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Fishing regulations at Nichol Branch, SC
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in South Carolina can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Smallmouth bass as of May 2nd, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Seasons
Bag limit
Min size
Measurement
Aggregate
Keep intact
A total of 40 game fish may be kept in any one day. This total shall not exceed more than the limits or exceptions listed below. Any game fish or species with a size limit listed must be landed with head and tail fin intact.
Special limits and regulations apply in:
- Chattooga River: no size limit; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Hartwell Lake: no size limit; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Keowee Lake: minimum size = 12-inches; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Russell Lake (including Lake Hartwell tailwater): no size limit; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Savannah River: no size limit; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Slade's Lake: minimum size = 12-inches; bag limit = no more than 2 combined total of black bass;
- Stevens Creek Reservoir: no size limit; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Thurmond Lake: no size limit; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Tugaloo Lake: no size limit; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- Yonah Lake: no size limit; bag limit = no more than 10 combined total of black bass;
- For more information, see SCDNR website.
Check with state parks, city reservoirs, or county parks for special limits and regulations that apply to those areas.
Micropterus dolomieui
Regulations for
FAQ about Nichol Branch fishing
- Smallmouth bass - 4 members reported to have caught this fish
- Bluegill - 1 members reported to have caught this fish
- Spotted bass - 1 members reported to have caught this fish
- @grubbskyle reported a nice Bluegill.
- @LanceLikesToFish reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @LanceLikesToFish reported a nice Spotted bass.
- @LanceLikesToFish reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @lstokes731 reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
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