Branchville, SC Fishing: Fishing in a Railroad Town

The small town of Branchville is located at the southern tip of Orangeburg County in South Carolina’s Lower Midlands. It is one of the oldest towns established in the state and is home to the world’s oldest railroad junction. After a railroad branch was set up in the area, the community got its name. It was formerly referred to as ‘The Branch.’ The world’s oldest railroad junction, still in Branchville, was built in 1828. It ran from Charleston to Branchville, being on route with the country’s first scheduled train service. The community’s economy primarily depended on railroad passenger service for over a century. The town was incorporated on December 23, 1853, following decades of settlement by Native Americans, Germans, and the Dutch.

With its location in the state’s Lower Midlands, Branchville can pose as a peaceful place that embodies the traditional Southern slower pace of life. Though the area is quite quaint, its welcoming atmosphere and willingness to further enhance itself make it the perfect place to discover when looking for a subdued yet interesting encounter with a new area. Branchville can be accessed by driving east on U.S. Highway 78, marked as part of the South Carolina Heritage Corridor’s Discovery Route. Anglers who want to experience what Branchville offers can find many fishing opportunities outside its borders. 

Branchville Fishing

Branchville is advantageous in the South Carolina state area because it is surrounded by rivers, lakes, creeks, and streams. So whether one is looking to reel game from a big expanse of water or just looking to fish from a flowing or running waterway, there are many spots to choose from around the town.

A section of the longest blackwater river in the United States, the Edisto River, can be found west of Branchville. It is considered a blackwater angler’s paradise, with 87 freshwater species and 120 saltwater species identified in its waters. Local and visiting anglers commonly target largemouth bass, striped bass, and black crappie. But the most prized and sought-after catch is redbreast sunfish. This is due to bream or sunfish species’ dominance in the river’s freshwater section. Other fish often caught from the river are bluegill, redear sunfish, warmouth, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, bullhead catfish, yellow bullhead, chain pickerel, bowfin (mudfish), red drum, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, and jackfish. Since colonial times, redbreast sunfish in the Edisto River has been the best. There are two popular ways of fishing for them; baitcasting using crickets on a cane or fiberglass pole or using small artificial lures on lightweight spinning tackle. Drift fishing down the river in springtime, casting to eddies and logs, and then using a slow retrieve can also yield a good catch for sunfish and bass species. Because it supports a vast array of ecological communities and habitats, the best way to fish and navigate the Edisto River is by boat. But there can still be bank fishing opportunities in the shallower and narrower sections of the river and its branches. One can also move through the river using a canoe, kayak, and even tubing. When the river’s water levels are too high or flooded, catching fish may be difficult.

Lake Marion and Moultrie are a couple of miles to the east of Branchville. Lake Marion is the largest lake in South Carolina, providing many excellent freshwater angling opportunities. It has 16 boat launch areas and 300 miles of shoreline for both onshore and offshore anglers. The nearest boat launch to Branchville is Boat Ramp #2, near the Santee National Golf Club. The lake possesses unique habitat for various fish with abundant cover and aquatic vegetation, submerged stumps, and standing cypress trees. Largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, catfish species, black crappie, white crappie, bream and sunfish species, warmouth, white perch, yellow perch, and chain pickerel are the fish found in its waters. The main draw for anglers going to Lake Marion are big bass, monster catfish, and shellcrackers (redear sunfish). The lake is also ideal for extended stays because it is surrounded by campgrounds, RV hookups, lodgings, restaurants, and convenience stores.

Lake Moultrie is a spot that offers a diverse fishing environment, possessing tree stumps, live cypress trees, shallow swamps, blackwater ponds, and a large open area of water. World and state record catches of black crappie and channel catfish have been recorded from the state’s third-largest lake. The same fish found in Lake Marion can also be found in Lake Moultrie. Anglers can also find American shad and blueback herring, which move through sea-run anadromous fish passages at St. Stephen Dam and Pinopolis Dam. Fish attractors have been set up around the lake to strengthen the growth and development of various fish and baitfish. The lake can be navigated by boat. There are eight boat launch areas, the nearest to Branchville being the Fred L. Day Boat Ramp. 

It should be noted that fish cover, submerged stumps, standing timber, and aquatic vegetation can be a hazard when boat anglers move through the lake. Shoreline fishing access is available at Fred L. Day Fishing Pier. Like Lake Marion, Lake Moultrie is also terrific for extended trips as it’s surrounded by campgrounds, RV hookups, lodgings, restaurants, and convenience stores.

Other great places that anglers can visit are Myrtle Beach or nearby cities in North Carolina.

Top 10 Fish Species in Branchville, SC

The top 10 fish species found in Branchville, South Carolina, are redbreast sunfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, warmouth, channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish.

Seasonal Fishing

The spring and summer are the best times to fish in local waterways in Branchville and the general South Carolina state area. Late April to mid-May and July is when plenty of redbreast sunfish are biting well. Largemouth bass and other bass species can be fished from May until December. Like redbreast sunfish, bream and other sunfish species like bluegill, redear sunfish, and pumpkinseed can be caught in the summer months. The best months for crappie fishing are March and April when they undergo spawning migration. The best time to target these species for catfish anglers is from mid-May to mid-July. Black and yellow bullhead’s prime months are from May to June when they spawn. Perch species are best targeted between March to May. The fall months are the best time for red drum fishing.

Discover More of Branchville

Branchville has a rich and interesting history that can pique the interest of those who want to discover more of the charming little community.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Branchville is surrounded by some of the most prominent fishing waterways in the state. Anglers can book a fishing charter to enhance their angling experience in the area further. Local guides offer helpful knowledge of local water bodies that hold diverse fish species. Some spots even offer boat rental services and portage areas. Bait and tackle shops can be found near the lake areas.

2. Check Out a Historic Train Station

The Southern Railway Passenger Depot, also known as the Branchville Depot, was built by the Southern Railway in 1877. It is situated on Railroad Avenue at the center of town. In 1973, the National Register of Historic Places added the depot to its index. In 1909, President-election William Howard Taft gave a speech at the site. One can recognize the depot as a one-story brick building with a stucco finish and a hipped roof.

3. Visit the Local Museum

Because it is the home to the world’s oldest railroad junction, Branchville has pitched the Branchville RR Shrine and Museum to pay tribute to the community’s interesting railroad industry history. The museum hosts the Southern Railway Passenger Depot, which holds various rare items. It also has its restaurant, Eatery At the Depot, which previously hosted three past presidents.