Lake Matthews in Gwinnett County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Matthews lies in Gwinnett County, in Georgia. It lies 945 feet above sea level. At about 45 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Roughly 1.1 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. On our Gwinnett County list it sits near the top for size. Start from Snellville, 2.8 miles down the road. Grayson is 4.5 miles away, with Lawrenceville at 5 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Matthews

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Public wildlife records from this area list bluegill, warmouth, striped jumprock and turquoise darter. Records come from public data, not from a stocking programme. The shape of Lake Matthews rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 42°F in January up to 79°F in July. Winter is a mild inconvenience here, nothing more. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan any trip to Lake Matthews around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Public data records a pier about half a mile out. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Lake Zola is 0.7 miles off. Check the position at Lake Matthews before loading the car.