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Georgia · Fishing
Cartersville sits close enough to Lake Allatoona and the Etowah River corridor that a half-day fishing trip is genuinely easy to pull off without much planning.
3 spotsUpdated dailyFree to access
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Cartersville sits close enough to Lake Allatoona and the Etowah River corridor that a half-day fishing trip is genuinely easy to pull off without much planning. Most of the access points near town are day-use areas managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, which keeps things simple: show up, fish, leave. The Galt's Ferry Area on Lake Allatoona is the most productive spot in the immediate area for largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, and catfish, with the reservoir sitting at 840 feet elevation and offering calm, accessible shoreline that works for anglers of all experience levels. Cooper's Furnace Day Use Area and Cooper Branch No. 2 give you river fishing on the Etowah, which runs a different pace than the lake and tends to attract anglers looking for moving water rather than reservoir fishing. Between the two environments you have real options depending on what you want to catch and how you want to fish. None of these spots require a boat, though one will help you cover more water on Allatoona. Georgia fishing license requirements apply at all locations.
At the Galt's Ferry Area on Lake Allatoona, the main species are largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, and catfish. The river access points at Cooper's Furnace and Cooper Branch No. 2 are on the Etowah, where species mix can differ, but the lake gives you the clearest picture of what's reliably present near town.
No. All three locations offer bank fishing access. That said, a kayak or small boat will open up significantly more water at Lake Allatoona's Galt's Ferry Area, especially if you're targeting bass along structure away from the shoreline.
Cooper's Furnace Day Use Area
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near GA.
Galt's Ferry Day Use Area
~9 min drive
A worthwhile stop near GA.
Doll Mountain Day Use Area Shelter
~54 min drive
A worthwhile stop near GA.
Van Pugh South Day Use Facility
~1h 13m drive
A worthwhile stop near GA.
Lake Allatoona - Galt's Ferry Area
~2 min drive
Easy
COOPER BRANCH No 2 DAY USE AREA
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near GA.
Victoria Campground
~11 min drive
A worthwhile stop near GA.
Bolding Mill
~1h 19m drive
A worthwhile stop near GA.
West Lake
~32 min drive
A worthwhile stop near GA.
Chattahoochee River - Island Ford Unit
~46 min drive
Easy
Conasauga Ranger District
~1h 14m drive
A worthwhile stop near GA.
Sweetwater Campground
~15 min drive
A worthwhile stop near GA.
Early morning and the last two hours before sunset are consistently the most productive windows for bass on reservoirs like Allatoona, when fish move shallower to feed. Crappie and catfish tend to be less time-sensitive and can be caught throughout the day, with catfish often biting well into the evening.
For the lake, a medium-action rod with 10-12 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon covers most bass and crappie situations. Bring a mix of soft plastics, crankbaits, and jigs for bass, and small jigs or live minnows for crappie. For the river spots, lighter tackle and natural baits like worms or chicken liver work well for catfish in moving water.
Yes, a valid Georgia fishing license is required at all three locations. The day-use areas at Cooper's Furnace and Galt's Ferry are managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and may charge a day-use parking fee depending on the season. Check the Corps of Engineers website or call ahead to confirm current fee schedules before you go.
