Rabun Lake in Jefferson County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Jefferson County entry here is Rabun Lake, in Georgia. The bank is 282 feet above sea level. It measures about 29 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Size puts it in the front rank of our Jefferson County list. The closest town, Louisville, is 4.9 miles distant. Athens sits 85 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Rabun Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover American eel, blackbanded darter, bluegill, tessellated darter and speckled madtom. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Rabun Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 81°F in July and bottoms out near 46°F in January. Heat sets the pattern from late spring onward. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. That is the shape of the year on Rabun Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Kellys Pond is 2.4 miles off. Confirm before you fish Rabun Lake.