Gunter Lake Fishing in Horry County, South Carolina

• Overview

  Gunter Lake falls in Horry County, part of South Carolina. The surroundings are pine and hardwood. It covers about 20 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Few waters listed in Horry County are bigger. Supplies mean a trip to Red Hill, 4.7 miles off. For a city, Fayetteville is 80 miles off. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Gunter Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include swamp darter, blackbanded sunfish and bluespotted sunfish. It is a record of sightings and surveys, so use it as a guide. Anyone new to Gunter Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 80°F, while January sits near 45°F. Fish stay active all year, but they move with the heat. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. That is the shape of the year on Gunter Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Newfound Lake, 0.7 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Gunter Lake.