Allendale County, SC Fishing: Peaceful Fishing in an Oldtown of the South

Take a break from the fast city life and enjoy a slow, easy leisurely pace in the South. Allendale in South Carolina is filled with beautiful churches, historic homes, and hunting lodges. Enjoy the fresh air in the rural area on the coastal plain and see that Allendale is one of the best examples of a low country county. 

Being the youngest county in South Carolina, rich history and tradition permeate Allendale. There are a lot of properties that are nationally registered as historic sites in Allendale, such as houses, churches, and hill plantations. Comprising the oldest human habitation in the state, Allendale primarily leaves a trail of rich agriculture. Its economy is built around wood, chemical, textile products, and cotton is its primary produce.

Hiking, hunting, camping, and fishing are some of the outdoor activities to be enjoyed with the freshness of the pine trees. Surrounded by several rivers, namely Savannah, Salkehatchie, and Coosawhatchie, Allendale has many great fishing spots accessible to the public. There are hundreds of lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs distributed across the county that make a home to masses of fish species. Fish found in the area are brown trout, rainbow trout, and perch.

Swamps along the Savannah River provide a home for various wildlife; hunting and fishing are popular local attractions.

Allendale County Fishing

Picking up a new hobby? A fishing clinic is available in Allendale, specifically fishing in the Savannah River. One can learn how to bait the hook and cast to ensure a good catch through the clinic offered. The whole family can surely spend the day well and learn to fish.

Some of the top spots to fish in Allendale are in Lancaster, Janesville Reservoirs, and the state lakes in the Draper Wildlife Management Area. Lake Wylie and Savannah River are popular spots for anglers. Other known fishing spots are Beech Branch, Caddins Branch, Fiddle Pond, Harters Pond, Log Branch, Miller Swamp, Tutens Millpond, Bentley Branch, Duck Branch, and Fiddle Pond, Little Duck Branch, Miller Creek, and Stoney Creek. Lastly, the Intracoastal Waterway, together with some other fishing creek reservoirs, has a lot of excellent opportunities to offer for those who enjoy inshore fishing. For anglers interested in catching saltwater fish, you can enjoy surfcasting from several beaches and piers, specifically in Broad River, Surfside Piers, and Breach Inlet. For freshwater fish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, American eel, black crappie, blue catfish, chain pickerel, channel catfish, gizzard shad, different trout species,  and longnose gar are reportedly getting caught in the area. 

If you are looking to catch red drum, largemouth bass, spotted seatrout, bluegill, bowfin, or crappie, Savannah River is a great place to fish in. This is also a top locale for yellow perch. This fish can be caught in abundance during late November and continue to be predictable until February. In the following months, yellow perch tends to go on deeper waters, making it difficult to catch. There is an abundance of largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, hybrid striped bass, and white bass for Lake Wylie. In the spring, there are accounts of black crappie caught here. You can catch largemouth bass, bluegill, and smallmouth bass in Beech Branch.  Offshore fishing can bring you marlin, tuna, and swordfish for a boat ride away.

There are tournaments held for pro anglers in the Savannah River; anglers would have a catching limit of 10 bass caught in the main run of the Savannah River. The first place is five bass with a total weight of 9.97 pounds, followed by 9.49 pounds. Third place is 4 bass weighing 8.95 pounds in total. The third-place team also claimed to have the largest bass caught, weighing 6.12 pounds. Anglers use a 7.5-inch black and silver worm as bait for a productive large bass catch; effective live baits used are worms and crickets found under a bobber. Rooster tails, small beetle spins, and popping bugs are good artificial baits as well. 

Top 10 Fish Species in Allendale County, SC

Top fish species caught in Allendale are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, channel catfish, freshwater drum, yellow perch, black crappie, bowfin, and rock bass.

Seasonal Fishing

All year round, one can enjoy fishing in Allendale. Fishing is available throughout the year, whether it is the short and cold winter or the long and hot summer. Almost throughout the year, Allendale is typically wet and partly cloudy. Scheduling your visit to Allendale from April to May or September to October can maximize your trip and enjoy warm-weather activities such as fishing and hiking. You can also enjoy winter activities from December until the end of March.

Schedule your trip during February and March if you are eyeing to catch bass. These are the months when it gets hot, and the bass moves to shallow areas. There is a high chance of catching bowfin from March to early June. Male bowfins nestle on surface waters and feed on available vegetation. Moreover, a great freshwater drum can be caught throughout June and July. To find them, look for areas where the waters are deep or fast-flowing waters where they can stay on external surfaces. As June approaches and summer begins, your probability of capturing catfish is higher. Because of the warm weather, catfish can be caught in certain spots like channel ledges, points, and humps. 

Going against the stigma that fishing during winter only gets you empty-handed, winter constitutes a unique experience for select fishing enthusiasts. Bass are still caught in the creeks during these times as they return to the main lakes, specifically in Lake Wylie. These fish would tend to be on the deeper parts of the waterbody and tend to require more patience. There is also a possibility of catching a large catfish and some of the biggest fish. It may be a more challenging experience, but it would still provide you with a good catch. Anglers fishing during the winter would often suggest live bait fishing to increase your chances for a productive day.

Take a Trip Back in Time to Allendale County

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Being surrounded by several rivers and lakes, it is easy to find a good fishing place and lodging. Book a fishing charter and get fully immersed in nature with fishing.

2. Visit Churches and Historic Homes

Many churches and historic homes containing the oldest human habitation are well preserved. The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie has become a library holding a collection of photographs and artifacts of Native Americans. Allendale County Courthouse is also a must-visit. It is one of the most beautiful courthouses in South Carolina. Having been destroyed by fire in the ‘90s, it was renovated to preserve the original shell of the building.

3. Book a Hunting Lodge

Located near the Savannah River, Cedar Knoll Hunting is one of the best lodges for a hunting trip. It provides guests access to 3000 acres of low county habitat home to deers, wild boars, and bobwhite quails. The management only limits up to 10 hunters to ensure a high success rate and a fine quality experience in the field. Another is the Red Bluff Lodge. Here, hunting wild turkeys, feral hogs, whitetail deer, and alligators are present. There is also a shooting range on site for practice and a gunsmith shop for the tools and equipment needed for hunting. Apart from hunting, people can also enjoy other activities such as mountain biking, camping, kayaking, and naturalist tours in these hunting lodges.