Fishing at Baileys Pond, Aiken County, South Carolina

• Overview

  This water sits in Aiken County, South Carolina. It sits at 318 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 9 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The closest town, Williston, is 15 miles away. Further out sit Blackville (16 miles) and Gaston (19 miles). Also worth knowing: Millers Pond (3.4 miles), Moods Pond 4.7 miles, Caughman Lake (4.7 miles), Edisto Lake 5.5 miles and Brodies Pond (5.5 miles). A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Baileys Pond

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Nearby survey and observation records mention blackbanded darter, dollar sunfish, redfin pickerel, spotted sunfish and lowland shiner. Records come from public data, not from a stocking programme. On Baileys Pond the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 80°F in July and bottoms out near 44°F in January. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Time your trip to Baileys Pond by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Millers Pond, 3.4 miles out. Confirm access to Baileys Pond locally before you travel.