Mathews Lake in Morgan County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Morgan County entry here is Mathews Lake, in Georgia. The bank is 528 feet above sea level. At roughly 22 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Few waters listed in Morgan County are bigger. For a base, Madison sits 6.1 miles out. The nearest city of size is Athens, 29 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Mathews Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. At Mathews Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes. Where reeds break, there is usually a route in for fish.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 80°F and January near 43°F on the long-run figures. The surface stays open the year round. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. At Mathews Lake the season follows that pattern closely. Spring warms the shallows first, so start there.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Mathews Lake, 0.6 miles out. For Mathews Lake in particular, ask before you travel.