Fishing Report (Updated 5.14.2008)

Striped Bass: Fair to good.  Striped bass continue to be caught in large numbers but anglers are having difficulty catching big fish.  Best action is coming fishing down rods with live bait in 30 to 60 feet of water, free-lining in 10 to 20 feet of water, and trolling with umbrella rigs.  Cut bait is also working well in the middle of the day, and early and late look for schooling fish chasing bait up to the surface.   Expect summer fish kills to reduce the percentage of short fish being caught to more normal levels.  This weekend is the free Midlands Striper Club Kids’ Tournament on Saturday from Jake’s Landing – visit MidlandsStriperClub.org for more information.  

Largemouth Bass: Very good.  A very few fish remain on the beds but most Lake Murray largemouth have already spawned.  The fish are spreading out and beginning to chase shad and bream.  The wind has made fishing a little tough but one popular pattern the pros in town for the Elite Series tournament are fishing is running and gunning the banks throwing a lipless crankbait.  Some nice fish are being caught this way on main points.  Topwater action is also starting to heat up and anglers are throwing pencil poppers, Zara Spooks, and buzzbaits; on windy days where there is some chop on the water this bite is continuing all day.  Shaky head worms fished in 2 to 15 feet of water are also producing well in watermelon candy and green pumpkinseed colors, and some fish are being taken around brushpiles.  Follow the Elite Series action on SCFishingReport.com. 

Crappie: Fair.  Crappie have finished spawning and moved back out to deeper water, and the bite has been slow with the irregular weather patterns.  Best action is coming fishing down rods on deeper brushpiles or trolling with minnows and jigs in 6 to 15 feet of water around creek mouths.   

Shellcracker:  Excellent.  Shellcracker that have come onto the banks are feeding very well in 6 inches to 4 feet of water, and other fish are holding just a little further out in 6 to 8 feet.   Use red worms and baby nightcrawlers.

For most recent updates about Lake Murray fishing click here.