Fishing at Des Champs Pond, Sumter County, South Carolina

• Overview

  Set in Sumter County, South Carolina, this is Des Champs Pond. Pine and hardwood runs right down to the water. There is roughly 2.2 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Size puts it in the front rank of our Sumter County list. The closest town, Lakewood, is 1.1 miles distant. Further out sit Privateer (2.7 miles) and South Sumter (3 miles). Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Des Champs Pond

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. The near bank of Des Champs Pond is often the one people ignore. Weed beds hold food, and food holds fish.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 81°F in July and bottom out at 44°F in January. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. The season on Des Champs Pond rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Stubbs Pond, 1.4 miles away. Check the position on Des Champs Pond before loading the car.