NOEoutdoors Fishing Report – Lake Murray – Second Week of October 2025

 

Fall patterns are kicking in strong across Lake Murray. Surface temperatures are in the mid 60s, and the water is clear on the main lake with light stain in the upper ends and creeks. The first cold fronts of October have started moving through, but the fish are still feeding heavy as long as the weather stabilizes. Shad and blueback herring are everywhere — and everything from bass to stripers is chasing them.

 

 

 

Bass

 

 

The bass bite is steady, with both largemouth and spots chasing bait along main-lake points, blow throughs, and creek mouths. Early mornings are prime time for topwater throw a walking bait, fluke, or buzzbait over schooling fish. Watch for surface busts around points and docks; they’ll give away where the bait is stacked.

 

As the sun gets higher, move deeper with crankbaits or spinnerbaits in white, silver, or shad patterns. On calm, bluebird days after a cold front, slow things way down a shaky head or drop shot in 15–25 feet of water around brush will still get bites when fish are neutral.

 

Focus on wind-blown areas. Wind pushes bait into predictable spots, and that’s where the bass stack up this time of year.

 

 

 

Crappie

 

 

Crappie are holding tight to brush piles and docks in 15–25 feet of water. The bite is best early in the morning and again late afternoon. After a front, they may slide a little deeper or suspend higher in the water column.

 

Vertical jigging with 1/32–1/16 oz jigs tipped with minnows or small plastics is effective. Chartreuse and white are the dominant colors right now. For active fish, you can slow troll through mid-lake creeks and channels.

 

 

 

Striper

 

 

Stripers are feeding aggressively on herring and shad schools throughout the lake. You’ll find them from the mid-lake down to the dam, suspended 25–50 feet deep during the day. Early mornings have been producing good surface activity.

 

Start with topwater plugs or flukes for busting fish. Once the surface action dies, switch to downlines with live herring or trolling umbrella rigs and swimbaits. Look for bird activity they’ll lead you straight to the active schools.

 

Cold fronts can push stripers a little deeper, but they rarely stop feeding for long. Once the pressure levels out, expect the bite to bounce right back.

 

 

 

Cold Front Tips

 

 

1. Slow Your Retrieve: After a front, downsizing and slowing your presentation helps trigger more strikes.

2. Stay on the Bait: Use your electronics to find shad or herring. Every predator fish is close by.

3. Fish Later in the Day: The bite usually improves once the sun warms things up and the pressure evens out.

 

 

 

 

 

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