Lake Varner is an 850-acre water-supply reservoir two miles northeast of Covington, off Alcovy Road at I-20 exit 92. Newton County runs it, gasoline motors aren’t allowed, and that quiet water grows some of the best largemouth bass in the Atlanta area: about a quarter of the bass DNR sampled were 16 inches or longer.
- Size850 acres
- MotorsNo gasoline motors
- HoursApr to Oct, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Nov to Mar, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- ContactNewton County, 770-784-2049
Getting on the Water
The park has a boat ramp; electric trolling motors and paddle craft only. Newton County sets the fees, rules and hours, which can change, so call 770-784-2049 before your first trip.
2026 Fishing Outlook
Summarized from Georgia DNR fisheries biologists’ 2026 forecast for Lake Varner, based on their sampling.
| Species | Outlook | Where and how |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | Good to excellent for several years. About a quarter of the fish are 16 inches or more, and spring and fall give a real shot at a 5-pounder. DNR suggests keeping smaller legal fish (12-inch minimum) and releasing bass over 18 inches. | Grass edges, stumps, laydowns and offshore humps. Crankbaits, suspending jerkbaits and jigs in late winter; topwater, floating worms and flukes in late spring; worms and deep cranks in summer; spinnerbaits in fall. |
| Hybrid bass | Stocked every year. Plenty of 14- to 16-inch fish, with 6- to 8-pounders possible. | Deep water near creek channels and the dam; watch for fish busting shad on the surface. Live bait, jigging spoons, inline spinners, lipless and small crankbaits. |
| Bream | Bluegill and redear in good shape, mostly 5 to 8 inches with some near 10. | Shallow shorelines and coves from early spring through summer, and spawning beds in late spring and summer. Worms, nightcrawlers, crickets, small spinners and jigs. |
| Crappie | Black crappie in good condition, 7 to 9 inches with some over 10. Best in late fall and in March and April. | Deep creek channels and the dam area early in the season; shallows at the upper ends of the two main tributaries as water nears 60°F. Minnows and jigs. |
Lake Varner
Lake VarnerContact: Newton County Parks and Recreation, 770-784-2049. Georgia DNR fisheries, Social Circle, 770-918-6418.
More nearby: Lake Jackson, Metro Atlanta fishing lakes and all Georgia lakes.
Sources we checked
Facts in this guide were checked against the agencies and operators that run these places:
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