Evans County PFA Keeps Getting Better

Bidd Sands Lake is 84 acres and the largest of the three lakes at Evans County PFA.

Being fairly level headed and tending to take things pretty much as they come, it’s not often that I do flabbergasted. But returning to this place for the first time in  eight years was pretty much a shocker. What flitted through my mind, pretty much in order, was, “Where did the grass go? Where did that building come from? Somebody has put a ton of work into this place!”

Welcome back to Evans County PFA, just outside Claxton. If it’s been a while, like me, you’ll hardly recognize it. If you’ve never visited, come on now. But if you’re pulling a camper, be sure to book in advance.

My memories of Evans, back in 2016, were of son Myles and me wallowing around all day on a veritable sea of hydrilla on Bidd Sands, the largest of three lakes at Evans County PFA. We caught some fish, but it was a lot like work and my motor was severely displeased. Rolling in a couple weeks ago, Feb. 15, the very first thing I noticed was a TOTAL absence of hydrilla. Gone. Vanished.

Bidd Sands’ 84-acre surface was glassed over, not a ripple except quite a few created from beneath. Those are the ones we like.

There was also not a boat to be seen shortly after 9 a.m., or even a bank or dock fisherman. That would change but little. And speaking of change…

Evans was one of the very first Public Fishing Areas created by the Department of Natural Resources back in the 1970s, and Bidd Sands itself reaches to the 1950s. It was drained, the dam repaired, and the entire area underwent a near-total facelift to begin the process of making the PFA what it is today: pristine.

As with any undertaking of this magnitude, there were hiccups. Also known as hydrilla.

Joel Fleming is the WRD fisheries biologist over Evans County PFA, and he knows all about that nasty, matted “grass.”

“The hydrilla already had a hold in there, but we treated it and killed everything back for a couple of years,” Fleming said. “Then it crept up on us one spring, and we couldn’t catch up. We eventually went way over on stocking grass carp and got on top of it. There are some lily pads that have popped up, but we have a new chemical that is proving effective on those, too.”

Area Manager Steve Mincey, a genial guy who has been with DNR some 30 years now, added, “We just completed our December-January drawdown, and we’ve had one of the coldest winters in a while. Between the cold and the treatments, the lily pads are completely gone.”

Bottom line is that now your trolling motor (only) won’t have to whack its way across Bidd Sands. Or, for that matter, 30-acre Woody or 8-acre Longleaf, the special-purpose lake in the chain. In all, the facility comprises 372 acres lying 8.5 miles east of Claxton on Highway 280. For a map and fishing regulations, go to https://georgiawildlife.com/evans-county-pfa.

Evans County PFA has a Commercial-Kitchen Event Center on site that is used for weddings and other sorts of gatherings. Depending on the day, it rents for a modest $275 to $325 per day.

While, as its name suggests, this is primarily a spot for fishermen, Evans is certainly more than that. You can fish by boat, from the bank or easily accessible piers. There are nature trails, an archery range, RV and tent camping, and the first bird I happened to notice was a bald eagle cruising over Bidd Sands. Need a super venue for a family reunion or business meeting? Want a waterside wedding in a gorgeous spot? We’ll get back to that new multi-use Commercial-Kitchen Event Center I wondered about, but know that it comes on reasonable terms: $275/day Monday through Thursday, $325 for Friday or Saturday. It is not rented on Sundays.

But don’t just show up: be sure to hit the Evans County PFA online reservation service.

Caleb Mills is a WRD Fisheries Technician working alongside Mincey, and another guy who keeps his fingers on the PFA pulse. They’re gearing up for the busiest time of year, and as Mills says, “On a Saturday out here in good weather, there will be 100-plus people fishing, with eight to 15 boats between all three lakes.”

Remember, that includes bank, boat and pier, so don’t panic; there’s plenty of room.

Primary species in Bidd Sands are largemouth bass and crappie, but there are also catfish, bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker) to be caught. Then, too, you just may hook into an outsider with a bad attitude: a hybrid bass. This cross between a white bass and striper will battle all the way to the boat and spit at you when he gets there! Fight is what they do.

Adam Desrosiers, of Brooklet, with the Bidd Sands Lake record catfish at 13-lbs., 4-ozs.

The lake-record catfish is 13-lbs., 4-ozs. caught by Adam Desrosiers, of Brooklet. The top largemouth is 11 1/2 pounds, but Mincey says, “We’ve heard of one that was over 13 pounds, but we’re not able to confirm it. Most of the guys may keep a few small bass to eat, but they put the big ones back.”

When Bidd Sands was acquired, the lake contained lots of standing timber, which has now been reduced to fallen logs and stumps, providing perfect fish structure. Plus, Mincey and crew have added bunches of old Christmas trees and bamboo crappie shelters.

“The deepest part of this lake is 10 to 12 feet near the dam,” Mincey says, “but there’s also a mid-lake channel 7 to 8 feet deep. That’s where most of our biggest crappie are caught.”

Lake Woody, the middle of the three, is 30 acres of bass, crappie and bluegill. Again, docks and well-maintained banks ensure plenty of room for those without boats. And these grounds remind one of a manicured golf course.

At the back side of the property is an 8-acre jewel: Lake Longleaf.

“We’re primarily converting that back to a catfish pond,” Mincey said. “It does have bass and bream, but we have an awful lot of people who love to catch and eat catfish. We also have kids’ events there. We’ll have 100 kids out here and cook each of them a hot dog and give them a bag of chips. When a kid catches one fish, he wants to catch another one. These events are a lot of fun.”

The fisheries techs here routinely keep an eye on fish species and populations in each of the lakes. How they come by that knowledge is fairly fascinating.

“We can relocate fish fairly easily through electro-fishing,” Mincey says. “Nothing is killed, just relocated. If we have too many or two few of a certain species in a certain lake, we can get that corrected quickly. Having the Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery just down the road enables us to keep our populations up and their bellies full.”

And to keep it that way, Evans does have daily creel and size limits in place. Anglers may keep 15 bream, five bass (14-inch minimum length), five channel catfish and 30 crappie.

During the hours I was there, two boats put in on Bidd Sands, and there were no bank fishermen. Riding and walking around Woody and Longleaf, not a soul was about, and the most striking aspect was the total lack of man-made noise. This is what “getting away” is all about.

Statesboro’s Paul Knoblich thinks so, too. He and his wife set their camper up in their favorite site, one of 13 for recreational vehicles. There are eight more tent-only.

“I love this place,” Knoblich says while sitting outside and soaking in the day. “If this was private land, this spot would be the perfect place to build a cabin. It’s great to be able to simply sit and enjoy the place, resting up and watching people come out to fish every day.”

While the author was visiting Evans County PFA, he ran into some folks out looking to put fish on the dinner table: Above: Aaron Drew and his son Blaze, 10, from Ellabell and Vidalia’s James DeGive and Linda Turner (below).

On this day, Ellabell’s Aaron Drew and his 10-year-old son, Blaze, were easing out to that channel in search of crappie. James DeGive and Linda Turner launched their small boat, acquired specifically for this place.

Each campsite offers electricity, water, a picnic table and a fire ring. Five of the RV sites feature full sewer service and parking pads. Again, be sure to check online for openings, as things fill up in a hurry.

Of the tent sites, only one was occupied, and that camper was packing up to leave—after two weeks.

The Events Center has become a feature attraction of Evans County PFA.

“It has everything you need for a variety of events,” Mills says. “There’s a full commercial kitchen, and we even have an ice machine. That’s always a big deal, especially for larger parties. We have enough tables and chairs for 85 people, but we have a lot more than that sometimes. There’s good lighting and overhead fans, so there’s always a nice breeze.

“Many times people will set up their chairs outside overlooking the lake, and it’s a really peaceful place. Just outside the back door a small point juts out into the lake, and that’s where a lot of people choose to get married.”

Evans certainly attracts fishermen, but there’s a lot more to this hidden gem than that top draw. Even after five decades of public use, this PFA simply keeps getting better.