Who: Ray Pritchett and Charley, his 2 1/2-year-old West Highland terrier.

What: The house is about 3,500 square feet, one story on the street side and two stories on the lake side. There's a large country porch that overlooks the lake, a big family room with 14-foot ceilings and a fireplace, three bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. On the water, there's an enclosed boat dock, a pontoon slip, a runabout slip and a deck. The house was designed with windows all across the lake side so Pritchett would have a view wherever he sits.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

Ray Pritchett relaxes with Charley in the living room of his house on Lake Sinclair, southeast of Atlanta. | View more photos of this home

When built: Bought the lot in 1999 and started building in 2000.

How far: It takes an hour and 35 minutes to go the 86 miles from his Lilburn home, depending on traffic.

How often does he get there? Three or four times a month, for several days at a time.

How did you find Lake Sinclair? For many years I was in a club that fished the lake. I really got to enjoy it, and I looked around for a long time until I found a lot I wanted to buy. It had to be in Putnam or Baldwin counties so it would be close to home, and I was really looking for a view. I ended up in a covenanted subdivision a quarter of a mile off Ga. 441.

Did you design your house? I've been in the construction business all my life, and I've seen a lot of houses. I finally found a plan that was close to what I had in mind, so I started from that and built my upgraded version. This will probably be my retirement home.

What do you do there? When I'm not working around the house, I've got a motorcycle I ride. I go hunting in the winter, but mostly I'm fishing, fishing in the summer, fishing in the winter. I try to enjoy myself down here as much as I can. Mostly we catch bass, and 95 percent of the time it's catch and release.

You've also got quite a garden at the lake. I do enjoy gardening to a point because I like how the flowers make the place look good. It's a lot of work, but it lets folks know you care. My friend Steve says, "Who says real men can't fish and like flowers, too?"

What does Charley do at the lake? Charley likes to go out fishing with me. He'll get up on the front of the boat and ride. All I have to do is say, "Charley, let's go fishing," and he's ready.

The water is the big draw? I've always loved the water. Give me some water to look out over, and I'm happy. At my house at Lilburn, I have a swimming pool I look out over, but it's not like the lake.

LAKE SINCLAIR

Lake Sinclair is a Georgia Power-managed lake created in 1953. The lake has 15,000 to 17,000 acres of surface depending on what source you check, and over 400 miles of shoreline. The company owns the lake and issues all permits on lakefront improvements. Because the lake is no longer used to provide hydroelectricity, the water level stays almost constant.

For more information on Lake Sinclair, log onto georgiapower.com/lakes.

Recent Sales:

156 Flatrock Road, doublewide trailer on flat acre lot, 115 feet of lake frontage, deck, workshop. Sold for $146,000.

115 Whippoorwill Lane, three-bedroom, two-bath A-frame with 1,800 square feet, new boathouse, dock and seawall with personal watercraft and boat lifts. Sold for $249,900.

184 Honeysuckle Road, 2,500-square-foot home with three bedrooms, two baths and two half-baths, recreation area with bar, wraparound deck with hot tub, boathouse with personal watercraft and boat lifts, 118 feet of lake frontage. Sold for $405,000.

Things to do:

Steve Gilbert of Lake Sinclair Realty suggests eating. "There are restaurants you can float to by boat for lunch like Crooked Creek Marina or dinner at Choby's, where I suggest catfish in the piano lounge."

When you're not eating, Gilbert suggests shopping for real estate by boat. "There's no better way to get a feel for the lake and its coves and creeks than getting out there on a boat. You'll really get a feel for our lake, where homes are still affordable. You can still find a cottage or manufactured home on a nice lot for well under $200,000."

GETTING THERE

From downtown Atlanta: Take I-20 east to Exit 114 (Ga. 441) and turn right. After approximately 29 miles, you'll have your first glimpse of Lake Sinclair.

View more photos of this home and search for your own vacation home online at ajchomefinder.com.