Fishing at Gerald Lake, Horry County, South Carolina

• Overview

  This water sits in Horry County, South Carolina. Tidal water begins 34 miles from here. Surface area runs to about 18 acres — small enough to read in one session. Few waters listed in Horry County are bigger. Red Hill lies 7.3 miles from the water. Mullins follows at 7.5 miles, then Marion at 11 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Gerald Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Nearby survey and observation records mention American eel, banded sunfish, blackbanded sunfish and bluespotted sunfish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Gerald Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 80°F in July and bottoms out near 44°F in January. Winter here means light layers, not lost months. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. That is the shape of the year on Gerald Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, White Oak Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Gerald Lake are worth checking on the day.