Marys Pond Fishing near Tifton, Georgia

• Overview

  Marys Pond sits in Tift County, out in Georgia. The surface lies 361 feet up. With some 35 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 1.3 miles on foot. It ranks high for size among our Tift County listings. Some 2.4 miles away sits Tifton, the nearest settlement. Tallahassee sits 86 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Marys Pond

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Public wildlife records from this area list bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie, largemouth bass and Nile tilapia. It is a record of sightings and surveys, so use it as a guide. Marys Pond responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 49°F to 81°F. Cold never becomes a factor on this one. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Marys Pond runs to that rhythm year in and year out. Autumn cools the shallows first, so work deeper as it goes on.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Baldwin Lake, 2.1 miles away. For Marys Pond in particular, ask before you travel.