Photo Courtesy Steven Lamb
Copyright 2011 James Marsh
Fly Fishing the Saluda River Tailwater in
South Carolina
The Lower Saluda River is about the last place you
would think of fly fishing for trout in the state of South
Carolina. It's over a hundred miles to the mountains.
Lake Murray makes this possible. The lake is deep
enough that the Saluda River tailwater stays cold
enough to support trout and the state stocks both
rainbows and brown trout there. That said, fly fishing the
Saluda River tailwater can be challenging for a number
of reasons.
The trout are mostly put and take but it's also a put and
grow fishery. Young adult brown trout are stocked by
helicopter each Fall so they can grow and get used to
their new environment when the water is at its coldest
time of the year. Rainbows of catchable sizes are
stocked monthly, November through April. Although the
water gets marginal during the late Summer and early
Fall, and even though the stripes eat their share of the
trout, some make it as holdovers to grow larger.
This is a big dam with five generators and the flows vary
greatly depending on the need for power. The water
levels can vary up to ten feet and the currents are
dangerous on high water. A great amount of caution
should be used when wading the stream. The water
rises rapidly when the generators are cut on. Water flow
information is available by calling 800 - 830 - 5253.
Fly fishing the Saluda River tailwater isn't exactly easy. If
the water isn't low you need to fish from a drift boat from
various put in and take out points. When it is low you
much fish from public access points or obtain permission
from land owners along the river. The upper section has
access at Hope Ferry Landing and Saluda Shoals
Regional Park. There's also boat access at the state
Gardedndale launch behind the zoo.
The river is full of trout after the last April stocking. It's
probably the best month to fish but trout can be taken
year-round. The trout are commonly caught during the
winter months on midge imitations.
Seasons:
The trout season is open year-round.
Spring:
Spring is the best season to fish the Saluda River
tailwater.
Summer:
The water can get a warm during the hot Summer but it
stays cool enough for some trout to survive in the
uppermost section near the dam.
Fall:
Autumn is a good time to fish the river for the holdover
browns. .
Winter:
Fishing during the winter can be good on warm days.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies for the
Saluda River
South Carolina
The Lower Saluda River is about the last place you
would think of fly fishing for trout in the state of South
Carolina. It's over a hundred miles to the mountains.
Lake Murray makes this possible. The lake is deep
enough that the Saluda River tailwater stays cold
enough to support trout and the state stocks both
rainbows and brown trout there. That said, fly fishing the
Saluda River tailwater can be challenging for a number
of reasons.
The trout are mostly put and take but it's also a put and
grow fishery. Young adult brown trout are stocked by
helicopter each Fall so they can grow and get used to
their new environment when the water is at its coldest
time of the year. Rainbows of catchable sizes are
stocked monthly, November through April. Although the
water gets marginal during the late Summer and early
Fall, and even though the stripes eat their share of the
trout, some make it as holdovers to grow larger.
This is a big dam with five generators and the flows vary
greatly depending on the need for power. The water
levels can vary up to ten feet and the currents are
dangerous on high water. A great amount of caution
should be used when wading the stream. The water
rises rapidly when the generators are cut on. Water flow
information is available by calling 800 - 830 - 5253.
Fly fishing the Saluda River tailwater isn't exactly easy. If
the water isn't low you need to fish from a drift boat from
various put in and take out points. When it is low you
much fish from public access points or obtain permission
from land owners along the river. The upper section has
access at Hope Ferry Landing and Saluda Shoals
Regional Park. There's also boat access at the state
Gardedndale launch behind the zoo.
The river is full of trout after the last April stocking. It's
probably the best month to fish but trout can be taken
year-round. The trout are commonly caught during the
winter months on midge imitations.
Seasons:
The trout season is open year-round.
Spring:
Spring is the best season to fish the Saluda River
tailwater.
Summer:
The water can get a warm during the hot Summer but it
stays cool enough for some trout to survive in the
uppermost section near the dam.
Fall:
Autumn is a good time to fish the river for the holdover
browns. .
Winter:
Fishing during the winter can be good on warm days.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies for the
Saluda River
| Type of Stream Tailwater Species Brown Trout (Stocked with some holdovers) Rainbow Trout (Stocked with some holdovers) Size Medium Location Central South Carolina Nearest Towns Columbia Season Year-round Access: Limited Non-Resident License State of South Carolina Weather National Weather Service Link Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies for the Saluda River |
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| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. 2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need. 3. Call or email us with a budget for flies and we will select them and get them to you in time for your trip. Shipping is free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped Priority Mail. |
Saluda River South Carolina
All images courtesy of Steve Maslar,
Trout University
Trout University