Fishing Carters Lake

AKA: Carters Reservoir

Popular Fish Species
Carters Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
Today's Weather & Forecast
Boat Launch Ramps
Fishing Boat Rentals
Marinas
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Carters Lake, GA

Popular Fish Species Carters Lake, GA

Striped Bass Fishing

Due to their large size, striped bass are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Carters Lake. The lake is considered by many as a trophy striper destination, thanks to fertile water, excellent food sources and fishery management by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. They are plentiful, run in schools and can grow to bragging size. Hybrid stripers also flourish here in Carters Lake. In Spring and Fall work the upper end of the lake where water is flowing into the lake. Look for deeper water in the river channel, as a holding place for stripers. In Summer and Winter, stripers hang out in deeper water during the day Morning often draws the stripers to much shallower water, look for them from the surface down to around the 20-foot range as they feed on shallow-running schools of bait. The lake is filled with plenty of baitfish and sunfish to to keep the fishery thriving. Being successful at fishing for stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers which are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Live bait is very effective here, and stripers can be caught year round.

Spotted Bass Fishing

Spotted bass are often found in small schools on steep banks, around rocky or sandy shorelines, points and ledges. They often prefer hanging out in slightly deeper water than largemouths. Nationally known as an excellent spotted bass lake, Carters Lake draws anglers and bass tournaments here, year round. Fishing for spotted bass can be good anytime you can locate them. Their diet consists mainly of crayfish and insects, but they also eat small baitfish, small sunfish and small bluegill. Most of the time, spots prefer to stage on steep rocky or gravel banks, and may move up and down the water column throughout the day. When shallow, use topwater or shallow crankbaits around rip rap. When they are deep, use drop-shot worms and jigs. Throughout winter, spend your time on deeper structure with small worms, jigs and spoons. Smallmouth bass and largemouth bass also reside here in decent numbers.

Crappie Fishing

Carters Lake has long been a good crappie fishing lake. The lake has good populations of both black crappie and white crappie, and they seem to get bigger each year. These two species generally school with their own, but once located around cover, you may find that you catch both species, due to the fact they often share the same cover. Crappie fishing can be found in varying size schools, hanging around brush, vegetation, wood or other cover. Using a fish finder any time of year can help locate these crappie schools, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels, especially areas with brush or timber in deeper water.

Carters Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, spotted bass, flathead catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, bluegill, green sunfish, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, rock bass, spotted sunfish, warmouth, striped bass and hybrid stripers at Carters Lake in Georgia.

Camping is quite popular at Carters Lake, a 3,200-acre reservoir located in the northwest corner of the state, 5 miles west of Ellijay. Boating and fishing however, are the main draw. Monster striped bass play second fiddle to the well-known, excellent spotted bass fishing here. Largemouth, walleye, catfish, crappie and sunfish also populate these waters and are regularly caught in good numbers. Anglers and boaters alike will enjoy cruising the 62 miles of shoreline. Rental boats, a marina, bait, fishing tackle, sundries, restaurants and lodging are all close at hand. There are more than a half dozen boat ramps to choose from.

Primary fish species residing in Carters Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Carters Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: NEARBY

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Carters Lake Marina & Resort
Rentals: Pontoon boats
706 276-4891

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Carters Lake Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Cove Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Carters Lake Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast section of the lake, off Cove Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Carters Lake Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, at the Woodring Campground, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Doll Mountain Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast corner of the lake, off Carters Landing Way, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Ridgeway Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, north side, off Ridgeway Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Marinas

Carters Lake Marina & Resort
575 Marina Rd
Chatsworth, GA 30705
706 276-4891