Belk-Elrod Lake Fishing in Henry County, Georgia

• Overview

  Set in Henry County, Belk-Elrod Lake is a Georgia water. Beyond the shoreline you have open plain. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. For a base, Hampton sits 2.5 miles out. Atlanta is the closest city, 25 miles away. Water in the same corner: Fausel Lake at 0.4 miles, Sinback Lake lies 1.6 miles on, Floyds Lake at 2.8 miles, Miriatoto Lake lies 3 miles on and Lake Cindy at 3.5 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Belk-Elrod Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and black crappie. The records cover the area rather than this water alone. The shape of Belk-Elrod Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 79°F and January about 43°F. It fishes twelve months of the year. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. That is the shape of the year on Belk-Elrod Lake. Autumn feeding runs harder as the light drops away.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Fausel Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Belk-Elrod Lake is worth confirming on the day.