Hello Everyone - Can someone who knows this lake give me some advice? Looking to plan a vacation to Lake Murray, SC this summer and hoping someone can give some info on the lake levels this year and if there are any gotchas or low areas to watch out for.

Any good restaurants? Also, trying to decide whether to bring a 39' Hustler or bring a 22' Regal open bow boat. What would be the better choice for this lake?


I would appreciate someone's experience with this. Thank you! Gary

I live 30 mins from there. Ummmm I don’t go there much cause it’s the “party” lake. But there’s a lot of bars and restaurants on the lake. Just gotta watch out for the drunks on the water. Low spots….im
sure there are some I just don’t go there enough to know exactly where they are at. But I haven’t heard of Murray being low this year. Last year towards the end of summer it was low. But should be good now.

I live on Lake Murray. Lake levels are normal right now and should be until ~October when they start lowering it. There are a few areas you have to watch out for and generally they are not marked all that well, typically just a bouy. If you don't have chart plotter, load Navionics on your phone and you'll be fine. Otherwise, if in doubt, swing out wide around the points and/or follow where others are going.

There are a couple of restaurants (I think this is a complete list for now):
- Catfish Johnny's / Rusty Anchor - same location, Catfish is an outdoor patio/bar area, simple bar food, usually have bands on weekends big hangout, dock space can be hard to come by. Rusty is the indoor sit-down restaurant, nicer menu - steaks, salad, etc., decent.
- Liberty on the Lake - decent place, indoor/outdoor seating, variety menu, food is generally ok, service hit or miss, docks are decent, but limited, no entertainment
- Nacho Margarita - mexican food, decent food, indoor/outdoor seating, small dock space, no entertainment
- San Jose - mexican, super small, not sure about docking
- Timberlake country club- limited public dock space, call restaurant and they send a golf cart down to pick you up as it's not right on the water.
- TB Shack - small bar on the lake, I think you need a "membership"; its been awhile since I've been there.
- Big Manns - bait shop / diner - good burgers
- The Cove (it should be open in the next week or so); went to the soft opening, higher end food, good. Limited dock space (right now ~8 spots)
- Fishermann's wharf - back off the lake a bit, bar type food as I recall, again limited docking.

This is generally a toon / center console / bow rider lake, but there are performance boats here. You will be able to stretch out the legs on the 39' for sure, but the 22' will work just fine too. Plan the trip to around June 21-22 and join the poker run. We usually have a good turnout and the 39' will fit right in and its a fun time!!

There are some raft-up / beach areas a lot of people go to....Sandy Beach (Bundrick Island) has a "party" side and a "family" side. Hurricane hole near Dreher Is. is a nice secluded cove that a lot hang out in that's good for rafting up with others.

Hope this helps.

RVander68 - Great! Thank you very much for that info. I appreciate it!

RVander68 covered it all! Bring your Hustler theres' plenty of room to stretch it legs. Look at the lake from a map taking note of the original river channel. We have had a lot of rain recently and the river channel might/will have debris. The DNR police are great. They don't hassle anyone especially the performance boaters. Enjoy!


Bob

More good info - Thanks Bob!

I live on the lake as well , I have a 388 Slingshot with almost identical paint scheme as yours . I think we have talked before and my wife made you a license plate but I could be mistaken . I would bring the 388 , I have boated on this lake all my life and it can get rough especially on weekends with boat traffic. It would be a shame to come and get beat up when you don't have to . The lake is beautiful and you will enjoy it and the area .