Navionics Lake Map - Santee Cooper

[hookum243]

Does any one here fish santee lake marion or lake moultrie? I was wondering how the navionics lake map sd he lakevcard works out there i just got a new unit and picked up the navionice card for $149.99.

[Mike Cork]

I've fished it a couple times on the older chip and have been told the newer version is "Better" however it's nothing you want to navigate by. Depth contour was pretty close and helped but stump fields of course difficult to manage on a chip.

The guides will tell you that it is a dangerous lake if don't have experience on it.

[smokey bear]

I've fished it a couple times on the older chip and have been told the newer version is "Better" however it's nothing you want to navigate by. Depth contour was pretty close and helped but stump fields of course difficult to manage on a chip.

The guides will tell you that it is a dangerous lake if don't have experience on it.

Mike is right. It is one big stump field, but the fishing sure is good.   The new chips are a little better but, the older versions are fine as far as contour lines and channels.

[Tritonbmc]

The chips are fair at best, and don't depend on them if you decide to fish the Cooper River.  I tried to use the chip when I 1st fished there and it almost got me killed   I just use them now for basic navigation and marking spots. 

[Sc Bassin]

I fish Santee Cooper all the time & have the latest chips in each unit. As has been said it is dangerous the upper(Marion) more so than the lower(Moultrie). It is a must to be aware of the lake level the day you fish. In the lower lake @ full pool & not knowing the lake I would be very careful once I was in 8'  & at idle @ 5'. Pretty much all the shallow flats have stumps Some way more than others. I have found the chips to be good but the problem is running wide open in 20' of water & not paying attention & come up on a hump, It's mark on the map but you're in the middle of the lake & not watching the chart plotter. Use the chip & mark a route to the spots that you want to look over. I would also have a spare trolling motor transducer or a shield when fishing in the shallows for it's not uncommon to break one or get hung up on big stump & have to get out & push your boat off.
In Marion stay in the channel unless you know where your at. You can hit a cut off tree in 30'. Just look at you map & take it easy getting to where you want to go & mark a trail. I have the Navionics disc of the lakes in my computer so I made routes on it,put them on a chip then went to the area while adjusting as needed.
There is good fishing on these lakes just look over your map before hand & keep a close eye on your chartplotter & use common sense. On your chip some of the area's show stumps but not all so be careful.