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Columbia fall line to Congaree National Park: stripers, big blues and flatheads. The river tops out around 20 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The drawn water covers 1,899 acres wrapped in 66.6 miles of bank. An index of 10.9 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 69% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 21.8 mi with a 5.5-mi widest point. Richland County claims this one. If the bite dies, Saluda River (Lower) is 16 mi to the northwest.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: striped bass in 5 to 20 ft. The depth story barely changes: 6 to 20 ft through summer, 6 to 20 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Batesburg Reservoir Dam D-0928 tailrace, a dam tailrace in the 17 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Batesburg Reservoir Dam D-0928 tailrace (17 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Batesburg Reservoir Dam D-0928 tailrace (17 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Batesburg Reservoir Dam D-0928 tailrace (17 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Batesburg Reservoir Dam D-0928 tailrace (17 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
In spring, blue catfish run shallow here, mostly 4 to 20 ft. Summer keeps them at 5 to 20 ft, and they winter in 6 to 20 ft. Spring blue catfish concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5), a prime-rated creek channel around 15 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 20 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5) (15 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5) (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5) (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Batesburg Reservoir Dam D-0928 tailrace (17 ft) |
When the water first warms, flathead catfish slide up into 5 to 20 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 5 to 20 ft, winter 6 to 20 ft. Start at Tailout eddy (mile 8.7). It's an eddy pocket holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 8.7) (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 8.7) (11 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 8.7) (11 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 8.7) (11 ft) |
Come spring, look for channel catfish tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5). It's a creek channel holding about 15 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 8.7) (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5) (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5) (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5) (15 ft) |
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Start at Congaree NP cypress sloughs. It's a standing timber / brush holding about 4 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Congaree NP cypress sloughs (4 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 5.0) (11 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5) (15 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5) (15 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, longnose gar slide up into 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 1 to 12 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5). It's a creek channel holding about 15 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run midday and the evening. Keep a rope lure or a small white spinner rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | Congaree NP cypress sloughs (4 ft) | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | Congaree NP cypress sloughs (4 ft) | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 10.5) (15 ft) | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 8.7) (11 ft) |
Congaree River also holds crappie (6 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
18 pieces of structure are mapped here — Batesburg Reservoir Dam D-0928 tailrace, around 17 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for South Carolina waters are set by the South Carolina DNR — and special regulations can apply to Congaree River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official South Carolina fishing regulations →
Congaree River is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target striped bass, blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, largemouth bass, longnose gar, crappie on Congaree River.
Batesburg Reservoir Dam D-0928 tailrace is the top-rated area: a dam tailrace in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Congaree River is regulated by the South Carolina DNR. Check the official South Carolina regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Saluda River (Lower) 16 mi · Lake Murray 34 mi · Lake Wateree 39 mi · Monticello Reservoir 40 mi · Lake Marion 40 mi · Lake Robinson 58 mi · Lake Moultrie 62 mi · Neal Shoals Reservoir 67 mi · Lake Greenwood 70 mi · Stevens Creek Reservoir 72 mi, SC/GA · Cooper River 86 mi · Clarks Hill Lake 87 mi, GA/SC
See how Congaree River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in South Carolina · best crappie lakes in South Carolina · best channel catfish lakes in South Carolina · best striped bass lakes in South Carolina
Browse all South Carolina fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.