Columbia is growing with new development and has much to offer -- Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens (one of America's
top zoos); beautiful Lake Murray; arts and entertainment, sports and recreation, and great city, county, state and regional
parks. The Columbia area is also convenient to major tourist destinations in South Carolina -- Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Hilton
Head Island and the mountains of the upstate.
LAKE MURRAY was constructed between 1927
and 1930. The Dreher Shoals Dam formed a 48,000 acre lake in the heart of South Carolina and only a short drive from downtown
Columbia. The lake covers an area of 78 square miles with 649 miles of shoreline. The waters of the Saluda River that feed
Lake Murray supply energy to the Saluda Hydroelectric Plant turbines and cooling water to the McMeekin Steam Generating Plant.
Both plants are owned by South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G). When completed, Lake Murray was the largest
power reservoir and Dreher Shoals Dam the largest earthen dam in the world. SCE&G also owns the lake and is responsible
for all lake management policies.
Today, Lake Murray stills supplies electric power,
is the major source of drinking water for the city of Columbia, and has become the water playground for the Midlands. The
Lake Murray adventure means boating, sailing, canoeing, fishing, skiing, swimming, camping and just plain fun at one of the
South's most scenic playgrounds.
The PDQ / Tackle Shack
U.S. Highway 76 at
Wessinger Road; Hilton
Gas; Restaurant; Bait & Tackle; live herring
Telephone: (803) 345-2556
Join Me Fishing.com - Website designed to make chartered fishing trips more affordable by "hooking up"
individuals and small groups to split the cost of the trip so we can all get out and fish more.
Lighthouse Marina
1925 Johnson's Marina Road; Chapin
Full-service marina &
boat dealer
Telephone: (803) 749-2494
DP Marine
2150 Wessinger Road; Chapin
Boat/Motor Repair & Service
New Ponton Rentals
Telephone: (803) 345-0155
Boating
at Lake Murray...
Lake Murray is BIG -- About 41 miles long and 14 miles wide at its widest
point. Plenty of room for fishing, boating and water skiing.
Safe boating reminders: Lookout
for other boaters, skiers, swimmers and jet skiers * Use caution at night and be sure to use boat running lights when necessary
and required * Be aware of overhead power lines that cross the water at certain locations * Don't drink and drive * Carry
necessary safety equipment * Carry life preservers * Observe depth markers (avoid rough water and shallow water) * Check the
weather forecast before you get on the water
SCE&G Lake Murray Hotline:
1-800-830-LAKE
This hotline has the current Lake
Murray water level and weather forecast.
Fishing at Lake
Murray...
BREAKING NEWS!
Lake Murray has been chosen as the site of the 2008 Wal-Mart
FLW Tour Forrest Wood Cup Championship. The winner of the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup became bass fishing's 1st One Million
Dollar champion! This prestigious championship is expected to generate up to $40 million for the Greater Columbia area economy.
The tournament will be August 14-17, 2008.
Fishing is GREAT at Lake Murray! The lake has
hosted numerous fishing tournaments. Although the lake is home to a large number of fish species, the most popular are: largemouth
bass, striped bass, bream and crappie.
Illustrations
by Duane Raver Jr., courtesy of Duane Raver Jr. and Maynard
Reese, courtesy of Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
All illustrations
copyrighted by the artists.
