Fishing Dougherty Lake in Bibb County, Georgia

• Overview

  In Georgia, Dougherty Lake falls inside Bibb County. It sits at 469 feet above sea level. It covers about 11 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest town is West Point, 1.1 miles away. Columbus sits 71 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Dougherty Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover gizzard shad, largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie and bluegill. It reflects what has been logged, which depends on who was looking. Work Dougherty Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 45°F and July at about 81°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. At Dougherty Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Stackler Lake is 2.3 miles distant. The position on Dougherty Lake is worth confirming on the day.