Where to Go to Catch Bass in Georgia, and What Works

The world record bass was caught in the waters of Georgia over seventy years ago. This legendary largemouth weighed in at over twenty-two pounds, and helps Georgia maintain the image as a powerhouse in the world of bass angling.

Georgia lakes are well known for producing great catches of small and largemouth bass, but so are the rivers! Here are some good choices when bass fishing Georgia.

The Upper Chattahoochee River. This river is one of the best known rivers in the south if not all of America.
Lake Lanier
Bartlett’s Ferry
West Point Seminole

If you plan to fish the Chattahoochee, you are likely to run into a species native to Chatahoochie, Apalachicola, and the Flint river basins, called shoal bass. Shoalies like natural, live bait the best. Crayfish, Crickets, and worms top the list along with a large selection of small surface lures and spinners. Lightweight spinning gear has traditionally been the choice of most anglers out to catch shoalies, but during the summer, a large number of fly fishermen are getting into the game as well.

Fishing for shoal bass is increasingly popular, particularly during the summer months, with trout fishermen. Try to fish in front of rocky ledges and in the clear water of the ‘Hoochie’ you can even see the shoalies take your bait. These fish are great fighters, though, so use a five or six weight fly rod with one or two X leader tippets, checking for frays on a regular basis to make sure the rocky shoals have not done a number on your monofiliment.

On the Chatahoochee, you will not have to have a boat. In fact, a large number of anglers prefer to pull on the waders and fish hip deep, but if you choose to fish from a boat, a shallow-riding boat such as a light flat bottom or an inflatable pontoon works well.

Perhaps the best perc of all is the fact that these waters don’t just shelter shoalies, they are home to a large number of largemouth, stripers, and spotted bass as well, and all of them respond to the same baits and tactics as shoalies and can be caught on the same equipment.

If you are fishing for spotted bass, Lake Lanier should be a prime place in which to cast your line. In fact, ranking as one of the very best spotted bass fisheries in the state, three to four pound bass are plentiful and exciting to catch.

Fishing the deeps in structure rich areas is the way to go when fishing for spots, but the bite is often light, so you will need to use light tackle on clear line (the water is very clear, necessitating the use of clear line) and pay very close attention to even subtle line movement.

Late in the spring on into summer, if you see schools of spotted bass churning the surface while they are after baitfish, use a lure such as a Sammy, Pop-R, or Spook, and hang on for the catch of your life! Nottely Lake has seen a decrease of largemough bass in recent years, but a stocking program has made them again more plentiful, and this season should see good catches there. Try Young Cane Creek, Ivy Log Creek, and the other feeder creeks on the upper lake.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best bass fishing information possible. Get more information on Georgia bass fishing here: http://www.askbassfishing.com/