Smith Lake Fishing in Stephens County, Georgia

• Overview

  This water sits in Stephens County, Georgia. It lies 1,158 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 4 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is high ground by Georgia standards. Toccoa lies 1.9 miles from the water. Athens is the closest city, 43 miles away. Close by you also have: Steel Lake roughly 2.1 miles, Collins Lake 2.4 miles, Watkins Pond roughly 2.6 miles, Penick Pond 3 miles and Lake Irvin roughly 3.2 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Smith Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Stephens County records list bluegill, largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish and yellow perch among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Smith Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 40°F and July at about 77°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season runs year-round, with the peak either side of summer. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. On Smith Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Steel Lake is 2.1 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Smith Lake for certain.