More small fishing lakes _ Atlanta Metro

[Ivan]

From the amount of email that I have received there seems to quite some interest in my list of Urban Fishing Holes.
So here are a few more of those Atlanta backyard honeyholes:
Sweatwater state park in Douglas County
and the creeks that feed it. Excellent fishing for all species.
Silver lake in Dunwoody is full of large bream and bass.
Candler Lake sometimes good bass always good bream .
There are two lakes in Tucker off Lavista and I beleive the actual road there on is Henerson Mill(?).... someone help me out here. They are both in Parks about a quarter mile from each other. They are both excellent "Crappie" and bream fisheries with bass and catfish to boot.
there are of course a lot more, thats enough for this thread.
oh ya! stone Mountain park should be part of this list.

[NiteOwl]

Hey Ivan.
Is there a trick to fishing Sweetwater? I work a few miles form it and Beedub lives close to it as well. I've been there a few times, but the ponds on the right side of the road look like better water than the main lake. ANy tips for that locale?

Thanks
Owl

[Windknot]

Ivan,
It’s been around 7 or 8 years since I lived near there, but I had great luck at Murphy-Candler in the early season. Usually fished along the riprap at the road – literally paralleling the road. Weightless worms & .25 oz. topwater baits (fished slowly, and maybe a foot offshore) usually got something’s attention. One of those “something’s” was a bugle-snouted mud turtle – but I have no pride. Once the crappie fishermen started hammering it, I’d leave it alone for awhile.

The two DeKalb parks provided me with some decent alternatives. Heading toward Tucker, I think the one to the right was Henderson Mill Park. It was being surrounded by new development, but the small bass were still willing to come out and play on occasion. I saw some nice catfish accept the offer of attending a fish fry. The lake in the park to the left was larger, but got even more pressure. I don’t remember catching anything but a few small bass.

No telling what a flyrod might do in any of those lakes. When I am in spinning or baitcasting mode it is hard for me to think about downsizing to the point of triggering some bluegills. It seems to come easier with the flyrod, and Lord knows I’d rather play tag with an 8” bluegill than a 1.5 lb. bass.

Typing this was therapeutic – I seem to vaguely remember a friend suggesting the outflow of M-C (across the road & ball fields) for some nice ‘gills. May have to detour that way soon!

Keep us posted.
Don

[Ivan]

Owl Think B.A.S.S.! structure, supended bass.schooling bass. I have never fished the other two lakes but they do look like they are probally good bets. I found that the bluegills will take anything thrown at them wets, drys, streamers etc. I use a lot of wet ants for wets and humpy and stimulators for drys...for crappies Orange streamers seem to be the ticket around the drainage pipes. They are deep bhwb long leader will get it do there. There is lot of vegatation in the lake so you may want tie some closer sytle, a piece of stiff mono to the hook would be a good idea for any streamer you fish crappie or bass... For bass I,m sorry I have taken most of my cues for fly fishing these fish from the Dark side. I fish Wooly buggers Carolina (split shot) style; a lot...this works in the open water fished very slow .. color olive black. you can substitute a mister twister tail when you go after those suspended fish with a moderate retreive. another method that is deadly; ala: "Gerald" is to use a small slugo like plastic lure (3") fished.... Owl, I don't have tell You how to fish a slugo. I use my 7wt.(not a Winston)for this tactic. Chances are you will run into other fly fisher-man/woman out there. The women seem to prefer to go out in canoes on saturdays. The slugo trick was given to me my a man who has been ffing the lake... I think he said twenty years? I think he's there every evening around 7. Stop by the bait shop get a map and talk to the gamewarden about the various creeks that feed the lake check the access points both inside and outside the park. These creeks offer very big bluegill, catfish, carp and bass. You can practice some of your NG small stream tactics (Hatchery cast)?.
Windknot I have not fished those tucker lakes in about four years. The crappie at that time were numerous in both lakes. I fished it with a little yellow 6'1/2" 5wt eagle claw fiberglass rod and had a ball.
These are great places to try out those new poppers you all have been tying. Almost all of us drive a small lake to or from work.

Try one on !


Ivan