Collins Lakes in Maury County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Collins Lakes is one of the Maury County waters in Tennessee. The ground round it is oak and grass. The far bank is a conversation away, so keep low and quiet. On size it sits at the modest end of our Maury County list. Nearest place of any size is Columbia, 3.7 miles away. The big place round here is Murfreesboro, 36 miles distant. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Collins Lakes

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Maury County: redband darter, saffron darter, fringed darter, fantail darter and duck darter. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Collins Lakes fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 78°F, the coldest about 36°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. The season on Collins Lakes follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Tailings Pond Number Ten at 4.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Collins Lakes.