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| General Lake Info |
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) operates this 3,290-acre reservoir on the Toccoa River near Blue Ridge, GA.
 The construction of Blue Ridge Dam was begun in 1925 and completed in 1930.
Blue Ridge Dam is 167 feet high and stretches 1,000 feet across the Toccoa River.
The water level in Blue Ridge Reservoir varies 20 feet in a normal year.
Blue Ridge has a flood-storage capacity of 68,550 acre-feet.
The generating capacity of Blue Ridge Dam is 22,000 kilowatts of electricity.
Blue Ridge Reservoir is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest of north Georgia. There’s a scenic overlook above the dam and a shaded picnic area near the powerhouse. The canoe and kayak launch site below the dam gives nonmotorized boaters access to the Toccoa River.
The river is noted among fishermen for its sunfish, trout, and bass. When water is released from the Blue Ridge Dam to generate electricity, the river becomes a class I-II float through the Georgia hills. Besides providing power and recreational opportunities, Blue Ridge also helps control flooding. |
| Attractions |
Blue Ridge Dam Reservation - Boat ramps and picnic tables - Call 423-876-6706
Lakewood Landing Ramp - Boat ramps - Call 706-632-3031
Morganton Dry Boat Storage - Marina - Call 706-374-6411
Lake Blue Ridge Marina - Boat ramps, marina, boat sewage pumpout & gas - 706-632-2618
Blue Ridge Recreation Area - Campsites (no electricity or water), showers, boat ramp(s), picnic tables and nature trails - Call 706-632-3031 |
Lake Blue Ridge Campground - The Forest Service has closed Lake Blue Ridge Campground to camping. What remains is a walking path (the old campground road) which people can use to do their daily walking exercise program, the boat ramp, and the loop trail along the lake shore.
The loop through the recreation/camping area is black-top. Recreation includes boating, fishing, swimming & watersports. 1-lane boat ramp is past the campground sign on your left.
Gates open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. daily. A small fee is required. From Blue Ridge, take Old U.S. 76 east for 1.5 miles to Dry Branch Road. Turn right, go 3 miles to entrance sign, take a left.
Morganton Point Recreation Area Overlooks beautiful clear 3,290-acre Lake Blue Ridge in the north Georgia mountains. It has 44 campsites, 8 picnic sites, fresh water, hot showers, flush toilets, swimming, waterskiing, and a boat ramp. Area has a few campsites that are accessible to people with disabilities, and has one accessible restroom. Each campsite is equipped with a tent pad, grill and picnic table. A large picnic pavilion available for rent. The loop through the recreation area is paved. A paved boat launch has two ramps and is located past the campground on your right. Scenic trail. Campsites are first come, first serve. A fee is required. No alcohol.
Campsites (no electricity or water), showers, boat ramps, picnic tables, group picnic area and swimming beach - Call 706-632-3031
Open Dates Area is open from mid-April until late-October. Day-use only except for camping; gates open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. First come, first serve camping.
Directions: Take U.S. 515 south from Blue Ridge for 4 miles to GA 60; turn right and go 3 miles to Morganton. In Morganton, turn right on County Rd 616 for 1 mile and campground is on left.
Contact 706-745-6928 - USDA Forest Service, Blue Ridge Ranger District |
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| Fish Attractors |
| Through a joint project with the Tennessee Valley Authority, Wildlife Action and local businesses and anglers, Fisheries Section personnel with the Wildlife Resources Division help construct man-made fish habitat (often in the form of fish attractors) for various lakes throughout the state. These constructions help serve the purpose of providing underwater habitat for fish. |
| Best Fishing Bets |
| Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Bluegill and Walleye |
Largemouth bass average around a pound, but good growth in recent years has made 2-3 pound fish more common. Largemouth abundance will be above average in 2009.
Technique - Baits vary from season to season, but larger u-tail or ribbon tail plastic worms or plastic lizards (especially in May and June) and the standard pig-n-jig are successful largemouth techniques in this lake. Topwater lures like spooks or rapalas, fished at the end of the day, will generate topwater action.
Target - Largemouth most often are found in the up-river locations in the Toccoa arm of the lake. Target the backs of coves and tributary mouths around any fallen trees or stumps. |
Smallmouth Bass - Over the last few years, smallmouth growth has been very good. Consequently, 1-pound smallies have become the norm at Blue Ridge. Excellent growth also has pushed larger smallmouth weights to 4-plus pounds. Persistent anglers should not be surprised to see a few 5-6 pound smallmouth pulled from these waters.
Technique - Use medium action rods and reels spooled with 8-10 pound line. April and May are great for using shad or herring patterned crankbaits (#5 shad raps or Bill Normans) on long points. In summer, topwater baits fished at dawn or dusk can be effective. However, most summer fishing is done using subtle presentations like Texas rigged plastic worms/lizards, or drop shot rigs fished around brush or rock piles. The cool fall weather pushes smallmouth out of the deeps to more moderate depths around 15-30 feet. At this time drop shot rigs, flukes and crawfish-imitating jigs are good bets. These same tactics will work in winter as well. Live minnows are a good approach anytime of year.
Target - Fish long shallow points in spring when smallies are spawning. When smallies move shallow to spawn in spring, head to the rocky points in the Toccoa arm of the lake. Summer time sends fish deep in the main lake where they hold on deep structure, ledges and humps. Try nighttime fishing in summer for fish that move to shallow water to feed under the cover of darkness. Cooling fall weather initiates aggressive feeding activity on wind-blown main lake points. In winter, smallmouth tend to congregate around creek mouths. |
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Walleye - Overall, walleye abundance is down, but average and top size is up. In recent years, the average Blue Ridge walleye increased from less than a pound to almost 2 pounds in size. Anglers are catching bigger “glass-eyes” in the range of 4-6 pounds. For the trophy angler, there is the distinct possibility a lake record walleye will be pulled from these waters in the near future.
Technique - Between February and April, throw shad raps when fish are shallow and if deeper, work 1/4 ounce light colored jigs or vertical jig silver or blue chrome spoons like a Hopkins. In summer, walleye move deep, sometimes suspending in the thermocline over deep water. Flex–it spoons are a good choice, but trolling deep diving (weight them to get them deeper) crankbaits (shad raps or jerkbaits) can be productive. Fall and winter techniques are similar to spring with shap raps and spooning being the most effective approaches. Throughout the year, jigs tipped with live baits like night crawlers or live minnows also are effective.
Target - In late winter and spring, fish the deeper river ledges in the Toccoa arm of the lake. Warming water will bring walleye shallower during this period. By summer, walleye are back in the main lake, on deep (30 to 50-plus feet) rocky points, humps or even suspended in the thermocline over deep water. With the cooling of fall, walleye move out of their deep summer haunts, into the 20-30 foot depth range on points and onto the ledges of tributary coves. Throughout the year, night fishing during a full moon can be a productive approach. |
White Bass - Once common to the lake, white bass numbers have declined in recent years. Their decline has been concurrent with the establishment of blue-back herring, which may be influencing white bass reproductive success. Most white bass are older fish that have grown to large size. Though few in number, 2 and even 3-pound fish will stretch lines this year.
Technique - Small lures like "doll flies," and plastic grubs in light colors, along with small, herring-imitating crankbaits, fished on light spinning gear are recommended.
Target - For spawn-run fish, target rocky points and shoals in the upper end of the lake in March. Throughout the rest of the year, look for white bass in the main lake body anywhere schooling herring are found. |
Other Fish Species - Though not overly abundant, yellow perch do call Blue Ridge home. What they may lack in numbers, they more than make up for in size. Jumbo perch, 12 to 15-plus inches in length and 1-plus pounds in size, can be caught.
Technique - Perch and walleye often are found together, so try some of the same methods listed above for walleye. Smaller baits are preferred, as yellow perch have a smaller mouth than walleye.
Target - Yellow peach often are found in the Toccoa arm of the lake. Fish the deeper coves where they may be found holding on brush piles or channel ledges. |
| Additional Info |
Anglers wishing to camp along the shores of Lake Blue Ridge can do so at the USFS’s Morganton Point Campground.
Spotted bass are now established in the lake - probably the result of illegal stockings. Their population size has increased significantly
in recent years. Spots compete with and can hybridize with smallmouth bass, which in the past, has resulted in the collapse of other
GA smallmouth bass fisheries. Help reduce spotted bass competition with smallmouth. Anglers are encouraged to harvest their limit
ten of spots to help sustain this unique GA fishery for years to come. |
| Contact Info & Website Link |
Tennessee Valley Authority at Phone: 423-751-2264 or 1-800-882-5263
TVA - Lake Blue Ridge Website |
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