Bethune, SC Fishing: Motivated in Preserving Natural Wonders

Bethune, SC is a small city in the northeast of Kershaw County, South Carolina. It has a small population of fewer than 200 households, making it a friendly and close-knit community. Wide streets are safe, and the place is a serene little city with families that mostly own their homes. With the phrase "The People of Bethune," the community shows how dedicated and motivated they are to move as one. The city takes pride in its quiet streets, a good library and schools, exceptional medical facilities, comfortable homes, and fun-loving residents.

When Europeans came to Bethune in the early 1800s, it was still called Lynchwood. The first inhabitants of the area were the Kadapaw Indians. In 1828, a post office was established in Bethune. When the railroad came, the property of Daniel Murdock Bethune was passed through, turning Lynchwood into Bethune when it was chartered in 1900. The small city was awarded the Governor's Rural Economic Achievement Trophy, becoming the smallest of participating cities and towns in South Carolina to qualify as a "Great" town. Today, the government of Bethune and its people are working together to preserve historic homes in the city.

With the Lynches River passing east of the city and its tributary Little Lynches River to the southwest, Bethune is a cozy destination when planning a freshwater fishing trip.

Bethune Fishing

Bethune is a small place surrounded by nature, wildlife, and other natural resources. To the east of Bethune, Lynches River flows 140-mile long, confluence with the Great Pee Dee River in Florence County. Its landscape passes through terrain that includes pine uplands, farms, rural crossroads, and swamp forests. To the city’s south is the Little Lynches River. Part of the Lynch River was designated to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service due to the endangered freshwater mussel, the Carolina heelsplitter, and ridged lioplax, another species of concern. The river is an excellent ecosystem for aquatic living organisms. Many shiner species are found in the river, including golden, highfin, ironcolor, greenfin, dusky, whitefin, coastal, swallowtail, fieryblack, and sandbar. Among other aquatic species found here are mudminnows, thinlip chub, bluehead chub, sandhills chub, creek chubsucker, lake chubsucker, and spotted suckers. Fishing, wildlife viewing, camping, and boating are among the most popular recreational activities on the Lynches River. The Lynches Scenic River Water Trail Guide was created in 2009 to support the public with accessing and touring the river by boat. This promotes appreciation, conservation, preservation, and protection of the river's natural resources. For anglers, apart from drift fishing, fly fishing is also allowed on the banks of the river. Many parks are found along its extensive length. Yellow bullhead, flat bullhead, white catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, flathead catfish, warmouth, blue catfish, American eel, bowfin, black crappie, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, redfin pickerel, chain pickerel, and pumpkinseed are among game species that can be caught in Lynches River.

Further east, anglers may find Lake John Robinson, more popularly known as Lake Robinson; it is a beautiful recreational area. It has a boat ramp, three fishing piers, event spaces that can be rented, and an 800-acre area fed by the South Tyger River. In the spring of 2016, the Greer Commission on Public Works renovated the fishing piers, benches, and the boathouse at Lake Robinson to provide a better recreational experience to its users. Recreational water-related activities can be done here, such as boating, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, but not including swimming. With its healthy ecosystem and abundance of fish, recreational freshwater fishing is also prevalent on Lake Robinson. Predominant fish species caught here include largemouth bass, bluegill, blue catfish, white perch, and black crappie. The area is beautiful and serene, with picnic areas perfect for fishing trips with friends, families, or loved ones.

North of Bethune is Raley Millpond, a small 100-acre pond with a subtropical climate that allows recreational fishing for species such as largemouth bass, chain pickerel, grass carp, and white crappie.

Top 10 Fish Species in Bethune, SC

The top 10 fish species to catch in Bethune, SC, are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white perch, pumpkinseed, bluegill, warmouth, striped bass, blue catfish, redbreast sunfish, and black crappie.

Seasonal Fishing

Bethune supports recreational fishing any time of the year. During spring, lakes around the city are teeming with crappie, especially along the banks, because the species is spawning. They can be found in overhanging trees, structures, and other places with cover. If you are a striper hunter, stay tuned with the seasons from the Department of Natural Resources. Striped bass has no closed season; however, the size limit varies over certain periods throughout the year. Moreover, make sure you get updated on the fish species that may and may not be eaten from the South Carolina waters.

When coming to Bethune, anglers must be accustomed to state regulations. In South Carolina, the northern snakehead are prohibited from being released back into the water when caught. These fish are invasive, which means they uncomfortably overpopulate the water environment, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem in which they live. The law prohibits the processes of transporting, purchasing, selling, or possessing the northern snakehead. Any angler who catches these species in any water in South Carolina is advised to contact and turn the species over to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Place the fish in ice and keep it there until further action is determined. Be careful not to confuse them with northern bowfin because of their physical similarities. 

Wildlife Refuge Near Bethune

1. Book a Fishing Guide

When you come to Bethune, get a guide and make your fishing trip smooth sailing.  Learn about the terrain of the water bodies and go-to spots that fit your fishing style. Book a local guide now!

2. Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

Visit Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, a 47,850-acre beautiful preserve full of longleaf pines and wiregrass. The preserve is a haven for nature enthusiasts and home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. The area is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Other animals in the refuge include red fox, eastern fox squirrel, beaver, white-tailed deer, otter, bobcat, opossum, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, wild turkey, and bald eagle.

3. McBee Wildlife Management Area

To the east of Bethune, McBee Wildlife Management Area (WMA)offers scenic beauty of open fields, woodlands with wild fruits, pine trees on the roadside, and wonderful forest land. This WMA is a 1,216-acre unit of the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge and is home to game species among green forests. Come with friends, family, or loved ones for a fantastic view of wildlife!