Lake Wallace is a 300-acre public fishing lake located in Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina. Managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, this impoundment offers diverse paddling opportunities through both open water and marshy backwaters.

**Access and Facilities:** Multiple access points serve paddlers, including locations along Beauty Spot Road, Country Club Road, and a picnic area. A fishing pier near the parking lot provides an excellent vantage point to scout conditions. The lake features an earthen dike that divides it into distinct sections—the fishing side (east of the dike, restricted to motors 10 hp or less) and a boating/waterskiing side (west of the dike). Paddlers should stay on the fishing side for a quieter experience.

**Character and Conditions:** The eastern portion offers calmer water ideal for kayaking and canoeing, with a mix of open water and cattail-lined channels. The freshwater marsh areas provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities in more sheltered conditions. A diversion canal adjacent to the main lake also allows for paddling exploration. Launch early to avoid afternoon winds on the broader sections.

**Wildlife and Scenery:** The lake attracts significant waterfowl during winter months, including Canada Geese, various duck species (Wood Duck, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead), American Coots, and gulls. Year-round residents include Pied-billed Grebes, Anhingas, herons, and Common Moorhens. The vegetated shoreline and marshes harbor rails and bitterns. Several large alligators inhabit the lake, particularly visible during summer months—maintain appropriate distance.

**Note:** The lake is open 24 hours for fishing but other activities are restricted to daylight hours (half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset). No live minnows are permitted as bait.