To be clear, you must have a fishing
permit for the side of the reservoir you
are on, but permits that cover the entire
area for both states are available. It is
best to obtain the combo permit, that
way you don’t have to worry about which
side you were on when you caught that
lu nker.
The Toledo Bend itself consists of more
than 180,000 acres of area, and is one
of the largest man-made bodies of water
in the United States. A wide variety of
clubs and angler associations come to
fish Toledo Bend, and there are tons
of events and tournaments throughout
the year. The American Bass Anglers
18 Fall 2016 Adventure Outdoors
Championship and the 2016 KBF Open
(Kayak Bass Fishing) are just two of
the major events that have happened
recently, with more to come for the
remainder of the season.
If – no – when you get a bite on your line
here, do not be disappointed if it isn’t a
bass. Toledo Bend is known for its bass
fishing, but other species are present
in the lake as well, such as crappie and
catfish. Never fear; Toledo Bend has a
record of 80+ lunkers caught in a single
year, and a weight record of 15.33 pounds
for the biggest bass, so your chances of
reeling in a big boy are excellent.
Coming in second place are the Santee
Cooper Lakes in Marion and Moultrie,
South Carolina. With over 400 miles of
shoreline and 160,000 acres of land and
water, these lakes will never let you, as
a fisherman, down. Lake Marion is the
largest of the lakes, and the largest in
South Carolina, where locals often refer
to it as the “inland sea.” Lake Moultrie
is Marion’s little sister, and we say
little in the most respectful manner,
because her area alone makes up just
over 60,000 acres. The two lakes feed
into each other and a variety of rivers,
swamps, and creeks are accessible all
up and down their expanse.