South Saluda River
Fishing, stocking, and current conditions
Trout water, stocked 5 times in 2026, monthly August through October, heaviest in October. A USGS gauge reports from this water, so the conditions card on this page is live, water temperature included.
South Carolina · see it on the national map
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Trout
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked today.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14 | Trout | catchable | completed | |
| Sep 30 | Trout | catchable | completed | |
| Oct 8 | Trout | catchable | completed | |
| Oct 15 | Trout | catchable | completed | |
| Oct 22 | Trout | catchable | completed |
When to fish South Saluda River
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 10:08 am-12:08 pm and 10:30 pm-12:30 am | 4:25-5:25 am and 4:42-5:42 pm |
| Tomorrow | 10:54 am-12:54 pm | 5:29-6:29 am and 5:10-6:10 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 92% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Eastern Time (EDT).
What the record actually says
- Stocked yesterday
- Water 61 °F, prime coldwater range
- Flow 64% of the seasonal median
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · South Carolina fishing forecast
Gear for this water
Stocked within the last three weeks: fish are still bunched near the release points and keyed on familiar smells. The gauge reads 61 degrees, prime coldwater temperature; fish confidently through the day.
For the trout (trout stocked 5 times here in 2026, moving water)
| Small jerkbaits | floating minnows in the 2 to 3 inch class for the deeper bends |
| Waders or wet-wading boots | stocked stream fish stack in the obvious pools; getting to the next one is the edge |
| Light spinning rod | 5 to 6.5 ft light or ultralight; short rods cast under branches |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Saluda River | 4.4 mi | Oct 15 |
| East Fork French Broad River NC | 21 mi | Oct 5 |
| West Fork French Broad River NC | 22 mi | May 20 |
| Little River NC | 23 mi | May 4 |
| Davidson River NC | 23 mi | Jun 17 |
Follow South Carolina stocking: RSS / Calendar (iCal) / Print the schedule