Lake Keowee, South Carolina: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lake Keowee sits in Oconee County, out in South Carolina. It lies 814 feet above sea level. Around 26.4 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. Its shape is complex, and the arms fish like separate waters. Of the waters listed here in Oconee County, this is the largest. Nearest place of any size is Utica, 3.7 miles away. Athens sits 60 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Lake Keowee

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Open biodiversity records for Oconee County list bluegill, redbreast sunfish, largemouth bass, turquoise darter and rainbow trout. The county list is broader than any single water. The near bank of Lake Keowee is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 78°F, the coldest about 41°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Lake Keowee follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Issaqueena Lake is 3 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for Lake Keowee.