Among the best places to go freshwater fishing in Georgia are the state's many Public Fishing Areas (PFAs). These areas are home to bass, crappie, sunfish, catfish and other species of freshwater fish.

Georgia PFAs offer a variety of fishing opportunities, from lakes several hundred acres in size to ponds less than one acre. Some are designated as kids-only fishing ponds while others are managed for trophy bass. Anglers can fish from a boat, along the shoreline or from a pier at most locations. Many areas have picnic tables, nature and wildlife observation trails, fish cleaning stations and restroom facilities. Some offer primitive campsites for those wishing to stay overnight on the area, and many facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities.

The following list offers information about Georgia PFAs:

McDuffie County PFA
Located eight miles east of Thomson on 570 acres in Georgia’s upper coastal plain. Includes 13 ponds ranging from one to 30 acres, a fish hatchery and an education center. Species: largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish.

Big Lazer Creek PFA
Located ten miles east of Talbotton in west central Georgia. Includes a 195-acre lake. Species: bluegill, channel catfish, crappie and largemouth bass.

Marben Farms PFA
Offers 6,400 acres in central Georgia, three miles south of Mansfield in Jasper and Newton counties. Includes 22 ponds ranging from one to 95 acres, a wildlife management area and an education center. Species: largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie and channel catfish.

Dodge County PFA
Located on 444 acres in Georgia’s middle coastal plain, four miles southeast of Eastman. Includes a 104-acre lake. Species: largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish and crappie.
Evans County PFA: Located on 372 acres, nine miles east of Claxton. Includes three lakes ranging from eight to 84 acres. Species: crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish.

Flat Creek PFA
Located in Perry, this 108-acre lake includes a concrete boat ramp. Species: largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish.

Hugh M. Gillis PFA
Located on 640 acres in Laurens County, 12 miles east of Dublin. Includes a 109-acre lake. Species: largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish and crappie.

Paradise PFA
Located in south central Georgia, eight miles east of Tifton on 1,250 acres. Includes 60 lakes totaling 525 acres. Species: largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie and channel catfish.

Ocmulgee PFA
Nestled within the boundaries of the Ocmulgee wildlife management area, eight miles north of Cochran in Bleckley County. Offers a 106-acre lake. Species: trophy largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish.

Rocky Mountain PFA
Located 16 miles north of Rome on 5,000 acres in Floyd County. Offers two lakes totaling 559 acres. Species: largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill and redear sunfish, channel catfish, crappie and hybrid striped bass.


For more information on Georgia PFAs, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com

source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources

The following article offers tips for recruiting new clients to fishing guide services or similar businesses. Many of these methods are applicable to existing businesses as well as those that are in the start up phase.

Build a basic website. Websites should be easy to navigate while providing essential information about guiding services.

Once a website has been established, it should be submitted to an online fishing guide directory that allows anglers to search for fishing trips by country and region.

Blogging is an excellent way to attract new clients. Most guides publish some form of online fishing report and blogs are usually the simplest ways to do this. Fishing report blogs can be integrated with the website, or reside on a free blogging platform.

When possible, fishing report blogs should include pictures of recent catches. Other blog content can include comments from recent clients, short stories, news, events, special pricing or other business announcements.

Guides can also guest blog on an online fishing news site, wildlife blog, or other specialty site. Most outdoor blogs welcome content from professional guides and other stakeholders.

Press releases and media releases are another way to promote a guide business. These tools reach online resources as well as traditional media.

Brochures are essential for attracting new clients. Tri-fold brochures can be purchased or made and placed in areas that are frequented by visitors.

Local and national guide associations can be sources of new clients. Membership in these organizations is often an important part of being a professional guide.

State and local chambers of commerce are also important for fishing guides. Most chambers provide listings for members which can be sources of new clients.

Fishing shows and other events usually offer fishing seminars. Being a speaker at a seminar can reach hundreds of people which can pay off in terms of new business.

Custom fishing merchandise can be a valuable tool for attracting new clients. A catchy t shirt or coffee mug often gets noticed, sparking conversations about successful fishing trips with a local guide.

By Trevor Kugler

In this article I'm going to outline some extremely effective bass fishing tips that make for a better fishing experience for any angler. When you talk about bass fishing you're normally talking about two main species of bass, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The tips in this article apply to both species of bass, and can even be used in a variety of fishing situations.

The first tip for better bass fishing is to use fishing line that's as light as you can. Many bass anglers tend to use fishing line that's much too heavy. I realize that if you fish for bass in heavy cover heavier line is necessary, but in most bass fishing situations it's not. For example, did you know that 8 pound test monofilament fishing line can hold 8 pounds of dead weight without breaking at its weakest point? This doesn't take into account the bend of the rod and the drag of the reel, which both take pressure off of the fishing line as well.

Take all of this into account, then ask yourself when the last time you caught an eight pound bass was? My point to all of this is that many times bass anglers use fishing line that's entirely too heavy, and this cost them bites. Bass have sensitive eyesight and f they can see your line under the water, they are much less apt to bite. Using light line is also much more challenging and makes for better fishing all the way around.

The next tip for catching more bass is to use bass lures that are as realistic as possible. I realize this may sound obvious, but some fishing lures are much more realistic than other. This makes a difference when bass fishing and is a great tip for catching more bass. Better bass fishing begins with the fishing lure that you choose to use, and the more realistic that lure appears the better.

The final tip for catching more bass is to use Mother Nature to your advantage. When I use the term 'Mother Nature' I'm referring specifically to the weather and moon. These two forces of Mother Nature have an amazing impact on the feeding behavior of fish. One of the best tips for catching more bass is to learn the simple ways the weather and moon affect bass behavior, and use this information to your advantage. These simple, yet effective bass fishing tips will help any bass angler catch more bass.

Find Out  http://www.jrwfishing.com/signup.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

By Trevor Kugler

When it comes to smallmouth bass fishing there are hundreds of tips to help you catch more bass. In this article I'm going to give you three tips that you may have never heard of. These tips have helped me catch many smallmouth bass over the last 25 years, and I know they will do the same for you. When it comes to tips to catch more bass, these smallmouth tips have to be among the top 10.

The first smallmouth bass fishing tip I'm going to mention is for fishing in the flowing water of a river or stream, the second is for fishing anywhere that smallmouth bass swim, and the third is primarily for smallmouth fishing in lakes. All of these tips have made me a much more successful smallmouth bass angler. Use on or all of them sooner rather than later and they can do the same for you.

Use Gang Hooks & Live Bait - This smallmouth bass fishing tip is for use in the flowing waters of rivers or streams. Rivers and streams are a great place to fish for smallmouth bass. They can be fished for in much the same way that one fishes for trout. Gang hooks are the best way to present live bait (especially live worms) in river and stream situations. A live worm rigged on a set of gang hooks and allowed to drift naturally with the current of a river or stream is an extremely effective smallmouth bass fishing technique.
Use The Moon To Your Advantage - As a smallmouth bass angler using the moon to your advantage is of the utmost importance. By doing this, you can make sure that your on the water when the smallmouth arte the most active. By being on the water when the smallmouths are the most active you will catch more bass, it's as simple as that. Learn the simple ways the moon affects fish and fishing and you will experience much higher bite rates. For example, did you know that fish are more active when the moon is full?
Use Realistic Fishing Lures - When smallmouth bass fishing having fishing lures that are realistic is of the utmost importance. When smallmouth bass fishing having a natural looking fishing lure is a great tip to catch more bass. The more the fishing lure you use looks like the bait fish the bass normally eat the better off you'll be. The bottom line is this: use realistic fishing lures and you'll catch more bass.
The above tips will help you catch more bass on your next smallmouth bass fishing excursion. These tips have been helping me catch large numbers of smallmouth bass for more than 25 years, and as I alluded to earlier, if they work for me they will work for anyone. Remember, smallmouth bass fishing tips are just like any advice you receive in life. The simplest things are very often, the most effective.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

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By Marilyn Roberts

Night fishing brings a mix of sounds from bugs, frogs, and small animals. As it cools down the big fish will start coming to the shallow water. This is the time to catch that big one that always seems to get away.

Night time is the perfect time for catching some big catfish. When you put your lantern on the shoreline, bugs will be attracted to the lights as well as the fish. The small baitfish will come toward the light and the large fish will be there to feed on them. That is why you should use live bait such as minnows, etc.

Choose the mouth of inlets or further up in the inlet for night fishing. Also shallow areas that are next to the deeper water would do well. While there is still light you can set up your cooler, chairs, light, fish basket and anything else you think you might need. It is best to keep to one area in the darkness because running around the shore at night could be dangerous. Then settle back and start a night of fishing.

When it starts getting dark the catfish will come to the shallow water. You could start with some night crawlers on a sliding sinker rig. A good bait fishing setup is a sliding sinker with o-ring tied under it with a #8 hook and 16" leader. Cast out and every 10 or 15 minutes move it around. Next, a second rod with a minnow or other baitfish and use the sliding rig. These are the rigs that will produce the most fish for night fishing. It is a slower but more relaxing type of fishing and it can pay off big.

Other fish might take the bait as well such as gar, carp, walleye, white bass, bass, etc. Be prepared for anything as you never know what you'll catch with your night fishing.

There's nothing like night fishing to relax, dream, count the stars and, of course, catch that big one. So do yourself a little night fishing, a little communing with nature, and feel your anxiety and worries slip away.

You can visit http://www.fishingtipsabcs.blogspot.com for more interesting fishing tips and articles to help you catch that big one.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilyn_Roberts

By Marilyn Roberts

Bluegills come in many different varieties such as the red ear, pumpkin seed, and other sunfish. They will work you hard but are fun to catch. It will take a pretty big catch to make a great meal, but it will be well worth it.

For fishing early in the season for bluegill, an ultra lite pole and #4 line will be your best bet. Using a clear line would be the best way to go. To get set up for some bluegill fishing make sure you have all of your hardware such as a good variety of small spinners, a basket or bucket, tackle box, sinkers, hooks, bobbers and jigs.

Using eight or six size hooks and thin wire with a variety of split shot will set you right up. The ultra lite rig will not require you to use as much weight. The #6 hook with a nightcrawler as bait and no sinker is a good choice for bluegill fishing. Use the smaller nightcrawlers, not the red worms. The worms need to be heavy enough so you won't have to use a sinker, but you could use a small split shot sinker if you want.

Most bluegill will be going to the shallow water to spawn in the early season which will bring them close to the shore. You should be able to see some of them by just walking around the edge of the lake. You will want to fish the edges and look for overhanging trees or moss beds. You can fish from the shore or use a small boat. Once you cast, just leave the reel open and they will run with it a little, then you can set the hook.

You need to use a basket or bucket to keep them alive. Drill some holes in the bucket and leave it in the water, tying it to a tree by the shore if possible. A 5 gallon bucket half filled and half out of the water would work well. You want to keep them alive as long as you can and then put them in ice to take home. Now it is time to get ready for some good eating!

Did you find these tips useful? For more fishing tips and articles visit my fishing site at http://www.fishingtipsabcs.blogspot.com and get ready to do some fishing!