Vaught Lake near Red Hill: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Vaught Lake is set in Horry County, South Carolina. It sits in dry hill. Small at around 2 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our South Carolina listings. Red Hill lies 6.1 miles from the water. Fayetteville sits 70 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Vaught Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include American eel, banded sunfish and blackbanded sunfish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Vaught Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 45°F to 80°F. The season runs year-round, with the peak either side of summer. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. That shapes the year on Vaught Lake. A rising level usually fishes better than a falling one.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Scrogging Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Vaught Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.