Fishing at Reservoir 21, Hart County, Georgia

• Overview

  Reservoir 21 falls in Hart County, part of Georgia. The surroundings are pine and hardwood. Surface area runs to about 18 acres — small enough to read in one session. You are 5.5 miles from Royston. The big place round here is Athens, 29 miles distant. More in the same country: Brooks Lake 2.4 miles away, Reservoir 17 2.5 miles off, Wilders Pond 3.1 miles away, Reservoir Eight 4.3 miles off and Reservoir 30 5.5 miles away. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Reservoir 21

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Nearby survey and observation records mention bluegill, green sunfish and margined madtom. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. This water fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 79°F and January near 41°F on the long-run figures. It fishes twelve months of the year. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Expect this water to follow that timing. After heavy rain, give the water a day to settle.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Brooks Lake is 2.4 miles distant. Treat access at this water as something to verify.