Ulmers Lake, South Carolina: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Richland County, South Carolina, this is Ulmers Lake. It lies 236 feet above sea level. Hopkins at 4.6 miles is the nearest place to stop. Columbia is the closest city, 8.1 miles away. Also worth knowing: Lake Trotwood near enough 0.2 miles, Captain Jims Pond 0.2 miles off, Lake Rebecca near enough 0.6 miles, Sun View Lake 0.9 miles off and Pinewood Lake near enough 1.9 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Ulmers Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Nearby survey and observation records mention bluegill, yellow bullhead, redbreast sunfish and warmouth. Records show what people reported, not what is stocked. On Ulmers Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 81°F and January near 44°F on the long-run figures. The season runs year-round, with the peak either side of summer. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Ulmers Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. A pier 100 yards from here gives a platform over deeper water. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Lake Trotwood, 0.2 miles out. For Ulmers Lake in particular, ask before you travel.