Pacolet River Fishing Guides
A small, overlooked upstate tailwater below Lake Blalock, running redbreast and redeye water through Spartanburg County shoals.
Guides on the Pacolet River
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About the Pacolet River
The Pacolet below Lake Blalock is a modest river by any measure, and that is exactly why it fishes the way it does. The reservoir release keeps water moving through reaches that would otherwise go low and warm in late summer, and the result is a piedmont stream with more consistent flow than its drainage area would predict. It is not a destination tailwater and nobody is going to confuse it with a western trout river, but it is a genuinely pleasant piece of small water within easy reach of Spartanburg and Gaffney.
The fishery is a warmwater one. Redbreast sunfish are the everyday quarry and they are worth taking seriously on a light fly rod or an ultralight spinning outfit, hitting poppers along the shaded banks through the whole warm season. Redeye bass, the upstate’s native black bass, hold in the faster shoal water and the pocket water behind boulders. Largemouth occupy the slower pools, spotted bass have spread through much of the system, and channel catfish work the deeper bends after dark.
The river’s character comes from the shoals. This is fall line country, and the Pacolet drops through a series of ledges and rock gardens that make for interesting paddling at moderate water and scratchy dragging at low water. The Pacolet River Heritage Preserve protects a stretch of the corridor and offers walk-in access to water that sees very little pressure. Below the town of Pacolet the river runs toward its confluence with the Broad through more open country.
This is a do-it-yourself river more than a guided one, and anglers should expect to scout rather than to hire. Access is scattered and some of it is informal, so respect posted land and use the public points. The release pattern from Blalock is tied to water supply rather than recreation, so check the gauge rather than assuming a schedule, and be aware that the river comes up quickly after upstate thunderstorms.
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Access
Below Lake Blalock near Cowpens - the gauge reach and the top of the tailwater.
Pacolet River Heritage Preserve - walk-in access to a protected stretch of the corridor.
Town of Pacolet river access - the main public launch on the middle river.
Highway 150 crossing - bridge access on the upper reach.
Clifton area mill sites - historic mill village access along the river corridor.
Converse area - bank access on the upper river below the lake.
Lower Pacolet toward the Broad confluence - takeout for the long float.
Seasons
Spring: best flows of the year and the strongest redbreast and redeye fishing.
Summer: low clear water, evening popper fishing and catfish after dark.
Fall: cooling water and good sight fishing in the shoals with very little pressure.
Winter: slow, but the deeper pools hold fish for patient anglers on warm afternoons.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Pacolet River?
As of Sep 17, 4:45 am, the USGS gauge PACOLET RIVER BELOW LAKE BLALOCK NEAR COWPENS, SC reads 86 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Pacolet River?
Anglers target Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Redbreast Sunfish, Redeye Bass, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass on the Pacolet River in South Carolina.
Where can you access the Pacolet River?
Below Lake Blalock near Cowpens - the gauge reach and the top of the tailwater. Pacolet River Heritage Preserve - walk-in access to a protected stretch of the corridor. Town of Pacolet river access - the main public launch on the middle river. Highway 150 crossing - bridge access on the upper reach. Clifton area mill sites - historic mill village access along the river corridor. Converse area - bank access on the upper river below the lake. Lower Pacolet toward the Broad confluence - takeout for the long float.
When is the best time to fish the Pacolet River?
Spring: best flows of the year and the strongest redbreast and redeye fishing. Summer: low clear water, evening popper fishing and catfish after dark. Fall: cooling water and good sight fishing in the shoals with very little pressure. Winter: slow, but the deeper pools hold fish for patient anglers on warm afternoons.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Pacolet River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the South Carolina agency site: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html