Goat Rock Lake Fishing
A 971-acre reservoir in Lee County, shared with Georgia.
Pick for striped bassPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Chattahoochee River: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
The short version on Goat Rock Lake
The NHD polygon for Goat Rock Lake, a reservoir in Lee County, adds up to about 971 acres. That outline reaches into Georgia; about 25% of it lies in Alabama. Georgia Power runs the dam that holds it. It is about 7 miles to Smiths Station.
The ADCNR bank map adds 1 bank site. It carries 1 water exception in the 2026-27 digest. Questions go to ADCNR Fisheries District IV.
USGS NHD High Resolution (Alabama) outlines and flowlines, read November 1, 2026; operator and kind from the ADCNR reservoir program and dam owner listings; Census 2023 places.
ADCNR ramps that reach Goat Rock Lake
The ADCNR list skips Goat Rock Lake; cities, parks or the dam operator may have launches.
Where bank anglers stand at Goat Rock Lake
- Goat Rock Recreational Areafishing pier, Georgia Power Company
If the lot is full at Goat Rock Lake
- Po'Boy's (Sandy Point) boat ramp on Lake HardingLake Harding, 2 miles north
- Halawakee Creek boat ramp on Lake HardingLake Harding, 6 miles northwest
ADCNR WFF public boat ramp list (list), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR fish-from-the-bank map (outdooralabama.com), read November 1, 2026.
Alabama creel and length rows for Goat Rock Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bass | 10 a day | open all year |
| Walleye | 2 a day | open all year |
| Sauger | 5 a day; 15 inches TL minimum | open all year |
| White Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Yellow Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Saltwater Striped Bass and Hybrids or Combinations | 15 a day | open all year |
| Crappie | 30 a day; 9 inches TL (exemptions apply) minimum | open all year |
| Yellow Perch | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (under 34 inches) | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (over 34 inches) | 1 a day | open all year |
| Bream | 50 a day | open all year |
| Rainbow Trout | 5 a day | open all year |
| Alligator Gar | 1 a day | open all year |
| Sturgeon | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Paddlefish or Spoonbill | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Skipjack Herring | 50 a day | open all year |
Start with the statewide table for Goat Rock Lake, then read any water exception.
Exceptions printed for Goat Rock Lake
| Water as printed | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee River and its Impoundments and Tributaries | Saltwater striped bass, White bass, Hybrid striped bass | It is illegal to possess more than fifteen White Bass, Saltwater Striped Bass and Hybrids in aggregate and only two may exceed 22 inches in total length. Special creel limits apply in reciprocal waters as specified under regulation 220-2-.122 Georgia Reciprocal Fishing Agreement Regulation. |
Size and creel exceptions as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition), limits page, read November 1, 2026.
Goat Rock Lake across the state line
Alabama and Georgia have a reciprocal agreement for fishing from the banks or on the waters of the Chattahoochee River between Alabama and Georgia and all impoundments thereon, South of the Georgia Highway 109 bridge. This agreement does not include any streams or tributaries. Contact a Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division Office for assistance.
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt.
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026.
For the striped bass herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Nearby Alabama lakes measured against Goat Rock Lake
By acreage, Lake Harding heads these nearby lakes at about 4,978.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Bank sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goat Rock Lake | 971 | reservoir | 0 | 1 | |
| Lake Oliver | 5 miles southeast | 1,954 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Harding | 7 miles northwest | 4,978 | reservoir | 2 | 3 |
| Lee County Public Fishing Lake | 14 miles west | 130 | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | 1 |
| Saugahatchee Lake | 20 miles west | 346 | reservoir | 0 | 1 |
| Chambers County Public Fishing Lake | 21 miles northwest | 183 | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | 1 |
Acres from ADCNR pages where printed, else NHD outlines; ADCNR ramp list and bank map; read November 1, 2026.
Next stops after a day on Goat Rock Lake
Alabama reservoirs a short haul from Goat Rock Lake
- Lake Oliver5 miles southeast
- Lake Harding7 miles northwest
- Lee County Public Fishing Lake14 miles west
- Saugahatchee Lake20 miles west
- Chambers County Public Fishing Lake21 miles northwest
Bait and tackle stops on the way to Goat Rock Lake
- Randall Marine The Prop Shopbait and tackle shop, Phenix City, 12 miles
- Highway 169 Fishing Pondbait and tackle shop, Salem, 12 miles
- Lakefront Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Opelika, 14 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Opelikasporting goods store, Opelika, 19 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Auburnsporting goods store, Auburn, 20 miles
Where to stay for a trip to Goat Rock Lake
- Smiths Station7 miles
- Ladonia11 miles
- Phenix City12 miles
Counties around Goat Rock Lake with their own pages
- Lee Countyseat: Opelika
Line and reels from Piscifun before a run to Goat Rock Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Reservoirs, rivers and bays close to Goat Rock Lake, pictured
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Josh Hallett, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Shawn Taylor, CC BY 2.0
Before you fish Goat Rock Lake, read these answers
Which Alabama town sits closest to Goat Rock Lake?
Drive to Lee County, about 7 miles from Smiths Station.
What acreage goes with Goat Rock Lake?
The NHD outline measures about 971 acres, about 25% of it in Alabama.
What is the nearest ramp to Goat Rock Lake?
None on the list; Po'Boy's (Sandy Point) boat ramp on Lake Harding sits 2 miles away.
Which fish swim in Goat Rock Lake, by the sources?
ADCNR sources leave its fish roster blank.
What creel rules govern reef fish in Goat Rock Lake?
Black Bass: 10 a day. The limits band shows its exception.
May an out-of-state angler fish Goat Rock Lake?
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt. Alabama and Georgia have a reciprocal agreement for fishing from the banks or on the waters of the Chattahoochee River between Alabama and Georgia and all impoundments thereon, South of the Georgia Highway 109 bridge. This agreement does not include any streams or tributaries. Contact a Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division Office for assistance.
Does ADCNR map bank access at Goat Rock Lake?
Just one is listed: Goat Rock Recreational Area.
Where do anglers stock up for Goat Rock Lake?
Randall Marine The Prop Shop, about 12 miles away, is the first shop on our list.
Pick a calm morning for Goat Rock Lake
Fees and the digest limits are on one page.