Best fishing lakes in South Carolina: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Lake Hartwell

Lake Hartwell covers 56,000 acres. The fish here are striped bass, spotted bass, largemouth bass and crappie. It goes down to about 185 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lake Hartwell today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Murray

At some 50,000 acres, Lake Murray is a huge piece of water. The fish here are striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. At about 190 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Lake Murray today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Marion

Lake Marion spreads over some 110,000 acres. It holds catfish, striped bass, largemouth bass and crappie. It goes down to about 77 ft. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and an upper arm to work.

Lake Marion today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Wylie

Lake Wylie spreads over some 13,400 acres. The fish here are largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and striped bass. The deepest water is around 82 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Lake Wylie today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Keowee

Lake Keowee covers some 18,500 acres. It lies about 26 miles east of Greenville. Expect largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and crappie. The deepest water is around 150 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Cools the Oconee Nuclear Station and is known for clean, clear water.

Lake Keowee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Wateree Lake

Wateree Lake spreads over some 13,900 acres. It lies near Great Falls. Expect largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass and crappie. The deepest water is around 64 ft. One of South Carolina's oldest man-made lakes, built for hydroelectric power on the Wateree River.

Wateree Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Moultrie

Lake Moultrie spreads over 60,000 acres of water. The lake is about 25 miles south of North Charleston. It is the Santee River behind Pinopolis Dam. Expect catfish and crappie. It goes down to about 75 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Part of the Santee Cooper lakes system together with Lake Marion, one of the largest reservoir complexes in the South.

Lake Moultrie today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake Jocassee

Lake Jocassee covers 7,500 acres. The lake is near Pickens. Jocassee Dam holds it on the Keowee River. It holds smallmouth bass, spotted bass and trout. The deepest water is around 326 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. One of the clearest and deepest lakes in the Southeast, set within Devils Fork State Park. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Lake Jocassee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Monticello Reservoir

Monticello Reservoir spreads over about 6,650 acres. The lake is about 9.3 miles south of Chapin. Expect catfish. At about 89 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. A cooling reservoir for the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, known for large catfish.

Monticello Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake Greenwood

Lake Greenwood covers 11,400 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Greenville (about 38 miles). Like most lakes its size in South Carolina, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 69 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lake Greenwood today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Parr Reservoir

Parr Reservoir is a reservoir of 4,400 acres of water. It lies within an easy drive of Columbia (about 25 miles). It holds catfish. On the 3-D map the bed has three steep ledges and an upper arm: good places to start.

Parr Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Fishing Creek Reservoir

At 3,430 acres, Fishing Creek Reservoir is a good-sized lake. You will find it near Great Falls. Like most lakes its size in South Carolina, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. A run-of-river Duke Energy reservoir on the Catawba River, part of an eleven-lake chain.

Fishing Creek Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Which lake for which fish

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

• Bass: Lake Hartwell, Lake Murray, Lake Marion and Lake Wylie
• Trout: Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee
• Crappie: Lake Hartwell, Lake Murray, Lake Marion and Lake Wylie
• Catfish: Lake Murray, Lake Marion, Lake Wylie and Lake Keowee

The fishing year

• Spring: largemouth bass are usually at their best. Prime time. Spawning in shallow coves and pockets.
• Summer: largemouth bass are usually fair. Hot water. Best at dawn, then they drop to deeper, cooler water.
• Fall: largemouth bass are usually at their best. Fall feed. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
• Winter: largemouth bass are usually fair. Cooling down. Try slow baits on points and deeper channel edges.

Before you go

Buy a South Carolina fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.