Fishing in York County, South Carolina
County seat: York. Population 282,090 (2020). SCDNR Region 2.
- 3lake pages
- 11landings
- 2river pages
Pick for spotted bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Lake Wylie: Madhan Karthikeyan, CC BY 2.0
What York County offers from landing to tide line
York County had a 2020 population of 282,090 and runs its government out of York. Its public access points sit chiefly in SCDNR Region 2. 3 lakes with a full page lie in the county, and Lake Wylie spreads the widest. Regulation 123-210 governs 1 state lake here, such as Draper WMA Lakes.
Boaters get 11 landings and paddle launches, and shore anglers get 11 piers and bank sites, on SCDNR maps of the county. For current, start with Broad River and Catawba 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.
Where the water points land across York County
SCDNR Public Water Access layer and lake points, checked November 9, 2026.
SCDNR-profiled lakes inside York County
| Lake | Size | Landings | Kind | SCDNR species list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wylie | 7,316 acres | 5 | major reservoir | Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Bluegill |
| Draper WMA Lakes | 5 acres | 0 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Lake Crawford | not printed | 1 | named at an SCDNR access | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
York County has little paged lake water, so here are the nearest lakes from York.
| Lake | From York | Size | Landings | Kind | SCDNR species list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Oliphant | 14 miles south | 40 acres | 1 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Lake Cherokee | 19 miles west | 50 acres | 1 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish, Bluegill |
| Lake John D. Long | 22 miles southwest | 80 acres | 1 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Mountain Lakes | 24 miles south | 42 acres | 1 | mapped lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Jonesville Reservoir Lake | 27 miles west | 25 acres | 1 | SCDNR state lake | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish |
| Lake Thicketty | 32 miles west | 100 acres | 1 | 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.
For the spotted bass herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 The species tally for lakes near York County
Tallying lake pages up to 50 miles from York by SCDNR species entries puts Largemouth Bass first.
SCDNR Public Water Access species lists, counted per lake page within 50 miles; an occurrence list, not a catch survey.
Regulation 123-210 lakes in York County
| State lake | Size | Fishing hours | Boat and motor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draper WMA Lakes | 5 acres | ½ hour before official sunrise to ½ hour after official sunset | No boats allowed |
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.
Leftover named ponds on SCDNR records for York County
There are 2 further named waters in York County, with size where SCDNR maps one.
| Water | Size | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Lake York | not printed | named at an SCDNR access |
| Worth Mountain WMA Ponds | 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.
Flowing and tidal streams of York County
- Broad Rivertidal, 31 SCDNR accesses, 8 USGS gauges
- Catawba River11 SCDNR accesses, 4 USGS gauges
York County river gauges right now
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Catawba River Below Catawba, Sc | 1,300 cfs, 5.24 ft gage height | Nov 12 8:00 pm |
| Catawba River Near Rock Hill, Sc | 1,150 cfs, 3.46 ft gage height | Nov 12 8:00 pm |
| Catawba River Bl Lake Wylie Dam Fewell Island, Sc | 1,060 cfs, 5.83 ft gage height | Nov 12 8:15 pm |
| Sugar Creek Nr Fort Mill, Sc | 153 cfs, 4.02 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:45 pm |
| Allison Creek At Rd 114 Near York, Sc | 8 cfs, 4.10 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:30 pm |
| Big Dutchman Creek At Rock Hill, Sc | 4 cfs, 1.11 ft gage height | Jul 1 10:30 am Not updated since Jul 1, 2026. |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 8:32 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.
York County boat landings and paddle launches
- Allison Creek Boat Ramp on Lake WylieLake Wylie, boat ramp, 4 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock, fishing pier
- Buster Boyd Boat Ramp on Lake WylieLake Wylie, boat ramp, 4 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock
- Dalton's Landing on Broad RiverBroad River, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved
- Ebenezer Boat Ramp on Lake WylieLake Wylie, boat ramp, 3 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock
- Fort Mill Boat Ramp on Lake WylieLake Wylie, boat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved
- King's Mountain State Park on Lake CrawfordLake Crawford, paddle launch
- King's Mountain State Park on Lake YorkLake York, paddle launch
- Nivens Creek Boat Ramp on Lake WylieLake Wylie, boat ramp, 2 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock
- Riverwalk Canoe and Kayak Launch on Catawba RiverCatawba River, paddle launch
- Catawba Nation Hand Carry Boat LaunchCatawba River, paddle launch
- River Park in Rock Hill on Catawba RiverCatawba River, paddle launch
Piers and bank access of York County
- Draper WMA 1st PondDraper WMA Lakes, bank
- Draper WMA 2nd PondDraper WMA Lakes, bank
- Draper WMA 3rd PondDraper WMA Lakes, bank
- Ebanezer Park Fishing Peir on Lake WylieLake Wylie, pier, concrete or paved
- Ebenezer Park Bank on Lake WylieLake Wylie, bank
- Fort Mill Access Pier on Catawba RiverCatawba River, pier, concrete or paved
- Worth Mountain WMA 211 Pond on Worth Mountain WMA PondsWorth Mountain WMA Ponds, bank
- Worth Mountain WMA Horseshoe Pond on Worth Mountain WMA PondsWorth Mountain WMA Ponds, bank
- Worth Mountain WMA Interior Pond on Worth Mountain WMA PondsWorth Mountain WMA Ponds, bank
- Allison Creek Landing Pier on Lake WylieLake Wylie, pier, aluminum
- Kings Mountain State Park Bank (Lake Crawford) on Lake CrawfordLake Crawford, 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.
Size and daily limits for York County water
Wherever no guide row names a York County water, these statewide freshwater limits govern it. A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day (freshwater), not exceeding the species limits (guide p. 28). A year of freshwater fishing costs $10 for a South Carolina resident and $35 for anyone from out of state.
| 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 |
Spots in York County with their own limits
- Lake WylieLargemouth Bass: 14 inches min, No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids
License rules for York County border lakes
- Lake WylieThe 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide prints no reciprocal license agreement with North Carolina, so the South Carolina license and limits apply on the South Carolina side.
South Carolina border water rules
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.
Where York County turns up on the record list
| 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.
Bass trails and weigh-ins on York County water
Clubs and trails post 8 events on York County water; 3 remain on the schedule.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 5, 2026 | CATT Lake Wylie Fall Qualifier #6 | Lake Wylie | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Dec. 12, 2026 | CATT Lake Wylie Fall Final | Lake Wylie | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Oct. 29, 2027 | 2027 CATT Reel Skill Classic | Lake Wylie | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Oct. 17, 2026 | Arthur Harris & Eric Raines Win Lake Wylie, SC Oct 17, 2026 13.98 lbs! | Lake Wylie | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Sept. 12, 2026 | Lake Wylie, SC Sept 12, 2026 Results! Dalton Russell Weighs Up 16.76 lbs! BF 4.75 lbs! | Lake Wylie | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Aug. 29, 2026 | CATT Results Lake Wylie, SC Aug 29, 2026. Taylor Bond 1st Place With 15.32 lbs! | Lake Wylie | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| May 23, 2026 | Steven & Glen Sparrow Weighed in17.75 lbs Taking 1st Place @ Lake Wylie, SC Spring Final May 23, 2026. $1,475.00! | Lake Wylie | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| April 4, 2026 | South Carolina Bass Nation, Lake Wylie, April 4, 2026 | Lake Wylie | South Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation |
Organizer schedule and results pages, checked November 2026.
Stocking up for a York County trip
Marinas and tackle shops of York County
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 2468 Crosspointe Drbait and tackle shop, Rock Hill
- Allout Consignmentbait and tackle shop, Rock Hill
- Bass Pro Shops, 1000 Cabelas Drbait and tackle shop, Fort Mill
- Cabela'sbait and tackle shop, Fort Mill
- Catawba Tackle & Marine Cobait and tackle shop, Rock Hill
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 2321 Dave Lyle Blvdbait and tackle shop, Rock Hill
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 5930 Charlotte Hwybait and tackle shop, Clover
- HuntFishPaddlebait and tackle shop, Clover
- Lake Wyale Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Clover
- Nichols Storebait and tackle shop, Rock Hill
- Palmetto Guide Servicesbait and tackle shop, Smyrna
- Tega Cay Marina, 100 Stone Village Drmarina, Fort Mill
- Tega Cay Marina, 28000 Marina Drmarina, Fort Mill
Paid trips out of York County
- Anglerschannel.comfishing guide, Rock Hill, (803) 851-7388
- Capt. Bill's Fish'n Guide Servicefishing guide, Rock Hill, (803) 524-1951
- Rizz's Outdoorsfishing guide, Lake Wylie, (803) 230-6309
Yellow Pages listings (city of business), read November 9, 2026.
Next stops beyond York County
York County communities with pages
- Rock Hillpop. 74,372
- Fort Millpop. 24,521
- Lake Wyliepop. 13,655
- Tega Caypop. 12,832
- Yorkpop. 8,503
- Cloverpop. 6,671
- Newportpop. 4,744
- Baxter Villagepop. 4,217
- India Hookpop. 3,817
- Lessliepop. 3,068
Counties ringing York County
- Chester County19 miles south
- Cherokee County25 miles west
- Union County31 miles southwest
- Lancaster County34 miles southeast
Piscifun gear a Palmetto State angler could pack for York County
.jpg){kind=link}
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Palmetto State fish to know on sight at York County
Photo: Under the same moon, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Lakes, creeks and landings of York County, in questions
How many SCDNR ramps serve York County?
Count 11 landings and launches in the SCDNR access layer.
Which still water in York County is widest?
Lake Wylie, with 7,316 acres.
What fish show up on access lists near York County?
SCDNR access lists name Largemouth Bass on the most lake pages within 50 miles, then Bluegill, Redear Sunfish and Channel Catfish.
Where are the York County tackle counters on Yellow Pages?
Start with Academy Sports + Outdoors, 2468 Crosspointe Dr, one of 13.
Where is the York County courthouse?
York holds it.
Which SCDNR license do I buy for York County lakes?
A year of freshwater fishing costs $10 for a South Carolina resident and $35 for anyone from out of state.
Which counties neighbour York County?
Begin with Chester County, Cherokee County and Union County.
How many crappie can a York County angler keep each day?
Statewide: Crappie: 20 daily, size 8 inches min. A guide row naming a lake can change it.
Is York County in SCDNR Region 1, 2, 3 or 4?
SCDNR Region 2, going by the majority of its SCDNR access records.
Are there lake-specific limits in York County?
1 water with a page here have a guide row of their own, beginning with Lake Wylie.
Where is the state fishing lake in York County?
Draper WMA Lakes, with hours and boat rules set by the state lake regulation.
Do SC clubs and trails fish York County?
8 organizer entries on file; next is CATT Lake Wylie Fall Qualifier #6 on Lake Wylie, Dec. 5, 2026.
Which records were caught in York County water?
Muskellunge, 22-8, 42 1/4in as listed, from Broad River (2004).
How do licenses work on York County border water?
The 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide prints no reciprocal license agreement with North Carolina, so the South Carolina license and limits apply on the South Carolina side.
Plan a fishing weekend across York County
Lake pages show landings, SCDNR species lists and any guide row.