Best fishing lakes in Georgia: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill)

Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) covers 71,100 acres of water. It holds striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. At about 180 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Lanier

At 38,000 acres of water, Lake Lanier is a big lake. Expect striped bass, spotted bass, largemouth bass and crappie. At about 160 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

Lake Lanier today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Seminole

At 37,500 acres, Lake Seminole is a big lake. Expect largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and bluegill. It goes down to about 30 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank: good places to start.

Lake Seminole today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Allatoona

Lake Allatoona spreads over 12,000 acres. Expect spotted bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish. At about 145 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

Lake Allatoona today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Burton

Lake Burton is a reservoir of 2,780 acres. You will find it about 6.8 miles east of Clayton. Spotted bass, largemouth bass, white bass and crappie are the draw. At about 120 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Georgia Power's highest-elevation lake, known for clear water in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

Lake Burton today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Jackson Lake

Jackson Lake covers 4,750 acres. The lake is about 26 miles northwest of Stonecrest. It is the Yellow, Alcovy & South rivers behind Lloyd Shoals Dam. Catfish, crappie, bluegill and spotted bass are the draw. It goes down to about 94 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. One of Georgia's oldest reservoirs, spanning Jasper, Newton and Butts counties.

Jackson Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Oconee

Lake Oconee spreads over 19,100 acres. The lake is right by Jefferson. Wallace Dam holds it on the Oconee River. Like most lakes its size in Georgia, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. At about 102 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

Lake Oconee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Richard B. Russell Lake

Richard B. Russell Lake spreads over 26,600 acres. It lies right by Calhoun Falls. Richard B. Russell Dam holds it on the Savannah River. The usual Georgia mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, striped bass and catfish. At about 167 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Federal regulations ban private development along its shoreline, keeping it largely undeveloped.

Richard B. Russell Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. West Point Lake

At 25,900 acres, West Point Lake is a big lake. The lake is about 27 miles southwest of Auburn. The usual Georgia mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, striped bass and catfish. It goes down to about 85 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. A major Army Corps flood-control lake on the Chattahoochee River between Georgia and Alabama.

West Point Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake Sinclair

At 15,300 acres, Lake Sinclair is a big lake. It lies near Milledgeville. Sinclair Dam holds it on the Oconee River. The usual Georgia mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. It goes down to about 86 ft. Lies immediately downstream of Lake Oconee on the Oconee River, near Milledgeville.

Lake Sinclair today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Francis Lake

Francis Lake spreads over about 13,600 acres. The lake is near Calhoun Falls. The usual Georgia mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Francis Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Lake Blackshear

Lake Blackshear spreads over 8,500 acres. The lake is about 7.2 miles east of Cordele. It is the Flint River behind Warwick Dam (Crisp County Power Dam). The usual Georgia mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 47 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. The first county-owned hydroelectric dam in the United States impounds this lake.

Lake Blackshear today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

Lakes listed for a fish are the ones on this page where it is on record or typical for the lake.

• Bass: Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill), Lake Lanier, Lake Seminole and Lake Allatoona
• Walleye: Lake Burton
• Trout: Lake Burton
• Crappie: Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill), Lake Lanier, Lake Seminole and Lake Allatoona
• Catfish: Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill), Lake Allatoona, Lake Burton and Jackson Lake

The fishing year

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually at their best. Good cool-water bite, best at dusk and after dark.

Before you go

Buy a Georgia fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.