Fishing Lake Blue Ridge

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) operates this 3,290 acre reservoir on the Toccoa River in Fannin County near Blue Ridge, Georgia. Walleye, small mouth bass, white bass, and bluegill are the most sought after species.

Walleye numbers have remained steady and fishing should be similar to that experienced in the last few years. Walleye fishing is the best in the Spring and Fall. Concentrate your fishing efforts at night and along rocky points and shorelines. Surface plugs fished close to shore, crankbaits, vertical jigging with spoons, and using nightcrawlers under lanterns are successful methods for catching walleye.

Each Spring, starting in February, white bass provide fast action. Most anglers fish in the shoal area of the Toccoa River at the head of the reservoir. Rocky points in the upper reaches of the reservoir are also popular. Doll flies or plastic grubs are popular lures for catching white bass , which can weigh up to 3 LBS. The number of white bass has increased compared to previous years. The use of a heavy anchor or a strong trolling motor is recommended to more efficiently fish the shoals. White bass are often caught by anglers fishing for walleye.

Small mouth bass in Blue Ridge offer a challenge for fly and ultralight enthusiasts. Plugs and spinners are most commonly used to catch small mouth bass. Catch rates of small mouth will probably be down from previous years as the number of fish from the strong 1989 year class continue to decrease, however average size should increase slightly. Fish for small mouth in areas similar to walleye.

Although their numbers are down from previous years, bluegill continue to be the most plentiful species. Anglers should concentrate on fishing worms and crickets in 15 to 20 feet of water in and around fish attractors placed by the TVA. Maps showing the locations of these fish attractors are available from Blue Ridge Marina, U.S. Forest Service and the WRD-Fisheries office in Calhoun.

Yellow perch, channel catfish and flathead catfish provide additional fishing opportunities on Blue Ridge. Channel catfish are usually caught along the rip-rap of the dam. Flathead catfish can be caught along channel drop offs adjacent to shallow flats or coves.

In the winter (November-February), water level draw downs of 30 feet or more occur. During this period, ramps at the U.S. Forest Service's Morganton Point Recreation Area and the Blue Ridge Marina are the only boat access points that are usable. At extreme low water conditions, only the ramp at Blue Ridge Marina is usable.

For more information on lake levels and releases, please see www.tva.gov