Fishing Lower Deerwood Lake in Sumter County, South Carolina

• Overview

  Out in Sumter County, South Carolina, sits Lower Deerwood Lake. The water sits 161 feet up. Surface area runs to about 5 acres — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Sumter County are larger. You are 3.3 miles from Sumter. Columbia sits 37 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lower Deerwood Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Public wildlife records from this area list bluegill, chain pickerel, margined madtom, redbreast sunfish and sawcheek darter. Local agencies keep the authoritative list for each water. Work Lower Deerwood Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 81°F, the coldest about 44°F. Fish stay active all year, but they move with the heat. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lower Deerwood Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Upper Deerwood Lake, 0.1 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Lower Deerwood Lake before loading the car.