Recommendations for southeastern US bass fishing spots

[cxp138]

Me and my brother are driving from MD to Augusta GA for the Easter weekend golf tourney and we were going to pull our 16' jon boat along with us so we could stop somewhere and experience some of the great southeastern US bass fishing we can only read about in magazines.  We only have a 10hp and were hoping to find a lake we could camp out overnight and get in a full days fishing.  Any help or recommendations on places we should consider would be greatly appreciated.

[5151]

here you go

lakemurray-sc.com

southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1371.aspx

[zgonce]

i would agree lake murray sc or clarks hill sc/ga it that is the best lakes close to where you will be....on murray put in at dreher island and go up the lake not down towards the dam if the wind picks up you might have a little fun in the jon boat. the upper end of the lake is awesome though the spots are just now starting to move up into the shallower water.  its nothing to catch a 20 lbs sack in a tourny there.  have fun and tear em up

[Aluma-Bass]

Briery Creek in VA only way to go....go get you one of those 10 pounders!!  8-)

[Randall]

Best bet for big bass in GA is lake Varner which is near Covington between Augusta and Atlanta. You have a very realistic shot at a eight to ten pound fish with a chance at one over ten pounds. My biggest bass was 15lbs 12oz and was caught in April on Lake Varner. I also caught my biggest five fish limit ever in April at Varner. It was 47.4 lbs for five fish. Fish will be spawning at that time and sight fishing and swimbaits are the best ways to catch the larger fish. Senkos and lightly weighted trickworms work well also. There is no campground but you can find one nearby. Only downside is the lake is electric only and you may want an extra trolling motor and a few extra batteries and leave the gas motor and tank at home. If you really want the kind of fishing you only read about in magazines this would be the place.

There are also a few lakes that allow ten hp motors that have good fishing and campgrounds but don't come close to Varner for big fish near Atlanta. Stone Mtn Park just outside Atlanta allows 10hp on the lake inside the park. It has a good population of four and five pound fish and it took 18-22 pounds a day last year to win tournaments in April. Hard Labor Creek State Park is east of Atlanta and is usually a stained water shallow water cover type lake at that time of year. They allow a 10hp and I believe they have a campground. Another choice in the same area is Charlie Elliot. They have a bunch of small lakes and ponds in one place and you could fish some from a boat and some from shore. They have a campground but the lakes will be all electric.

[cxp138]

Thanks to everyone for the great info.  We've decided to stop at Wylie in NC on the way down and then head to Clark Hill.  Would appreciate if anyone had any info on either place, mostly Wylie, on what parts of the lake to launch and fish since we'll only have one day.

[done]

I live in Gastonia, NC. Wylie is my home lake. Shoot me a PM and I will give as much info as I can.