Shell Lake, Georgia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Shell Lake falls in Fulton County, part of Georgia. The surface lies 1,020 feet up. The water measures roughly 7 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is high ground by Georgia standards. The nearest town is Milton, 4.7 miles away. The big place round here is Sandy Springs, 19 miles distant. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Shell Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include bronze darter, etowah darter, frecklebelly madtom, shoal bass and speckled darter. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. On Shell Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 78°F and January reads 40°F. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It holds true on Shell Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A pier or jetty stands 70 yards away, which helps on a crowded bank. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Fredrick Lake is 0.4 miles distant. For Shell Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.