Lake Murray Fishing Report

 

July 17

 

Lake Murray is right in its summer pattern, and the fishing has been consistent if you’re willing to fish around the heat. The best bite is coming early in the morning and again late in the evening before the recreational boat traffic gets heavy. As the day goes on, most fish are moving to deeper brush piles, creek channels, and offshore structure. If you’ve got good electronics and stay around bait, you can still have a productive day. 

 

Bass

 

The bass bite has been steady, with both largemouth and spotted bass being caught. Early in the morning, fish are feeding shallow around points, seawalls, and pockets. A buzzbait, walking bait, or fluke can produce some exciting topwater action before the sun gets high.

 

Once the morning bite slows down, most anglers are finding success on deep brush piles in 15 to 30 feet of water. Drop shots, shaky heads, Texas-rigged worms, and football jigs are all producing fish. Don’t be surprised if you mark suspended bass over deep water chasing blueback herring. Those fish will often come up to crush a topwater bait even in the middle of summer. 

 

Bass Tips

 

• Get on the water early and keep a topwater bait tied on for schooling fish.

• After the sun gets up, target deep brush piles with finesse baits and work them slowly.

• If you see bait suspended over deep water, keep casting. Summer bass often feed upward even when they’re holding deep.

 

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Crappie

 

Crappie are holding on deep brush piles, standing timber, and bridge structure throughout the lake. Most fish are suspended in 15 to 25 feet of water and are staying close to cover during the hottest part of the day.

 

Live minnows remain tough to beat, but small tube jigs and curly-tail jigs are catching fish when fished vertically through the brush. If you can locate multiple brush piles, it’s worth checking each one until you find an active school.

 

Crappie Tips

 

• Focus on offshore brush instead of shoreline cover.

• Keep your bait just above the fish and fish vertically whenever possible.

• Early mornings and after sunset can produce some of the best crappie action during the summer months. 

 

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Striper

 

The striped bass bite has been one of the highlights on Lake Murray this summer. Most fish are holding over deep water around creek channels and the main river channel, following schools of blueback herring.

 

Early mornings continue to be the best time to target them before the heat builds. Live blueback herring are producing the most consistent catches, but anglers throwing spoons, bucktails, and paddletail swimbaits into active schools are catching fish as well. If you find bait on your graph, you’re in the right area.

 

Striper Tips

 

• Spend more time looking for bait than fishing empty water.

• Fish at the exact depth you’re marking fish on your electronics.

• Keep a spoon or swimbait ready because schooling stripers can surface without warning and disappear just as fast. 

 

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Overall Outlook

 

Lake Murray is fishing well for the middle of July if you adjust to the summer pattern. An early start, good electronics, and staying mobile will make all the difference. Bass are relating to offshore brush, crappie are stacked on deep cover, and stripers are following schools of bait over deep water. Find the bait, stay patient, and you’ll put yourself in a good position to catch fish. 

find steady action across all three species.