Lake Murray is home to many fish species, such as largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, bream, and catfish – making it a year-round fishing hotspot.
Largemouth bass anglers targeting trophy-sized fish at Lake Murray will encounter limited underwater structures and an uneven gravel bottom in deeper water, so using electronics will be essential to find them successfully.
Crappie
Crappies congregate near the surface during spring spawning season when their eggs are laid. By summer’s end, however, they move deeper under docks or around brush piles for cover and other structures; early or late hours are good opportunities to fish for them. Using traditional lures like jigs and minnows is usually adequate; plastic grubs work great.
As the season advances, crappie can become more challenging to spot as they disperse rapidly. They may feed just beneath the surface or may suspend over open water; taking some practice to figure out their depth can help. Typically, you can catch one by moving your boat slightly or fishing in different parts of the lake.
A float tube and minnow combination is an effective way to target suspended crappie. A basic setup using a bobber is usually sufficient, although drifting rigs such as Jig/Minnow/Spinnerbait combinations or single hooks may prove more productive in certain circumstances. While most common hook types include trebles, single hooks may prove even more effective, as pinching down barbs to make removal easier is essential for maintaining the health of fish populations.
At any given lake, in shallow areas such as those near lily pads or grassy banks, other fish species such as bream, shellcrackers and largemouth bass (along with yellow perch and brown bullhead) may also be found, in addition to crappie.
Catfish are plentiful in Lake Murray, with channel and flathead catfish being particularly prolific species that grow to immense sizes. Most dedicated catfish anglers opt for medium-sized bass rods when fishing for them; some might opt for heavier rods when targeting larger species such as trout and panfish.
Rainbow trout are abundant in Lake Murray, with some vast specimens present. Most anglers prefer artificial bait when fishing for these beautiful fish; however, fly fishing can also be immensely satisfying due to the natural insect-like behavior of its fly. It would be best if you started your adventure at your local bait shop, where clerks could recommend some effective fly patterns specific to this region.
Bass
Lake Murray continues to offer anglers excellent largemouth bass fishing opportunities with plenty of 5-pound fish available for capture. The shallow grass bite has been steady and should improve as temperatures cool off and days shorten. Tournament bass anglers should focus on fishing along the shoreline riprap for trophy fish such as trophy bass.
Striped bass can also be caught year-round in Lake Murray using trolling methods with lures like jigs and crankbaits. Though their population has increased recently, 2022’s sample shows that over 15-inch fish remain below average.
Catfish are another popular target species at Lake Murray and can be caught throughout the year using cut baits such as nightcrawlers or sardines. Serious catfish anglers use larger rods and reels specifically to target them; channel and blue catfish populations have seen marked improvement recently in Lake Murray.
As fall approaches, Lake Murray’s temperature will begin to cool, and the fish will start moving deeper in search of food sources. Stay informed on whether your fishing report’s “Water Level” section shows rising or falling levels, as falling ones generally offer better results since fish will find themselves feeding more naturally in an ideal feeding zone.
Largemouth bass will begin schooling and suspending in 15- to 20-foot depths and can be caught using topwater baits during the day. A jig and worm or small crankbait also produce good numbers of fish; the ideal times to target these big predators are early morning and late afternoon when sundown occurs, and the wind is calm.
Catfish
Lake Murray is known for its incredible fishing opportunities, providing anglers of all skill levels with an enjoyable fishing experience. You’ll likely come across channel and blue catfish when exploring Lake Murray; both offer superb action for all anglers of any ability level. Lake Murray is also one of the state’s premier spots for striped bass fishing; approximately 1 million fingerlings of these bass are released annually into its waters!
For the highest chance of catching giant catfish, seek deep, clean waters near brush piles, docks, and other structures. When fishing for these large species, use standard catfish baits like worms, anchovies, or prepared stink baits as your primary attack weapons.
Bass fishing may have decreased over the last several months, yet anglers are still finding success using topwater lures and crankbaits to catch bass around grassy areas and off-shore points. Small live baits fished on drop shot rigs have also proven productive.
As temperatures cool off, striped bass fishing should improve significantly. For best results, anglers targeting these fish should focus on areas with ample cover and structure, such as brush piles, riprap, or boat docks. Many techniques exist for catching these fish, including throwing hollow frog imitations or buzz baits to lure fish to bite.
Anglers targeting largemouth bass in deeper portions of lakes have had great luck targeting this species with lures like jigging spoons or surface lures retrieved quickly and aggressively. As schooling baitfish feed off these lures, these bass often react positively when swiftly presented as bait.
Shore anglers have also reported success catching bream from shore using corn, dough balls, and nightcrawlers as bait. Because these fish tend to be wary, ensure that your fishing approach remains slow and quiet until you find an active school of fish.
Sturgeon and trout fishing may have slowed, yet anglers can still find some action on artificial baits in the upper lake’s deep, clear waters. Anglers should target very spooky species like these during early morning and late evening suspension periods – if you happen to spot one, try fishing a shallow weed line with either worms or minnows tipped with pieces of shrimp if you can catch one!
Trout
Lake Murray is an expansive reservoir that offers fishing opportunities to anglers of all skill levels; it is located in Lexington, Saluda, and Newberry Counties in South Carolina and covers over 50,000 surface acres. Home to various fish species such as largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, catfish, and trout. Furthermore, recreational boating and camping opportunities abound here as well.
Lake Murray offers some great fishing opportunities year-round. Striped bass fishing is best when water temperatures are lower in fall and spring. This allows them to easily feed on smaller baitfish more efficiently. Anglers can employ several techniques when fishing at Lake Murray, such as trolling with artificial lures or live bait.
Crappie and bream are two other species commonly caught at Lake Murray. You’ll likely find these fish near brush piles or docks, and using either jigs or live minnows as bait to see them is often successful. Largemouth bass is another popular target at this lake, and fishermen use various techniques to bring one home.
Catfish are another prevalent species found in Lake Murray. These bottom-dwelling creatures spend their time on the bottom and become most active at night. Catfish can be caught using cut baits such as shad or blueback herring pieces or prepared stink bait dough balls; both types can be purchased locally at bait shops and grocery stores.
Striped bass has become a key player in tournament fishing at Lake Murray and has recently been biting well. Joey Sabbagha of Prosperity, South Carolina, won a Forrest Wood Cup qualifier on Lake Murray last week! According to Sabbagha, shallow grass bite has been particularly productive this year.
Lake Murray offers excellent fishing for anglers of all types; however, they must adhere to state regulations when fishing there. Furthermore, wearing a life jacket when angling there is strongly suggested.
