Payne Lakes, Georgia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Georgia, Payne Lakes falls inside Carroll County. The surface lies 1,047 feet up. Surface area runs to about 4 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Carroll County. Head to Temple, 6 miles away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is South Fulton, 19 miles away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Payne Lakes

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Nearby survey and observation records mention blackbanded darter, yellow bullhead, green sunfish, largemouth bass and black crappie. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. Work Payne Lakes in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 78°F at the top of summer and 41°F at the bottom of winter. Summer heat is the limit here, not winter cold. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Time your trip to Payne Lakes by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Humphries Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Payne Lakes carry more weight than any list.