Beat the Heat for Carter Lake Spotted Bass

BEAT THE HEAT FOR CARTERS LAKE SPOTTED BASS

Today Carters Lake is considered by fisheries biologist to be perhaps the finest spotted bass fishery in Georgia. From the time of impounded in 1975 until the mid 1980抯, Carters Lake was a high quality bluegill fishery. The introduction of threadfin and gizzard shad along with other fish species not present at the time of impoundment resulted in a dramatic decline in bluegill numbers. In the late 1990抯, fishing for striped bass and walleye became popular at Carters Lake.

Anglers seeking spotted and largemouth bass should be on the lookout for structures such as stumps,submerged points and islands when the lake is below normal pool and concentrate on these areas during the summer and fall when the lake returns to normal level. These areas should be fished with various deep running artificial baits. Largemouth bass comprise a small portion of the total bass population but when you catch one, it is usually a large fish (some over 10 pounds). 1992 electrofishing samples indicated spotted bass averaged 1 pound with some lunkers over 6 pounds.

Stocking of striped bass in Carters Lake since 1990 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has resulted in greatly improved striper fishing. Approximately 16,000 fingerling striped bass were stocked each year during the 1990 - 1995 time period and over 32,000 in 1996 and 1997. Stripers were introduced to control the rapidly increasing shad populations. Anglers with stripers weighing over 20 pounds were not uncommon during 1997. Live shad seem the the best striper bait fished at depths of 15-30 feet from January - April.

Fishing for walleye should improve due to the stocking of 6 million fingerlings in 1990 and another 3 million fingerlings in 1995. The walleye should reduce the gizzard and threadfin shad numbers which were introduced by unknown means sometime in 1987. Samples in 1993 indicated that Carters Lake walleye will average 18 inches and 1 - 1.5 pounds with large fish up to 30 inches and 9 pounds. Walleye fishermen should concentrate their efforts along rocky shoreline, points and saddle areas between islands. Silver spoons jigged along the bottom in 20 - 30 feet of water, diving crank baits cast along the shoreline, and nightcrawlers are the three methods that should produce the most fish. Anglers should consider trolling as a method for taking walleye from mid-spring to late-fall. Other walleye fishing methods include vertical jigging of spoons and jigs and deep diving crawfish pattern crankbaits trolled along gravel banks and drop-offs.

Channel catfish averaging 1 - 3 pounds and flathead catfish averaging 7 pounds were recorded in gillnetting samples in 1991. Anglers best catfish catches have traditionally been during the spring in the upper end of Carters Lake.

The reregulation pool located below Carters Lake, supports good quantities of fish. Bluegill, sunfish,white bass, drum, buffalo and catfish can be caught using traditional baits. Boaters can put in at the reregulation pool using an unimproved ramp near the Carters Powerhouse off Old Highway 411. Boaters should use caution on the reregulation pool due to drastic fluctuations in water levels.

Fishing opportunities also exist in the tailwater downstream of the reregulation dam. Two handicap accessible fishing decks have been developed by the Corps of Engineers adjacent to the Coosawattee River downstream of the reregulation dam. The downstream fishing areas are located off Old Highway 411 in Murray County Georgia. Fishing in this area usually involves swift moving water. Species commonly caught include striped bass, bluegill, catfish and crappie


It's no secret that Carters can be a really tough place to fish. when you combine deep clear water with a pumpback system which can fluctuate water levels as much as three feet in a 24 hr period at times and then throw in all the adverse weather conditions such as cold fronts etc. what you get is some fish cussin, rod breaking,boat selling,taking up golf and quit fishing days. I have seen carters have that affect on lots of fisherman and mid June through september are the toughest months of the year here.I believe its due to the fact that unlike other lakes here in ga.the water for power generation is released from the top of the lake and then pumped back into the bottom,this mixes the warmer top layer of water with what otherwise would be the cooler layers of water and prevents any consistant thermocline from developing, so unlike other lakes the fish do not have that comfort zone to stay in during the hot months of the year.

I guess this all sounds bad to you,but don't go load up your boat and head out for greener pastures just yet,because even though the fishing can be tough here this time of year,they can be caught and the fish you catch on carters will average much bigger size than most other lakes.

I have fished Carters since it was completed in 1977 and over the years I have learned that timing is everything when fishing this place during the hot Summer months.

write down this phone# 706 334 2640 that is the number at the corp of engineers office,you can call them and they can tell you the times when they will be generating and pumping back. I realize that with most people's work schedule you probably can not pick and choose when you want to fish. however even if you can't fish the preferred times,if you know what the the current is doing(moving up stream or down)while you are there, that will help you learn how
it affects the fish. when ever possible the best times will be during the pumpback. when the water is rising the fish will usually move up shallower(we consider 10 to 12 ft shallow here)and feed. slack water times can be good also but its not usually as consistent as the pumpback. I usually avoid fishing during the generation if possible. during that time the stripers tend to go very deep and stay inactive and the bass tend to suspend in open water,that makes for tough conditions. If you are thinking that this is opposite from what you have heard of other resivors,you are right. but that's how it is here.Carters is a bassackward lake.

For the spotted bass here this time of year I use two basic patterns number one is a texas rigged worm the rig I use consist of a 3/16 0z. bullet weight,a 1/0 gamakatsu offset shank worm hook and a small chartreuse colored plastic or glass bead between the weight and the hook(the bead does 2 things it protects your knot from being beat up by the weight and makes a clicking noise which attracts fish)and a zoom curly tail or straight finesse worm. its always good to experiment with colors,but my favorites are the baby bass and the green pumpkin.I use this rig on 8lb test clear line on a spinning reel and a 6 ft rod.

The structure I target for this pattern is easy to find all over the lake steep rocky banks and points with blow downs(trees which have fallen into the lake)I look for those with the tops in at least 20 ft. of water and position my boat out in front of them and cast the worm right up to the base of the tree and work it slowly down through the top I make several cast to every tree and try to cover both sides and work the bait over every limb.just pull the bait up slowly until you feel it bump into a limb,then stop it and just shake the rod tip,try to make the worm shake and rattle the bead without actually pulling it completely over the limb,many times they will come up and pick it right off the limb.the fish will move up and down on these trees as the water level fluctuates and the weather changes ,one day you may find them holding up shallow at the base and the next they may be down in the tops 30 ft. deep,so always fish them all the way down into the tops until you determine the depth they are holding on that day.

this technique takes some practice to master,but with some patience and a good sensitive rod I have found that most people are able to do it, and be effective,and it will work well most any time of year on Carters.

The second pattern I use is one of my favorites,not because it catches lots of fish but because it catches the big ones. this involves night fishing. the lure is a 3/4 or 1 oz. spinnerbait in dark colors such as black or junebug, with a single big #5 or 6
colorado blade,on a bait casting reel with 12lb line and a 5 1/2 ft
rod.

I fish this bait on long tapering points and also on steep rock banks, but I will use a different presentation on each of these structures. I will usually start on the points (or reef markers) I keep my boat out on the point in about 30 ft. of water and cast to the bank and slow roll it all the way back to the boat the key to this presentation and also the reason for using the big heavy bait,is to keep the bait down on bottom you want to feel the bait bumping the rocks and brush all the way back to the boat. If you lose contact with the bottom just stop reeling and let it sink back down. here again some nights the fish may be right up on the bank and other nights they will be out on the point in 30ft of water and at times they will almost take the rod out of your hand when they hit and other times you will almost have to spoon feed it to them.

I will hit three or four points and if I have not had any strikes I move to the steep rocky banks and fish the same bait, only here I cast to the bank and use a pump and fall retrieve. cast to the bank and slowly lift the rod tip up to 11o clock and then let it flutter back down to the bottom on a tight line they will almost always hit
it on the fall.

I usually don't expect to catch more than three or four fish in a night using this pattern ,but they will usually be really big ones. this pattern will usually start in June and hold up until mid August.

I have used these same technique's on Lake Lanier and numerous other deep lakes which hold Kentucky Sotted bass here in Georgia, and had the same success and I'm sure that they will work on any lake in the country that holds these spunky hard fighting critters.

WRITTEN BY:
Jeff Hughes
Ga. mountain Guide Service
770-735-2625