trophy bass pay lakes

Dream Lake is the first one that comes to mind though I'm not sure it's exclusively managed for giants.

Callaway gardens pay lakes


any more? leases too....
 

Benito

Senior Member
Have been to Dream Lake several times.....LOVE it - best combination of size and numbers I've ever experienced. However, it's VERY expensive.....Ownership changed about a year ago, they're focusing more on true Giants - their #1 goal is to have the state record caught out of there (currently about 16.5). As of now, there are a bunch of big fish, some in the 10-12 pound range and a few bigger, but usually people catch a bunch in the 4-8 pound range. It's mainly managed for combination of size and catch-rates...I've caught an 11.4 out of there, lake record is 14.5......I lost one in the 12-13 pound range right at the boat, still haunts me. GREAT lake, but again, it's very expensive, I only go if wife gets me a birthday/father's day present. Also, they have some unusual rules you must follow (no wide-gap hooks, no braid, etc....)

I've fished the main (non-pay) lake at Callaway Gardens, but they do have 2 "trophy" lakes - seen lots of pictures of tourists catching 12-14 pounders, but you have to use a guide and it's also VERY expensive to fish those lakes.

I know there's another lake in North Carlina similar to Dream Lake, but don't know the name.

Hope that helps.

BEN
 

Benito

Senior Member
Can you fish at Camelot, or do they just sell Bass? Their website only mentions bass for sale...
 

Cletus T.

Senior Member
I believe the place Bennito is talking about up in N.C. is the Kings Fisher Society and it looks AMAZING!!!!!!

It’s got a golly whooper of a price tag too!!! Here’s the link……


http://www.kingfishersociety.com/
 

Benito

Senior Member
Wow, pricey.....would love to give it a try someday, but outta my price range (Dreamlake is $250 for a day, still a lot of scratch.....)
 

Rusty Shakleford

Senior Member
Yea, I would never do it. I'm not a fan of small water anyways. I get more satisfaction from catching a 5 out of sinclair or tobo than I do a 10 out of my pond
 

LTZ25

Senior Member
I get as much enjoyment out of fishing West Point. I'm not cheap but I don't need to pay that much money to impress my friends by telling stories of catching 10 lb. bass. Most of the folks I know wouldn't pay either. My best 5 might not be but 7.5 lbs. but it's very challenging , but I don't want to think about how much my bass cost per pound.
 
Yea, I would never do it. I'm not a fan of small water anyways. I get more satisfaction from catching a 5 out of sinclair or tobo than I do a 10 out of my pond

I take your meaning, your position makes sense. I've caught a 5 out of both sinclair and tobo, it wasn't terribly difficult to catch either- double buzzbait around the marina and crank on a docklight for the other.

As for the semantics...
I think poaching big bass off the bed out of private unpressured ponds is a lot easier than out of old public small lakes particularly those that have been mismanaged in terms of population control, forage base, and water ph and fertilization. one lake around 10 acres or so comes to mind now, it has 40 feet of water in places and has gizzard shad that must go at least two pounds. Growing up in milledgeville there are several old small lakes that fit this bill. I've caught big bedders out of private ponds, I've yet to stick a bedder bigger than 8# out of these old dilaphidated public lakes, I've had my chances it's just tougher fishing. Must have something to do with the crystal clear water much in the same way fishing kaolin ponds seems to be tougher.

As for those leases and trophy paylakes, I don't have the jingle for that sort of thing. Even if I did I might invest it more wisely. There are some central georgian leases I've heard of, one maybe in hancock co. and another in laurens co that are a bit more DIY and less glamourous than those yall have named. Now, I would pay $250 - $500 a year to join a lease like that annually...
 
around $250-$500 annually would be comparable to hunting dues
 

LTZ25

Senior Member
I've fished a private lake in Peachtree City a lot with a friend that has a membership and if these other lakes are as good or better it would be unreal fishing. That lake is one where a 4 lb. doesn't even get a comment . There's a old boathouse on the lake where a man has a basson the wall that has to be 16+. I saw it in low light and though it was a. Grouper.
 

Crappie Dude

Senior Member
Benito,
If you fished Dream Lake in Alabama, how much did it cost for one day of fishing?
 

Benito

Senior Member
1 day of fishing is about $250, add another $100 if you stay the night at the Lodge and have meals. They provide 21 foot Bassboat.
 

mrowland96

Senior Member
$350 for a night at a Lodge with meals & you don't have to haul a Bass Boat....sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
 

Silver Bullet

Senior Member
You boys and your big money!! I'm heading to south FL for TWO WEEKS on that cash!!! I don't have enough Loomis rods to even show up to fish some of those places!
 
You boys and your big money!! I'm heading to south FL for TWO WEEKS on that cash!!! I don't have enough Loomis rods to even show up to fish some of those places!

I appreciate your candor. I also watched a loomis break in half on a 3lb bed fish. I've never owned one myself.
 
$350 for a night at a Lodge with meals & you don't have to haul a Bass Boat....sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

I'd only do something like that as a gift to myself, a special occassion or if I was independently wealthy. I'd rather sink that jingle in a trip to mississippi to fish some sloughs etc.
 
I get as much enjoyment out of fishing West Point. I'm not cheap but I don't need to pay that much money to impress my friends by telling stories of catching 10 lb. bass. Most of the folks I know wouldn't pay either. My best 5 might not be but 7.5 lbs. but it's very challenging , but I don't want to think about how much my bass cost per pound.

well, before ocmulgee pfa went belly up you could catch lunker bass w/ a wma stamp and some patience. I agree with your sentiments about not wanting to shell out the dough for trophy fish. I'm more interested in the management practices of these places. One day I intend to have a small lake of my own.
 
Top