Martin-Marietta Lake in Jones County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Martin-Marietta Lake sits within Jones County in Georgia. The ground around here is open plain. About 12 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Supplies mean a trip to Gray, 5.5 miles off. Athens sits 71 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Martin-Marietta Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish, brook trout and christmas darter. It reflects what has been logged, which depends on who was looking. Work Martin-Marietta Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 80°F at the top of summer and 45°F at the bottom of winter. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. It sets the rhythm of the year at Martin-Marietta Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Washburn Lake is 0.6 miles off. Treat Martin-Marietta Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.