Fishing at Carter Pond, Aiken County, South Carolina

• Overview

  The Aiken County end of South Carolina holds Carter Pond. Everything around it is pine and hardwood. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. It is a small entry by Aiken County standards. Start from Batesburg, 14 miles down the road. Columbia is the closest city, 35 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Carter Pond

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Nearby survey and observation records mention bluegill, dollar sunfish and spotted sunfish. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. Treat Carter Pond as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 80°F, with January the cold end at about 44°F. No part of the year shuts this water. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Carter Pond runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Anderson Lake is 0.6 miles distant. What applies at Carter Pond may have changed since it was mapped.