Drakes Lake Fishing near Jonesboro, Georgia

• Overview

  Set in Clayton County, Drakes Lake is a Georgia water. Oak and grass runs right down to the water. The water covers some 29 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Size puts it in the front rank of our Clayton County list. The nearest place of any size is Jonesboro, 1.2 miles away. Irondale follows at 2.5 miles, then Bonanza at 3.1 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Drakes Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Public wildlife records from this area list bluegill, longnose gar and yellow bullhead. Records show what people reported, not what is stocked. Drakes Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 80°F and January near 43°F. It fishes twelve months of the year. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. On Drakes Lake the same rules apply, with local timing. Wind on the bank for a day or two lifts the fishing there.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Drakes Landing Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Drakes Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.