Guide to fishing Marben public fishing area

Guide to Fishing Marben Public Fishing Area

The 6,400 acre tract of land known as Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center includes Marben Public Fishing Area, Clybel WMA and Preaching Rock Wildlife Education Center. The granite outcroppings, old fields hardwood forests, and pines give the area an abundance of scenic beauty. Facilities planned for the educational complex will make it the premier facility of its type in the Southeast. Marben PFA consists of approximately 295 acres of water in 20 ponds. The lakes are intensively managed for fishing and are accessible to both boat and bank anglers.

Facilities

Concrete boat ramps

Visitor center & nature trails

Restrooms & picnic tables Primitive camping

Some facilities accessible Fishing Piers, boat docks, angler

to persons with disabilities trails & fish cleaning station

Trip Check List Check the current boating regulations about life jackets at http://www.boated.com/assets/pdf/handbook/ga_handbook_entire.pdf
Boats with enclosed areas that may trap gas or vapors are required to be equipped with a USCG approved fire extinguisher.
Carry your current license and boat registration with you.
Check your boat's trailer and navigation lights, and fuel before leaving home.
Carry a first aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen, extra clothing, food and drinking water.
Be aware of and abide by all fishing regulations.
Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

BE AN ETHICAL ANGLER!

Ethic al anglers fis h resp on sib ly, co nsid er th e rights o f oth ers, p ortray a p osit ive im age, and h elp t o p rot ect and con se rve our n atural res ou rces. B e an et hical a ngler, the fu tu re dep ends on it.

Ethical Anglers:

# Know and obey the fishing regu lations.
# Keep on ly th e fish th ey can us e and release al l oth ers.
# Pass on th e tradition b y taki ng a child fis hi ng.
# Leave a p lace clean er than it was foun d.
# Do not transfer fish or plants betw een bodies of w ater .

# Rep ort vio lations and po llu tio n .
# Do not litter! # Disp ose of fis hing lin e
prope rly. # Do not tresspass. # Are cou rteous of oth ers . # Len d a helpin g hand .

Major Fish Species and Fishing Tips

Largemouth bass

Crappie

Bluegill

Redear sunfish (shellcracker)

Channel catfish

Lake Margery, Bennett and Fox offer anglers a chance to target two of the most popular fish at Marben PFA, the largemouth bass and crappie. Each lake offers anglers ample shoreline for fishing flooded timber and deep water to test their skills. When targeting bass, use top-water baits in early morning along the shoreline and thicker brush. Often times, bass will suspend in thicker cover waiting to ambush prey. In late afternoon, try using deep diving crank baits in the flooded timber. Flooded timber provides shade for bass and will concentrate these fish as water temperatures rise. Crappie tend to utilize deeper water and shade from flooded timber in the lake. A good technique is fishing yellow or pink jigs in these habitats to target these suspended fish.

Bluegill and shellcrackers (bream) are abundant in most lakes at Marben PFA. If targeting these fish, April through June are the best times. Because they are hard fighting, will hit a variety of baits and are easily caught, they are an extremely popular fish targeted at Marben PFA. Bream occupy a variety of cover from sandy, hard bottoms to flooded timber. Targeting these areas is easy from the bank or boat. Once water temperatures rise, bream move into shallow water to spawn. Try fishing crickets or earthworms just at or on the bottom in these areas. Bream aggressively guard the nests and are easily caught during these times. When the bluegill aren't bedding, try casting small artificial lures, spinners and top-water poppers around the shallow edges.

Channel catfish are another sought-after fish. Deepwater habitats, using earthworms or liver, is the most productive technique when targeting these fish. Fifteen different lakes comprise Marben PFA, making this area extremely unique. Water temperatures will differ from lake to lake in early spring and late fall. This makes for unique opportunities for beginning or advanced anglers. Remember, no live minnows are allowed at Marben PFA.

Hours: Open Wednesday through Sunday, sunrise to sunset.

Regulations Public fishing areas have special regulations that are posted on site as well as published in the Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations.
Anglers 16 years of age and older, except honorary license holders, must possess a current fishing license and a wildlife management area (WMA) license to fish. An angler possessing a one-day fishing, sportsman's or lifetime license is not required to possess a WMA license. For more information, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com or call the phone number listed at the bottom of the page.

Directions From I-20: Travel South on Hwy. 11 for approximately 13 miles; left on Marben Farm Rd (Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center sign). Follow signs.

From Mansfield: Travel north on Hwy 11 for 11 miles and turn right into the area. Follow signs.

For more fishing information, visit the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division Web site at www.gofishgeorgia.com or call (770) 784-3063. T.I.P (Turn in Poachers): To report game/fish law violations, fish kills or hazardous spills, call (800) 241-4113
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES / WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION / FISHERIES SECTION 2070 U.S. HIGHWAY 278, SE / SOCIAL CIRCLE, GEORGIA 30025

Fish Species
Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish Bluegill Black Crappie Channel Catfish

Facts

Best Fishing Times

Bass spawn from February to May. Occupy a variety of habitats in reservoirs and rivers. Feed both day

D

N

J

O

F

and night motivated by hunger or

striking. Females are typically larger S

M

and more aggressive than males.

Bait: Crankbaits, plastic worms, &

A

A

jigs

J

JM

"Shellcracker" feed primarily on aquatic insects including midge larvae to snails. Unlike bluegill,

D

N

J

O

F

shellcracker typically do not stunt.

Fast growth, larger size and good

S

M

flavor make these a desirable fish.

Bait: Crickets, Red Wigglers, & small top A

A

water lures

J

JM

Most likely the first fish caught by children. They aggressively guard nest during spawns. Bluegill are hard

D

N

J

O

F

fighters, hit a variety of baits, and are

abundant in most rivers and lakes.

S

M

Known as a tasty pinfish.

Bait: Crickets, Red Wigglers, & small

A

A

top water lures

J

JM

Has a preference of clear water, and associated with vegetation during spawns. Young prefer insects,

D

N

J

O

F

switching to fish as it matures.

Maximum life span is approximately S

M

8 years. An extremely popular game

fish in Georgia.

A

A

Bait: Jigs, Red Wigglers, & minnows

J

JM

Channel catfish are a highly adaptable and desirable fish that are easily caught. They can reach sizes up to

D

N

J

O

F

20 lbs and use their barbells for taste.

Larger individuals are often confused S

M

with Blue catfish.

Bait: Chicken livers, worms, "stink bait,"

A

A

& crickets

J

JM

Best Fishing Times Key:

Fair

Fish Images: Duane Raver/USFWS

Good

Excellent

Marben PFA Fish by Lake

Lake

Acres

Largemouth Redear

Bass

Sunfish

Bluegill

Channel Catfish

Margery

49

X

X

X

X

Bennett

69

X

X

X

X

Hillside

2.4

X

X

X

X

Dairy

7

X

X

X

Greenhouse 5

X

X

X

X

Little Raleigh

2.0

X

X

X

Upper Raleigh

3.8

X

X

X

Lower Raleigh

15.0

X

X

X

Crossroads 2.0

X

X

X

Stump

3.1

X

X

X

Fox

95

X

X

X

X

Shepard

18

X

X

X

X

Whitetail

4

X

X

X

Allen

5.0

X

X

X

Otter

3.0

X

X

X

Teal*

1

X

* Teal Lake is open to anglers under 16 years only; also catch and release

Black Crappie
X X
X
X X

to Mansfield

Marben Farm Rd.
Tr.
Greenhouse Pigeonhouse

Elliot

Crossroads

TRAIL KEY
Granite Outcrop (Blue) - 1.1 mi. Clubhouse (Red) - 1.5 mi. Murder Creek (Yellow) - 0.9 mi. Pigeonhouse (White) - 1.0 mi. Multiuse - 5.7 mi.

GEORGIA HIGHWAY 11

to Monticello

Clubhouse Margery
Hillside

Dairy
Little Raleigh Upper Raleigh

Lower Raleigh

Stump

Bennett Fox

Teal Shepherd

Shepherd Pond Rd Dove

Otter

Boar

Shepherd Rd

Allen

Ellis Rd

Whitetail

Murder Creek Church Rd

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center
Marben Farms Public Fishing Area
Office/Visitor Center Conference Center Discovery Building Check Station Information Restrooms Shooting Range Archery Range Parking Picnic Area Campground Boat Ramp ADA Accessible Pier & Parking Paved Road Dirt Road Access Road Boundary