Fishing Report (Updated 2.4.2010)

Bream: Very good.  Dooley’s Sports Shop (803-359-6084) reports that the hot bite on Lake Murray continues to be for shellcracker.  Look around secondary points with hard shell bottoms in 4-8 feet of water and fish with baby nightcrawlers. 

Crappie: Good. Dooley’s reports that crappie are being caught in the creek runs trolling and tight-lining 15-18 feet deep over 20-25 feet of water.  Jig/ minnow combinations are working best. 

No report from Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354)

Striped Bass: Fair.  Dooley’s reports that the best fishing is from the Gap around Dreher Island State Park to the river split.  Look for the birds and cast bucktails and ice flies.  Free lined live herring will also work, but with very cold weather many anglers are turning to more durable large shiners.  More people are also turning to planer boards of late.    

Catfish: Fair.  Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that lots of blue catfish are suspended under baitfish but there are still some channel catfish that can be caught using traditional bottom fishing methods such as Santee-style drifting.  For blue catfish, fishing suspended bait just under the baitfish is most effective.  Cut and live herring are the best baits.  Dooley’s notes that a few catfish have been caught off of docks in 8-15 feet, and one customer reported cleaning a female full of eggs. 

Largemouth Bass: Slow.  Captain Doug Lown (803-924-8946) reports that a combination of cold temperatures, current from pulling water and muddy conditions is still making for a bite as tough as he can remember on Lake Murray.  Anglers report catching fish on #7 Shad Raps, jigs fished around brush, and jerkbaits, but the most consistent bite Captain Doug has found is coming fishing a jigging spoon vertically in 30-40 feet of water – and even that bite has been tough.  There may still be a few fish relatively shallow but they don’t seem to want to eat with much consistency.  Dooley’s reports that in the last few days that have heard some better reports of fish caught in 15-30 feet of water on a jig n pig around points, brush and rocks. 

For most recent updates about Lake Murray fishing click here.