Fishing at Lake Wanda Reita, Chattooga County, Georgia

• Overview

  The Chattooga County end of Georgia holds Lake Wanda Reita. The ground round it is dry hill. At 17 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Head to Summerville, 2 miles away, for anything you forgot. Then Trion, 3 miles, and LaFayette, 14 miles. Nearby, in order: Maddox Lake at 2.1 miles, Hair Lake 3.2 miles off, Selmans Lake at 3.6 miles, Sucker Lake 3.7 miles off and Wildlife Lake at 4.2 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Lake Wanda Reita

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists coosa darter, blackbanded darter, bluegill and green sunfish. Use it to know what is possible here, not what is certain. Take Lake Wanda Reita a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 78°F on average, January about 39°F. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. The season on Lake Wanda Reita follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Maddox Lake at 2.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Lake Wanda Reita locally before you travel.