the upper lake, is 100,000 acres. Moultrie, the lower bowl-shaped lake is 60,000 acres. Together the two lakes comprise a massive, highly productive fishery.
Ricky Shumpert, who won last year’s Santee Cooper lakes EverStart tournament with a record-setting 29 pounds, 2 ounces, thinks the lake will not be as prolific this season. The lake has been down about 6 feet this winter and, if it does not come back up, navigating it will be very dangerous and the fishing will be off.
Unlike last year’s EverStart, which hit the peak spawn, this year’s event will likely hit a late post-spawn stage when bass are feeding heavily on top-water lures.
“I think the lower lake (Moultrie) will produce the bigger strings in April because it has more ditches, drains and canals for the fish to relate to,” Shumpert says. “The upper lake is mostly comprised of flats.”
The lower water and later date may keep a new EverStart Series record at bay, but the Santee Cooper lakes will still show out for some anglers. “I think it will take about 21 pounds to make the top 20 and 18 to 20 pounds to win it on the final day,” Shumpert says.
– Rob Newell
Links:
Pro field
Co-angler field
$2.8 million EverStart Series to visit Santee Cooper lakes