Bailey Lake in Newton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Bailey Lake belongs to Newton County, Georgia. The water sits 699 feet up. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Newton County. For a base, Oakwood sits 2.5 miles out. It is 30 miles to Atlanta, the nearest city. Water in the same corner: Turner Lake about 4.3 miles, Salem Lake 4.6 miles away, Manning Lake about 5 miles and Ub Lake Dam 5.1 miles away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Bailey Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Records collected within a few miles name bluegill, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, black crappie and black bullhead. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. Read Bailey Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 43°F and July at about 79°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Summer heat is the limit here, not winter cold. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. It sets the rhythm of the year at Bailey Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Turner Lake is 4.3 miles distant. Ask locally about Bailey Lake if anything is unclear.