Santee Cooper lakes host Major League Fishing tournament April 7-9
Fisherman William Fletcher of Dallas, Georgia, had his line hooked in the 2019 event on Santee Cooper. More than 440 boaters and co-anglers are expected to compete in the 2022 tournament this week.
CLARENDON COUNTY - Santee Cooper's big bass will be luring pros and Strike King co-anglers for a three-day tournament April 7-9.
The Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Major League Fishing with the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Santee Cooper. Anglers in the pro division will be casting for up to $75,000 in the divisions' top prize package while a new Phoenix 518 pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor is the top prize in the co-angler division.
"We know that the Santee Cooper lakes are the best lakes in the nation for bass fishing," said Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce Director of Tourism Jesse Surette. "We take pride in tournaments coming here and fishing. We hope to have a great turnout on the water and on land with great fishing, fun and safe travels."
"This is going to be a fun event to follow," said Bass Pro Tour angler Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity. "Santee is always a little bit ahead of Lake Murray when it comes to the spawn, but I expect we'll see fish in all three phases. Whether or not the postspawn fish play - meaning targeting the shad spawn - will likely depend on the weather. But it's a really good fishery, and they're going to catch a lot of big fish."
Gagliardi said that although there are certain areas of the lake that are historically good, he expects the majority of the field to be pretty spread out.
"With the two lakes in play - and each are really big - there is a lot of fishable water for sure," he added. "I think we'll see guys get back into the backwater ponds and some swampy areas up the river, but some will target the big flats on the lower end. The fish also are known to get out into those stump fields as well. Guys are really going to have a lot of options available to them."
When asked what baits he would be throwing if he were competing, Gagliardi offered a trio of options that he expects to play a role for competitors.
"I'd definitely have a spinnerbait tied on," Gagliardi said. "That's really good here this time of year. I'd have a wacky-rig ready to go - something for bed fishing, because there are definitely going to be some spawners caught in this one."
On April 7, anglers will launch all three days at 7 a.m. from John C. Land III Landing, 4404 Greenall Road in Summerton. Weigh-ins will be held at the landing beginning at 3 p.m. on April 7 and 8 and at 4 p.m. on Championship Sunday.
Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the "MLF Live" weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.