Randy, welcome to the BOC, and the South Carolina forum.
I'm not familiar with Lake Cooley; where is it located?

 

Lake cooley is in the spartanburg/wellford area of south carolina

 

I know a few bass guys that have caught them while bass fishing but as for anybody targeting them I haven't heard. I've been there a time or two but I didn't have a boat at the time. Good luck.

 

SHHHHHHHHHH Lake Cooley might hold a world record....just go drop a line with a BIG shad on it and chain it to a dock....if the dock is gone in the morning let us know we will all be there saturday!

 

I spoke with a couple of guys from Spartanburg Water Work that said they stocked channel cats in all their lakes years ago.

 

Lake Cooley does have cats in it. I have never seen any come out of there with any size but that doesn't mean there not there. I personally have caught a lot of eaters out of there over the years. It has become more of a bass and crappie fishery. That is usually what is targeted there. I have been told by several good friends that Lyman Lake is full of fat channels, and they have even caught a few nice flatties. Hope this helps.

Good Luck,

Steve

 

Best thing to do is try it. I didn't know wateree had huge Blues:smile2: Fished there many yrs ago and quit to pursue stripers/strippers (whatever)then on to Santee. Messed around and hooked into a Giant cat and give up the striper/strippers.read in a mag about a guy catching big cats in Wateree, thought he was talking about the river below the dam. und out he was talking about the lake and wham! Let us know.:big_smile:

 

I was not aware of Lake Cooley either oooh: Looked it up on the map and it's pretty close to home. Are there any boat ramps, and if so, where? Thanks for your help - I'd like to check it out :big_smile:

 

Pat, there is 1 boat ramp, there is also HP restrictions. You have to get an SJWD permit which covers you for cooley and Lyman lake, may even be good for the new reservoir on tyger river. if you take hwy 29 to hwy 292 towards inman there is an intersection if you take a left goes to landfill take a right I think its called Gibbs Rd.?? go about a 1/4 to half mile cross 2 small bridges, take next left. there are signs on that road for lake cooley. its just a couple hundred yards. If you have any problems finding it just give me a call and I can talk you in. I'll PM my # to you.

Steve

 

Thanks very much, Steve! Bummer about the HP restriction - I live 10 minutes away from Lake Robinson, but can't launch my boat there as it has a 9.9hp restriction, and I have a 40hp Merc (how ironic) :sad2: But I have an idea: I have a float-tube that I used for fly-fishing high country lakes near Denver. Maybe I could strap a trolling motor to my back and troll in the float-tube oooh: