South Carolina Traveler~
Santee Cooper Country is an outdoorsman’s paradise where you and your family can enjoy a safe, peaceful environment, yet be within an hours drive from historic, cultural, and recreational cities of Charleston & Columbia.

         Home of South Carolina’s Largest Lakes

There are hundreds of acres of South Carolina Department  of Natural Resources Game Management zones offering deer, turkey, wild hog, &  raccoon, hunting.

One of the most spectacular benefits of the Santee Cooper Lakes is the diverse leisure activity that is available to the public. If you love to fish, hunt, golf or just enjoy the serene surroundings and good old-fashioned southern hospitality, Santee Cooper Country is the place for you.

The 2005 Santee

    Tournament

The Santee Fins & Skins 2005 Tournament is coming to Santee in October. Fishermen and Golfers mark your calendar. Oct. 31st to November 3rd , Santee is the place to be for the Inaugural Fins & Skins Tournament.

"This is the first time a tournament like this has been done on this magnitude for the general public." said Claudio DeMarchi, Lakeview Productions, Inc. of Village of Nottawa, Ontario, Canada." Over $20,000.00 is up for grabs. $10,000 will be divided between the top 10 teams at the end of tournament. There are also daily  cash prizes of $2500.00"    A maximum of 64 teams of 2 people per team will be fishing & golfing their way to the Grand Prize & Title of Fins & Skins Champions.

Overall winner  will be determined  by taking the 2 day golf score totals of the teams, then subtract the points that the teams accumulate from the fish they catch. Team with the lowest score will be the overall Fins and Skins Champions.

The tournament will be featured on the television show, Fins & Skins Classic Adventures with celebrity host Henry Waszczuk as Master of Ceremonies for the 4 day event. The Fins & Skins Classic Adventures television show will be aired on FOX South.

      Tournament Day 1, October 31, 2005 –                            

        Golf at Santee National Golf Club

The Santee National Golf Club is a 3 1/2 star Golf Digest Championship course and are host to The South Carolina State Junior Golf Championship. The Santee National is  located 1 mile from I-95. Nowhere is the grand tradition of golf more evident than at Santee National, a sweeping, 18-hole golf course surrounded by the home sites of Chapel Creek Plantation.  Rolling hills and mossy live oak trees mix Low Country magic with highland terrain.  Five lakes bring water into play on the par 72 course.  With 4 starting tees at each hole, golfers can match meet the challenge of the course with their particular skill level.  The fairways are Bermuda grass. 
 

Tournament Day 2, November 1, 2005 – Fishing Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie & The Diversion Canal
 

Tournament Day 3, November 2, 2005 – Fishing Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie & The Diversion Canal

       Tournament Day 4, November 3, 2005 –                         

                Golf at Lake Marion Golf Club

The Lake Marion Golf Course offers strategically placed hazards to intrigue all golf enthusiasts among the gentle, rolling terrain of the well laid-out course.  Wide fairways lined with native flora, provide a gracious setting in which to test your skills.  Five of the eighteen holes have water hazards, and 47 cleverly set sand traps will challenge most golfers. Newly remade greens on all holes in August of 2004.  Playing this par 72 course will be an enjoyable experience for every golfer. 

There will be 5 official check points/ boat launch sites for team check-in and check out; Black's Camp, Jack's Creek, Bell's Marina, Goat Island, & Randolph's.

All boats must return to official checkout site at the appointed time. (2:30 PM) All entries must be present at the official weigh in site by 3:30 PM. No team will be allowed to join the weigh-in line after 3:30 PM. The official weigh in site will be open to accept entries as of 1:30 PM on tournament fishing days.
Your team must have an official weigh in certificate, signed by a tournament director in order to qualify for prizes and money.
Failure to go through designated boat check-in/check-out will result in immediate disqualification.

Tee Times for both golf days will be 9:00 AM. Both golf tournament days will be shotgun starts. Anyone not present for their designated tee time on either golf day will be disqualified from the overall tournament.

Fishing Tournament hours will be from 7:30 AM until 2:30PM (EST) unless adjusted by tournament director for reasons of safety. Teams must check in the tournament officials at their chosen location for boat inspection prior to launching for that day. Boats may be launched up to 1 hour after the designated start time. Any team not launched at such time will be disqualified from the overall tournament and for that day.

Rods and reels are the only fishing means allowed. No fish shall be caught by tournament participants using commercial devises.

Although the Santee Fins & Skins Tournament has not been deemed to be a catch and release tournament  we would encourage all participants that have no intention of keeping fish for personal consumption to make every effort to keep fish alive for release back into the lake system.

There are four categories of which to fish. Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Crappie, & Catfish. An overall total of 10 fish per day may be entered by any one team.

After spawning in the spring, the Largemouth Bass are active. Worms, crankbaits and spinner baits are effective around the cypress trees stick ups, lilly pads, and the grass beds in water 2 to 4 feet deep. With the heat of the summer most bass head for deeper water ledges and drops while early and late in the day they mostly feed in the shallows. Bass are usually found  where there is vegetation growing in waters less than 20 feet deep. With the changing of the leaves they like the structure of the shallow water cypress. Fishermen are seen casting spinner baits, crankbaits, and plastic worms to all angles of stumps and trees just to land a nice bass. The Santee Cooper Lakes holds a Largemouth Bass State Record of 16.2 lbs.

The Striped Bass have a story of their own. Before the impounding of the lakes, they would swim up the Cooper River to spawn entering Lake Moultrie through the Pinoplois Lock. With the building of the Santee Dam impounding the lake in 1942, it blocked the stripers from returning  to sea after spawning. The Striped Bass became trapped or landlocked and could not return to the sea. This saltwater fish adapted to the freshwater habitat and has ever since spawned in the lake system.  In the summer, the  stripers head back down the rivers and into the lakes and deep water. They love the herring that schools along the old river channel. The hotter it gets- the deeper they are.

In the fall the striper start to school, which will be just around the time of the Skins & Fins Tournament. This is when it really gets fun. You can watch the stripers schooling with flocks of hundreds of seagulls and osprey flying above chasing the gizzard shad that the stripers make come up to the surface.
As the days grow shorter the stripers run deep. Drift fishing usually works best. These lakes held the world record for a 55 lbs. Striped Bass until 1993.

My favorite fishing is catfishing. Santee Cooper has Blues, Channel, and Flathead Catfish. My favorite eating catfish is absolutely the flathead. While the blues and Channel have a strong taste the flathead is a thick white meat beyond comparison. The taste is associated with the diet of choice. While Channel and Blues will eat dead bait, the flathead likes live bream, white perch and shellcracker.

Since being introduced in the lake system in 1964 the blues have grown and reproduced to the point where 20 - 35 lb. blues are common in our lakes. Even at 35 lbs., the thrill of landing such a phenomenal  fish is an awesome experience. October is one of the best months to land some really big fish in deep water holes and drop offs through - out the lakes using herring, shad, and some manufactured baits.

Santee Cooper lakes records include a 58 lb. World Record Channel Catfish and an Arkansas Blue Catfish  109 lbs. State Record until 1996.

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Local Fishing Guides are permitted each day of the fishing segment. Participants have the option and are encouraged to employ the services of a local fishing guide. There are approximately 50 USGC licensed fishing guides in the area. Fishing Guide Fee is $108.78 per person per day based on 4 participants per boat and guide. Tournament participants must be willing to share a boat and guide with another team. The only exception is for tournament participants that choose to fish primarily for Largemouth Bass, 2 participants only per boat. (Approx. cost for 2 persons fishing in 1 boat with one guide is $275.00 per day.)

The guides can be booked through any of the accommodation properties offering Fins & Skins Tournament stay and play packages or they can be booked through the guides booking coordinator Truman Lyon at 866-631-6801.

2005 OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES

PARTICIPATION AND ELEGIBILITY: This tournament is open to all persons, both male and female, to participate as a team and are subject to these rules and regulations. One contestant must be 18 years of age or older, any participant under the age of 18 is the responsibility of the adult on the team and the adult partner assumes full responsibility for that minor.

Fishing Point & Prize Structure

Overall Point & Prize Structure

Whether your bargain hunting the outdoor markets, antique sidewalk sales and shops, hiking the Palmetto Trail, fishing, hunting, or golfing, there is something here for everyone in the family.

The Cooper Lakes System, Lake Marion & Lake Moultrie, encompass 171,000 acres of fishing and hunting adventures and are joined by a 6.5 mile Diversion Canal. The lakes were created from 1939 -1942 for a hydroelectric project by The South Carolina Public Service Authority. The two river systems, The Santee and The Cooper River that the project connected has given the commonly known name, Santee Cooper. This incredible lake system is home to some of the countries greatest fishing currently holding 1 world record and 4 state record catches.

Santee is nestled on the south shore of Lake Marion right on I-95. Santee is easily accessed via I-77 from North & South or I-26 from the East & West. Santee is less than 1 hour from Charleston and Columbia airports, and about 2 hours from Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Santee Cooper Lakes have hosted many fishing tournament events. Included are: Cabela's Crappie  USA., Cabela's KING KAT, Randolph's Landing State & National Championship Catfish Tournament, Everstart, FLW,  B.A.S.S.,  Bassmasters,  & Crappie Masters.

Fins & Skins will be in Santee, Oct. 31- Nov. 3rd.

Black's Camp will be one of the weigh-in checkpoints for this Inaugural Tournament- 2 days of golf and 2 days of fishing! Kevin Davis, of Black's , who has been featured in many fishing and hunting publications, is available to guide for Fins & Skins.

Black's will also be hosting the North Carolina Catfish Association Tournament Series   www.nccats.net July 30th. This is a Cabela's KiNG KAT Classic qualifying tournament.

Cabela's KING KAT, held their largest ever Spring Qualifier on Santee Cooper last February at Black's Camp on Lake Moultrie. Contestants  came from states away to compete for the thrill of landing a monster catfish.

The Santee Cooper Lakes area is rich in folklore and historic sites. There are acres of natural areas with miles of shoreline and ancient oaks draped in Spanish moss. These are the 245,000 acre woods, The  Francis Marion National Forest, where Francis Marion was given his name of  "Swamp Fox".

To commemorate the significance that Marion played in the fight for Independence, The Friends Of The Santee National Wildlife Refuge hold Francis Marion Re-Enactments at The Santee National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge Visitor's Center located on the North side of Lake Marion, I 95- Summerton exit, offers a haven for birdwatchers and hiking and canoeing enthusiast. The Refuge is also the site of Fort Watson, where a British outpost was located on top of a 30 ft. Ceremonial Mound. Francis Marion's Grave lies on the North side of Lake Moultrie surrounded by thousand of acres of supreme hunting and fishing around the North Dike.

The Eutaw Springs Battleground was the site of the last major battle of The American Revolution. The Battleground's Monument is a Mile Marker for The Palmetto Trail in the Eutaw Springs Passage.
 

South Carolina Wildlife is abundant. It is not uncommon to see a wild turkey or deer running along the Palmetto Trail. Rock's Pond Campground & Marina is along the Eutaw Springs Passage of The Palmetto Trail and will be hosting
the Cabela's KING KAT Tournament Trail finale on Sept. 9th & 10th.

        Santee National Golf Club, Hole # 18.

                      Lake Marion Golf Course

   This monster fish was caught out of Jack's Creek.

1st Place Big Fish  at The 2004 State Championship Catfish Tournament held at Randolph's Landing, Manning was 49.4 lbs. Big Fish Winners were  the team of Paul Osbourne & Jeff Miller from Manning taking home $3,625.00 in winnings!

Daniel Hinten, Age 6,caught 25 fish  making him the  Winner of Cabela's KING KAT Kid's Rodeo Feb. 19, 2005 at Black's Camp with Tournament Director, Richard Williams.

Larry Feagin, of Eutaw Springs with a nice hot summer day flathead.

Golf Point & Prize Structure

Callaway Scoring System
 

The Fins & Skins Tournament will utilize the Callaway Scoring System in order to maintain a level playing field for all golfers.

The Callaway Scoring System is utilized for players without a verifiable handicap. A player's net score is determined after each round by deducting the worst individual holes during the first 16 holes, holes 17 and 18 may not be consider as worst holes. And no hole may be scored at more than twice its par. The table below shows the number of "worst holes" allowed by the player's gross score and the adjustment to be made based on the gross score.

All participants must adhere to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources rules & regulations. Federal laws also apply. All participants must have a current local fishing license in order to participate. Licenses can be obtained locally during normal business hours. Consult tournament officials for sale locations.  All participants that are using their own boat and motors must provide proof of insurance and pass all boating safety requirements set out by the State of South Carolina and the Department of Natural Resources. Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each participant is required to have a chest type PFD available at any time that the boat is on plane. Officials reserve the right to disallow any rig that is deemed overpowered or dangerous. A tournament director has the right to inspect any boat at time of launch.

All of the following rules are subject to change at the discretion of the board of directors. All rule changes will be posted at time of entry.

REGISTRATION: A maximum of 70 teams will be accepted in the inaugural Santee Fins & Skins Tournament. Entries will be received on a first come first serve basis.
All entries must be received at least 7 days in advance of the tournament date. Tournament fees must be paid in full by cash or credit card at time of entry application. Late or last minute entries will be assessed a $20.00 surcharge per person. No refunds of tournament entry fees after August 1, 2005.

REGISTRATION FORM MUST BE FILLED OUT COMPLETELY AND SIGNED BY BOTH TEAM MEMBERS. NO EXCEPTIONS.

ENTRY FEES: $125.00 per person or $250.00 per team for individuals that choose the Fins & Skins lodging and golf packages in the Town of Santee. All other participants will be required to pay additional green fee rates for the golf tournament days.

The Stay and Play Packages including two rounds of golf, cart, five nights of lodging, use of fishing guides and equipment for 2 days and tournament fee is approximately $550.00

There are dozens of friendly accommodation properties available to suit your taste while in Santee. Some lodging is in town close to restaurants and nightlife and there are others a little more remote on the lake. Golf and lodging package information is available by calling 1-800-250-3080 or visit www.santeetourism.com .
 

Note: Any team disqualified from any single tournament day will be ineligible from competing for the overall tournament prizes. However these teams may still participate and qualify for daily tournament prizes.
 

By signing the tournament entry form the participants acknowledge that the Santee Fins & Skins Tournament will not be held responsible for any injuries sustained by participants while participating in the tournament.

SPORTSMANSHIP: All competitors are expected to adhere to the highest standards of sportsmanship and courtesy at all times. Any team that has (3) or more unsportsmanlike protests filed against it will be subject to review by tournament directors and possible disqualification. Fishing protests must be received by a tournament director no later than (30) minutes from boat landing on the day of the competition. Golf protests can be filed with tournament directors on site or between nine hole segments.

TIES: In case of a tie, positions shall be resolved by equal points for that position. Awards for the tied positions will be combined and divided equally between the tied  teams.

For more information about Santee and The Skins & Fins can visit The Town of Santee's website at http://www.santeetourism.com

@ 2005 South Carolina Traveler~

Member of Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce. For tourism and business information call 1-800-788-5646 or visit www.tri-crcc.com

Carole Lee Hinten, is a Freelance Writer living on Lake Marion  with a publication, South Carolina Traveler. http://www.sctraveler.com Carole Lee's writings will be featured every month with the latest in Santee Cooper Country's Outdoor News & Events.