Monticello Reservoir Depth Map & Fishing Spots (SC)

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Lake depth chart

Monticello Reservoir, SC

Max 60 ft

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Where to start

Fall shad migration window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Fall shad migrationActive window

Typical here: Sep 1 – Dec 15 · upper ends and stained creeks turn on first, the main lake follows; Deep-South creeks hold bait into December

adultall day, best mid-afternoon as the sun warms the bait — the rare pattern where you can sleep in — follow the bait, not the structure: gulls, herons and egrets diving or stacked in a creek mean the shad (and the bass) are there — run and gun until you find flickering bait or surface activity

Concentrates hard but unevenly — whole stretches go empty while one creek loads up. The birds are the map.

Creek-arm run-and-gun: lipless crankbait and squarebill through the flats and ditches, walking topwater over surface schools, a 3/8 oz spinnerbait around isolated cover along the creek channel. Downsize to match the young-of-year shad; jerkbaits are the sleeper.

The event happens over backs of creek arms, pockets and ditches, secondary points on the way in, and main-lake flats where the bait balls roam

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

Next on this water

Spring crawfish emergence · forageFeb 15 – May 15 · in ~4 months

Shad spawn · baitfishMar 15 – Jun 15 · in ~5 months

Bluegill spawn (bream-bed bass) · forageMay 1 – Jul 31 · in ~7 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

Depth · ft

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Recent catches at Monticello Reservoir

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Fishing Monticello Reservoir: what the data says

6,800-acre reservoir near Jenkinsville. A clear, warm power-plant reservoir near Columbia. Grass, rock and a year-round bass and striper bite. The lake tops out around 60 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.

Traced from the shoreline, Monticello Reservoir runs 6,276 acres with 43.6 miles of edge — 9 islands included. The 3.9 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 50% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 6 mi of water from one end to the other, 2.9 mi at the beam. The water lies in Fairfield County. For a second option, Lake Murray lies 19 mi southwest.

Largemouth Bass fishing at Monticello Reservoir

Spring puts largemouth bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Spring largemouth bass concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 6 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	dawn & dusk	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Spinnerbait, Chatterbait
Summer	8 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Sharp break (7 ft)	Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait
Fall	4 to 15 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (15 ft)	Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait
Winter	15 to 35 ft	midday	Break off the point (27 ft)	Blade bait, Jigging spoon

Striped Bass fishing at Monticello Reservoir

Early season striped bass use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 50 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 51 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	5 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (15 ft)	3-5 inch baitfish swimbait, Suspending minnow plug
Summer	25 to 60 ft	dawn & dusk	Deep basin (51 ft)	Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig
Fall	10 to 35 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (15 ft)	Baitfish swimbait, Metal jig
Winter	20 to 50 ft	midday	Deep basin (51 ft)	Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom

Crappie fishing at Monticello Reservoir

In spring, crappie run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring crappie. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub
Summer	10 to 25 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (27 ft)	Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled)
Fall	8 to 20 ft	dawn	Sharp break (7 ft)	Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2")
Winter	15 to 35 ft	midday	Break off the point (27 ft)	Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon

Bluegill fishing at Monticello Reservoir

Start shallow in spring: bluegill sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for bluegill in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig until the fish tell you otherwise.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 6 ft	midday & dusk	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings)
Summer	4 to 15 ft	dawn & dusk	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig
Fall	6 to 18 ft	midday	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped
Winter	10 to 25 ft	midday	Break off the point (27 ft)	Tiny spoon

Channel Catfish fishing at Monticello Reservoir

Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 25 ft, wintering in 20 to 40 ft. Fall channel catfish concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 27 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dusk	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)
Summer	8 to 25 ft	night & dusk	Sharp break (7 ft)
Fall	10 to 30 ft	dusk	Break off the point (27 ft)
Winter	20 to 40 ft	midday	Break off the point (27 ft)

Blue Catfish fishing at Monticello Reservoir

When the water first warms, blue catfish slide up into 5 to 25 ft. Summer is a 10 to 40 ft game here, winter a 20 to 50 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 51 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 25 ft	dusk	Sharp break (7 ft)
Summer	10 to 40 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (27 ft)
Fall	15 to 45 ft	dusk	Break off the point (27 ft)
Winter	20 to 50 ft	midday	Deep basin (51 ft)

Monticello Reservoir also holds redbreast sunfish (2 to 12 ft in summer), redear sunfish (4 to 18 ft in summer), white bass (8 to 25 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.

Notable structure

Structure-wise the chart holds 10 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 51 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 51 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 27 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 15 ft
Secondary point: point, around 15 ft
Sharp break: drop-off, around 7 ft
Rock reef: rock pile, around 7 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Sharp break: drop-off, around 4 ft
Shoreline point: point, around 4 ft

Monticello Reservoir fishing regulations

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 Monticello Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official South Carolina fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Monticello Reservoir?

Monticello Reservoir is about 60 ft (18 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.

What fish are in Monticello Reservoir?

Anglers target largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, white bass on Monticello Reservoir.

Where is the best fishing spot on Monticello Reservoir?

Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Monticello Reservoir?

For largemouth 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.

What are the fishing regulations for Monticello Reservoir?

Fishing on Monticello Reservoir 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.

Nearby waters

Lake Murray 19 mi · Saluda River (Lower) 24 mi · Lake Wateree 27 mi · Neal Shoals Reservoir 28 mi · Congaree River 40 mi · Lake Greenwood 42 mi · Lake Wylie 57 mi, NC/SC · Lake Robinson 66 mi · Lake Bowen 68 mi · Stevens Creek Reservoir 68 mi, SC/GA · Clarks Hill Lake 73 mi, GA/SC · Mountain Island Lake 74 mi, NC

See how Monticello Reservoir stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in South Carolina · best crappie lakes in South Carolina · best bluegill lakes in South Carolina · best channel catfish lakes in South Carolina

Browse all South Carolina fishing maps. 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.