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Carters Lake
Located in the north Georgia mountains in Gilmer and Murray counties, Carters Lake is the deepest of Georgia's reservoirs. The spotted bass fishing at Carters is nationally known, and the lake also produces trophy striped bass, as well as a unique Georgia fishery for trophy walleye. Relatively small with 3,200 acres and 62 miles of shoreline, Carters Lake has an average depth of 200 feet and is also more than 450 feet deep in places. Carters is a Corps of Engineers impoundment that is unique that there are no private docks or houses along its shore. This lake is fed by the Coosawattee River.
Carters Lake Resources
Carters: Level: 1.8 feet above 1074. Temp: 70 degrees. Clarity: Clear. Bass: Guide Louie Bartenfield, with Carters Lake Guide Service, reports, “The spawn phase was in full swing in April. As May approaches, look for fish to start moving a lot more, especially with the herring spawn in full force. Flukes, spinnerbaits and topwater all work on flat points with wind early in the morning. The threadfin shad will start spawning any day now with gizzard shad shortly thereafter. May is topwater time. Get out and throw baits that stay high in the water column that mimic the baitfish that everything is chasing.” Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “The spring walleye bite has been great with numbers and big fish. The fish are feeding pretty shallow at night and holding nearshore after sunrise. Targeting the 25- to 50-foot range has been most productive for…
Read MoreCarters Lake Fishing Articles
Gary Turner, of Statham, is the first angler to have a blue catfish entry in GON’s Georgia Lake and River Records list for this north Georgia reservoir. He caught the record fish on Aug. 17 while in the boat with GON Fishing Reports contributor and lake guide Eric Crowley. Gary’s fish weighed 17-lbs., 4.64-ozs. Although…
All bass fishermen dream of April, when the bass are shallow and biting. The fish are in all stages from prespawn to postspawn, and add the shad spawn this month for some incredible fishing early in the morning. The fishing is great everywhere, but if you want a chance of catching a 7-lb. spot, with…
Carters Lake is a classic mountain reservoir. At only 3,200 acres and reaching more than 400 feet in spots, this small lake boasts an amazing spotted bass population. The lake-record spot is an impressive 7-lbs., 3-ozs., and five-fish stringers of 18 to 20 pounds are not uncommon in tournaments. Louie Bartenfield, of Chatsworth, is a…
If you’re willing to brave any north Georgia mountain lake in January, you know what you’re in for. It’s going to be cold, and the wind is likely to blow a bit. However, those folks who choose to hunt the beastly striped bass on Carters Lake will be rewarded this month. That is, if they’re…
Carters Lake Records
| Largemouth Bass | 13-lbs., 1-oz. | Jimmy Dixon | 04/11/87 |
| Spotted Bass | 7-lbs., 3-ozs. | Leonard Lawson | 12/05/92 |
| Hybrid Bass | 14-lbs., 6-ozs. | Hunter Bruce | 04/03/12 |
| Black Crappie | 2-lbs., 1-oz. | Brian Childs | 05/20/00 |
| Striped Bass | 36-lbs., 0-ozs. | Angela Hawes | 08/22/09 |
| Walleye | 8-lbs., 11-ozs. | Gary Hawkins | 03/09/03 |
| Bluegill | 1-lb., 11-ozs. | Jonathon Sutton | 04/12/98 |
| Rainbow Trout | 3-lbs., 12.48-ozs. | Mike Guthrie | 04/28/17 |
| Flathead Catfish | 41-lbs., 12-ozs. | Wyatt Stokes | 05/06/20 |
| Blue Catfish | 17-lbs., 4.64-ozs. | Gary Turner | 08/17/14 |
| White Crappie | 3-lbs., 4.9-ozs. | Chandler Watkins | 02/28/21 |