S.C. Code Regs. 123-209 - Term and Conditions for the Public's Use of State Lakes and Ponds Owned by the Department of Natural Resources

A. Pursuant to the conditions provided in 1976 Code Section 50-11-2200 prohibiting certain acts and conduct on state lakes owned or leased by the department, regulations defining the terms and conditions for public use of state lakes owned by the Department are as follows:

a. Draper WMA State Lakes in York County

i. The lakes are open for fishing from one-half hour before official sunrise to one-half hour after official sunset, every day except Tuesday. The ponds are closed to fishing on Tuesdays.

ii. Fishing is allowed with only rod and reels or poles. The statewide limit on the number of these devices applies.

iii. No minnows allowed for bait.

iv. Combined daily fish limits from all ponds are 3 largemouth bass, 15 bream to include redbreast sunfish, and 3 catfish. Statewide limits apply for all other fish species, except no size limit for crappie.

v. Trails are for walking or fishing access only; no ATVs, motorized vehicles, or horses allowed on these trails.

vi. Pets must be on leashes or under the control of their owner at all times.

vii. No boats are allowed in ponds.

viii. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on department lake properties, except as by special permit from the department.

b. Lake Cherokee in Cherokee County

i. The lake is open to fishing 24 hours a day. The lake is open for other allowed purposes from one-half hour before official sunrise until one-half hour after official sunset.

ii. Fishing is allowed with only rod and reels or poles. The statewide limit on the number of these devices applies.

iii. Daily fish limits are 5 largemouth bass, 10 bream to include redbreast sunfish, and 3 catfish. Statewide limits apply for all other fish species, except no size limit on crappie.

iv. Vehicles are restricted to roads and designated access areas only.

v. Trails are for walking or fishing access only; no ATVs, motorized vehicles, or horses allowed on these trails.

vi. Pets must be on leashes or under the control of their owner at all times.

vii. Boats are allowed but may only be propelled by paddle or electric trolling motors.

viii. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on department lake properties, except as by special permit from the department.

c. Lake Edgar Brown in Barnwell County

i. The lake is open to fishing 24 hours a day. The lake is open for other allowed purposes from one-half hour before official sunrise until one-half hour after official sunset.

ii. Fishing is allowed with only rod and reels or poles. The statewide limit on the number of these devices applies.

iii. Daily fish limits are 3 largemouth bass 16 inches or longer, 20 bream to include redbreast sunfish, and 3 catfish. Statewide limits apply for all other fish species, except no size limit on crappie.

iv. Vehicles are restricted to roads and designated access areas only. No motorized vehicles of any type allowed on dikes.

v. Trails are for walking or fishing access only; no ATVs, motorized vehicles, or horses allowed on these trails.

vi. Pets must be on leashes or under the control of their owner at all times.

vii. Motor powered boats are allowed. North of Wellington Road only outboard motors rated at 10 horsepower or less are allowed.

viii. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on department lake properties, except as by special permit from the department.

d. Lake George Warren in Hampton County

i. The lake is open to fishing 24 hours a day. The lake is open for other allowed purposes from one-half hour before official sunrise until one-half hour after official sunset.

ii. Fishing is allowed with only rod and reels or poles. The statewide limit on the number of these devices applies.

iii. Daily fish limits are 3 largemouth bass, 20 bream to include redbreast sunfish, and 3 catfish. Statewide limits apply for all other fish species, except no size limit on crappie.

iv. Vehicles are restricted to roads and designated access areas only.

v. Trails are for walking or fishing access only; no ATVs, motorized vehicles, or horses allowed on these trails.

vi. Pets must be on leashes or under the control of their owner at all times.

vii. Boats are allowed, but may only be propelled by paddle, electric trolling motors or outboard motors rated at 10 horsepower or less.

viii. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on department lake properties, except as by special permit from the department.

e. Lake John D. Long in Union County

i. The lake is open from one-half hour before official sunrise until one-half hour after official sunset.

ii. Fishing is allowed with only rod and reels or poles. The statewide limit on the number of these devices applies.

iii. Daily fish limits are 5 largemouth bass, 10 bream to include redbreast sunfish, and 5 catfish. Statewide limits apply for all other fish species, except no size limit on crappie.

iv. Vehicles are restricted to roads and designated access areas only.

v. Trails are for walking or fishing access only; no ATVs, motorized vehicles, or horses allowed on these trails.

vi. Pets must be on leashes or under the control of their owner at all times.

vii. No minnows allowed for bait.

viii. Boats are allowed but may only be propelled by paddle or electric trolling motors.

ix. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on department lake properties, except as by special permit from the department.

f. Mountain Lakes in Chester County

i. Mountain Lakes 1 (large lake, 42 acres) is open on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from one-half hour before official sunrise to one-half hour after official sunset. Mountain Lakes 2 (small lake, 7 acres) is open on Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday from one-half hour before official sunrise to one-half hour after official sunset.

ii. Fishing is allowed with only rod and reels or poles. The statewide limit on the number of these devices applies.

iii. Daily fish limits for Mountain Lakes 1 are 3 largemouth bass, 10 bream to include redbreast sunfish, and 3 catfish. Statewide limits apply for all other fish species, except no size limit for crappie. Daily fish limits for Mountain Lakes 2 are 2 largemouth bass, 10 bream to include redbreast sunfish and 3 catfish. Statewide limits apply for all other fish species, except no size limit for crappie.

iv. Vehicles are restricted to roads and designated access areas only.

v. Trails are for walking or fishing access only; no ATVs, motorized vehicles, or horses allowed on these trails.

vi. Pets must be on leashes or under the control of their owner at all times.

vii. No minnows allowed for bait.

viii. Boats are allowed but may only be propelled by paddle or electric trolling motors.

ix. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on department lake properties, except as by special permit from the department.

g. Lake Paul Wallace in Marlboro County

i. The fishing side of the lake is open to fishing 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and open for other allowed purposes from one-half hour before official sunrise until one-half hour after official sunset. The boating side of the lake is open for fishing and other allowed purposes from one-half hour before official sunrise until one-half hour after official sunset.

ii. Fishing is allowed with only rod and reels or poles. The statewide limit on the number of these devices applies.

iii. Daily limits are 3 largemouth bass, 20 bream to include redbreast sunfish and 5 catfish. Statewide limits apply for all other fish species, except no size limit for crappie.

iv. No minnows allowed for bait.

v. Vehicles are restricted to roads and designated access areas only.

vi. Trails are for walking or fishing access only; no ATVs, motorized vehicles, or horses allowed on these trails.

vii. Pets must be on leashes or under the control of their owner at all times.

viii. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on department lake properties, except as by special permit from the department.

ix. Lake may be closed for special use activities by special permit from the department.

x. The department may issue to the Lake Paul Wallace Authority (the Authority) permits with conditions whereby the Authority may provide for fireworks shows and/or designate a public swimming area on the Lake Paul Wallace property provided that the Authority ensures that such actions comply with all local and state laws, regulations and ordinances applicable to fireworks displays and/or public swimming areas.

xi. Lake Wallace Fishing Side (East of the earthen dike that separates the two lake portions)

1. Boats are allowed, but may only be propelled by paddle, electric trolling motors, or outboard motors rated at 10 horsepower or less.

xii. Lake Wallace Boating Side (West of the earthen dike which separates the two lake portions)

1. Boats and water skiing are allowed and must follow a counter-clockwise route of travel.

2. Jet Ski or personal watercraft are allowed but not within 200 feet of boats.

3. All other South Carolina watercraft rules and regulations apply.

h. Lake Thicketty in Cherokee County

i. The lake is open to fishing 7 days a week 24 hours a day. The lake is open for other allowed purposes from one-half hour before official sunrise until one-half hour after official sunset.

ii. Fishing is allowed with only rod and reels or poles. The statewide limit on the number of these devices applies.

iii. Daily fish limits are 5 largemouth bass, 20 bream to include redbreast sunfish, and 5 catfish. Statewide limits apply for all other fish species, except no size limit on crappie.

iv. Vehicles are restricted to roads and designated access areas only.

v. Trails are for walking or fishing access only; no ATVs, motorized vehicles, or horses allowed on these trails.

vi. Pets must be on leashes or under the control of their owner at all times.

vii. Boats are allowed, but may only be propelled by paddle, electric trolling motors or outboard motors rated at 10 horsepower or less.

viii. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on department lake properties, except as by special permit from the department.

i. Dunn's Pond on Hamilton Ridge

i. The lakes are open for fishing Monday through Saturday from one-half hour before official sunrise until one-half hour after official sunset except for Monday afternoons, Tuesday mornings, Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning during scheduled deer hunts (October 1 - January 1).

ii. Fishing is allowed with only rod and reels or poles. The statewide limit on the number of these devices applies.

iii. Daily fish limits are 5 largemouth bass, and 5 bream to include redbreast sunfish. Statewide limits apply for all other fish species, except no size limit on crappie.

iv. Vehicles are restricted to roads and designated access areas only.

v. Trails are for walking or fishing access only; no ATVs, motorized vehicles, or horses allowed on these trails.

vi. Pets must be on leashes or under the control of their owner at all times.

vii. No minnows allowed for bait.

viii. Boats are allowed but may only be propelled by paddle or electric trolling motors.

ix. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on department lake properties, except as by special permit from the department.

Notes

S.C. Code Regs. 123-209

Added by State Register Volume 37, Issue No. 6, eff June 28, 2013; State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 07, eff. 7/24/2015; State Register Volume 41, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/23/2017; State Register Volume 46, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/27/2022.