Fishing in Union County, South Carolina
County seat: Union. Population 27,244 (2020). SCDNR Region 1.
- 2lake pages
- 10landings
- 2river pages
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Union County fishing on SCDNR records
A county of 27,244 people in 2020, Union County is governed from Union. The county's SCDNR landings are mostly tagged SCDNR Region 1. The county holds 2 lakes with pages; Lake John D. Long is the biggest. The state lake program covers 2 state lakes in the county, Jonesville Reservoir Lake among them.
SCDNR lists 10 landings and paddle launches and 15 piers and bank sites across the county. Moving water with its own page includes Broad River and Tyger River.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 9, 2026. SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026.
Landings, piers and lakes of Union County on the map
SCDNR Public Water Access layer and lake points, checked November 9, 2026.
Lake water on record in Union County
| Lake | Size | Landings | Kind | SCDNR species list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake John D. Long | 80 acres | 1 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Jonesville Reservoir Lake | 25 acres | 1 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
Paged still water outside Union County, closest to Union first.
| Lake | From Union | Size | Landings | Kind | SCDNR species list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Edwin Johnson | 16 miles northwest | 40 acres | 0 | mapped lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Mountain Lakes | 22 miles east | 42 acres | 1 | mapped lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Lake Cherokee | 22 miles north | 50 acres | 1 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish, Bluegill |
| Lake Oliphant | 25 miles east | 40 acres | 1 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Lake Thicketty | 26 miles north | 100 acres | 1 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Draper WMA Lakes | 27 miles northeast | 5 acres | 0 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
Surface acres and depth as SCDNR prints them on its page for this lake, read November 9, 2026. Sizes SCDNR does not print show as mapped outline area. Species as SCDNR lists them at its access points.
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Each bar counts the lake pages within 50 miles of Union whose SCDNR access lists include the fish; Largemouth Bass shows up most.
SCDNR Public Water Access species lists, counted per lake page within 50 miles; an occurrence list, not a catch survey.
Union County lakes run under the state lake rules
| State lake | Size | Fishing hours | Boat and motor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesville Reservoir Lake | 25 acres | ½ hour before official sunrise to ½ hour after official sunset | Paddle or electric trolling motor only |
| Lake John D. Long | 80 acres | ½ hour before official sunrise to ½ hour after official sunset | Paddle or electric trolling motor only |
South Carolina state lake rules
2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide, valid August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027 (online guide), read November 9, 2026. SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026.
Still water in Union County listed but not profiled
Another 3 named waters in Union County are listed here without a full write-up.
| Water | Size | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Creek Lake | not printed | named at an SCDNR access |
| Sedalia Lake | not printed | named at an SCDNR access |
| Wildcat Lake | not printed | named at an SCDNR access |
Outline area from the SCDNR Lakes and Reservoirs map layer (a GIS polygon area, not an SCDNR surface-acre figure), read November 9, 2026. SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026.
Streams SCDNR lists in Union County
- Broad Rivertidal, 31 SCDNR accesses, 8 USGS gauges
- Tyger River7 SCDNR accesses, 8 USGS gauges
Live stream readings across Union County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Broad River Near Carlisle, Sc | 1,320 cfs, 2.88 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:15 pm |
| Broad River Below Neal Shoals Res Nr Carlisle, Sc | 1,250 cfs, 3.91 ft gage height | Nov 13 6:45 pm |
| Pacolet River Near Saratt, Sc | 202 cfs, 4.65 ft gage height | Nov 13 6:30 pm |
| Enoree River At Whitmire, Sc | 112 cfs, 14.54 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:15 pm |
| Fairforest Creek Near Union, Sc | 76 cfs, 2.18 ft gage height | Nov 13 6:45 pm |
| Tyger River Above Whitmire Highway Nr Whitmire, Sc | 10.54 ft gage height | Nov 13 6:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026. USGS Water Data for the Nation, live through the site, retrieved on page view.
Ramp list for Union County from the SCDNR layer
- Beatys Bridge Boat Ramp on Tyger RiverTyger River, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved
- John D Long Boat RampLake John D. Long, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved, fishing pier
- Jonesville Reservoir Boat RampJonesville Reservoir Lake, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved, fishing pier
- Lockhart Put In below Lockhart Dam #2 Paddle Launch on Broad RiverBroad River, paddle launch
- Lockhart Take Out above Lockhart Dam #1 Paddle Launch on Broad RiverBroad River, paddle launch
- Rose Hill Boat Ramp on Tyger RiverTyger River, boat ramp, 1 lane, dirt
- Woods Ferry Boat Ramp on Broad RiverBroad River, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved
- Cedar Bluff Bridge Access on Tyger RiverTyger River, paddle launch
- Gordon's Bridge Paddle Launch on Tyger RiverTyger River, paddle launch
- Minnow Bridge Road Access on Tyger RiverTyger River, paddle launch
Union County bank sites on the SCDNR layer
- John Creek Lake Complex Pier on Johns Creek LakeJohns Creek Lake, pier, wood
- John D Long Lake Road Access BankLake John D. Long, bank
- Johns Creek Lake Complex Bank FishingJohns Creek Lake, bank
- Johns Creek Lake Complex PierJohns Creek Lake, pier, wood
- Wildcat Lake BankWildcat Lake, bank
- Foster Park (Pond) BankPond, bank
- Foster Park (pond) PierPond, pier, wood
- John D Long Lake Bank FishingLake John D. Long, bank
- John D Long Lake PierLake John D. Long, pier, wood
- Johns Creek Lake Complex Bank FishingJohns Creek Lake, bank, wood
- Jonesville Reservoir BankJonesville Reservoir Lake, bank
- Jonesville Reservoir PierJonesville Reservoir Lake, pier, wood
- Macedonia Lake Bank Fishing BankPond, bank
- Pittman Lake BankPond, bank
- Sedalia Lake BankSedalia Lake, bank
SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026. The SCDNR layer carries no fee or hours field.
What a Union County creel may hold
Most Union County fresh water follows the statewide limits below. A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day (freshwater), not exceeding the species limits (guide p. 28). Freshwater licenses run $10 for residents and $35 for visitors on the SCDNR fee page.
| Species | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| American Eel | 9 inches min | 25 |
| Blue Catfish | See limits in Freshwater Nongame Fishing Regulations section. | See limits in Freshwater Nongame Fishing Regulations section. |
| Bream | Any length | 30 |
| Redbreast Sunfish | Any length | 15 |
| Crappie | 8 inches min | 20 |
| Walleye & Sauger | Any length | No more than 8 combined total of walleye or sauger |
| Chain Pickerel | Any length | 30 |
| Redfin Pickerel | Any length | 30 |
| Yellow Perch | Any length | 30 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 12 inches min | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids |
| Redeye (Bartrams) Bass | Any length | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids |
| Largemouth Bass | Any length | No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids |
| Spotted Bass | Any length | 15 |
| White Bass | Any length | 10 |
| Striped or Hybrid Bass or a combination | Any length | 10 |
2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide, valid August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027 (online guide), read November 9, 2026. License prices as printed on the SCDNR license pricing pages (dnr.sc.gov), read November 9, 2026.
Heavyweights on the books around Union County
| Species | Weight as listed | List | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | 22-8, 42 1/4in | freshwater | Broad River | 2004 |
| Bullhead | 6-6.3 | freshwater | Broad River | 2009 |
South Carolina state record fish as listed by SCDNR (record list), read November 9, 2026.
Union County Yellow Pages tackle and guide listings
Where to buy shrimp and minnows in Union County
- Downsouth Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Union
- The Outpost, 315 Belvue Drbait and tackle shop, Union
Yellow Pages listings (city of business), read November 9, 2026.
Branching out from Union County
Where to base a trip in Union County
- Unionpop. 8,174
Counties a short hop from Union County
- Cherokee County25 miles north
- Chester County26 miles east
- Laurens County26 miles southwest
- Spartanburg County27 miles northwest
Piscifun reels and leaders boxed up for Union County
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Lakes, blackwater creeks and inlets close to Union County, in pictures
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Photo: Jack Beaman, CC BY 2.0
Fishing around Union County: the questions that come up
Where can a boat be launched in Union County?
There are 10 landings and launches on SCDNR maps of the county.
Which lake in Union County is biggest?
Lake John D. Long comes first with 80 acres.
What can be caught near Union County according to SCDNR lists?
SCDNR access lists name Largemouth Bass on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then Bluegill, Redear Sunfish and Channel Catfish.
Does Union County have a bait and tackle listing?
2 listings, including Downsouth Outdoors.
Which SC town hosts the Union County seat?
Union.
What does a fishing license cost for Union County water?
Freshwater licenses run $10 for residents and $35 for visitors on the SCDNR fee page.
What counties lie beside Union County?
By distance: Cherokee County, Chester County and Laurens County.
Is there a crappie size limit across Union County?
Statewide: Crappie: 20 daily, size 8 inches min. A guide row naming a lake can change it.
Which SCDNR region covers Union County?
SCDNR Region 1, going by the majority of its SCDNR access records.
Which state lakes are in Union County?
Jonesville Reservoir Lake and Lake John D. Long, with hours and boat rules set by the state lake regulation.
Which SCDNR records came from Union County?
Muskellunge, 22-8, 42 1/4in as listed, from Broad River (2004).
Spend a Palmetto morning on Union County water
River pages list SCDNR accesses and USGS flow.