Central Pacolet, SC Fishing: Scenic River Fishing Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains

Central Pacolet is a town in the east central point of Spartanburg County in northern South Carolina. The Pacolet town proper is located entirely within Spartanburg County, but areas of the communities extend into Cherokee County. It began as a distinct mill village in the late 1800s when it was called Buzzard’s Roost. It was incorporated in 1896 and was established around the Pacolet Manufacturing textile mill, which flourished around the 19th and mid-20th centuries. During the 1950s, a water dispute caused the area to split into four villages: Pacolet Station, Pacolet Mills, Pacolet Park, and Central Pacolet. Pacolet Station and Pacolet Mills merged in 1997, while Pacolet Park lost its charter in 1976. The name Pacolet is derived from the Cherokee word that translates to ‘horse,’ but some say the community was named after a pioneer French settler called Mr. Pacoley. 

Pacolet boasts a unique blend of history, culture, and progress. It is a place of promise that lives by the slogan, ‘Close to everything. Far from the ordinary.’ Central Pacolet is surrounded by lush greenery, making it a wonderful place to escape bustling cities. There are also nearby natural landscapes that overlook the Blue Ridge Mountains range. The town is home to many attractions, including parks, nature trails, museums, and local cultural events. Anglers who wish to visit Central Pacolet will have the opportunity to fish in one of the area’s most prominent rivers.

Central Pacolet Fishing

Central Pacolet is situated along a prominent river near a couple of lakes filled with a variety of fish. The local waterways offer offshore and inshore fishing opportunities or whatever specific needs anglers expect for freshwater fishing. Some fishing spots provide views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, allowing anglers the chance to do some scenic mountain fishing.

Central Pacolet is situated along the Pacolet River, spelled historically as the Pacolate River. It is a tributary of the Broad River, the Congaree River’s primary tributary. Both are part of Santee River’s watershed, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The river is formed by the confluence of its north and south forks, the North Pacolet River and the South Pacolet River. The North Pacolet River is the closest one to access Central Pacolet. Pacolet River offers excellent bass fishing, housing species such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, and spotted bass. Anglers can find other fish in its waters, like channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, black bullhead, white perch, brook trout, and green sunfish. 

Plenty of anglers have caught fish from the river by casting their line and bait and drift fishing through its muddy waters. Kayaks are a popular choice of vessel to use to navigate its waters. Bass can be caught with almost any type of bait because they’re very aggressive. Some effective baits and lures for bass and bream are black rooster tails on ultralight tackle, shaky head jigs with worms, and small Rebel crankbaits. Fish are often found in deeper pools, especially ones with fallen trees sticking out in them. Anglers can also fish from the river’s banks and public fishing decks. Central Pacolet is located near the Pacolet Fishing Pier, which provides access to the Pacolet Reservoir. The reservoir is also a great place to target bass and bream species. It houses bluegill, redear sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, common carp, and white sucker, in addition to the other fish in the main river. The fishing pier can be accessed off Sunny Acres Road just east of Victor Parkway, located along the river and beside the dam.

Croft State Park is found to the west of Central Pacolet. One can find Lake Tom Moore Craig in the park. The lake is a 150-acre impoundment that offers terrific bass and crappie fishing. It’s a great spot for boat anglers because it’s ideal for recreational boating and fishing. It has about 50 campsites around it, two boat ramps, a fishing pier, and handicap access. Boat rentals are offered, but anglers can use their boats as long as they only use their trolling motors and not the outboard motors. Boats with electric motors are also allowed. The park has regulations on the length and amount of fish anglers can keep. A South Carolina fishing license is required to fish in the lake, and the daily creel limits are three largemouth bass, three catfish, and twenty bream. The lake is riddled with trees along its banks and lots of submerged stumps. Largemouth bass are commonly caught using plastic worms, while crappie are lured by trolling minnows. Lake Tom Moore Craig is also suitable for bank fishing because fish are easily caught nearshore.

Anglers can fish from Lake Blalock if they travel further up north. It’s another good place to catch bass, bream, and catfish. The lake is part of the Pacolet River’s water system. There is a particular pier for anglers, but boat angling is also allowed. Lake Blalock is a fantastic place for people who love nature, water landscapes, and fresh air. Aside from fishing, one can find rare wild animals and plants that can’t be found anywhere else, making the lake area a wonderful place for witnessing wildlife.

Top 10 Fish Species in Central Pacolet, SC

The top 10 fish species found in Central Pacolet, SC, are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish.

Seasonal Fishing

Bass’ active seasons are in the spring and fall. April is the best month to target bass. Catfish can be easily found during their spawning season, which occurs in the late spring and early summer from May to July. The prime months for crappie fishing are March and April. In the spring and early summer, bluegill become very aggressive and are easy to target. Sunfish species should be targeted in the spring and summer because they prefer warm water temperatures. 

Similarly, carp prefer warm water and move in masses in early spring. Perch species like feeding during the day, so the best time to hunt them is just after sunrise, late in the afternoon, and just before the sun goes down. In the colder months, anglers can target trout. The best months for trout angling are from November through April. When they start spawning, white suckers are best sought out in the early spring.

Sightseeing in Central Pacolet

Central Pacolet is the perfect location to explore many different outdoor sceneries. It also possesses a rich and interesting culture and history that can be absorbed through some of the local sites.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Central Pacolet is located along a prominent river and expansive lakes filled with a variety of fish, making it a viable angling destination. Book a fishing charter to take advantage of the locality’s scenic fishing sites and enjoy its waterways surrounded by lush greenery and mountains. Boat rentals, gear shops, and live bait shops are also available.

2. Visit the Local Museum

The Pacolet Area Museum was established to aid in preserving the community’s history. It is found in the lower level of Pacolet Town Hall on 180 Montgomery Street. The museum showcases the town's story and covers the local natural resources like the Pacolet River and Granite Quarries. It also exhibits the Cherokee and Catawba Indians' cultural heritage and other early settlers.

3. Celebrate with the Locals

Those who visit Central Pacolet in the summer should participate in the Annual Pacolet Indian Summer Festival. It occurs on the third Saturday of October every year and is held in the Upcountry in the Pacolet Mountains on Highway 150. The event includes live music, car shows, games, inflatables, amusement rides, food, fine arts, and craft vendors. It usually starts at 10 AM and lasts until 4 PM.