Fishing Phillips Lake in Horry County, South Carolina

• Overview

  Phillips Lake is a Horry County water, South Carolina side. Around the bank it is oak and grass. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. On size it sits at the modest end of our Horry County list. Johnsonville is the closest place, 11 miles off. Conway follows at 12 miles, then Red Hill at 12 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Phillips Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover flathead catfish, longnose gar, margined madtom and snail bullhead. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. On Phillips Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 80°F; the cold one sits at 46°F. The surface stays open the year round. 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. Time your trip to Phillips Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Sandy Island Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for Phillips Lake.