Pace Lake, Georgia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Pace Lake is a Monroe County water, Georgia side. It stands 535 feet above sea level. It covers about 6 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Monroe County list holds plenty of bigger water. For a base, Forsyth sits 4.9 miles out. Atlanta is the closest city, 51 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Pace Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists redbreast sunfish, striped jumprock and blackbanded darter. Records come from public data, not from a stocking programme. At Pace Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 80°F and January reads 44°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Pace Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Hook Pond sits 2.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Pace Lake are worth checking on the day.