Fishing at Mathis Lake, Upson County, Georgia

• Overview

  Mathis Lake is set in Upson County, Georgia. The bank is 594 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. The closest town, Thomaston, is 3.3 miles away. Beyond it, Hannahs Mill at 6.5 miles and Manchester at 17 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Mathis Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists shoal bass, flathead catfish and largemouth bass. Reported species tell you what lives around here, nothing more. Mathis Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 80°F; by January the average is down near 44°F. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Mathis Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Copper Hill East Lake at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. For Mathis Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.