Fishing at Shealy Pond, Lexington County, South Carolina

• Overview

  Shealy Pond lies within the bounds of Lexington County, South Carolina. The ground round it is dry hill. Red Bank lies 4.8 miles from the water. Columbia sits 15 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Near neighbours: Redmond Pond lies 0.7 miles on, Ballington Pond at 1.4 miles, Bachman Ponds lies 1.8 miles on, Redmonds Pond at 1.8 miles and Crystal Springs Lake lies 1.9 miles on. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Shealy Pond

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Biodiversity records within roughly six miles include chain pickerel, yellow bullhead, bluegill and margined madtom. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish on the day. On Shealy Pond that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 44°F in January and 81°F in July. There is no frozen season to plan round. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. It sets the rhythm of the year at Shealy Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Redmond Pond, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Shealy Pond locally before you travel.