Fishing Bensons Pond in Calhoun County, South Carolina

• Overview

  In South Carolina, Bensons Pond falls inside Calhoun County. It lies 187 feet above sea level. It covers about 5 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Saint Matthews is the closest place, 3.5 miles off. Then Gadsden, 9.6 miles, and Oak Grove, 11 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about. Count over twenty within 15 miles of here and hundreds within 30 miles.

• Where to Fish on Bensons Pond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include margined madtom, bluegill, redbreast sunfish, redfin pickerel and spotted sunfish. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. Treat Bensons Pond as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 80°F in July and bottoms out near 45°F in January. Long warm spells define the calendar more than any cold. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Anyone fishing Bensons Pond regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Buycls Swamp Pond sits 1.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Bensons Pond are worth checking on the day.