Learn how to catch more fish in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ocean City, Virginia, North Carolina, Outer Banks, South Carolina, Georgia, & Florida!

Check out the  South Carolina marine recreational fishing regulations.  Did you know you can purchase your fishing license online and print out a temporary license.  You license from the Department of Natural Resources will arrive in a few days, meanwhile you can take your printed copy and have a great time fishing.

       
  

South Carolina has a collection of man-made lakes covering over 110,000 acres of land in five South Carolina counties.  These lakes offer clear water fishing for recreational and professional anglers alike.

Broadway Lake is a 300 acre lake on Broadway Creek in Anderson County.   It is popular for fishing varieties which include bass, crappie and catfish. It has one landing open to the public. 

Fishing Creek Reservoir known locally as "Nitrolee, is a 1,937 acre man-made lake along the Catawba River.  There is access through several public boat ramps.

Hartwell Lake a 56,000 acre lake on the Georgia border. The lake is formed by the Savannah, Seneca, Tugaloo, and Chauga Rivers. Access is provided by a number of public boat ramps, local parks, Sadlers Creek and Lake Hartwell State Recreation areas. I-85 crosses the lake near Clemson and Fair Play. Largemouth Bass: Bait: use buzz-baits and planer boards to get bait close to shore. Also try casting plastic purple worms. Striped and Hybrid Bass: Bait: (up the creeks) with live herring and large minnows also use down-rods in deep water around river channels 15 to 30 feet deep also try using umbrella rigs. Trolling activity has increased, try depths of 15 to 25 feet of water. Crappie: Bait:  try using small and medium minnows along with small crappie jigs in 15 to 20 of water over brush and structure. Catfish: Bait: use shrimp, chicken livers, cut herring, large shiners, and nightcrawlers on the bottom. Bream: Bait: try using redworms and crickets under boat docks and bridges.


J Strom Thurmond Lake Baker Creek State Park and Hickory Knob State Park are located on the shores of the lake. Thurmond Lake's 1200 miles of shoreline and 71,100 acres of water offer fishing for both the experienced and novice angular. Largemouth Bass: Bait: use Cleos. Striped and Hybrid Bass: Bait: use Roadrunners, spoons or Mr. Champ spoons. Crappie: Bait: around docks try using jigs and minnows. Catfish: Bait, use cut bait, night-crawlers and livers on the bottom. Bream: Bait: try using crickets, worms and popping bugs.  There are ample fishing piers and bank fishing areas available. 

Lake Bowen a 1,600 acre man-made lake formed from the Pacolet River and can be seen from I-26.  There is access through a public boat ramp and fishing pier.

Lake Brown a 100 acre fishing lake provided with access through public boat ramps and a fishing pier.

Lake Greenwood a 11,400 acre man-made lake with access accessible through public boat ramps, local parks, and Lake Greenwood State Park. Largemouth Bass: Bait: try crankbaits, jigs, plastic worms and lizards around points and brush piles in 12 to 15 feet of water. Stripers: Bait: consider using live bait, herring or shad 20 to 25 feet deep. Also casting spoons and bucktails to schools. Some stripers are being caught behind the dam. White Perch: Bait: try casting jigs and bucktails to schools. Crappie: Bait: use minnows and mini jigs in black and chartreuse over brush in 10 to 20 feet of water. Catfish: Bait: consider using cut bait and worms on the bottom. Bream: Bait:   try red worms along shore and docks.

Lake HB Robinson a 2,250 acre man-made lake on Black Creek with public accessible boat ramps and a fishing pier.

Lake Jocassee 7,565 acre man-made lake that has mostly undeveloped shores with views of surrounding waterfalls that spill into this in the South Carolina mountain lake. Look for a variety of fish in the clear, cold water. Largemouth Bass: Bait: try casting Carolina-rigged worms and jigging spoons.  Trout: Bait:  when fishing early morning consider using minnows and herring 30 feet and up. Also when trolling early morning and during the day try using Sutton spoons in water 40 feet and up. There have been reports of some night fishing activity producing catches on cut bait. Smallmouth Bass: Bait: try casting brown hair jigs or drifting live bait on rocky points and rocky banks. Crappie: Bait: try small minnows and jigs around brush piles. Catfish: Bait: consider using night-crawlers or cut bait on bottom. Bream: Bait: use red-worms around banks and brush.

Lake John a Robinson is a 2,250 acre man-made lake on the South Tyger River. Access is provided by a public boat ramp and fishing pier. Lake Juniper is a beautiful 300 acre man-made lake. For bream and shell cracker, look for deep holes and fish right on the bottom with live worms.Lake Keowee is a 18,372 acre man-made lake known for its mountainous surroundings. There are a variety of public boat ramps. Largemouth Bass: Bait: try drop-shot Carolina-rigged worms and doodling in green or red colors and jigging spoons in 30 to 50 feet of water off rocky points after mid-morning and in the mouths of creeks. Crappie: Bait: try small minnows and jigs in 10 to 15 feet of water around brush piles and bridge pilings. Catfish: Bait: consider using night-crawlers and cut bait on the bottom. Bream: Bait: try red-worms around brush piles and around stumps.
Lake Lyman  No Public Access

Lake Marion known for its record breaking catfish, is 110,000 acres and the largest lake in South Carolina. Public access is provided through several boat ramps.  Largemouth Bass: Bait:  consider using and bucktails and artificial worms while fishing along the banks and point early in the morning. Also try artificial worms in deep water. Striped Bass: Bait: use live shiner with down rods in 25 feet of water. White Perch: Bait:  try jigging off the bottom with Hopkins spoons. Crappie: Bait:  try using small and medium minnows over deep brush piles, bridge pilings and piers. Catfish: Bait:  use cut shad off the bottom in deep water. Bream and Shellcrackers: Bait: try using redworms and crickets in 4 to 8 feet of water.


Lake Monticello has picnic shelters, fishing, boat ramp and other water recreational activities. The smaller Monticello Recreation Lake is located north of the large body of water and is about 300 acres in size. This park area, open from sunrise to sunset two days a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays) also offers fishing.

Lake Moultrie a 60,000 acre man made lake with an extensive dike system, is known for large fish and abundant wildlife.  The lake is accessible to the public through boat ramps. Largemouth Bass: Bait:  Use spinnerbaits and Sammie lures. Striped Bass: try casting and trolling. Crappie: Bait: try using small to medium minnows and Beetlespins around fish attraction areas and brush piles. Catfish: Bait: try using cut shad, herring, menhaden, mullet, live large shiners and nightcrawlers 25 to 40 feet deep on bottom. Bream: Bait:  try using crickets, redworms, and small minnows around manmade fish attractors, crappie beds and around the dam grates at powerhouse. Shellcrackers: Bait:  try using redworms and green worms along the banks along river runs and points.

Lake Murray a 50,000-acre man-made lake located in the Midlands of South Carolina. It is known for striped bass fishing and summer water sports. Public access is through parks near the dam, public boat ramps and marinas, and Dreher Island State Park. Largemouth Bass: try using Texas and Carolina rig finesse baits with a shaky jig head on the edge of flooded grass and broom straw. Use spinner baits in the shallows, pig and jig around brush at 8 to 12 feet and flukes on points and spoons in 45 to 60 feet of water. Striped Bass catches in backs of creeks, Bait:  free lining herring and using plainer boards. There may be some schooling activity throughout the day from Shull Island to Rocky Creek. Good catches in schools Bait:  try casting double rigged buck tails and Ice Flies. Crappie: Bait: consider using jigs and small tuffies trolling the creek runs, at 4 to 15 feet, and in the upper part of the lake around the confluence of the little and big Saluda Rivers and Camp Barstow. Try medium minnows around brush piles, docks and around bridge pilings, at 6 to 18 feet. Some crappie are caught as deep as 45 feet in the creeks. White Perch: Bait: use jigging Flex-it spoons down 30 to 60 feet and try using small tuffies and red worms. Catfish: Bait: try cut herring and nightcrawlers on bottom. Bream: Bait: fish with redworms, baby nightcrawlers and crickets in 3 to 12 feet of water. Shellcrackers: Bait: use redworms and baby nightcrawlers in 4 to 15 feet around a flooded grass edge, rocks, stumps and other structures.

Lake Rabon is a 540 acre lake with public access through a boat ramp and fishing pier.Lake Russell is in the Piedmont area.  Largemouth Bass: Bait: try jigging in 40 feet of water. Also try channels and deep creeks using jigging spoons and deep-running crank baits. Yellow Perch: Bait: consider fishing deep with medium minnows and jigging spoons. Striped and Hybrid Bass: Bait: try early morning using bucktails, cut, live herring and jigs especially when water is running below the dam. White Bass: Bait: try bucktails, spinners and live bait below the dam. Crappie: Bait: consider using minnows and jigs around brush piles and bridges. Catfish: Bait:   consider using cut bait on the bottom. Bream: Bait: try using red wigglers and night-crawlers.

Lake Secession a 1,460 acre man-made lake is formed from the Rocky River and several creeks. The public can access the lake by using the boat ramp near SC Hwy 184.

Lake Wallace a 550 acre lake is known for great fishing. There are several boat ramps and fishing piers for the public.

Lake Warren a 200-acre man-made lake, has great fishing for catfish, bass and sunfish.  Public access is through Lake Warren State Park.  Fishing is also available from the banks. You can have a great view of alligators. 

Lake Wateree a 13,250 acre man-made lake known for crappie, bass, catfish and bream.  This is one of South Carolina's oldest man-made lakes. The 242 miles of shoreline encourages campers, fishermen and recreational boaters. Largemouth Bass: Bait: try fishing deep with Hopkins spoons or pig and jigs on structure such as humps and rises. Striped bass: Bait: try fishing with down-rods 14 feet deep with small shiners in 25-35 feet of water. White Bass: Bait: consider trolling shad-like baits or same as you would while striper fishing. Crappie: Bait: try trolling jigs, grubs and minnows 10 to 15 deep in creeks. Catfish: Bait: use live bait blues 15 to 25 feet in deep water. Bream: Bait: try red worms along the bank.

Lake Wylie the oldest lake on the Catawba, is a 12,455 acre man-made lake on the South Carolina/North Carolina border. The lake has 325 miles of shoreline and since portions of this lake lie in both North and South Carolina fishermen are advised to obtain proper licenses. Largemouth Bass: Bait: try casting with Carolina-rigged worms and plastic crawfish jigs. White Bass: Bait: below the dam use bucktails, jigs and spoons when water is running. Crappie: Bait: consider using small minnows and jigs around brush tops in a variety of depths. Catfish: Bait: try fishing on the bottom with a variety of baits. Shellcrackers: Bait: try using redworms and crickets on the bottom. Bream: Bait: consider using redworms and nightcrawlers from the bank.

Parr Reservoir a 4,400 man-made lake on the Broad River Public has access through two public boat ramps.

Russell Dam and Lake a 26,650-acre impoundment on the Savannah River perfect for all types of water sports.  There are 12 public access points on the South Carolina side of the lake (including Calhoun Falls State Park). Nearly 1,500 acres of the lake are flooded timber, an excellent habitat for largemouth bass, bream, crappie and catfish. 

Rocky Creek and Cedar Creek Reservoir also known as "Stumpy Pond, is a beautiful 800 acre man-made lake on the Catawba River. It is and is appreciated by anglers fishing from small boats and canoes.