Lake Moultrie, man-made reservoir in South Carolina, United States

Lake Moultrie is a reservoir in Berkeley County, South Carolina, formed by the Pinopolis Dam on a tributary created when the Santee River was dammed at Lake Marion. It covers about 60,000 acres, fed through Lake Marion and a diversion canal. Its shallows hold tree stumps and living cypress trees, while broad open water reaches a level horizon; bare trees rise from the water near the shore.

Lake Moultrie was created in the early 1940s by the South Carolina Public Service Authority, which built Pinopolis Dam as part of a flood control and hydroelectric project. The dam did not block the Cooper River itself but a tributary formed when the Santee River was dammed at Lake Marion. The reservoir was named for Governor William Moultrie.

The lake is named after William Moultrie, an 18th-century American military officer. Today, locals use this water for fishing and boating, showing how the place has become woven into the rhythm of daily life in the region.

The best time to explore is on a cool day, especially early morning when the sun is not too strong. Several boat ramps like the Amos Lee Gourdine Boat Ramp serve as good starting points to navigate the waterways and shallow areas.

Lake Moultrie holds the world record for channel catfish: a 58 lb (26 kg) specimen was caught here. It also holds the South Carolina state record for black crappie at 5 lbs. The lake does not freeze over in winter, so fishing continues year-round.