“We conducted a creel survey on the Buzzard’s Roost tailrace and Saluda River below Lake Greenwood,” Hayes said, “and the panfishing success was right up there with striper and largemouth bass fishing.

“Anglers will find mostly bluegills and redbreasts on that section. Due to re-licensing of the hydropower operations, there are a lot of new access areas for fishermen.”

Sticking on the small-water body theme, Hayes said anglers should investigate ponds located on the Sumter National Forest, specifically the 28-acre Parsons Mountain Lake and the 12-acre Lick Fork Lake in the Long Cane Ranger District. You can contact the U.S. Forest Service at (803) 637-5396 to obtain additional information.

“Many of the state parks have lakes that offer great bream fishing,” said Dan Rankin, SCDNR freshwater fisheries regional coordinator for Region 1.

“Oconee State Park features two lakes, one 20 acres and the other 12 acres. The 12-acre lake in the campground was just limed and fertilized, renovated and restocked, so it won’t be open until probably the spring of 2008.”

You can find out more about the fishing opportunities at Oconee State Park near Mountain Rest by calling the park at (864) 638-5353.

“Table Rock State Park features bream fishing at 36-acre Pinnacle Lake and 67-acre Lake Oolenoy,” Rankin said. “There is boat access at both lakes, and Lake Oolenoy can be easily covered with a trolling motor. Bank access is excellent at both lakes and there is a handicapped-accessible fishing pier on Lake Oolenoy.”

Contact Table Rock State Park, located outside of Pickens at (864) 878-9813 for further information.

Farther east, Rankin said great bream fishing can be found in a series of SJWD watershed lakes (www. sjwd.com).

“Lakes Cooley and Lyman are mostly shellcracker lakes,” Rankin said. “Use permits are required for both lakes, but they provide excellent fishing. Lake Lyman near Greer was a private lake before SJWD acquired it, and it is a good sunfish lake.”

Boating fees vary based on horsepower and physical address of anglers. Spartanburg County residents can expect to pay $60 for boats with motors exceeding 15 horsepower. The fee for South Carolina residents outside of the county is $120 and non-residents would pay $240 for an annual permit. Fees for boats with motors 15 horsepower and less are $40, $80 and $120, respectively, for Spartanburg County residents, South Carolina residents outside of Spartanburg County and non-residents.

Users also have to obtain a copy of the boat and motor policies from the SJWD lake warden.

“Another recommended water system lake is Lake Blalock,” Rankin said. “This 700-acre lake is owned by the Spartanburg Water System, and it has a lot of snails and clams, which benefit the lake’s good shellcracker population.”

Lake Blalock, located five miles northeast of Spartanburg, was constructed in 1983, and recently underwent some work. The lake just reopened in spring 2006 after the water level was raised 10 feet. The lake features about 35 miles of shoreline.

There is a use permit required on Lake Blalock as well. Daily fees, depending on motor horsepower and location of anglers, range from $4 to $15, while annual permits range from $30 to $85. You can contact the lake warden office at (864)-578-5442 for additional information about the lake.