River Bass Fishing in the Upstate
While most Spartanburg anglers drive to the big reservoirs, one of the best bass fisheries in the Upstate runs right through the county. The Pacolet River and its tributaries offer exceptional smallmouth, spotted, and largemouth bass fishing for anglers willing to trade boat ramps for rocky shoals and creek access points.
The Pacolet River system provides over 50 miles of fishable water beginning near downtown Spartanburg and extending through the county. SCDNR originally introduced smallmouth bass to the Tyger River system, but the Pacolet now holds a self-sustaining population of smallmouth along with spotted bass, Alabama bass, and largemouth in the deeper pools.
Where the Bass Are
The rocky shoals are the key habitat. Smallmouth and spotted bass hold in the current seams behind boulders and along ledge breaks where the river narrows through shoals. Fish regularly exceed 18 inches and fight with an intensity that makes lake fish feel tame by comparison. The constant current conditioning produces hard-fighting bass that punch well above their weight class.
Glendale Shoals is a popular access point where the river drops through a series of rapids. Below the shoals, deeper pools hold concentrations of bass around submerged structure and fallen hardwoods. The Pacolet Fishing Pier off Sunny Acres Road provides additional bank access near the Pacolet Reservoir dam.
Techniques That Work
Subsurface presentations dominate on the Pacolet. Hellgrammite imitations, crawfish patterns, and small jerkbaits worked through current seams produce consistent strikes. Topwater fishing with damselfly and popper patterns can be explosive in low-light conditions during the warmer months.
Kayak fishing is the ideal approach. Float trips combining fishing and paddling through the shoals and rapids offer an adventure that cannot be replicated on flat-water reservoirs. Moderate summer water temperatures make wet wading comfortable from May through September.
Multiple bridge crossings provide walk-in access for bank anglers who do not have a kayak. The rocky banks along many of the shoal sections offer room to cast without a boat.
What is Happening
Q: What bass species are in the Pacolet River?
A: The Pacolet holds smallmouth bass, spotted bass, Alabama bass, rock bass, and largemouth bass. Smallmouth prefer the rocky shoals and current, while largemouth relate to the calmer pools and areas near dams.
Q: Where can I access the Pacolet River for fishing?
A: Glendale Shoals, the Pacolet Fishing Pier off Sunny Acres Road, and multiple bridge crossings throughout the county provide public access. The Pacolet River Blueway offers over 50 miles of mapped water trail.
Q: What is the best way to fish the Pacolet River?
A: Kayak fishing is the most effective approach, allowing you to cover water and access remote shoals. Walk-in bank fishing works at bridge crossings and shoal access points. Hellgrammite patterns, small jerkbaits, and crawfish imitations are the top baits.
