Smith Pond in Lexington County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Lexington County entry here is Smith Pond, in South Carolina. The setting is open plain on every side. Small at around 18 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Leesville, is 5 miles distant. It is 24 miles to Columbia, the nearest city. Near neighbours: Abells Millpond 1.2 miles off, Brodie Millpond within 1.9 miles, Oswalds Pond 2.8 miles off, Taylor Pond within 3 miles and Koons Pond 4.2 miles off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Smith Pond

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists bluegill, redbreast sunfish, black crappie, largemouth bass and margined madtom. Records come from public data, not from a stocking programme. At Smith Pond light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 80°F in July and bottom out at 43°F in January. The surface stays open the year round. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Smith Pond rarely departs from it. After a storm, the water clears from the edges inwards.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Abells Millpond at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Smith Pond.