Photo: Tamparitus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Almost every big lake in Georgia is a reservoir built for power, flood control or water supply, mostly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Georgia Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority. That leaves you a lot of choices: 33 major lakes from the Blue Ridge to the Florida line, with boat ramps, beaches, campgrounds and some of the South’s best bass fishing.
- LargestClarks Hill (J. Strom Thurmond), 71,535 acres
- DeepestCarters Lake
- BusiestLake Lanier, the most-visited Corps lake in the U.S.
- Fishing licenseRequired for anglers 16 and older
Georgia Lakes at a Glance
Sorted by size. Acreage is from Georgia DNR’s 2026 fishing forecasts.
| Lake | Acres | Operator | Area | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarks Hill (J. Strom Thurmond) | 71,535 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Savannah River | Fishing · Camping |
| Lake Hartwell | 56,000 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Savannah River | Fishing · Parks |
| Walter F. George Lake (Lake Eufaula) | 45,180 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Chattahoochee River | Fishing · Recreation |
| Lake Lanier | 38,000 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Metro Atlanta | Fishing · Day-use parks · Campgrounds · Rules |
| Lake Seminole | 37,500 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Southwest Georgia | Fishing · Camping and parks |
| Lake Richard B. Russell | 26,650 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Savannah River | Recreation and fishing |
| West Point Lake | 25,900 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Chattahoochee River | Fishing · Recreation areas |
| Lake Oconee | 19,050 | Georgia Power | Middle Georgia | Fishing · Recreation |
| Lake Sinclair | 14,750 | Georgia Power | Middle Georgia | Fishing · Recreation areas |
| Allatoona Lake | 11,860 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Metro Atlanta | Fishing · Camping and maps |
| Lake Blackshear | 8,500 | Crisp County Power | Southwest Georgia | Fishing |
| Lake Chatuge | 7,050 | TVA | North Georgia mountains | Recreation and fishing |
| Bartlett’s Ferry Lake (Lake Harding) | 5,850 | Georgia Power | Chattahoochee River | Attractions and fishing |
| Lake Jackson | 4,750 | Georgia Power | Middle Georgia | Recreation and fishing |
| Lake Nottely | 4,180 | TVA | North Georgia mountains | Fishing |
| Lake Juliette (Rum Creek) | 3,600 | Georgia Power | Middle Georgia | Parks and fishing |
| Lake Blue Ridge | 3,290 | TVA | North Georgia mountains | Attractions and fishing |
| Carters Lake | 3,220 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Northwest Georgia | Fishing · Camping and maps |
| Lake Burton | 2,775 | Georgia Power | North Georgia mountains | Parks and fishing |
| Lake Oliver | 2,150 | Georgia Power | Chattahoochee River | Recreation and fishing |
| Lake Weiss (Georgia portion) | About 2,000 in Georgia | Alabama Power | Northwest Georgia | Fishing |
| Lake Tobesofkee | 1,750 | Macon-Bibb County | Middle Georgia | Fishing and recreation |
| Lake George W. Andrews | 1,540 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Southwest Georgia | Fishing |
| Lake Chehaw (Lake Worth) | 1,400 | Georgia Power | Southwest Georgia | Parks and fishing |
| Goat Rock Lake | 940 | Georgia Power | Chattahoochee River | Fishing |
| Lake Varner | 850 | Newton County | Metro Atlanta | Fishing |
| Lake Rabun | 834 | Georgia Power | North Georgia mountains | Recreation and fishing |
| High Falls Lake | 650 | Georgia State Parks | Middle Georgia | Fishing |
| Randy Poynter Lake | 650 | Rockdale County | Metro Atlanta | Fishing |
| Lake Tugalo | 600 | Georgia Power | North Georgia mountains | Attractions and fishing |
| Lake Yonah | 330 | Georgia Power | North Georgia mountains | Fun and fishing |
| Lake Seed | 240 | Georgia Power | North Georgia mountains | Recreation and fishing |
| Hamburg Lake | 225 | Georgia State Parks | Middle Georgia | Fishing |
North Georgia Mountain Lakes
Lake Chatuge
On the North Carolina line at Hiawassee. Each state’s rules apply in its own waters, and wade-fishing for trout below the dam is popular. 7,050 acres. Recreation and fishing
Lake Nottely
Near Blairsville in Union County; fertile water supports a varied fishery, with a beach and camping area. 4,180 acres. Fishing
Lake Blue Ridge
On the Toccoa River near Blue Ridge, with an overlook above the dam and a paddle launch below it for the Toccoa tailwater. 3,290 acres. Attractions and fishing
Lake Burton
A mountain lake near Clayton known for scenery, lake homes and a quality spotted bass fishery. 2,775 acres. Parks and fishing
Lake Rabun
A long, narrow mountain lake a few miles below Lake Burton, with steep rocky shores. 834 acres. Recreation and fishing
Lake Tugalo
On the South Carolina line near Clayton, formed by the Tallulah and Chattooga rivers; 25-horsepower limit. 600 acres. Attractions and fishing
Lake Yonah
A run-of-the-river lake near Toccoa featuring walleye and largemouth bass. 330 acres. Fun and fishing
Lake Seed
A small run-of-the-river lake just below Lake Burton near Clayton. 240 acres. Recreation and fishing
Northwest Georgia Lakes
Carters Lake
Georgia’s deepest lake, between Calhoun and Ellijay, with steep bluffs and an undeveloped shoreline. 3,220 acres. Fishing · Camping and maps
Lake Weiss (Georgia portion)
The lower Coosa River from near Rome to the Alabama line: river channel and shallow backwaters of an Alabama Power lake. About 2,000 in Georgia acres. Fishing
Metro Atlanta Lakes
Lake Lanier
The busiest Corps lake in the country, about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, known for spotted bass, stripers and crappie. 38,000 acres. Fishing · Day-use parks · Campgrounds · Rules
Allatoona Lake
An Etowah River lake 30 miles north of Atlanta with easy ramps and camping; heavily used by campers, boaters and anglers. 11,860 acres. Fishing · Camping and maps
Lake Varner
Two miles northeast of Covington off I-20 Exit 92; no gasoline motors. 850 acres. Fishing
Randy Poynter Lake
In Black Shoals Park north of Conyers; electric, sail or paddle only, and the park is closed Wednesdays. 650 acres. Fishing
Savannah River Lakes
Clarks Hill (J. Strom Thurmond)
Georgia’s largest reservoir, 30 miles northeast of Augusta, with more than 1,200 miles of shoreline and lakefront campsites, many of them dog-friendly. 71,535 acres. Fishing · Camping
Lake Hartwell
Rocky bluffs on the upper Tugaloo arm, shallow coves and sandy flats lower down, with Corps and state park ramps all around the shore. 56,000 acres. Fishing · Parks
Lake Richard B. Russell
Between Hartwell and Clarks Hill near Elberton. Shoreline development is regulated, making it one of Georgia’s most natural-looking big lakes. 26,650 acres. Recreation and fishing
Middle Georgia Lakes
Lake Oconee
Long and narrow, near Madison and Greensboro. Pump-back operation with Lake Sinclair creates current that turns the fish on. 19,050 acres. Fishing · Recreation
Lake Sinclair
North of Milledgeville off U.S. 441, a tournament favorite with good fall and winter fishing and a tailrace fishing area below the dam. 14,750 acres. Fishing · Recreation areas
Lake Jackson
Where the Alcovy, South and Yellow rivers meet near Jackson; heavily developed and busy with boaters and skiers in summer. 4,750 acres. Recreation and fishing
Lake Juliette (Rum Creek)
Fifteen miles north of Macon, with an undeveloped shore, smaller crowds and a 25-horsepower motor limit. 3,600 acres. Parks and fishing
Lake Tobesofkee
West of Macon, developed on the lower end, wilder above the Lower Thomaston Road bridge, with bank fishing at “the fingers.” 1,750 acres. Fishing and recreation
High Falls Lake
Towaliga River lake at High Falls State Park off I-75 north of Forsyth; daylight fishing only and a 10-horsepower limit. 650 acres. Fishing
Hamburg Lake
A stumpy lake at Hamburg State Park north of Sandersville: trolling motors or up to 10 horsepower; good for bass, jackfish and shellcracker. 225 acres. Fishing
Chattahoochee River Lakes
Walter F. George Lake (Lake Eufaula)
640 miles of Georgia and Alabama shoreline over 85 river miles between Columbus and Fort Gaines, with Corps campgrounds and parks along both shores. 45,180 acres. Fishing · Recreation
West Point Lake
On the Georgia-Alabama line at LaGrange and West Point, with good facilities, a quick drive from Atlanta and an abundant largemouth population. 25,900 acres. Fishing · Recreation areas
Bartlett’s Ferry Lake (Lake Harding)
On the Georgia-Alabama line above Goat Rock Lake, lined with docks, with Blanton Creek Park and WMA nearby. 5,850 acres. Attractions and fishing
Lake Oliver
A Chattahoochee lake at Columbus with marked fish attractors. Just downstream is 131-acre North Highlands Lake. 2,150 acres. Recreation and fishing
Goat Rock Lake
Ten miles above Columbus on the Alabama line, with a public ramp and restrooms; bank anglers like the Sandy Point area below Bartlett’s Ferry Dam. 940 acres. Fishing
Southwest Georgia Lakes
Lake Seminole
Formed where the Flint and Chattahoochee meet at the Florida line; a nationally known bass lake. Seminole State Park sits on its shore. 37,500 acres. Fishing · Camping and parks
Lake Blackshear
A shallow Flint River lake near Cordele with bass, crappie, white and hybrid bass, stripers and catfish. 8,500 acres. Fishing
Lake George W. Andrews
A 29-mile river lake on the Chattahoochee between Walter F. George Dam at Fort Gaines and Andrews Lock and Dam near Blakely. 1,540 acres. Fishing
Lake Chehaw (Lake Worth)
Flint River lake at Albany with three public ramps; trophy stripers in the tailrace in spring. 1,400 acres. Parks and fishing
Small Lakes and Ponds
Turner Lake in Covington is a 26-acre stocked pond in a 158-acre Newton County park, with an accessible fishing pier, more than 3 miles of trails, and catfish, hybrid bass and bream. 6185 Turner Lake Rd. NW; 770-786-4373. For dozens more, see our Georgia fishing lakes by region and public fishing areas.
Wildlife Watching
Lake SeminoleBefore You Go
Most Corps and Georgia Power swim areas have no lifeguards, and water below dams can rise quickly when generators start. Wear a life jacket, check release schedules and read our water safety tips. For planning help, see how to pick a lakeside vacation spot, our Best Lakes in Georgia guide and the best summer swimming holes.
Sources we checked
Facts in this guide were checked in October 2026 against the agencies and operators that run these places:
- Georgia DNR: fishing forecasts for each reservoir (2026)
- Newton County Parks and Recreation: Turner Lake Park
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.