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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 Lake Fishing Report – April 2025

By GON Staff | March 26, 2025

Carters: Level: 0.3 feet above 1074. Temp: 62 degrees. Clarity: Stained. Bass: Guide Robbie Linginfelter, with Carters Lake Guide Service, reports, “Shad and spot spawns are the key. Fish rocky, main-lake points early with topwater, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits around shad and bass hitting them. Move fast until you find activity. After the sun gets up and stops the shad spawn, target clay and rock banks with nail-weight stick worm for spots in all stages of the spawn. Fish slowly and carefully. Details and good spots for both patterns are in this month’s Map of the Month article.” Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “With the walleye spawn wrapping up in the river, we are focusing our walleye efforts back on the main lake. Early morning the toothy fish are up shallow feeding on the shallow bait. These fish will get back to depth after sunrise,…

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Carters Lake Fishing Articles

Carters Spotted Bass May Transition

For the past 10 years anyone wanting a big spotted bass in Georgia headed to Carters Lake. Reports of 5-lb. plus spots from Carters were common. The hot fishing has cooled just a little, but the lake still produces a lot of quality spotted bass — and May is a great time to catch them. Carters…

Carters Lake Record Black Crappie

Brian Childs, of Ranger, caught one of three Carters Lake records that were set in the year 2000. Brian’s black crappie weighed 2.07 pounds and fell for a white/blue/white Hal Fly.

Drop A Spoon For January Carters Lake Bass

Buddy Callahan says that bass fishing for Carters Lake spotted bass is a “challenge.” A lot of other fishermen who have spent time trying to catch a bass on this lake use much stronger language to describe the fishing. Bass fishing on this deep, clear-water lake is often cussed — even by the locals. The…

Carters Lake Record Bluegill

Jonathan Sutton, of Adairsville, caught a 1-lb., 11-oz. bluegill on Carters Lake on April 12, 1998. The big bream set a records as the largest verified bluegill from Carters.

Carters Lake Magnum Spotted Bass In December

Spotted bass that weigh six pounds? In Georgia? That’s just a little hard to believe. Although I had seen pictures of Bruce Hicks in the Stratos GON Fishin’ Contest a couple of times with huge spots from Carters Lake, I was still a bit skeptical, but talking to him on the phone really got me…

Carters Lake Records