Southwest Georgia’s Plantation Trace region holds two of the South’s best-known bass reservoirs, Lake Seminole and Walter F. George, plus state park lakes, a 68-lake public fishing area and blackwater cypress ponds full of bream, crappie and chain pickerel.
- Big waterLake Seminole (37,500 acres), Walter F. George (45,000 acres)
- Family fishingParadise PFA, Reed Bingham and Kolomoki state park lakes
- BlackwaterBanks Lake and Ray’s Millpond: bass, bream, pickerel
- LicenseGeorgia fishing license for anglers 16 and older
Big Reservoirs
Lake Seminole
A 37,500-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir where the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers meet at the Florida line, famous for largemouth bass in its stumps and grass beds, plus hybrid and striped bass, crappie and bream. Shore access, cottages and campsites at Seminole State Park near Donalsonville (229-861-3137; $10 ParkPass).
Walter F. George Lake
Also called Lake Eufaula, this Corps reservoir covers about 45,000 acres along 85 miles of the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama line, with a big largemouth and crappie reputation. Georgia access is around Fort Gaines and Georgetown.
Lake Chehaw (Lake Worth)
A 1,400-acre Georgia Power lake on the Flint River in Albany with free public ramps. Largemouth, channel and flathead catfish and native shoal bass; the tailrace gives up striped bass over 20 pounds most springs.
Lower Flint River
Below Albany the Flint runs free to Lake Seminole, with shoal bass, catfish and redbreast in its limestone shoals and springs.
State Parks and Public Fishing Areas
Reed Bingham State Park
A 375-acre lake on the Little River near Adel with largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, shellcracker, warmouth and channel catfish. Boat ramps, a fishing pier and plenty of bank fishing. $10 ParkPass; 229-896-3551.
Kolomoki Mounds State Park
Two lakes near Blakely, Lake Kolomoki (about 80 acres) and Lake Yohola (about 50 acres), each with a dock and boat ramp. Bass, bluegill, redbreast, crappie and catfish; jon boats, canoes, kayaks and pedal boats for rent. $10 ParkPass; 229-724-2150.
Paradise Public Fishing Area
About 525 acres of water in 68 lakes on a 1,351-acre DNR property near Enigma, east of Tifton. Largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, channel catfish, crappie and bullhead; accessible fishing docks, a boat ramp, tent campsites and trails. Open 24 hours; a fishing license (or Lands Pass for non-anglers) is required. 536 Paradise Dr., Enigma; 229-533-4792.
Blackwater Lakes and Millponds
Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge
About 1,000 acres of open water and flooded cypress near Lakeland, with largemouth bass, chain pickerel, crappie, bluegill, warmouth, flier and catfish. Fishing is allowed year-round under state rules; the triple-wide ramp on GA 122 about 1.2 miles west of Lakeland has no launch fee.
Ray’s Millpond
A 3,500-acre millpond near Ray City in Berrien County, created by an 1866 dam on Beaver Dam Creek and full of cypress, lily pads and stumps. Largemouth bass, bream, catfish and chain pickerel. The ramp by the dam takes a small honor-box launch fee, and a popular restaurant sits beside it.
Nearby: Lake Blackshear at Cordele and the Presidential Pathways fishing lakes to the north, and the Magnolia Midlands fishing lakes to the east. See all Georgia fishing lakes.
Sources we checked
Facts in this guide were checked against the agencies and operators that run these places:
- Georgia DNR: Paradise Public Fishing Area
- Georgia State Parks: Reed Bingham fishing
- Georgia State Parks: Kolomoki Mounds
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Banks Lake NWR activities
- WWALS: Ray’s Millpond
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