Discover Lake Blue Ridge

Discover Lake Blue Ridge - Located on the Toccoa River in north Georgia, it stretches 11 miles southeast from the Blue Ridge dam. The river flows northwest into Tennessee, where it’s called the Ocoee River. The
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) operates this 3,290-acre reservoir on the Toccoa River near Blue Ridge, GA. Stay and Play in GA!

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General Lake Info

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

Morganton Point Recreation Area - Campsites (no electricity or water), showers, boat ramps, picnic tables, group picnic area and swimming beach - 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.
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

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. Locate Lake Blue Ridge's fish attractors here by viewing available maps and heeding biologists helpful tips.

Best Fishing Bets for 2009

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.

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. Check out more info nformation about this facility.

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

Be An Ethical Angler

Ethical anglers fish responsibly and consider the rights of others. They portray a positive image and help protect and conserve our natural resources. Be an ethical angler; the future of fishing depends on it.

Ethical Anglers:

Know and obey the fishing regulations

Report viloations and pollution

Keep only the fish they can use and release all the others properly so they will survive

Pass on the tradition by taking a child fishing

Don't transfer fish or plant species between bodies of water - Non-native species can adversely affect existing populations.

Appreciate the environment by not littering, dispose of fishing line properly and leave a place cleaner where they found it

Show coutesy to other, lend a helping hand whenever possible and always ask permission before fishing on private property

Trip Checklist

Each person on board must have a readily accessible U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved type I, II, II or V (hybrid) Personal Flotation Device (life jacket) in good condition with no rips or tears. Type V devices are acceptable only when worn and surely fastened. Each vessel, except for Class A vessels, canoes, and kayaks must be equipped with at least one type IV (throwable) device. Also, any child under age 10 who is on board a boat must wear an appropriately sized USCG approved life jacket at all times while the boat is moving, whether it be drifting, sailing, or mechanical power.

Boats with enclosed areas that may trap gas or vapors are required to be equipped with a USGC approved fire extinquisher.

Make sure your boat registration and fishing license are current. Carry your license and registration card with you.

Check your boat trailer lights, navigation lights and fuel before beginning your trip.

Carry a first aid kit, insect repellent sunscreen, extra clothing, rain gear, and plenty of food and drinking water.

Be aware of and abide by all fishing regulations. A copy of current fishing and boating regulations can be obtained from any DNR office and many sotres that sell bait and tackel. Have a float plan. Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

Follow these guidelines for a safe and fun recreation experience.