Carys Lakes Fishing Guide, Richland County, South Carolina

• Overview

  Look for Carys Lakes in the Richland County part of South Carolina. The water sits 207 feet up. At about 64 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 1.5 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Size puts it in the front rank of our Richland County list. The nearest place of any size is Dentsville, 0.6 miles away. Columbia is the closest city, 5.6 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Carys Lakes

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover bluegill, redbreast sunfish, largemouth bass, brown bullhead and white catfish. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. Read Carys Lakes before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 82°F; the cold one sits at 44°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. It holds true on Carys Lakes more years than not. A steady wind fishes better than a still, bright day.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Burnside Lake is 0.7 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Carys Lakes.