
Lake Ashwood is a 75-acre state fishing lake in Lee County, one of a network of small, intensively managed public lakes the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources maintains in places where good fishing access is otherwise hard to find. It is the kind of quiet, dependable water where a family can spend an easy morning catching fish.
Lake Ashwood at a glance
| Surface area | ≈ 75 acres |
| County | Lee County |
| Type | SCDNR managed state fishing lake |
| Fish | largemouth bass, bream, catfish |
A managed state fishing lake
South Carolina’s state-lake system exists to put good fishing within reach of everyone, and Ashwood is a textbook example: it is fertilized and stocked, then managed carefully so that bass, bream and catfish all stay plentiful. Because the lake is actively managed, it runs on a set schedule and a few simple rules that keep the fishery healthy.
Fishing, hours and rules
Ashwood is open every day except Tuesday, from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Fishing is by rod and reel or pole only — no trotlines or set hooks — and daily limits are 20 bream, 3 catfish and 3 largemouth bass. Anyone 16 or older needs a South Carolina fishing license. There is bank and small-boat access; it is an ideal spot for a relaxed outing or to introduce a child to fishing.
Nearby lakes
- Lake Wateree — the big Midlands lake to the west
- Lake Oliphant — another managed SCDNR state lake
Lake Ashwood FAQ
How big is Lake Ashwood?
A 75-acre SCDNR state fishing lake in Lee County, South Carolina.
What fish are in Lake Ashwood?
Largemouth bass, bream and catfish, in a stocked and fertilized managed lake.
When is Lake Ashwood open and what are the limits?
Open every day except Tuesday, sunrise to sunset; rod-and-reel only, with daily limits of 20 bream, 3 catfish and 3 bass and a South Carolina license required.


