Fishing and Kayaking To Be Allowed at Spartanburg Duncan Park Lake

Spartanburg’s Duncan Park Lake, teeming with largemouth bass, will allow for catch-and-release fishing and non-motorized boating from August 1. This is the first time in decades that these activities will be permitted in the 14-acre, creek-fed lake. In addition, the city will have four kayaks available to rent through an app, costing $14.99 for an hour, $19.99 for two hours and $39.99 for six hours. Although these kayaks are not specifically outfitted for fishing, individuals can bring in their own non-motorized boats if they choose.

Reviving Duncan Park Lake

The renewed interest in Duncan Park Lake has been driven by Spartanburg PAL (Play. Advocate. Live well), an organization that noticed the park was not attracting as many users as other trails in the Daniel Morgan system. They reasoned that to attract more visitors, Duncan Park had to offer more amenities. Thus, the idea of introducing fishing and boating was born.

To ensure safe access to the lake, Spartanburg PAL conducted water testing and found that while the water wasn’t safe for swimming due to stagnancy, it posed no immediate risk for other activities. Following the testing, a $75,000 grant was provided by the Foundation For The Carolinas to build a floating dock and accessible trail from the parking lot to the pier.

Too Many Bass, Too Few Bluegill

Upon surveying the fish population in the lake, the state Department of Natural Resources found an overabundance of largemouth bass and a lower than optimal number of bluegill sunfish. The disparity in the populations was found to be due to the large number of predatory largemouth bass.

To balance out the ecosystem, the DNR stocked the lake with redear and plan to add more sunfish. Already, 1,751 redears were stocked in April and 7,000 more sunfish are expected to be stocked in the fall.

The Future of Fishing in Duncan Park

While fishing is currently restricted to a catch-and-release protocol, there are possibilities of more relaxed regulations in the future. “We may decide to allow fish to be harvested from the lake when we evaluate the initial usage we see and get feedback from nearby neighborhoods,” said city spokesman Christopher George.

Duncan Park Lake’s reopening marks a significant moment, as it has been closed since the 1950s. With the new activities and public amenities, the hope is to encourage more visitors to discover the beauty and features that the park has to offer.