Cope, SC Fishing: The Small and Rustic Getaway in South Carolina

Orangeburg County is home to the unincorporated community of Cope. It bears the name of a farmer named Jacob Martin Cope, who sold a piece of land in the 1890s to build the community and train station. The Manchester & Augusta Railroad was founded in 1894, and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad eventually used the same tracks.

The community of Cope started to grow once the railroad brought people and commerce there. Within a short period, Cope had two churches, a grist mill, a cotton gin, and general businesses like the still-loved Vallentines Store. This quick increase demonstrates how crucial railroads were to the state's early development.

Although Cope stopped serving as a train stop in the 1960s, history buffs continue to visit the town to see gin demonstrations at the Vallentines Shop and Gin and to view relics in the former store, which has since been converted into a sort of museum.

Cope Fishing

Cope is a small inland area, but it is close to various bodies of water brimming with multiple fish species. Explore these fishing spots by joining fishing tours and having freshwater charters accompany you. 

The tea-stained Edisto River, the longest free-flowing blackwater river in the country, is a small attraction that could be the most appealing canoe run in South Carolina. On the Edisto, there are neither dams nor rapids; only a leisurely, lolling river and the tranquil atmosphere one could anticipate from such a gorgeous Southern haven. The river flows from spring-fed headwaters in the central Sandhills through the center of floodplain forests to the rich estuary of the Ashepoo/Combahee/Edisto (ACE) Basin, which ranks among the prettiest in the East. It is framed by enormous oaks covered in Spanish moss and the largest old-growth stands of cypress tupelo in America. There are 250 miles of this paddling haven, with the 56-mile Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Trail cutting through Colleton and Givhan's Ferry state parks, which also include areas for camping and picnicking.

In the Edisto River, local and out-of-town anglers pursue largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish, and black crappie, but the prized redbreast sunfish may be the most sought-after species. Target stripers with the help of professional guides like Hooked Up On Striper Guide Service LLC.

Similarly, the most commonly caught species in nearby reservoirs called Copes, Pond, and Fogle Mill Pond include largemouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill.

Numerous techniques can be used to catch crappies. Typical methods include:

• Casting a small jig with a soft plastic body attached to the tip.
• Fishing for minnows under bobbers.
• Beetle-spin lures.
• Small hard plastic lures.

Crappies shift their diet from mostly consuming insects and crustaceans to primarily consuming fish as they get bigger. Therefore, lures resembling little fish can effectively catch a large crappie.

To catch redbreast sunfish, anglers can use a variety of live baits, including waxworms, grasshoppers, crickets, nightcrawlers, and mealworms. Fly lures that are small work nicely as well. Since they are typically simpler to catch when the water is cooler, fly fishing enthusiasts also like them during the cooler months. Most anglers use light spinning gear to catch this species of fish. They can be caught by anglers fishing from a boat drifting or moving slowly; fishing from the bank can also be successful. To keep redbreast sunfish from running away, anglers must not use a heavy line. A modest 18 to 14-ounce sliding sinker, a 12-inch leader, and smaller fishing equipment are required.

Anglers who prefer a larger body of water to fish at would love Lake Marion, less than an hour’s drive away. With 110,600 acres, Lake Marion is the largest lake in South Carolina. It is situated in the middle of the coastal plain and is surrounded by the counties of Clarendon, Calhoun, Berkeley, Orangeburg, and Sumter. The uppermost of the two lovely bodies of water that make up Santee Cooper Reservoir is Lake Marion. The Wateree and Congaree Rivers' confluence were periodically flooded, and forested wetlands form the abundantly animal-filled Sparkleberry Swamp,  whose headwaters almost entirely reach upstream.

Anglers will discover tens of thousands of stumps, dead tree trunks, and living cypress trees as a result of World War II. Nearly all of the lake's fish species, especially crappie, bream, and catfish, benefit greatly from the superb habitat provided by a major portion of this large woody detritus. On the gently sloping shorelines and backwater sloughs, native aquatic vegetation is abundant, providing habitat for largemouth bass, pickerel, bream, and many other species. To help boaters, navigational aids have been put all around the lake; still, care should be taken when navigating Lake Marion's waters. Lower Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie are connected by the 6.5-mile-long Diversion Canal, which offers anglers a profitable and weather-protected region.

Top 10 Fish Species in Cope, SC

The top ten fish species caught in Cope, SC, are redbreast sunfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, warmouth, channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish.

Seasonal Fishing

In the overall South Carolina state area, spring and summer are the finest seasons for fishing in local waterways. Many redbreast sunfish are around, and they bite nicely in late April through mid-May and July. Anglers can target largemouth bass and other bass species between May and December. Other sunfish species like bluegill, redear sunfish, and pumpkinseed can also be caught during the summer. Crappie migrate to their spawning grounds in March and April, making those months ideal for fishing. Anglers that catch catfish should target these species between mid-May and mid-July. The best times to catch black and yellow bullhead when they spawn are from May through June. The best fishing season for perch species is from March through May. Meanwhile, the ideal season for red drum fishing is in the fall.

Step Back in Time in Cope

Unexpectedly, one of the Palmetto State's tiniest communities is also one of its most attractive. This teeny-tiny incorporated community demonstrates that a community's growth and size do not determine how pleasant it is.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Even if someone lacks the resources or equipment necessary for fishing, they can still enjoy the sport by joining a fishing charter. Those interested in tuna fishing in South Carolina should consider seasoned experts like Fishin' Adventures and North Island Fishing Charters for a fantastic fishing experience around Cope and South Carolina.

2. See the Old Railroad at Cope Depot

Cope Station, constructed in 1894 for the new rail stop, helped draw attention to this unassuming location. Still in the middle of "downtown" Cope, the historic station offers a breathtaking glimpse into the past. Six years passed between its construction by the Manchester and Augusta Railroad and its purchase by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. The depot was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 and is situated along what is now the CSX Orangeburg Subdivision.

3. Marvel at the Murals Scattered Around the Area

You will be captivated by the houses and buildings as you drive through Cope since they are nostalgic. Most tourists can't help but pause to take pictures of the "Bank of Cope" painting, which shows the bank door and people outside it. Even the structure is covered with the mural, which features a young man riding his bike while leaning on the "bank."