But if you want to go freshwater fishing near the coast, this Hampton County basin is an angler's paradise. Surrounded by a floodplain forest and woodlands dense with pines and moss-draped oaks, the scenic lake features little development, making it a quiet spot to drop your line.
Among the game fish you're likely to reel in are large mouth bass, brim, crappie, catfish and redbreast.
Lake Warren State Park, on the northern side of the lake, provides public access to the freshwater with two boat ramps, a large fishing pier and a floating dock. Jon boats with trolling motors can be rented for $25 a day. If you have your own boat, you're welcome to use it on the lake, as long as the motor doesn't exceed 10 horsepower.
Most of Lake Warren is only four to five feet deep, but its two creek beds - Briar Creek and Black Creek - can reach 20 feet in depth. The park also features a two-acre pond where some decent-sized bass have been caught by local anglers. Boats are not allowed in the pond and fishing is prohibited from the observation deck found at the end of a one-mile interpretive trail. Whichever fishing hole you choose - pond or lake - you'll need a South Carolina fishing license.
Lake Warren State Park is also a favorite among birders. Its diverse habitats attract barred owls, bald eagles, ospreys, swallow-tailed kites and several species of hawks. Other wildlife spotted in the park includes armadillos, rabbits, deer, fox, coyote, bobcats, wild turkey and alligators.
Visitors who want to stretch their legs have several options, including the interpretive trail that winds through pinewoods to the edge of the fishing pond. The .3-mile Yemassee Trail will take you over a short boardwalk over a boggy area lined with rhododendron. There's also a .4-mile fitness trail loop featuring 10 exercise stations.
