Both day and night fishing can be productive on this lake, with many anglers giving the nocturnal fishing the nod simply because there is usually less boating traffic then, especially during the weekends of the summer months. The effect of humans is a factor that must be considered by anglers when looking for catfish (or any species) on Lake Murray.

No roundup of top catfish waters would be complete without at least one South Carolina river included among them. There are numerous rivers that produce excellent catfishing throughout the summer and fall; however, the Great Pee Dee River is certainly one that is often overlooked. While not known as widely for catfishing as the Santee and Congaree rivers, this river does harbor some excellent catfishing. According to SCDNR fisheries biologists, the Pee Dee has an excellent mix of catfish species, and the flathead catfish are found in good numbers and the trend seems to be one of increasing numbers.

Anytime anglers find a species of fish that's expanding in numbers, it offers a good opportunity for fishing success. There are many tributary creeks that enter this river and one area to key your efforts is at the junction of these feeder creeks with the main river. After a summer thundershower, these smaller creeks will wash/push forage into these areas, making it a perfect situation for a big flathead to feast. If you're interested in hooking into these finned freight trains, anywhere a flathead is feeding is where you want to be.

Among top places to find catfish in the Great Pee Dee are the eddy areas where small creeks enter the river, deep holes, sandbars, points of islands and the downstream area from fallen trees in the river. These trees create a current change to which the fish can relate and offer excellent spots to catch catfish.

The catfishing on the Great Pee Dee River is good throughout the summer and fall as a rule and both day and night fishing are productive. However, unless you simply prefer fishing at night, you can usually catch all the fish you care to clean during the day.

Possibly the most famous lake for catfishing in the state would be Santee Cooper, consisting of lakes Marion and Moultrie. The lakes produce outstanding fishing for flatheads, channel and blue catfish and the fishing for catfish is literally a year-round proposition at this huge body of water.

During the late spring and early summer, numerous catfish will be taken in fairly shallow water. Both blues and channels will roam the edges adjacent to shallow flats, foraging on a variety of foods and are susceptible to offerings of shad minnows, cut herring and stink baits, as well as minnows, worms and other natural offerings. This is an outstanding time to literally catch a cooler full of fish from one spot. Again, not just any shallow-water spot will do. With the huge expanses of shallow flats located on this lake, it's necessary to orient your fishing efforts to shallow flats near deeper drops. The fish very well may be in the shallows, but they generally require that deep-water access be present nearby.