Carnes Lake in Carroll County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Georgia, Carnes Lake falls inside Carroll County. Around the bank it is oak and grass. Small at around 12 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Chattahoochee Hills, is 6.2 miles away. For a city, South Fulton is 12 miles off. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Carnes Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include bluegill, blackbanded darter, redbreast sunfish, greater jumprock and green sunfish. Records come from public data, not from a stocking programme. On Carnes Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 42°F in January up to 78°F in July. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Plan any trip to Carnes Lake around it. The week either side of a change of season often fishes hardest.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Wampum Lake is 1.2 miles distant. Treat access at Carnes Lake as something to verify.