Why not enjoy a little trout fishing during the holidays? The opportunity is readily accessible in Upstate South Carolina thanks to a winter trout-stocking program conducted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in several small mountain waters. “We stock trout in several small lakes, and they’ve all been recently stocked for the winter,” said Dan Rankin, the DNR’s chief fisheries biologist for the Upstate district. “If folks are looking for a good trout-fishing opportunity throughout the holidays and winter months, these places can be a good option.”
Stocked lakes include:
– A 20-acre lake at Oconee State Park, about 12 miles north of Walhalla;
– Pinnacle Lake, a 36-acre reservoir at Table Rock State Park, about 28 miles northwest of Greenville;
– A five-acre pond at Pleasant Ridge County Park, located about 20 miles north of Greenville;
– Eight-acre Burson’s Pond, a U.S. Forest Service-owned property near the Long Creek community in western Oconee County;
– And the eight-acre Walhalla Youth Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Pond, also known as the Walhalla Reservoir, located near Mountain Rest.
Fish stocked in these smaller reservoirs consist primarily of rainbow trout in the 9- to 12-inch range.
Although it’s considered a “put-and-take” fishery, there has been some holdover of trout surviving through the summer.
“We think there’s been some holdover at Oconee (State Park) and now Table Rock also maintains a fairly decent amount of deep-water habitat, too,” Rankin said.
Each of the areas sets its own limit, which currently is five fish per angler per day at the state parks, but Rankin encourages anglers to check with local personnel on specific restrictions.
For example, the Walhalla Youth WMA requires at least one child per licensed adult, although senior anglers over the age of 65 may fish on their own.
There are few bait and/or lure restrictions, and Rankin suggests worms or other live bait as well as a wide variety of simple spinners, including versions by Blue Fox, Mepps and Worden’s Rooster Tail.
“Just remember that often it’s better to fish slow and close to the bottom as we get into real cold weather,” Rankin said. “That’s where most of the trout will be hanging out.”
Which also makes these small mountain lakes a good place for anglers to hang out during a holiday getaway.
“It has been popular for the state parks, providing a good recreational fishing opportunity for cabin users in the off-season,” Rankin said.
For more information on these fishing opportunities, call the DNR’s Clemson office at (864) 654-6346, ext. 12.
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