Fishing is great outdoor pastime for those who love to spend their weekends relaxing. It is one of the few outdoor activities where you can just sit back, relax, and wait for the fish to take the bait.
Though we are mostly surrounded by rolling hills and mountains, great fishing can be had in the Upstate. There are many lakes in our area and these are great spots to enjoy fishing. If you’re ever looking for a good place to spend the weekend fishing in the Upstate, visit one of these fishing spots. Make sure you have a South Carolina fishing license for fishing any public lake in the state.
Saluda Lake – Greenville
Saluda Lake is a 331 acre reservoir located in Greenville SC. There is a bass tournament happening every week hosted by the original public ramp. There’s abundance of bass and there are also huge catfish. There’s a Bait & Tackle shop located on its shoreline. Public can access the two ramps and rent fishing boats and kayaks.
Lake Cooley – Inman
Lake Cooley is a 330 acre reservoir located in Inman SC. You will find a variety of fish including largemouth bass, catfish, black pass and crappie. There are boat ramp, fishing dock, large open-air pavilion, picnic shelters and tables, and public restrooms.
Boyd Mill Pond – Near Ware Shoals
Boyd Millpond is a small 184 acre lake located in Laurens County near Ware Shoals. Only smaller boats are allowed on this lake. The lake has variety of fish including bass, catfish, crappie, and bream. It is also said that Boy’s Mill Pond has a good population of over 6 pounds bass. Public can only access Boyd Mill Pond on a park located on Boyd’s Mill Pond Road just off of SC Highway 252.
Lake Pinnacle and Lake Oolenoy – Table Rock State Park
Lake Pinnacle is a 36 acre lake lying at the base of Table Rock Mountain. You can find trout and warmouth bass, bream, catfish and crappie on the lake. The place also offers amenities including boat and canoe rentals, picnic shelters, swimming and camping areas, and restrooms.
Lake Oolenoy covers 67 acres. It has a large fishing pier which is handicapped accessible. Fish in this lake included catfish, largemouth bass, and bream. The state park is located off of state Highway 11 in the upstate of South Carolina.
Lake Placid – Paris Mountain State Park
Lake Placid is a 13 acre lake located in Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville SC. The place offers many amenities including campsites, bank fishing, picnic areas, hiking trails, swimming areas, and playground. You can find bass, crappie and bream in this lake. There is a $2 park fee to enter Lake Placid. Paris Mountain State Park is located on 2401 State Park Road, Greenville SC.
Lake Cunningham – Greer
Lake Cunningham is 376 acre lake. it is located north of Greer on State Highway 101. Facilities on the lake include boat ramp, fishing pier, and picnic shelters. Greer Public Works regulates the lake with strict regulations including boating permit prior to launching a boat, no fishing around the dam area, and creel limits.
Lake Craig – Croft State Park
Lake Tom Moore Craig is a 150 acre impoundment on Kelsey Creek in Croft State Park in Spartanburg. The lake is great for largemouth bass and crappie fishing however the lake implements regulations on the lake including limits on the length of fish you can keep and the amount of fish, outboard motor are not allowed either. The park amenities include campsites, boat rentals, equestrian facilities, nature trails, tennis courts and pool. Croft State Park is located at 450 Croft State Park Road.
Lake Secession – Abbeville County
This is a 1,460 acrea lake located in Abbeville County. Lake Secession has one double boat ramp located on Highway 184 near IVA South Carolina.
Broadway Lake – Anderson County
Broadway is a small 300 Acre lake located in Anderson County. There is a boat launching facility with two launching ramps off of highway 184. There is no charge for the boat ramp and no boat motor restrictions on this lake. Large crappie, bass, stripers, catfish, and white bass are found on the lake that makes it a great fishing location.
Lake Thicketty – Cherokee County
Thicketty is a small 100 acre lake located in Cherokee County, it is managed by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. This lake is great for fishing. There is one boat ramp and plenty of available space to fish from the bank. The lake is abundant with crappie, catfish, and largemouth bass.
Lake Bowen – Spartanburg
Lake Bowen is a 1,534 acre reservoir that impounds the South Pacelot River in Spartanburg. The lake is regulated by the Spartanburg Water System. There are fees and restrictions on this lake so be sure to check them out before visiting.
Lake Oak Grove – Greenville
Lake Oak Grove is a 18 acres lake located in the Oak Grove community. It is managed by Greenville County Recreation. Fishing is allowed on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. There are fishing limits and catch and release fishing is encouraged.
Lake Tugalo – Sumter National Forest
Lake Tugalo is a mountain lake located in the upstate of South Carolina and Georgia. On the South Carolina side, the surrounding land is part of the Sumter National Forest. The lake covers 597 acres and impounds the Chattooga River and Tallulah Rivers. There is only one boat ramp on the lake, and few campsites. Tugalo is one of only a few lakes in South Carolina where you can catch trout. Other fish population includes largemouth bass, trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, white crappie, black crappie, white catfish, and bream.
Lake Robinson – Greer SC
Lake John Robinson is an 800 acre fishing lake owned by Greer Commission of Public Works. Like Lake Cunningham, there are also regulations on this lake. There is one boat ramp, a fishing pier, restrooms, and picnic area accessible to the public. The boat ramp is located on Mays Bridge Road. The lake is located in Greer off of Highway 101.
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