ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — A newly completed project built on Lake Marion will give the fish a new place to hide. It's been a decade-long collaboration between Santee Cooper Counties Promotions Commission, the Public Service Authority and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to create a fish habitat using large concrete culverts.
“I’ve never come back and not caught fish. Whatever species you’re targeting, they’re in here," said fisherman Don Mayes.
Mayes fishes for bass on Lake Marion every week.
“The fish attractors will help, they bring the small fish, which bring in the larger fish," he said.
According to Santee Cooper Country, that's exactly the goal. It's to attract more fish and help anglers identify their best spots to catch fish in hiding. There are now 23 enhanced fishing sites along the lake with five in Orangeburg and Clarendon Counties.
“This gives that average angler a chance, an opportunity to go find the fish and of course that’s what we’re known for. We’re known for our fish here at the Santee Cooper lakes," said promotions commission executive director Jane Powell.
The project cost about $40,000. In Orangeburg and Clarendon Counties, water recreation funds helped support this project. Summerville-based company Concrete Pipe and Precast donated materials.