What is the deepest lake in South Carolina?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Lake Jocassee is the deepest at about 326 ft.

Deepest lakes in South Carolina: 10 lakes ranked by depth

Which lakes in South Carolina go deepest? These 10 have a published maximum depth, from Lake Jocassee at about 326 ft down.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Lake Jocassee	about 326 ft	7,500 acres
2	Lake Murray	about 190 ft	50,000 acres
3	Lake Hartwell	about 185 ft	56,000 acres
4	Lake Keowee	about 150 ft	18,500 acres
5	Monticello Reservoir	about 89 ft	about 6,650 acres
6	Lake Wylie	about 82 ft	13,400 acres
7	Lake Marion	about 77 ft	110,000 acres
8	Lake Moultrie	about 75 ft	60,000 acres
9	Lake Greenwood	about 69 ft	11,400 acres
10	Wateree Lake	about 64 ft	13,900 acres

1. Lake Jocassee

Lake Jocassee covers some 7,500 acres. It lies near Pickens. Smallmouth bass, spotted bass and trout are the draw. At about 326 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. One of the clearest and deepest lakes in the Southeast, set within Devils Fork State Park. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

Lake Jocassee 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. It holds striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. At about 190 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.

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

3. Lake Hartwell

Lake Hartwell spreads over 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

4. Lake Keowee

Lake Keowee spreads over some 18,500 acres. It lies about 26 miles east of Greenville. The fish here are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and crappie. At about 150 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.

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

5. Monticello Reservoir

Monticello Reservoir covers about 6,650 acres. The lake is about 25 miles southeast of Columbia. The fish here are catfish. At about 89 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

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

6. Lake Wylie

At 13,400 acres, Lake Wylie is a big lake. The fish here are largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and striped bass. It goes down to about 82 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

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

7. Lake Marion

At 110,000 acres, Lake Marion is a huge piece of water. It holds catfish, striped bass, largemouth bass and crappie. It goes down to about 77 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has two point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.

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

8. Lake Moultrie

Lake Moultrie spreads over some 60,000 acres. You will find it about 25 miles south of North Charleston. It is the Santee River behind Pinopolis Dam. The fish here are catfish and crappie. The deepest water is around 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

9. Lake Greenwood

At 11,400 acres of water, Lake Greenwood is a big lake. It lies within an easy drive of Greenville (about 38 miles). It is the Saluda River behind Buzzards Roost Dam. The usual South Carolina mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. It goes down to about 69 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. A Depression-era hydroelectric reservoir on the Saluda River whose outflow continues on to Lake Murray.

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

10. Wateree Lake

Wateree Lake covers some 13,900 acres. The lake is near Great Falls. The fish here are largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass and crappie. The deepest water is around 64 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. 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

The clearest of them

Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee are known for clear water. On a clear lake fish see a long way: lighter line, natural colours and longer casts make the difference.

Fishing deep water

In summer a deep lake splits into a warm top layer and a cold bottom; fish hold near the line between them, often 20 to 40 ft down. A depth finder, a slow troll or a jig dropped straight down finds them.