Phillips Lake in Greenville County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Greenville County, South Carolina, sits Phillips Lake. It stands 955 feet above sea level. The far bank is a conversation away, so keep low and quiet. Most waters listed here for Greenville County are larger. Slater-Marietta sits 5.7 miles from the bank. For a city, Athens is 86 miles off. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Phillips Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Greenville County include bluegill, redbreast sunfish, seagreen darter, striped jumprock and green sunfish. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Phillips Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 76°F on average, January about 40°F. Long warm spells define the calendar more than any cold. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. The season on Phillips Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Garren Lake at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Phillips Lake before loading the car.