Jolleys Lake in Cherokee County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Jolleys Lake lies in Cherokee County, in South Carolina. The bank is 856 feet above sea level. About 4 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Cherokee County standards. The nearest town is Mayo, 5.3 miles away. Cowpens follows at 9.8 miles, then Boiling Springs at 11 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Jolleys Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Records held for Cherokee County cover striped jumprock, flat bullhead, redbreast sunfish, seagreen darter and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Read Jolleys Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 78°F in July and bottom out at 40°F in January. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Jolleys Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Harris Lake is 1.5 miles distant. Treat access at Jolleys Lake as something to verify.