Does anybody fish Carters Lake in North Georgia ? I live near the Woodring Branch ramp and will be fishing around there. I have mapped the area and use a depth finder and am prepared to fish deeper than I ever have in the past.
I have marked scattered groupings of fish on my screen from 25 to 60 feet and deeper. I've had trouble getting bites, and the fish I do catch are mostly too small (channel catfish, green sunfish and bluegill). So far have tried live worms, jigs with gulp worm trailers, and vertical jigging a kastmaster spoon. I am happy to catch pan-size bass, catfish, bluegill and anything else that will bite. I am not trying to threaten the livelihood of the guides who make money off of the larger game fish. They can become quite nasty when asked for any advice. Information is scarce on ALL of the North Georgia mountain lakes, so any help is greatly appreciated. Thank You.
Carters this time of year can be tough. I would use light line 8# and Zoom trick worm. I like black and watermelon green using a 3/16 oz lead on a 3/0 worm hook. Also try a 3” crawfish. I would hit the lake at sunup and throw a Pearl fluke on a 5/0 wide gap hook with a 12 inch leader. Hit any overhangs and stick ups with the fluke until the sun comes up. Good luck
Hello Rotorhead and thanks for the reply.
R U my Neighbor ? (LOL)
Carters at ANY time of the year can be tough.
I will add to what I've already posted.
I limit myself to the area within 1/4 mile of the Woodring put-in.
I've never done any good at first light since I didn't know where I am going.
(OR what I am doing)
I fish mid-afternoons until dark and sometimes after dark.
Depth of water to fish is important, also the structure in my area of interest.
I marked a lot of signals in the upper cove @30 feet adjacent to the picnic area (point) and some around the point but only caught one sunfish. I have hooked a few bass and catfish to the right of the ramp 10-30 feet deep.
Get out at first light and fish to midday then pack it in. I fish Lanier from first light until 10/11 then go home. Just to hot to fish thru the afternoon.
Thanks for getting back to me. I have been disappointed by the lack of replies.
Do you fish Carters much, or mainly other places besides Lanier around North Georgia ?
I am not after trophies and catch a lot of pan-sized fish.
(But not Lately...especially in this deep, clear lake).
On Wednesday I marked some signals strung out in a line at 30-35 feet out from the steep, rocky bank to the right of the ramp. No takers jigging a spoon or soaking live worms. Other fish marked towards sunset >15 feet.
I've never done well in early am but have found success in late afternoons and surprisingly, in mid-day, over the years, when I lived in middle TN.
Fortunately I have a TN non-resident license and plan on using it in the very near future.
Hello I live in east Ellijay and fish Carters a lot from the bank all over that place and generally have decent luck. I like to fish wood ring area because those creeks are deep way upstream and not many walk back into the headwaters so besides the boaters I’m usually alone. This time of year those are some good places to start. Keep in mind that lake is pretty clear and you gotta kind of stealth up on any fishing hole and cast from a good distance.
Look for the big black Tahoe on the side of the roads around there and I ain’t far
Remember even if you don’t get a bite it beats roofing!!
Hello Neighbor !!
Thanks for the reply and info.
I was surprised to read that someone has found good bank fishing on a lake known for inaccessible shorelines. I've got a lot of questions, but also am willing to share my knowledge.
I've had success fishing for a lot of years, but since moving to Gilmer county, I've stayed away from Carters.
I've caught some good fish on the lower lake.
When you fish the Woodring area, do you have to hike a long way and go down steep rocky banks ?
I've caught a few good ones off of the Ridgeway floating dock...but not lately.
I hope that we can have a conversation about this.
Even minimal fishing advice about this lake is pretty hard to come by. J. Gibbons
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