Lake Number Sixteen in Chesterfield County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Chesterfield County end of South Carolina holds Lake Number Sixteen. The surface lies 328 feet up. About 13 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. For supplies, Chesterfield is 13 miles out. North Hartsville lies 16 miles off, Pageland another 16 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lake Number Sixteen

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Chesterfield County records list bluegill, sawcheek darter, dollar sunfish and margined madtom among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Lake Number Sixteen for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 80°F on average, January about 42°F. Winter is a mild inconvenience here, nothing more. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Lake Number Sixteen fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Lake Number Twelve at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Lake Number Sixteen locally before you travel.