Reservoir 51 in Jackson County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Jackson County end of Georgia holds Reservoir 51. The country round it is dry hill from end to end. Surface area runs to roughly 285 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The margin runs to about 4.1 miles in total. Among the waters listed for Jackson County, none is wider. The town to know is Maysville, 3.9 miles out. After that come Homer at 4.5 miles and Commerce at 5 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Reservoir 51

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Nearby survey and observation records mention black crappie, blackbanded darter, bluegill and green sunfish. It reflects what has been logged, which depends on who was looking. The shape of this water decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 78°F, with January the cold end at about 41°F. Cold never closes this one. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Anyone fishing this water regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Hills Lake is 1.7 miles distant. Signs at this water carry more weight than any list.