Lake Thicketty Fishing
A 100-acre South Carolina state lake in Cherokee County.
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A first look at Lake Thicketty
By the SCDNR lake page, Lake Thicketty covers 100 acres across Cherokee County. The closest Census town, Cowpens, sits about 4 miles away.
Trailers go in at 1 landing or paddle launch in the SCDNR access data. For bank fishing there are 1 pier or bank site. The state lake rules of Regulation 123-210 cover it. Its access records sit in SCDNR Region 1.
Surface acres and depth as SCDNR prints them on its page for Lake Thicketty, 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.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 9, 2026.
SCDNR on Lake Thicketty
In SCDNR words, Lake Thicketty is:
Thicketty Lake in Cherokee County is a 100-acre lake that offers a boat ramp. Fishing opportunities include largemouth bass, bluegill, shellcracker, and catfish.
- Hours (SCDNR)This lake is open to fishing 24 hours a day. The lake is open for all other allowed purposes 1/2 hour before official sunrise to 1/2 hour after official sunset.
- Directions (SCDNR)From Gaffney on I-85 S, take exit 87 Road 39. Merge onto Old Post Road and turn right onto Macedonia Road (State Road S-11-39). Travel 1.4 miles and turn left onto James Road. Take an immediate left onto Trout View Road. Road deadends at Lake Thicketty.
SCDNR lake page, read November 9, 2026.
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The chips below are the fish SCDNR names at Lake Thicketty landings, an occurrence list rather than a survey.
SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026.
Floating a boat on Lake Thicketty
- Thicketty Creek Boat Rampboat ramp, 2 lanes, concrete or paved; Limited Parking on side of road in dirt or grass (dirt)
Fishing Lake Thicketty from the bank
- Thicketty Mountain Lake Bankbank
Launch sites close to Lake Thicketty
- Lake Blalock Parkboat ramp, 2 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock, fishing pier, 6 miles
- Lake Whelchel Boat Rampboat ramp, 2 lanes, concrete or paved, courtesy dock, fishing pier, 8 miles
- Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve Paddle Launch on Lawsons Fork Creekpaddle launch, 11 miles
- Bowens River Access and Parking Area on Broad Riverpaddle launch, 11 miles
- Lake Cherokee Boat Rampboat ramp, 1 lane, concrete or paved, fishing pier, 12 miles
- Cherokee Ford Recreation Area Paddle Launch on Broad Riverpaddle launch, dirt, 13 miles
SCDNR South Carolina Public Water Access layer (ArcGIS service, the data behind the SCDNR fishing access map), read November 9, 2026.
Filling a cooler at Lake Thicketty
The guide writes nothing special for Lake Thicketty, leaving the statewide limits in force.
Statewide freshwater rows that reach Lake Thicketty
| Species | Size | Daily |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
The state-lake row for Lake Thicketty
- open daysEvery day
- hours24 hours a day
- boat and motor limitPaddle, electric trolling motor, or gas outboards 10 hp or less
- catfish5
- bass5
- bream20
- statewide crappie limit appliesYes, but no min size
- minnows as baitYes
- boat rampX
A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day (freshwater), not exceeding the species limits (guide p. 28).
2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide, valid August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027 (online guide), read November 9, 2026.
Lake Thicketty beside nearby lakes
Lake Cherokee leads this group at 50 acres per SCDNR.
| Lake | Distance | Size | County | Landings | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Blalock | 6 miles | not stated | Spartanburg County | 1 | 1 |
| Lake Cherokee | 12 miles | 50 acres | Cherokee County | 1 | 4 |
| Lake Edwin Johnson | 14 miles | 40 acres | Spartanburg County | 0 | 5 |
| Lake William C Bowen | 16 miles | about 1,462 acres of mapped outline | Spartanburg County | 1 | 0 |
| Jonesville Reservoir Lake | 16 miles | 25 acres | Union County | 1 | 4 |
SCDNR lake pages, the outline layer and the Public Water Access layer; outline areas are GIS figures. Read November 9, 2026.
Not far from Lake Thicketty
More South Carolina lakes around Lake Thicketty
- Lake Blalock6 miles west
- Lake Cherokee12 miles east
- Lake Edwin Johnson14 miles south
- Lake William C Bowen16 miles west
- Jonesville Reservoir Lake16 miles south
Stores worth a stop before Lake Thicketty
- Upstate Tradingbait and tackle shop, Gaffney, 8 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 100 Peachwood Centre Drbait and tackle shop, Spartanburg, 16 miles
- Palmetto Guide Servicesbait and tackle shop, Smyrna, 19 miles
- Brown's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Duncan, 23 miles
- Fulton's Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Duncan, 23 miles
- Old School Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Duncan, 23 miles
Hiring a captain for Lake Thicketty
- Sportsman Fishing Lakefishing guide, Cowpens, (864) 463-6677
Towns a back-road drive from Lake Thicketty
- Cowpens4 miles
- Gaffney7 miles
- East Gaffney9 miles
South Carolina county pages that cover Lake Thicketty
- Cherokee Countyseat: Gaffney
Piscifun tackle laid out for a tide at Lake Thicketty
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Lowcountry and Upstate water near Lake Thicketty, on camera
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jack Beaman, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mark Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0
Clearing up Lake Thicketty before the boat goes in
Which county lines does Lake Thicketty cross?
Head for Cherokee County; the nearest Census town, Cowpens, is about 4 miles away.
How many acres does SCDNR give Lake Thicketty?
100 acres on the SCDNR page.
Which landing suits a first trip to Lake Thicketty?
1 landing or paddle launch, with Thicketty Creek Boat Ramp among them.
Which fish turn up on SCDNR records for Lake Thicketty?
Its landings carry Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Black Crappie and Channel Catfish in the SCDNR data.
Which limits govern a catch at Lake Thicketty?
Nothing water-specific is printed; statewide bass reads Largemouth Bass: No more than 5 combined total of smallmouth, largemouth, redeye bass or their hybrids daily, size any length. Its state-lake row sets separate creel figures.
Where is a license sold before a trip to Lake Thicketty?
Anglers 16 and older need a South Carolina freshwater fishing license; SCDNR prints $10 for a resident annual license and $35 for a nonresident annual license.
Are there shore spots on Lake Thicketty?
The access layer holds 1 pier or bank site, Thicketty Mountain Lake Bank among them.
Where is the closest bait shop to Lake Thicketty?
Nearest on our list: Upstate Trading, about 8 miles away.
Are minnows allowed at Lake Thicketty?
open days: Every day; hours: 24 hours a day; boat and motor limit: Paddle, electric trolling motor, or gas outboards 10 hp or less; catfish: 5.
Hitch up the jon boat for Lake Thicketty
Buy the SCDNR license before you hitch the trailer.