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Best channel catfish lakes in South Carolina

23 South Carolina waters hold channel catfish, 12 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Scent-driven bottom feeder. Holes, channels and inflows — best after dark.

1. Lake Marion — 77 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 39 public access sites
2. Lake Hartwell — 185 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 49 public access sites
3. Clarks Hill Lake — 180 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 39 public access sites
4. Lake Moultrie — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
5. Lake Murray — 200 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
6. Richard B. Russell Lake — 167 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 17 public access sites
7. Cape Fear River — Reach 1 of 2 — 52 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue CatfishWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
8. Stevens Creek Reservoir — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
9. Lake Greenwood — 80 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
10. Lake Wateree — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped BassWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
11. Lake Keowee — 300 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
12. Lake Wylie — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
13. Neal Shoals Reservoir — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
14. Lake Bowen — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
15. Great Pee Dee River — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
16. Wright River — 58 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
17. Monticello Reservoir — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
18. Congaree River — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped BassWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
19. Lake Robinson — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
20. Cape Fear River — Reach 2 of 2 — 56 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped BassWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
21. Cooper River — 55 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Northeast Cape Fear River — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue CatfishWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Shallotte River — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped BassWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

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When to fish channel catfish in South Carolina

• Spring 3–12 ft — Warm inflows and shallow mud flats after rain.
• Summer 8–25 ft — Deep holes by day; cats roam shallow flats to feed at night.
• Fall 10–30 ft — Fish concentrate in river/creek channels and deeper holes.
• Winter 20–40 ft — Stacked in the deepest holes; slow natural baits.

Also in South Carolina: best largemouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best striped bass lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best white perch lakes

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