How to use our fishing calendar
Planning your next fishing trip in Columbia, United States ? Today is a average day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...
- Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
- Use the forecast calendar section to sync bite times with major weather changes.
- Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
- Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.
Fishing in Columbia, South Carolina centers on the Broad, Saluda, and Congaree rivers, plus nearby Lake Murray, giving anglers year-round access to bass, catfish, striped bass, crappie, and more. From urban river shoals to deep impoundment ledges, the Columbia area offers diverse freshwater fishing opportunities for bank and boat anglers alike. read more...
Sun and Moon Times
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Nautical Twilight begins:Sunrise:
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Sunset:Nautical Twilight ends:
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Moonrise:
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Moonset:
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Moon over:
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Moon under:
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Visibility:95%
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Waxing Gibbous
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Distance to earth:405,140 kmProximity:1.3 %
Moon Phases for Columbia
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average Day
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minor Time:02:58 am - 04:58 am
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major Time:10:34 am - 12:34 pm
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minor Time:06:11 pm - 08:11 pm
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major Time:11:01 pm - 01:01 am
Current Fishing Weather
Wind Speed and Direction
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction and Speed are one of the most important aspects for choosing a fishing spot. An offshore wind can help land-based anglers with longer casting distances, while an onshore wind will make kayak fishing safer. Often fish will also move to certain feeding areas depending on the wind direction. Check out the long term wind forecast at the charts below.
Fishing Barometer
Atmospheric Pressure:
Change since midnight:
Trend for next 6 hours:
Atmospheric or Barometric Pressure affects fish activity. The best fishing can be had on a rising barometer and also the time just before it is falling. A steady barometer in the higher ranges can also mean good fishing. A falling or low barometer reading without much change is usually not a very good time for fishing.
UV Effect on Fishing
As a rule of thumb, the higher the UV index, the deeper fish will move. Shallow water fishing is best done at times with a low UV index. When the UV is high, stick to early mornings, late evenings and shaded areas. The effect is less noticable in deeper water, but often a higher UV index can produce good results in the deep.
7 Day Fishing Weather
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Fishing Overview Columbia
Fishing in Columbia, SC is defined by current, rock, and deep impoundment water. The Saluda, Broad, and Congaree rivers slice right through town, while nearby Lake Murray is the primary big-water destination. Together they offer consistent action for bass, stripe, crappie, and catfish with tactics that change as river flows and water temperatures shift.
Seasonal patterns around Columbia hinge on water temperature and generation schedules from Lake Murray Dam. In late winter and early spring, prespawn largemouth and spotted bass stage on river channel swings, riprap, and rocky points below the dam and on the middle to lower end of Lake Murray. Crappie stack on brush piles and bridge pilings in 12–20 feet. As water warms into the 60s, bass push shallow to wood, docks, and grass pockets in creek arms, while striped bass run up the rivers and concentrate below current breaks and shoals.
Through summer, river stretches like the Lower Saluda and Congaree shine because cooler, oxygenated water keeps fish active. Bass and stripers set up behind rocks and in eddies where they ambush bait. Night fishing becomes productive on Lake Murray: blue and channel catfish feed along points and humps, and stripers school over open-water bait balls. In fall, shad migrations trigger schooling action; expect surface-feeding stripers and spotted bass around main-lake points and deep flats, especially early and late. Winter pushes fish deeper, concentrating them on ledges, bluff walls, and deep brush, making it a prime time for vertical presentations.
Key habitats include rocky shoals and seams in the rivers, dock lines and brush piles in Lake Murray’s creeks, and mid-lake humps and long tapering points. In the Broad and Congaree, focus on current breaks: the downstream side of big boulders, wing dams, and tree laydowns. In Lake Murray, man-made brush, standing timber, and deep docks produce year-round if you adjust depth to the season.
Common techniques are straightforward but reward precision. For bass in rivers, 3–4 inch soft-plastic swimbaits, flukes, and finesse jigs worked through seams and eddies are reliable. In Lake Murray, crankbaits and Carolina rigs probe points and ledges, while wacky worms and shaky heads excel around docks. Striped bass respond to live blueback herring and threadfin shad on downlines or freelines, as well as bucktail jigs and spoons when they’re schooling.
For catfish, anchor or slow-drift cut shad, herring, or bream across channel edges and flats, especially at night. In the rivers, target deeper outside bends and scour holes behind rock bars. Crappie anglers should concentrate on marked brush piles, bridge pilings, and deep docks, using live minnows or small jigs under slip floats, adjusting depth until they find suspended schools.
Tactical tips: In moving water, cast upstream of targets so baits sweep naturally with the current. Light fluorocarbon leaders help in clear flows below the dam, while heavier abrasion-resistant line is smart around rocks and timber. Keep a topwater plug rigged during low-light periods on both the rivers and Lake Murray; schooling fish can erupt without warning, and a fast, accurate cast often makes the difference between watching the frenzy and capitalizing on it.
Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Columbia area
We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Columbia. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.
Columbia Power Plant Dam - 1.90136720508km , Broad River - 2.50024251993km , Saluda River - 2.53229101662km , Orphanage Branch - 4.64454490835km , Columbia Water Reservoir Dam - 4.94936146178km , South Carolina Noname 32043 D-0984 Dam - 5.22900563215km , Crane Creek - 5.64493424588km , Senn Branch - 6.11784546536km , Shimmys Pond - 6.12458879219km , Lake Katherine Dam - 6.54810653869km , Alcorn Dam D-0244 - 6.59504134633km , Eightmile Branch - 6.86740833084km , Forest Lake Dam - 7.0804989143km , Quail Hollow Lake Number One Dam D-4009 - 7.60390258259km , Stoop Creek - 7.7200050091km , Quail Hollow Lake Number Two Dam D-4010 - 8.05357517521km , Coopers Pond Dam - 8.42180022769km , Savana Branch - 8.57333827383km , Semmes Lake Dam - Fort Jackson - 8.63279368923km , Burnside Lake Dam - 8.73433922312km , Arcadia Woods Lake Dam - 8.83604656044km , South Carolina Noname 40026 Dam - 8.95558120192km , Congaree Creek - 9.31543787545km , South Carolina Noname 40049 D-0551 Dam - 9.34254141655km , Hogobook Swamp - 9.38649096644km , South Carolina Noname 40092 D-0542 Dam - 9.47720059598km , Upper Legion Lake Dam - Fort Jackson - 9.5214985543km , South Carolina Noname 40027 Dam - 9.57615628657km , Alligator Lake - 9.64735211712km , Lincolnshire Community Lake D-0544 Dam - 9.73805875355km , Boyden Arbor Dam - Fort Jackson - 9.84639321146km , Boatrights Island - 9.87868773895km , Burnsides Pond D-0576 Dam - 10.09045724029km , Little Jackson Creek - 10.27467880423km , Stanley Pond - 10.27971158444km , South Carolina Noname 40005 Dam - 10.87409254509km , Kinley Creek - 10.91096003589km , Slatestone Creek - 11.12002280077km , Springwood Lake D-0558 Dam - 11.18290187011km , South Carolina Noname 32015 D-1719 Dam - 11.36383562747km
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