Lake Frances in Whitfield County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Georgia, Lake Frances falls inside Whitfield County. The setting is dry hill on every side. It covers about 11 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. For a base, Varnell sits 3.4 miles out. Further out sit Dalton (8.8 miles) and Ringgold (11 miles). The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Lake Frances

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across Whitfield County, recorded fish include blackbanded darter, bluegill and green sunfish. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Lake Frances fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 78°F and January reads 38°F. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. That is the shape of the year on Lake Frances.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. 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. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Barrett Lake at 1.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Lake Frances.