Reservoir 12 Fishing Guide, Madison County, Georgia

• Overview

  Out in Madison County, Georgia, sits Reservoir 12. The surface lies 748 feet up. The water measures roughly 9 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. The nearest place of any size is Nicholson, 4 miles away. Commerce lies 6 miles off, Country Club Estates another 11 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Reservoir 12

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include bluegill, largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish and yellow bullhead. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish on the day. Fish this water to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 79°F, while January sits near 42°F. Warm months push fish deep; cool months bring them back. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. The season on this water follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Reservoir 14 sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at this water are worth checking on the day.