Lake Murray

 Fishing Report

 

 

February 12 – Warm Front With 70 Degree Days

Report by NOEoutdoors

 

Lake Murray is reacting quickly to this stretch of low to mid 70 degree air temps. Surface temps are climbing into the upper 40s and low 50s, and warmer in the backs of creeks and protected pockets during the afternoon.

 

This lake has both clear lower end water and more stained upper river sections. The warm front is activating fish, but they are still in prespawn staging mode. They are feeding. They are moving. They are not fully committed shallow yet.

 

 

 

 

Bass Report

 

 

Murray largemouth are starting to position closer to spawning flats, while spotted bass are still holding on deeper structure.

 

Where to focus

 

• Secondary points inside creeks

• Rock transitions leading into pockets

• Ditches running through flats

• Long tapering points with brush in 10 to 25 feet

 

 

On 70 degree afternoons, fish in stained water sections can slide surprisingly shallow, especially on red clay and rock.

 

What’s working

 

• Spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits on wind blown banks

• Squarebills in stained creeks during peak sun

• Jerkbaits on main lake and secondary points

• Alabama rigs and swimbaits around suspended bait

• Jigs around brush and rock transitions

 

 

The best window has been mid afternoon through sunset when the top layer warms and wind pushes bait.

 

 

 

 

Crappie Report

 

 

Crappie are staging toward prespawn areas and beginning to move shallower during the warmest hours.

 

Where they are

 

• Brush piles in 8 to 15 feet

• Docks near channel swings

• Flats adjacent to deeper creek channels

 

 

In the upper end and stained creeks, fish are pushing into 5 to 10 feet late in the day.

 

Best approach

 

• Vertical fish minnows over brush

• Shoot docks in warming pockets

• Longline troll small jigs until you find a productive depth

 

 

Once you dial in depth, stay consistent across similar areas.

 

 

 

 

Striper Report

 

 

Murray stripers are active during this warm stretch and chasing bait aggressively in the right areas.

 

Where to look

 

• Major creek mouths

• Channel edges in 25 to 50 feet

• Open water with bird activity

 

 

If bait is suspended mid column, that is where stripers will hold.

 

What’s producing

 

• Free-lines and planer boards with live bait

• Downlines over suspended schools

• Casting swimbaits into breaking fish during surface activity

 

 

Late afternoon has been the strongest feeding window as bait lifts slightly in the water column.

 

 

 

 

Three Tips That Will Work On Murray Right Now

 

 

1. Separate the lake by clarity. Fish stained water shallower and clear water deeper.

2. Focus on staging routes such as ditches, secondary points, and channel swings. Prespawn fish are positioning along these paths.

3. Fish the afternoon window hard. The 70 degree air temps are creating short but strong feeding periods from early afternoon through sunset.

 

 

This is a prespawn acceleration window. If warm weather continues, expect fish to keep sliding toward spawning flats. If a cold snap hits, they will pull back to the first break.