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Lake Murray Fishing Report

Learn more about Lake Murray below

June 11

Lake Murray water levels are at 358.58 (full pool is 360.00) and water clarity is pretty normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 76 degrees. 

May 29

Lake Murray water levels are at 358.30 (full pool is 360.00) and water clarity is basically back to pretty normal. Morning surface water temperatures have dropped into the low 70s with cooler temperatures and cold rain a couple of days ago.

May 22

Lake Murray water levels are at 358.17 (full pool is 360.00) and the rivers have cleared and the lower lake is clear but the upper middle section of the lake down to about Buffalo Creek has dirty water. Morning surface water temperatures were about 75 degrees this morning after all the wind. 

May 16

Lake Murray water levels are at 358.54 (full pool is 360.00) and the Big Saluda is muddy while the Little Saluda is clearer. As of now the muddy water is basically filtered out by about Rocky Creek and below that visibility is more normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 74-76 degrees. 

May 8

Lake Murray water levels are at 358.24 (full pool is 360.00) and clarity is about normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 72 degrees. 

 

April 30

Lake Murray water levels are at 358.31 (full pool is 360.00) and clarity is little below normal. Morning surface water temperatures are around 73 degrees. 

Looking for More?

Read more fishing reports from Lake Murray and other popular places at the AHQ Report!

About Lake Murray

Now owned and operated by Dominion Energy South Carolina, Lake Murray was built in the 1920s and 30s to provide hydroelectric power for Midlands residents.  The approximately 48,000-acre lake with roughly 650 miles of shoreline lies just to the northwest of South Carolina’s capital city of Columbia in the four counties of Richland, Lexington, Saluda and Newberry.  Today it is difficult to imagine the area without this important source of recreation for a region known as “Lake Murray Country.” The lake is oriented in an east-west direction, with the town of Lexington on the southern side of the lake and the town of Chapin on the northern side.  To the west the lake is fed by the Big and Little Saluda Rivers, and on the east side of the lake is the Lake Murray Dam.  Below the dam the Lower Saluda River is formed from the depths of Lake Murray and flows into the city of Columbia.  The full-pool elevation of Lake Murray is 360 feet above sea level, and at the deepest points near the iconic intake towers the lake is approximately 190 feet deep at full pool.

Fishermen target Lake Murray’s populations of striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, bream, catfish, and more.  Unlike the other species, striped bass cannot reproduce naturally in Lake Murray and so they are entirely stocked (at fingerling size) by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.  In terms of its forage base, Lake Murray has both gizzard and threadfin shad, but the baitfish that may have the most effect on large predator species are non-native blueback herring.  Lake Murray is a popular fishing destination 365 days per year.

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