Georgia is home to 45 state parks, many of which offer excellent fishing opportunities. You can’t beat the price either. For the cost of a fishing license  and a $5 parking pass (annual passes are also available!), you’re free to fish all day.

 

It can be overwhelming to choose just one when you’ve only got a weekend. So, take the guesswork out of where to Go Fish Georgia and take a look at our top 7 state parks to head to on a weekend. A handy map of where they parks can be found here.

 

Popular Parks:

  1. Don Carter State Park 

Gainesville – Hall County

 

While it’s only 5 years old, Don Carter State Park is a popular fishing hole for anglers. Its banks border the shore of Georgia’s largest lake, Lake Lanier. Annually, several million anglers take to its almost 700 miles of shoreline to catch crappie and bass. Anglers can fish on the shoreline everywhere except for the beach area and also have access to docks and piers.  On-site overnight lodging is available in either cottages or the campground. Several boat slips are also available for users staying overnight on the property.

 

  1. Red Top Mountain State Park 

Cartersville – Bartow County 

 

Red Top Mountain State Park’s distance from Metro Atlanta makes it a convenient fishing spot to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Anglers are encouraged to fish from banks, docks and boats in their search for a trophy bass, catfish, crappie or blue gill from Lake Allatoona. Georgia DNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manage brush piles along the Bethany Bridge Fishing Jetty to provide excellent cover and increased fishing success. Also located within easy casting distance of the jetty are 200 sunken Christmas trees that act as a fish attractor.

 

Secret Spots

  1. Elijah Clark and Mistletoe State Parks 

Lincolnton – Lincoln County and Appling – Columbia County

 

Lying along Clark’s Hill Lake, these areas provide excellent fishing opportunities for Largemouth bass, sunfish, catfish, and crappie. Both parks have boat ramps, service piers, fishing piers and tons of bank space for anglers.  Fisheries staff sink Christmas trees every 1-2 years along the bank to create cover and attract fish. Mistletoe State park also participates in the tackle loaner program allowing anglers to checkout rods, reels and tackle box equipment for the day.

 

  1. Richard B. Russell State Park 

Elberton – Elbert County 

 

This 26,650 acre lake on the Savannah River is owned and operated by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. Richard B. Russell boasts 540 miles of shoreline and 9 boating access areas. Anglers say the best fishing happens in the Beaverdam, Coldwater and Van Creek areas. Plan on making your fishing trip a long weekend since onsite camping is available. Before heading out, anglers should check current fishing regulations for size and daily creel limits for Georgia-South Carolina Border Waters.

 

  1. George T. Bagby State Park and Lodge

Fort Gaines – Clay County 

 

If you’re looking for a new boat angling spot, here’s your place. There are numerous boat ramps located throughout and anglers can get by with even kayaks or canoes.  A large fish attractor reef was added to the lower end of the reservoir recently, consisting of large cedar trees.  This lake has great Largemouth bass and crappie fishing opportunities. Area biologists also say catfish and hybrid fishing can be extremely good throughout the area.  Hybrids school and are located at different areas and times. People often catch them by trolling baits until they find them and then cast or use live bait from there.

 

  1. High Falls State Park 

Jackson – Monroe County 

 

High Falls provides a unique river and lake environment. This allows guests to experiment with tactics from fly-fishing to baiting catfish in essentially the same location, give or take a few hundred yards. An old powerhouse below the dam and falls has some quiet coves and hiding places for bass. Some large bass are caught in this area and it’s a favorite spot for many anglers. Unique to High Falls are the residents encompassing the lake itself. Fishing from the shore and docks is limited to those locations on park property as all private resident docks are off limits.

 

  1. Florence Marina State Park

Omaha – Stewart County

 

Day or night, Florence Marina is a great place to fish for the favorites: bass, catfish, and crappie. This state park features a lighted fishing pier, a camper’s dock specifically for guests at the park, and one of the only deep water marinas on the Chattahoochee River. You can fish anywhere on the shoreline except for the marina itself or on the lake by boat. The park offers Jon Boats for rent and full hook-up campsites with power, water, sewage, and cable to our visitor’s. There are also 15 cabins on the park that can be rented.