Carters Lake

2 Fishing Charters

Carters Lake Fishing Charters

Search top fishing charters in Carters Lake
Carters Lake: 2 fishing charters available
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Ellijay
 Instant Confirmation
trips from $400
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(4 reviews)
Oakman
 Instant Confirmation

Frequently Asked Questions about Fishing Charters in Carters Lake

According to customer reviews, Fish Slayer Fishing Guide and Xtreme Trophy Angling Fishing are some of the most popular fishing charters in Carters Lake. Full list of top fishing charters in Carters Lake.

The average price for a private 4 hour Carters Lake fishing trip is $434, while an 8 hour private trip will cost you $500 based on prices on FishingBooker.com.

Fish Slayer Fishing Guide and Xtreme Trophy Angling Fishing received great reviews from families who booked fishing trips in Carters Lake.

The most popular fish species you can target are Striped Bass, Walleye, and Catfish. Top fishing techniques include Light Tackle, Jigging, and Trolling. Lake fishing, river fishing, and inshore fishing are commonly offered by local guides.

Anglers all over the country associate Georgia with world-class freshwater fishing. This is in spite of the fact it has no large natural lakes. That problem was fixed with the help of the US Army Corps of Engineers, responsible for creating a number of reservoirs. Carters Lake is the largest of these man-made lakes, boasting a 3,220-acres of water. With that in mind, it’s small wonder that Carters Lake fishing draws in anglers from all over the north of Georgia and beyond.

Known For

Of course, the size of a lake isn’t the most important thing, it’s what you do with it that matters most. Nested between the towns of Calhoun and Ellijay, Carters Lake is diverse enough to offer plenty of challenges to the curious angler.

The dominant species in these deep and clear waters is the Spotted Bass. They’re not only abundant but a lot of them grow over 6 lb in size. These “Magnum” Spots are known to stay near rocky points in early spring and move into coves when it’s time to spawn. As the weather becomes colder later in the year, they’ll be found at deeper structures up to 60’ down.

Striped Bass are the just behind their Spotted cousins when it comes to the sheer amount found in the lake. Most of them will be in the 5-10 lb range, with big ones reaching an impressive 20 lb. The current lake record stands at an astounding 33 lb 5 oz, and you’re welcome to try and break it. October through June is the best time to enjoy Striper fishing in Carters Lake.

The rarest member of the Bass family in these waters is Largemouth Bass. They make about a tenth of the lake’s Bass but will make their presence known regardless. They are usually found in the coves on the north and south stretches of the lake, as it’s the only habitat they are comfortable with here. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find 7-8 lb fish but most of them don’t go over 2 lb.

There’s more to Carters Lake than just Bass, though. Walleye were introduced here two decades ago and have since developed a sparse but stable population. Their spawning run lasts from February through March, when you should search for them close to Ridgeway boat ramp. This area has a rocky shoreline nearby that is a great starting point. When it comes to Walleye, expect an average catch to be around 3 lb.

Other than Walleye, you can also find a sizeable amount of Catfish in the lake. These come in both the Flathead and Channel variety, with Channel Catfish making up most of the numbers. They love hiding in bunches of logs and trees that fall in the water every now and then.

Fishing Techniques

You should be sure to use the right tools for the fish you’re looking to catch. Largemouth and Spotted Bass are partial to plastic worms, while Stripers will go nuts over free-lined shad. Shad also works very well for Catfish, you just need to put it on a weighted bottom rig and you’re ready to catch some dinner. If you’re out after Walleye, best make use of bait like minnows and night crawlers on lead jigs.

Many anglers would say that it’s not a real Georgian experience without fly fishing. Your weapon of choice in these parts should be a 5-7 wt medium action outfit along with a 8-9 lb tippet. You’ll want your flies to resemble the likes of blueback herring, shad, and minnows, and we’d advise settling for topwater poppers. Note that this doesn’t apply to Bass that go deep. For that purpose, you’ll need weighed streamers with long leaders.

Need to Know

Regulations

Every angler over the age of 16 will need a freshwater fishing license. Buy them either online or in person from local tackle shops and other approved vendors. The minimum size for Largemouth Bass is 12”. Please be sure to check the latest regulations prior to the trip or fish with a guide to maximise your catch and stay within the rules.

Getting There

You can reach Carters Lake in less than two hours when driving from Atlanta. The two State Routes that pass next to the river are SR 382 and 136.

If you’ve been around Georgia and fished all the Trout you possibly could and then some, Carters Lake will be a welcome change of pace. If you’re new to the local freshwater fishing scene, all the more reason to see what this lake has to offer for professionals and novices alike.

Carters Lake
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Based on 26549 reviews by FishingBooker anglers

January

As the year starts, bigger Walleye start showing up. Stripers should be scattered this time of year, making it easy to find them all over the lake.

February

It can get quite cold in February, so the fishing is likely to be a slow burn this month. You should still be able to have decent success with Stripers.

March

When it comes to Spotted Bass, you’ll have the most success looking for schools at depths of 30-50’. They’re stubborn but worth the fight.

April

Not only is the Walleye bite due to pick up as spring sets in, but it’s also a great time to be tackling Flathead Catfish. Here’s a tip for Catfish bait–the bigger the better.

May

Late spring is when you can expect much better fishing opportunities in the northeast parts of the lake. The fresher your bait, the better your chances are.

June

Jigging for Spotted Bass is absolutely on fire come summer! You’ll also find a bunch of Walleye in the shallow waters if you fish in the evening.

July

July is, as the local anglers like to say, a rinse and repeat type of month for fishing. In this case, this is great because it means the great angling from last month continues.

August

The weather is still hot, meaning that you’ll have the best chances of catching fish in deep water or near logs and timber that have fallen in.

September

Walleye and Spotted Bass still roam the waters in respectable numbers, but the real treat has to be the excellent Striper fishing.

October

Expect turnover in the first half of October, which will translate to less than stellar fishing conditions. Fishing near the dam is your best bet this time of year.

November

Winter might be windy, but the fishing itself is improving at a rapid pace. Just make sure you’re dressed for the weather and you’ll have a great time with the local Bass.

December

If you’re after the big ones, load up on shad and get to work. Stripers and Spotted Bass are as big as they’re ever going to get around here.

Carters Lake Fishing Calendar

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Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Enjoyed 6 hr trip with Capt. Len, very knowledgeable and well prepared for a fun day. Went to various locations on lake, had a great day with family. Great experience!
Sharon  M.
Sharon M. Ellijay, Georgia
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
This was a Christmas present for my dad and we went out on the water in April and it was great. Len was so great and was really invested in us catching some big ones! It was cool to see all the tech he uses to find fish and make the experience better. We all had a great morning!
Rachael  R.
Rachael R. Smyrna, GA
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Captain Slay put us on just what we wanted; BIG FISH! He did a great job of explaining what, why, and how we were doing things. He's excellent and I highly recommend him.
William  M.
William M. North Warren, PA
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
First time striper fishing and we had a blast. Caught some pretty nice spots. Had a great trip.
Perry  P.
Perry P.
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
We had such a great time on this charter! We got a Carter Dam Slam hooking into a huge striper, bass, and a bonus walleye at the end! Had a great time as a family!
Cameron  B.
Cameron B. Pinson, Alabama
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
We had a great day fishing with Capt Len. He was a great guide. Really tried hard to put us on some fish. He was very personable and kind. Thx for such a great trip. We caught large mouth and stripped bass and catfish.
Dee  R.
Dee R. Atlanta, Georgia
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Captain arrived at dock on time and well-prepared. We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon and caught some fish, too. Looking forward to our next trip.
Bruce  D.
Bruce D. Birmingham, AL
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Amazing time with my 3 young boys!!! Awesome weather, beautiful scenery, and top notch captain! Len was fantastic and worked hard the entire time to ensure a memorable trip. He did his best to put us on the big fish. Even though they weren't biting as much as we'd like them to, it wasn't for lack of effort on Len's part. We all caught fish, and a few BIG ones. Overall great experience. Would highly recommend.
Joel  O.
Joel O. Canton, GA
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Went fishing in the morning on Carter Lake. Even though it was rainy, had a great time and got into some big fish. Comfortable, plenty of space, and the captain is very knowledgeable. Everyone caught some and we had a great time. Definitely recommend
Istvan  K.
Istvan K. Moline, IL
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
We had a blast. The only thing we would have changed was the weather. Us Florida people were not prepared for the cold but Captians Len's knowledge and determination to put us on some killer fish made the cold seemed like nothing. We really enjoyed our day on the lake and would definitely recommend Captain Len to anyone.
Brandi  C.
Brandi C. Palm Bay, FL
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Awesome guide, during cold and windy conditions still managed quite a decent bite through out the morning. Highly recommend too book with Len, he is the man!! Great human being whom enjoys the outdoors with positive vibes!!
Oscar  L.
Oscar L. United States
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
My father and I chartered a half day with Captain Len. I managed to catch a 18 pound 34 inch Striper Bass and we also caught 4 hefty green spotted bass. Captain Lenโ€™s boat was well equipped and he took us to two different fishing spots. All in all it was a great day - highly recommended!
Sasha  L.
Sasha L. Atlanta, Georgia
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Captain Lenn Slayer knows how to find the fish. He was also great with our 5yr old daughter who can be a handful sometimes. We will definately be fishing with him again.
Ben  T.
Ben T. Resaca, GA
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Len is the best. Literally cares more about catching fish then anyone! Super prideful and good at his job!
Tony  L.
Tony L. Marietta, GA
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
The only other worse condition that could have been dealt us was rain. There was a cold front that blew in the night before our trip and conditions were terrible to fish, however Len stuck with it, continually trying everything and everywhere and we ended up catching a few fish for the live well. Len has great knowledge of the lake and how to catch them. There is no doubt that on a good day with the right conditions, Len will put you on the fish.
Craig  J.
Craig J. Foley, AL
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
It was a slow day, but Captain Len was persistent and got us on some fish.
Jason  C.
Jason C. Southampton Township, NJ
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
We had a great time, even though we didnโ€™t catch a fish.just one of those days . It was not because he didnโ€™t try .threw everything at them. None of the guides werenโ€™t catching anything.couldnโ€™t catch a cold.We will be going back.
Preston  W.
Preston W. Summerville, GA
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Awesome! Len was great with my son. Was driven to get us on some big stripers. We had a blast.
John  M.
John M. Winder, GA
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
Our charter with Len Slay,โ€The Fish Slayerโ€, was the best! Len was a great guy, we had fun and caught tuns of fish! So glad we picked Lenโ€™s charter, he is a local guide that knows the lake and loves to fish! It was the most relaxing 1/2 day ever! Iโ€™m a widow that just needed to relax and catch a lot of fish! It was perfect we had an awesome time! Thank you so much Mr Fish Slayer! I really enjoyed it! Lisa
Lisa  G.
Lisa G. Brownsburg, IN
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fish Slayer Fishing Guide
Fishing charter in Ellijay
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(59 reviews)
The Captain was great! Keeps his lines tight and ready! We had an awesome adventure and the lake was Beautiful. Will go out again with this Captain for sure!
Johnny  B.
Johnny B. United States