Newspaper Page Text
Page 2B
June 8, 2022
Reporter
MONROE OUTDOORS by Terry W. Johnson
For good fishing, try Lazer Creek in Talbot Co.
Catching a big fish can bring a big smile at any age.
(Photo courtesy of GA DNR, Eli Jamison by Jay Jamison).
I f you would like to
embark on a summer
fishing adventure and
wet your fishing line
in waters located outside of
Monroe County, I know a
place that
just might fit
the bill. It is
the Big Lazer
Creek Public
Fishing
Area (PFA).
The super
fishing spot
is hidden in
the Georgia
woodlands in
Talbot Coun
ty roughly 45
miles from Forsyth.
This PFA is nestled within
the boundaries of the 5,900-
acre Big Lazer Creek Wildlife
Management. Although this
195-acre lake is Georgias
third largest PFA the average
depth of the water is only
five feet. It is truly a gem and
is Georgias third largest PFA
and considered by many
to be one of the states most
beautiful PFAs.
The lakes meandering
shoreline is primarily for
ested and features 12 coves.
When you look away from
the dam poised at one end
of the lake you have the
impression that you are fish
ing in a natural lake. In truth,
however, this manmade lake
has been open for fishing
only since 1988.
The Georgia DNR Fisher
ies Management
Section designed
the lake to provide
topnotch fishing.
For example, 15
acres of standing
timber were left
when the lake was
flooded. In addi
tion, fish attractors
were strategically
placed near the
fishing dock.
The area also
features a 2-lane boat ramp,
a fish cleaning station, picnic
tables, primitive campsites,
restrooms, and a spacious
parking lot.
The clean, attractive, spa
cious, well-kept grounds
and facilities help make this
a great place for families to
enjoy the great outdoors
throughout the entire year.
Anglers have their choice
of fishing the shoreline, boat,
or a handicapped accessible
fishing dock.
Adults fishing in the PFA
are required to possess one
of the following licenses:
Honorary, Sportsmans,
Annual fishing or hunting
License, or a Lands Pass. It
goes without saying all adult
anglers must have a valid
fishing license.
The lake is stocked with
Bluegill, shellcrackers, chan
nel catfish, black crappie,
largemouth bass, and hybrid
striped bass.
The Big Lazer Creek PFA
has earned the reputation of
being a great place to fish.
Bass tipping the scales at 9
pounds or more and five-fish
limits weighing upwards of
more than 30 pounds have
been landed here. The lakes
largemouth bass population
has benefitted greatly from
the fact that threadfin shad
are abundant in the lake.
Bream fishing is always
popular. Currently, bluegills
are still on their beds and
anglers are enjoying success
fishing along the shorelines
and from the fishing dock.
Some anglers come to the
lake specifically to fish for
channel catfish. The lake
has produced five fish limits
weighing upwards of 50
pounds.
The lakes crappie popula
tion has also flourished.
Black crappies weighing two
pounds or more are annually
pulled from the lake.
The Big Lazer Creek PFA is
a short one-hour drive from
Forsyth. The area is located
at 1541 Bunkham Road,
Talbotton.
To reach the Big Lazer
Creek PFA from Monroe
County, take GA Hwy 74W
to Thomaston. Turn left on
US HWY 19S to Sunrise
Road. Turn onto Sunrise
Road and travel a short
distance to Po Biddy Road.
Continue south on Po Biddy
Road to Bunkham Road
The PFA is located some 1.2
miles on the left of Bunkham
Road.
If you would like to take a
virtual tour of the PFA, go to
YouTube and pull up Drone
over Big Lazer at Talbot
County, Georgia. Another
video tour of the facility can
also be seen on YouTube by
clicking on Big Lazer Creek
2019 Georgia PFA.
For more information
regarding current bag
limits, operating hours and
other regulations, con
tact the Georgia Fisheries
Management Section at
229-430-4256. For another
great source of information
regarding this and other
Georgia PFAs, pick up the
latest edition of the Georgia
Sport Fishing Guide.
If you take time to visit the
area, there is a good chance
you will come away with the
realization that a great place
to enjoy a summer fishing
adventure is just a short drive
away.
Terry Johnson of Forsyth
is retired Program Manager
of the Georgia Nongame-
Endangered Wildlife Pro
gram. He has written the
informative column Monroe
Outdoors’for the Reporter
for many years. His book,
“A Journey to Discovery,” is
available at The Reporter.
Email him at tjwoodduck@
bellsouth.net.
TERRY W. JOHNSON
Everyday Hero: Hernandez says doing your best brings rewards
By Steve Reece
stevereece'-gmail.com
At an isolated gas
station way out on
Johnstonville Road
are six dedicated
employees who give
friendly service to
interstate travelers
and locals seven
days a week from
6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Micara Hernandez
joined the team at
the Marathon sta
tion just off the exit
at mile marker 193
two years ago after
working for the same
company since 2017
in Juliette.
She commutes to work
in Monroe County driving
25 minutes from Zebulon
where she lives with her
husband, Ramiro, who is
a tile worker who came
here from Mexico, and her
three children, Anthony,
21, Sabrina, 18, and Emily,
17, who is still in school.
Anthony works with his
dad and Sabrina works at
the Ingles bakery in Griffin.
Micara puts in 43-45
hours a week at the store
with Tuesdays and Thurs
days off. She said she
doesn’t mind not having
two days off in a row be
cause having a full weekend
might make her not want
to come back. She loves to
read stories by Lisa Jackson
on her Kindle App and
spend time with her chil
dren during her time off.
Even though working at
an isolated store can be a
little scary, she says it isn’t
something she worries
about. She likes the people
she works with and says
they are one big happy
family and her friendships
with her regular customers
are the reasons she loves
Micara Hernandez
Northwestern Mutual
t=T Wealth Management Company®
Mark Holloway, Financial Advisor
478.365.0382
mark.holloway@nm.com
www. ma rkhol loway. nm .com
Monday. - Friday
podcast.
0? GZG£l) Geos
www.erickericksonshow.com
Pregnant?
Looking for answers
or options?
We can help!
• Free pregnancy test
• Parenting classes
• Pregnancy Support
The Pregnancy Center I
of Monroe Ceuxfj
478-994-3173
Mon, Toe & Tlw 10:00 m - 4:30 p.m.
www.monroecountypregnancycenter.org
working at the store.
Her first job when she
was just starting out was
working for her mother at
a Dairy Queen in the little
town of Hemphill, Texas.
Population: 1,000. She said
working for your mother
is not something that she
would advise.
She is bilingual and
although she says her Span
ish isn’t fluent, the occa
sional non-English speak
ing Hispanic customers at
the store have no problems
communicating with her.
Micara wants to tell
young people, “If you give
good customer service and
keep your place clean and
stocked, people are com
ing back. This will directly
affect your paycheck. Do
your best no matter where
you work because that will
keep you with a job. If you
don’t like what you’re do
ing, then go find something
else.” Great advice from a
dedicated everyday hero.
WMAC