CHATSWORTH, Ga. -- Stuffed bobcats, turkeys, foxes and bears decorate the inside of Chatsworth Pawn & Sporting Goods. Situated amongst the taxidermied animals in a glass case is co-owner Jimmy Dixson's prize-winning 13 pound-plus pound bass he caught at Carters Lake on April 21, 1987.

"The good thing is that Carters Lake is one of the deepest lakes this side of the Mississippi," Mr. Dixson, 56, said. "That's a big plus in the sense of the water supply, but (the drought) has just really hurt the fishing business."

He said the drought has put a dent in business at his store -- which also sells guns, jewelry, hunting gear and electric guitars -- as more fishermen opt to go instead to Chickamauga Lake, fed by the plentiful Tennessee River.

"No question about it. It's definitely made a difference," Mr. Dixson said.

Carters Lake reached a record-low water level on Dec. 14, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers records show. The lake now is 25 feet below its average of 1,074 feet above sea level.

The lake literally has shrunk, leaving boat ramps completely on dry land. People who do venture down to the water have to walk down steep banks covered with rocks and fallen trees that normally would be submerged.

The corps in September closed all of the lake's public boat ramps because the unprecedented low lake levels made it too dangerous for boats to operate.

Mr. Dixson said anglers are less likely to want to fish on the lake if they can't take their boats on the water, so most have stayed away and gone elsewhere.

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