Fishing Lake Cooley in Spartanburg County, South Carolina

• Overview

  Lake Cooley stands in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Elevation runs to 823 feet. This is sizeable water at about 335 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. Around 7.7 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. On our Spartanburg County list it sits near the top for size. Inman Mills lies 2.8 miles from the water. Inman is 3.2 miles and Wellford 3.5 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lake Cooley

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Open biodiversity records for Spartanburg County list bluegill, redbreast sunfish, seagreen darter and striped jumprock. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Lake Cooley rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 78°F, with January the cold end at about 40°F. Summer heat is the limit here, not winter cold. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. It holds true on Lake Cooley more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, J M Gentry Pond is 1.6 miles off. Confirm access to Lake Cooley locally before you travel.