In January, the water temperatures on Lake Murray are usually at their coldest, and fish should be strong in their winter patterns. With the lake down this year, unlike the past few years, fish have congregated, and tournament weights have been strong resulting in fish over 7 pounds being caught on a regular basis. Focus should be on the main flow areas of the lake, around the mouths of creek arms and on both primary and secondary points, as well as steep banks, primarily on rock and hard-bottom areas.
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 positioned in the last deep water. This can be relative to the area. It could be the last deep bank of a creek channel bend that is 3 to 6 feet, with a 2-foot flat surrounding it, or it can be the end of a point that drops into a ditch or creek channel in front of a spawning bay. Typically, fish will be holding relatively close to deep water in 10 feet or more. Try using slower techniques with crayfish and shad mimicking baits. Good lures of choice are spinnerbaits, flat-sided crankbaits, jigs, soft plastics creature baits, tubes and beaver type baits and finesse worms in a natural or green pumpkin color. Target moving baits during cloudy or windy conditions, switching to slower moving baits as the day gets brighter and the wind lessens. 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 during times with no wind. In windy conditions, focus on suspending and moving baits like the IMA Flit and Ima Pinjack 200 on points and jigging spoons on the sides and ends of points. Key areas are those holding blueback herring shallower and white perch deeper. Be sure to key on the sides of flatter points with hard bottoms where there may be a drop or an ambush area. These points are typically marked with a hazard marker buoy warning boaters.
In January, the bass are in full swing of their winter patterns and starting to venture into their pre-spawn patterns by the end of the month. This is a great month to catch fish in predictable areas, as they can be easy to pattern with good electronics. Bass will be in the backs of creeks and pockets holding on the last deep water area, around rocks and docks, and set up well in deeper 25- to 40-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 still be as shallow as a couple feet, as long as there is a creek channel or deep water nearby. Be sure to focus on areas with bait and hard bottom areas. Down the lake where bass are set up deep, they will either be feeding on blueback herring, white perch or crayfish, and will typically be positioned on long tapering points adjacent to spawning coves. This time of year is a great time to utilize your electronics and spend time idling looking for key sweet spots in the form of rock piles or brush piles.
A great way to get instruction on electronics, 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 familiar with multiple techniques, and I would love to share my knowledge with you and enjoy a day of fishing.
Michael Murphy
Michael@MichaelMurphyFishing.com
