Fishing Forecast - Carters Lake
Overview
An impoundment of the Coosawattee River between Calhoun and Ellijay, Carters Lake is about a two-hour drive from Atlanta. This 3,220-acre reservoir is Georgia's deepest, with steep bluff banks and an undeveloped shoreline.
Contact Information: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): 706-334-2248; DNR Office: 706-295-6102
The DNR, USACE, and local volunteers have worked hard to improve fish habitat at Carters. There are now 55 distinct fish attractor sites found in the lake (see map to right).
Best Bets: Alabama Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, & Walleye
Carters Lake - Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Prospect: Largemouth bass typically comprise about 5% of the black bass population at Carters in any given year. DNR survey data show little fluctuation in largemouth numbers from year-to-year in this steep-sided, deep reservoir. Despite their low numbers, the largemouth present tend to be of quality size. Most will be around 2 pounds, but 6-7+ pound fish are certainly not out of the question for those pursuing big bass.
Technique: Spring largemouth can be enticed with naturally colored jig head finesse worms and later in the year by larger u-tail or ribbon tail plastic worms. The classic pig-n-jig is also a sound largemouth technique in this impoundment. Live crayfish, bream, and minnows are also effective bass baits.
Target: The lake's steep, rocky banks generally provide limited habitat for largemouth. Anglers should focus their efforts in the backs of coves, which typically provide the only shallow largemouth habitat in the lake. Fishing coves containing submerged timber or fallen trees will increase your odds of catching a Carters' "bucketmouth."
Carters Lake - Alabama Bass
Alabama Bass
Prospect: Alabama bass are the dominant black bass species in Carters, far outnumbering largemouth bass. Genetic analysis of the population confirmed these are the native Alabama bass, which tend to grow to larger adult sizes than the "Kentucky" spotted bass. This certainly supports the lake's "magnum spot" reputation among anglers. Recent DNR sampling data suggests that the average Alabama bass will be around 12-14 inches this year. However, trophy (5+ lb) fish are still abundant at Carters as usual. Consequently, anglers can expect plenty of thick-sided, fat-bellied "Bama" bass to stretch lines at Carters this year.
Alabama Bass from Carters Lake
Technique: In spring, Alabama bass move shallow to spawn. Throw green-pumpkin or other naturally colored jig head finesse worms to catch these actively feeding fish. With the heat of summer, shallow running baits like Pop-R's, Sammy 100's and Scrounger jigs, fished on main lake points are all good early morning techniques. During the daytime heat, slower presentations on deeper (20-40 feet) points and humps are preferred. Try Texas or Carolina rigged plastic worms, or football jigs. Summer nighttime action can be had using diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs fished parallel to steep banks and points. In fall, cooling water temperatures have fish relating to deep woody debris and schooling shad. Probe these areas with drop-shot rigs tipped with 3-4 inch plastic flukes or 1/2-3/4 ounce jigging spoons. Winter anglers should target schooling Alabama bass on steep bluff banks using "Spot Sticker" jigs or float and fly presentations when water temperatures fall below 50F. Find deep (50-60 feet) water holding shad, and fish will be close by. Use your electronics to find shad schools and present jigs, spoons or drop-shot baits to these waiting Alabama bass. For the live bait angler, suspending large minnows or small trout above deep structure is a proven technique in cold weather.
Target: In early spring, fish the deeper, rocky, main lake points. As spring progresses, Alabama bass move off the main lake points back into cove areas to spawn (April). At this time, target gradual sloping banks and coves with pea-gravel substrate. The post-spawn period often sees bass holding off downed shoreline trees sloping into deep water. In summer, look for "Bamas" holding on deeper (20-40 feet) structure, like brush piles or the 50+ fish attractors created by the Corps of Engineers and DNR. Fish will again feed aggressively on main lake points and around woody cover with cooling fall temperatures. Winter-time anglers should again target deeper (50-60 ft.) structure and areas with steep rocky banks. Finding schools of bait fish is key to locating hungry winter time Alabama bass.
Carters Lake - Hybrid Bass
Hybrid Bass
Prospect: The DNR stocks hybrid striped bass every year at Carters. Survival of these stocked fingerlings varies from year to year, but overall hybrid numbers remain modest and stable. Anglers can expect most of the fish they catch to be young hybrids 22-24 inches in length and weighing 4-6 pounds. However, Carters is also known for producing some monster hybrids, and anglers will undoubtedly encounter a few 10+ pound trophy-class hybrids again this year.
Hybrid Striped Bass from Carters Lake
Technique: Trolling artificial baits like u-rigs or crankbaits can be effective, but live trout (winter time) or shad are typically more consistent producers. Wintertime hybrids may also hit cut fish or chicken livers fished on the bottom at near-shore locations close to the dam. Nighttime fishing during the summer can be productive. Surface or shallow diving stick baits like Rapalas or Redfins are good nighttime lure choices.
Target: Hybrids are most often found close to schools of shad or alewife, which travel throughout the lake. Use your boat's electronics to locate concentrations of baitfish and hybrids may be nearby. In the spring time, hybrids will concentrate near to gorge on spawning shad. They can also be found on main lake points or in the deep standing timber scattered around the lake. In summer, slow trolling weighted down-lines in 20-30 feet of water should produce hybrids. Fall and winter often have hybrids moving to deep water (> 50 ft.) in search of forage. There are also several mid-lake humps where hybrids are known to frequent year-round.
Carters Lake - Striped Bass
Striped Bass
Prospect: Carters' striped bass abundance continues to remain modest, but plenty of trophy linesides are still caught in this deep reservoir. DNR stocks this lake with stripers annually to maintain this trophy fishery but survival of these stocked fingerlings is variable. Recent sampling data indicate that fish stocked in 2021 may have done well. Expect these fish to be around 26-30 inches this year. Many of the larger fish being caught are from cohorts of fish stocked in 2013 and 2014 which also had great survival. These fish are 30+ inches and in the 15-25 pound range.
Striped Bass from Carters Lake
Technique: Live trout (winter time), bluegill, gizzard, and threadfin shad are all common baits used in the pursuit of stripers at Carters. When water temperatures are below 65 F, balloon rigging or free-lining these live offerings near the surface are good techniques to employ. Switch to a deeper (30+ ft.) live bait presentation using weighted downlines when water temperatures are above 65 F. Large jerkbaits or crankbaits are good choices in the spring when stripers are shallow or when night fishing the April/May shad and alewife spawn.
Target: Striper fishing at Carters is best from October through June. Stripers can be found just about anywhere in the lake, but the areas immediately adjacent to the , , the main , and the "" in the Coosawatte River arm of the lake are perennial hot spots. Springtime will have stripers moving to shallow main lake points in the upper half of the reservoir and into the few areas of standing timber scattered around the lake. During the summer and fall months, stripers may be found holding around deeper main lake humps in the main body of the reservoir. In general, anglers who consistently key-in on areas holding bait fish will likely find "linesides" nearby.
Carters Lake - Catfish
Channel Catfish
Prospect: Channel catfish far outnumber flathead and blue catfish at Carters. Recent DNR sample data shows average numbers of "dinner-sized" channel cats will be present in the lake this year. Channel cats are typically around 1 pound, while the average flathead is usually 3-5 pounds. Bigger flatheads, while not common, can push over the 20 pound mark. Blue cats are likely few in number, but several have been caught by anglers in recent years.
Technique: Live or cut shad fished on weighted bottom rigs will produce better sized catfish. Chicken livers, worms or catalpa worms are classic options for tapping into Carters' "whiskered" resources.
Target: Target the cracks and pockets along rocky banks and points found in the Coosawattee arm of the lake or the stone rip-rap of the dam. In late winter and early spring channel cats will congregate near the as it enters the lake. Often catfish will hold in deeper (20-30 ft.) water just off the sides of main lake points during the summer months. Tangles of logs and fallen trees in the backs of coves are also likely hideouts for Carters' catfish.
Carters Lake - Walleye
Walleye
Prospect: Some limited natural reproduction of walleye does occur at Carters. However, this fishery is primarily supported by DNR's annual spring stocking of walleye fingerlings. DNR survey data show that walleye numbers this year remain above the long-term average. Fingerling walleye stocked in recent years have survived well and have helped to maintain good catch rates in DNR gill nets. Walleye growth is excellent at Carters and it is one of the state's better lakes for catching larger "glass-eyes" in decent numbers. The majority of walleye available at Carters are in the 16-22 inch range, but the lake's healthy forage base can grow walleye in the 8+ pound range or bigger.
Walleye from Carters Lake
Technique: Jigging spoons, deep diving crankbaits and live bait such as minnows or night crawlers fished on 3/8 ounce lead jigs, are popular walleye techniques year-round. During the spring spawning run, walleye move shallow and can be caught with shallow running shad or minnow-colored crankbaits. Walleye move deeper (30-50 ft.) in summer. Try slow trolling Lindy rigs baited with night crawlers or minnows, keeping in close contact with the lake bottom. Summer walleye may also be enticed by live offerings of shad fished close to the bottom under a submersible light at night. In late summer, walleye will suspend in standing timber and can be targeted with spoon or blade baits. With cooling fall water temperatures, walleye become more active, making crankbaits, jerkbaits or jigs good fall walleye options. In winter, the cold water requires slower more persistent techniques. Vertically jigging spoons or live minnows/shad close to the bottom may tempt sluggish walleye to strike.
Target: During the walleye spawning run (Feb-Mar), target rocky shorelines and points in the upper Coosawattee River arm of the lake . After spawning, fish areas with standing main lake timber or long, rocky main lake points. As temperatures warm, concentrate on deeper structure, to include deep standing timber where baitfish congregate during summer and fall. Summer walleye may also suspend over deep water in close proximity to bait fish. In late fall through winter, focus efforts again on rocky points from mid-lake upstream into the of the lake. The rocky point at the tip of Doll Mountain Recreation Area historically holds good numbers of walleye in late fall. Regardless of season, night fishing can be a productive approach to catching walleye.
Carters Lake - Other Species
Prospect: Though never overly abundant at Carters, black crappie do call this reservoir home. The crappie present typically run 1/2 to 3/4 pounds in size. Larger individuals may top the 1 1/2 pound mark. Bottom line is Carters' steep rocky depths hold few crappie, but those present tend to be better than average in size.
Technique: Small minnows (1-2 inches) fished several feet below a bobber or small plastic jigs reeled in slowly past submerged trees are two recommended techniques for the spring angler. Live minnows or jigs are also used to target crappie on deeper structure during the rest of the year.
Target: Focus spring fishing efforts around standing timber, visible in a number of areas around the lake, as well as the cover offered under the few boat docks found in the lake. The timbered-cove behind can be a productive spring crappie locale. Fish deeper brush piles or other deep lake structure for crappie throughout the remainder of the year.
Additional Information
Carters Lake is a USACE impoundment on the Coosawattee River in northwest Georgia. Lake level, boating, and camping information may be obtained from the USACE website at: http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/CartersLake.aspx or by calling the Carters Lake Project office (ph. 706-334-2248).
The only marina on the lake is the Carters' Lake Marina & Resort. Information about this privately owned facility may be obtained at: http://www.carterslake.com or by calling 706-276-4891.
