Hemphill Lake Fishing near Red Hill, South Carolina

• Overview

  Hemphill Lake is a Horry County water, South Carolina side. It sits 25 miles in from the sea. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our South Carolina listings. For supplies, Red Hill is 8.4 miles out. It is 80 miles to Wilmington, the nearest city. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Hemphill Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Nearby survey and observation records mention eastern mudminnow. It is a record of sightings and surveys, so use it as a guide. On Hemphill Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 80°F; by January the average is down near 45°F. Cold never closes this one. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. That is the shape of the year on Hemphill Lake. Sudden cold puts fish down faster than sustained cold does.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, River Field Lake is 0.3 miles off. What applies at Hemphill Lake may have changed since it was mapped.