Fishing in the Enoree District of the Sumter National Forest

South Carolina’s Sumter National Forest is a popular recreational area for hiking, fishing, camping, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities. The Enoree Ranger District is located in the central foothills area, just a short drive from the major population centers of Columbia and Greenville. Fishing is allowed in the three main rivers that run through the national forest, as well as several small lakes. Fishing areas are managed in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. A valid South Carolina fishing license is required to fish on national forest lands.

A small fishing pond is located in the Molly’s Rock Picnic Area, which was once the site of a plantation. The one-acre pond was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The Ranger District manages it for catfish, and there is a limit of 5 fish. A fishing pier and restrooms are available on site. Boating or swimming in the lake is not allowed. Molly’s Rock is located north of Newberry along US Hwy 176 and Forest Service Road 387.

Canoes and flat-bottomed boats less than 14 feet in length are recommended on the Broad, Tyger, and Enoree rivers that flow through the Sumter National Forest. Woods Ferry Recreation Area, near the city of Leeds, allows easy access for fishing and boating on the Broad River on the east side of the national forest. Restrooms, water, and picnic facilities are available in the day-use area. Camping is also allowed overnight. River access is also available at the Broad River Boat Ramp east of Monarch Mills. Anglers wishing to launch small boats into the River Tyger can use the gravel boat ramp at the Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site, located on SC Highway 16. An easily accessible concrete boat ramp is available at Beatty’s Bridge alongside to Highway 176 south of Union. The Enoree River is accessible at various points in the national forest. The ramps are located at Jones Bridge on SC Hwy 98 and at Forest Service Roads 336A and 339.

Several small lakes in the Sumter National Forest are managed for a variety of fish, including channel catfish and largemouth bass. Only electric motors are allowed in these lakes. The Johns Creek Lake Complex is located near Cross Keys on SC Hwy 18 and Forest Service Road 347. Sedalia Lake is located near Johns Creek Lake on the same road. Wildcat Lake is also off Forest Service Road 347. Lake Macedonia is located off Forest Service Road 444, approximately 12 miles west of Union. Pittman Lake is located northeast of Whitmire at Hwy 72 and Forest Service Road 434. Maps of the Sumter National Forest are available for purchase at district offices and online.

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