by Michael Murphy
In November, the water temperatures should be pretty well cooled off and the leaves changing with the season. As the length of day continues to become much shorter, fish will be in full swing of their fall patterns. Better yet, SCE&G has announced that they will be pulling the water down 8 feet by the end of the month, which has not been done on Lake Murray since 2006. Consequently, fishing will pick up lake wide with the increased current flow in the lake.
Focus should be on the main flow of the lake, around the mouths of creek arms and on both primary and secondary points, as well as steep banks, focusing on rock and hard bottom areas. Schooling fish will still be in the same areas but may not be as visible and should be fished using subsurface techniques, especially from Dreher Island to the dam and around the mouths of the major creeks. Shallow patterns will be in full fall swing with shallow resident fish much more active than prior months, especially on the upper end of the lake and in the backs of the creeks.
On the upper reaches of the lake (from Dreher Island up river), and in the backs of main lake coves, where the water has more color, look for fish to be shallow. Techniques of choice will be slower techniques with crayfish and shad mimicking baits. Good lure choices include spinnerbaits, crankbaits, umbrella rigs, jigs, soft plastics and finesse worms, such as the Reins Swamp Mover, creature baits, tubes and beaver type baits in a natural or green pumpkin color. Use moving baits during cloudy or windy conditions, switching to slower moving baits as the day gets brighter and the wind lies down. Be sure to key on areas with rock or a hard bottom, as well as docks built on black floats.
On the lower end of the lake (from Dreher Island to the Dam), focus on slower moving bottom baits, such as a jig, shakey head, or a dropshot in a watermelon or green pumpkin color, especially when there is no wind. For windy conditions, focus on suspending and moving baits like the IMA Flit, Ima Pinjack 200, Ima Beast Hunter and Strike King 5XD and 6XD. At times, there will still be schooling fish, especially at the beginning of the month. During these times, focus on walking topwaters, like the IMA Skimmer with a foil color and flash during sunny conditions and a non-flash color during cloudy conditions like a bone or ghost minnow; wakebaits like an IMA Bone Floating Flit; swimbaits like the Optimum Opti Shad; and soft jerkbaits, like the Zoom Super Fluke or Optimum Victory tail in a chrome or sexy shad color, especially if there is wind and during lowlight conditions. Don’t be afraid to throw the large 8-inch Optimum Victory tail, as this has been catching above average fish. Rig it on either a 5/0 or 6/0 ewg hook with a jerk-pause retrieve or on a ¾ ounce Scrounger with a constant retrieve. Be sure to key on the sides of flatter points with hard bottoms where there may be a drop or an ambush area. Points with these characteristics are typically marked with a hazard marker buoy warning boaters.
November is when the bass are in full swing of their fall patterns and active in all water columns of the lake. This is a great month to catch fish just about any way you would like. Bass will be shallow on points, in the backs of creeks and pockets, and starting to show up in deeper 25- to 35-foot areas off of points toward the end of the month. Up the river and in the backs of creeks and coves, where resident fish are more prevalent, fish could be as shallow as six inches, so be sure to focus on areas with bait and hard bottom areas. Down the lake where bass are feeding on blueback herring, they will be positioned shallow on long tapering points or in adjacent coves. Fish should be grouped up and ready to bite when you find them. Be patient and open-minded, have several lure options on your boat deck, and be willing to cover water.
A great way to enjoy the outdoors and do a little fishing is to book a trip with one of the Lake Murray area guides. I am a certified Fisheries Biologist, have fished fulltime and competitively for over eight years across the country on both the BASS and FLW trails, and have a lifetime of fishing experience. I am well-versed in multiple techniques of your choice and would love to share my knowledge with you on the water and enjoy a day of fishing.
Michael Murphy
www.MichaelMurphyFishing.com
Michael@MichaelMurphyFishing.com
