11 Family Friendly Fishing Places in Your Backyard

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned angler or the new fish on the block, there’s no shortage of fishing or outdoor fun at Georgia’s Public Fishing Areas (PFA). If you’re looking for a weekend fishing getaway, your Georgia fishing license is your all access pass to 11 intensely managed and family friendly fishing holes right in your own backyard.

Big Lazer Creek PFA

Talbotton | Talbot County

Nestled on Big Lazer Creek WMA, this 195-acre lake offers excellent bluegill, channel catfish, crappie and largemouth bass fishing. The lake has about 15 acres of standing timber as well as fish attractors installed around the fishing pier to increase your chances of landing a whopper. Aside from your favorite bait and tackle, all you’ll need is a valid Georgia fishing license and to sign-in when you get there.

Hook some Big Lazer fishing tips from the NEW Big Lazer Creek Fishing Guide before you go!

Dodge County PFA

Eastman | Dodge County

Dodge County PFA isn’t just for fishing. It’s a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle and just enjoy the outdoors. Have lunch at one of the many picnic tables or take a hike through one of four different types of tree communities. The 104 acre lake is full of coves, points, and shallow creek channels. If crappie fishing is more your style, there’s plenty of standing timber, fish attractors, piers, docks and steep shorelines to wet a line.

Don’t head out until you read the NEW Dodge County PFA guide, though!

Evans County PFA

Claxton | Evans County

It doesn’t matter if you prefer bank or boat fishing—Evans County PFA is the place to be. Three lakes between 8 and 84 acres await you and two are fertilized to increase your fishing success. If you’re planning a catfish fry, give 8-acre Lake Longleaf a shot. It’s managed for primarily channel catfish, but you can still land a bass or bream. Want to make your visit a weekend getaway? The updated campground is complete with tent, trailer & RV sites. Make your reservation at www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com.

You’ll want to read this before you go: Evans County Fishing Guide.

Flat Creek PFA

Perry | Houston County

If you’re fishing for bluegill or shellcracker, you have to fish Flat Creek PFA. Home to the 108-acre Lonice C. Barrett Lake (named after a former DNR Commissioner), it’s managed to offer excellent bream fishing. There’s multiple spots for anglers to cast their lines and the submerged roads crossing the lake are great spawning areas. Don’t forget to make a stop at the Go Fish Education Center while you’re in the area!

Become a pro before you go by reading the: Flat Creek PFA Fishing Guide.

Hugh M. Gillis PFA

Adrian | Laurens County

New to the line-up of public fishing areas is this PFA settled in the coastal plains outside of Dublin. There are fishing piers available across the property as well as concrete boat ramps if you prefer boat fishing. It doesn’t matter if you’re fishing largemouth bass, bream, channel catfish, or crappie, you’re bound to have a great time.

Land some tips on this new fishing spot.

Marben PFA

Mansfield | Jasper/Newton County

Twenty different ponds await your arrival to provide the opportunity to fish for largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, and redear sunfish. Fish attractors just casting distance from the shore will increase your chances of a fish frenzy. Dove Pond is a great place to introduce your small-fry to fishing. This pond is open to harvest every year from June—August and is only open to anglers under the age of 16. Take a break by visiting the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center or Clybel Shooting Range for more wild adventures while you’re there.

Find tips to narrow down your fishing spot at Marben.

McDuffie PFA

McDuffie | McDuffie County

More than just a public fishing area, McDuffie PFA is also home to a warm water fish hatchery and the McDuffie Environmental Education Center. If you’re into bass fishing, meet your new home away from home. Largemouth bass will be biting regardless of what lake you fish and several of them will give you a shot of taking home a trophy size fish. Want to see it all? Make it a long weekend and your spot at the campground by visiting www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com.

Become a bass boss at McDuffie by checking out the McDuffie PFA Fishing Guide.

Ocmulgee PFA

Cochran | Bleckley County

Ocmulgee PFA is back! Take the weekend and enjoy all Ocmulgee PFA and the surrounding area has to offer. You’ll have a 106-acre lake filled to the “bream” with bluegill, largemouth bass, and crappie at your rod tip. Or, hit the nearby Ocmulgee River to knock the Shoal bass off your Georgia Bass Slam list.

Don’t leave home without reading the NEW Ocmulgee PFA Fishing Guide.

Paradise PFA

Enigma | Berrien County

Welcome to paradise. It isn’t hard to understand how this scenic PFA got its name. This area is the largest of Georgia’s PFAs, boasting 68 lakes totaling about 525 acres. Lake Patrick is a fish-head favorite offering bank anglers 3 fishing piers to try and boat anglers 9 different launch spots. If you also happen to be a birder, make sure you take your binoculars with you. Nature trails on the area make for great birding opportunities, too! Need a few more days of Paradise? Stay at the onsite campground by making your reservation at www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com.

Get the scoop on Paradise.

Rocky Mountain PFA

Rome | Floyd County

If mountains are your flavor you definitely want to give Rocky Mountain PFA a visit. This PFA in Northwest Georgia offers two recreational lakes with a backdrop of forested ridgelines and a relaxed pace. Both lakes offer great largemouth bass, sunfish and crappie fishing. Spend part of the weekend on the water before hiking to a scenic over to catch a view.

Net some fishing tips about the area.

Silver Lake PFA

Bainbridge | Decatur County

The area is comprised of more than 30 lakes and ponds totaling 537 acres, making it one of the largest PFAs in the state. Two boat ramps allow boating access for anglers, and a handicap accessible fishing pier provides excellent fishing opportunities for landlocked anglers. Don’t panic if you happen to pull a lunker out of Panic Pond — this pond is intensively managed for trophy bass production and anglers are able to routinely catch 8 + pound fish.