Tall Pine Lakes near Slater-Marietta: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Tall Pine Lakes is one of the Pickens County listings for South Carolina. The surface lies 1,043 feet up. At roughly 11 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Compared with other South Carolina water on our list, it sits high. Slater-Marietta at 4.7 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Athens is 89 miles off. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Tall Pine Lakes

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Open biodiversity records for Pickens County list bluegill, redbreast sunfish, seagreen darter and striped jumprock. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Tall Pine Lakes the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 77°F and January about 39°F. The awkward stretch is midsummer, not midwinter. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Tall Pine Lakes runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Mountain Lake at 3.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Tall Pine Lakes locally before you travel.