Flying over the Swamp

Get a bird's-eye view of Swamphole Swamp in Lake Marion, a gnarly maze of cypress that is part of the playing field for the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes.

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Photography by
Craig Lamb
Swamphole Swamp in Lake Marion is commonly referred to by the locals as “the swamp,” and for good reason.
It’s a gnarly maze of cypress, where you can easily get lost in nature. It’s also part of the playing field for the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. Bassmaster senior editor Craig Lamb joined photographer Andy Crawford on a morning tour of the area. Here’s what he captured from the air. You can get a different perspective from Crawford’s gallery, shot from water level. 
The mystical thing about the swamp is voices carry far away from the speakers. Andy I and could hear Caleb Sumrall long before we could see him. 
In fact, we were unknowingly within 25 yards of him when this photo was taken. Even so, we couldn’t see him, even that close. 
Heavy rain fell the previous day, adding even more color to the swamp. You can see some of the clearer water mixing with the runoff. 
We came up on Keith Combs, and again, it was only by accident. Andy was busy shooting photos of osprey when we heard him talking to his marshal.