Not a report, but a question for you SC folks!

[bigjim5589]

Since this forum is for the SC folks, I figured it might be the best place to ask this question. My wife & I are contemplating a move to SC. I want to live in a place where getting to coastal fishing is not a long drive & have been looking for houses on the water. I would be good with about an hour drive, as that's what I make now to get to most places I fish here in MD. Of course always prefer less.

Most houses I've found have been on either Lake Moultrie or Lake Marion. My one son now lives in Charleston, so the wife doesn't want to be too far away from there either.

If you had a choice on a body of water to have a home, which would you choose & why?

We plan to take some vacation time next month & go down & look around. I've been to the area several times, Moncks Corner, Goose Creek, Summerton, etc. (nice areas too) and of course Charleston & up the coast at Pawley's Island, but would prefer to be closer to the bass fishing & not so much on the coast. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated!

Thanks!
Jim

[Bud Kennedy]

Jim, it becomes a matter of what type of lifestyle you want.

If you choose to live out around Santee or Summerton, it is very rural and not the most prosperous of areas.  Certainly there are homes there that are nice but it becomes a matter of what else do you want.  If you want to be near shopping then Summerton and Santee is not it.  Somewhere south of the lake in Berkeley County/Moncks Corner/Goose Creek is the fastest growing area.  Lots of places to live that will keep you close to Santee and of course the Cooper River.  But the area is becoming more crowded every day.  Medical or emergency care facilities are much better down in Berkeley County not much to choose from up in the Santee and Summerton Area.

I have a camper at Taw Caw just outside of summerton.  although we love going there I would not want to live there full time.  Just too far away from things for us.  We are both retired.  The greater Charleston Area is really booming so if it is peace and quiet you want I guess up around Santee or Summerton would suit you but remember very limited services there.  We happen to like the very rural nature of Summerton but not full time.

[scbassfanatic]

As Bud said it is dependent on what you are looking for. I am not knocking Santee at all. I have only fished there once. I would just like to add to not overlook the midlands. It may be a little further away from Charleston than you would like. But if you are in the Columbia area, you are between a number of great fisheries. Lake Murray and Lake Wateree are the most familiar. There is Lake Monticello that is becoming a great bass lake holding largemouth, smallmouth and spots. You would also have some of the conveniences for shopping close by. If you are looking in the Lake Murray area, look in Newberry County (Prosperity), Saluda COunty and Lexington County for the upper end of the lake. For the lower end, Richland and Lexington County. Towns to look at are Chapin, Balentine, Prosperity, White Knoll. Just something to think about. You would be about 2 1/2 hours from Charleston in this area and are basically in the middle of the state and have access to pretty much any fishery in 2 to 3 hours. Just something to consider. We don't have gators in the area either LOL.

[bigjim5589]

Thanks for the replies guys! Just getting back to this post. I live in a very populated area now, and it's still growing and the cost of living here is high. As we get older we know we'll have to deal with health concerns, but for now the plan is for a less congested & less costly lifestyle. Nothing is set in stone as for relocating, so options are open. I want a waterfront place if at all possible, so that's a priority for me, but of course the wife may overrule me on that! 

We'll be traveling down to SC the end of the month, visit the son & look around & go from there.

Thanks again for the comments. 

[Thundernoggin]

Hey guys,..I just moved back here from near the burbs of Atlanta and the closest lake was Lanier..Though the Spots hit pretty good there,..it's nowhere near as good as at Clark Hill,..(Lake S.T.) or even Russell,..I live near Spartinburg now but it's not a bad drive to either lake and the Largemouth and
Spot fishing is so much better..Good to be back in good ole SC too,..I never was much for Georgia..lol

To answer the OP's question,..I wouldn't live near Monks Corner unless he's livin' large..It's expensive down around Chucktown my man..Not that ritzy were I reside now in rural Spartinburg county. Not to knock saltwater fishing or anything,..I love a good charter trip myself,..but that kind of thing has to be planned way ahead of time as far as I'm concerned.

Good luck OP and welcome to Cackalacky!

[bigjim5589]

Thundernoggin, Thanks for the reply! We're looking in the Manning area. Charleston is fine as cities go to visit, reminds me a bit of Annapolis, but with Spanish Moss! 

I just don't want to live in either place! You want expensive, move up here to MD!

I live in a congested area now & want to get away from that. While we were down there we spent a couple days with our son, looking around Folly, James & John's Islands and never even went into the downtown area. Those areas are more congested than I like, so I'll stick to just visiting!

We also spent  several days looking at houses in the Manning area. My wife & I both liked that area.
At this point in out life, close to retirement we want quiet, and less congestion, yet still be close enough to shopping & health care. We think Manning will suit us!

I'm not really into charter fishing, unless it's inshore. I like to fly fish, so have a lot of interest in fishing for Redfish & other inshore species. I've spent a good part of my life fishing tidal water, so it's something I'm familiar with doing.

I don't have an issue with making the trip down to the coast from Manning! A lot of the fishing I might do now is an hour drive from home and I'm OK with that. Manning will put me a lot closer to bass fishing than I am now & the Striper fishing in Lake Marion & Lake Moultrie! I'm only 20 minutes from the Chesapeake Bay now, so I'm good with that too for the Manning area. 

Thanks again for your input! 

[Thundernoggin]

Thundernoggin, Thanks for the reply! We're looking in the Manning area. Charleston is fine as cities go to visit, reminds me a bit of Annapolis, but with Spanish Moss! 

I just don't want to live in either place! You want expensive, move up here to MD!

I live in a congested area now & want to get away from that. While we were down there we spent a couple days with our son, looking around Folly, James & John's Islands and never even went into the downtown area. Those areas are more congested than I like, so I'll stick to just visiting!

We also spent  several days looking at houses in the Manning area. My wife & I both liked that area.
At this point in out life, close to retirement we want quiet, and less congestion, yet still be close enough to shopping & health care. We think Manning will suit us!

I'm not really into charter fishing, unless it's inshore. I like to fly fish, so have a lot of interest in fishing for Redfish & other inshore species. I've spent a good part of my life fishing tidal water, so it's something I'm familiar with doing.

I don't have an issue with making the trip down to the coast from Manning! A lot of the fishing I might do now is an hour drive from home and I'm OK with that. Manning will put me a lot closer to bass fishing than I am now & the Striper fishing in Lake Marion & Lake Moultrie! I'm only 20 minutes from the Chesapeake Bay now, so I'm good with that too for the Manning area. 

Thanks again for your input! 

You're welcome bigjim...Yeah I got a friend that lives on Moultrie..It's really a nice lake. Santee is as well..Your going to the right place..I almost moved to Orangburg myself before thinking about how muggy it is in late summer down there.
Nice and catch some hawgs bro.