Lake Monticello – designed for fishing

Lake Monticello is located near Columbia. It is owned by the same company, who also own and manage Lake Murray. The lake covers about 7000 acres and includes a 300 acre sub-impoundment area, designed for fishing.

About the Lake Monticello

This lake is located near Columbia (the state capital).  Monticello is owned and managed by the South Carolina Electric and Gas Company, who also own and manage Lake Murray, a 50,000 acre reservoir.  Lake Monticello covers about 7,000 acres.

The lake includes a 300 acre sub-impoundment area. That was designed for fishing, boating and swimming. Lake Monticello does not impound a river, but instead impounds a creek. It receives water from the Broad River. From Parr Reservoir, a nearby lake also owned by South Carolina Electric and Gas Company. Monticello is a great catfishing and crappie lake.

You must have a South Carolina fishing license to fish. You can find bait & tackle at Glenns Campground located near the lake.

Specifications

• Project Management:  SCE&G
• Major Highway Access:  SC Highways 99 * 215 *257
• Dam Completion: 1978
• Size: 7,100 Acres (including a 300 acre subimpoundment)
• Shoreline: 51 miles
• Full Pool Elevation:  425 Feet above MSL

Fish Species

• Largemouth Bass
• Catfish
• Sunfish

Lake House Rentals Available on Lake Moticello

Lake Monticello quick facts

Surface area	≈ 6,800 acres
Maximum depth	about 90 ft (deep holes to ~160 ft)
Type	pumped-storage & nuclear cooling reservoir
Connected to	Parr Reservoir (Broad River) via Fairfield Pumped Storage
Location	Fairfield County, near Jenkinsville

How deep and clear is Lake Monticello?

Lake Monticello is a deep, clear, purpose-built reservoir north of Jenkinsville in Fairfield County, created to serve the V.C. Summer nuclear station and the Fairfield Pumped Storage hydro project. It runs to about 90 feet over much of its body, with some holes reportedly deeper still, and its water is unusually clean and cool for the Midlands. One quirk to know before you go: the level can swing several feet in a single day as the pumped-storage station moves water back and forth with neighboring Parr Reservoir.

Fishing on Lake Monticello

Among South Carolina anglers, Monticello is a winter bass legend. The clear, deep water and abundant herring forage grow chunky largemouth and smallmouth bass, and the cold months — when many lakes go quiet — are when Monticello shines, giving up some genuine trophies to anglers fishing deep structure with finesse tactics. It is a comparatively small, busy lake, so weekday trips are the most pleasant.

Access

Most of the shoreline is utility land with little private development, which helps keep the water clean. Public access is by SCDNR boat ramps; there is no state-park campground on the lake itself, so most visitors stay near Winnsboro or pair a Monticello trip with nearby Lake Murray.

Explore more South Carolina lakes

• Lake Murray — the large recreation lake just south, near Columbia
• Lake Wateree — a shallow, catfish-rich lake east in the Midlands

Location

Lake Monticello on google maps

 

More photos of the Monticello Lake

 

Lake Monticello FAQ

How deep is Lake Monticello?

It runs to about 90 feet through much of the lake, with some holes reported deeper, making it one of the deeper, clearer lakes in the Midlands.

Why does Lake Monticello’s level change so much?

It is a pumped-storage reservoir: the Fairfield station moves water between Monticello and Parr Reservoir to generate power, so the level can rise and fall several feet in a day.

What is the fishing like at Lake Monticello?

It is famous for winter bass — clear, deep water and herring forage produce trophy largemouth and smallmouth, with the cold months being the prime time.

Is there camping at Lake Monticello?

There is no state-park campground on the lake; access is via SCDNR boat ramps, and most visitors stay near Winnsboro or combine it with Lake Murray.