Lake Harding Fishing
A 4,978-acre reservoir in Lee and Chambers counties, shared with Georgia.
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The short version on Lake Harding
The NHD polygon for Lake Harding, a reservoir in Lee and Chambers counties, adds up to about 4,978 acres. That outline reaches into Georgia; about 52% of it lies in Alabama. Georgia Power runs the dam that holds it. Another name for it is Bartletts Ferry. It is about 8 miles to Valley.
It has 2 public ramps in the ADCNR ramp list. The ADCNR bank map adds 3 bank sites. 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 Lake Harding
- Halawakee Creek boat ramp on Lake Harding2 lanes, 1 dock, 8 trailer spaces, lights, paved parking
- Po'Boy's (Sandy Point) boat ramp on Lake Harding2 lanes, 1 dock, 28 trailer spaces, lights, restrooms, paved parking
Where bank anglers stand at Lake Harding
- Long Bridge Fishing Pier on Lake Hardingfishing pier, Georgia Power Company
- <![CDATA[Po Boy's Boat Ramp]]> on Lake Hardingbank access, Georgia Power Company
- Chattahoochee Valley Park on Lake Hardingbank access, Georgia Power Company
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 Lake Harding
| 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 Lake Harding, then read any water exception.
Exceptions printed for Lake Harding
| 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.
Lake Harding 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 Lake Harding
By acreage, Lake Oliver heads these nearby lakes at about 1,954.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Bank sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Harding | 4,978 | reservoir | 2 | 3 | |
| Goat Rock Lake | 7 miles southeast | 971 | reservoir | 0 | 1 |
| Lee County Public Fishing Lake | 12 miles southwest | 130 | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | 1 |
| Lake Oliver | 12 miles southeast | 1,954 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Chambers County Public Fishing Lake | 14 miles northwest | 183 | State Public Fishing Lake | 0 | 1 |
| Saugahatchee Lake | 14 miles west | 346 | reservoir | 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 Lake Harding
Alabama reservoirs a short haul from Lake Harding
- Goat Rock Lake7 miles southeast
- Lee County Public Fishing Lake12 miles southwest
- Lake Oliver12 miles southeast
- Chambers County Public Fishing Lake14 miles northwest
- Saugahatchee Lake14 miles west
Bait and tackle stops on the way to Lake Harding
- Lakefront Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Opelika, 11 miles
- Highway 169 Fishing Pondbait and tackle shop, Salem, 12 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Opelikasporting goods store, Opelika, 13 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Auburnsporting goods store, Auburn, 15 miles
- Randall Marine The Prop Shopbait and tackle shop, Phenix City, 18 miles
- Southern Harbor Resort Marinamarina, Lanett
Where to stay for a trip to Lake Harding
- Valley8 miles
- Opelika11 miles
- Lanett12 miles
Counties around Lake Harding with their own pages
- Lee Countyseat: Opelika
- Chambers Countyseat: LaFayette
Line and reels from Piscifun before a run to Lake Harding
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Reservoirs, rivers and bays close to Lake Harding, pictured
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Josh Hallett, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: John Coley, CC BY 2.0
Before you fish Lake Harding, read these answers
Which Alabama town sits closest to Lake Harding?
Drive to Lee and Chambers counties, about 8 miles from Valley.
What acreage goes with Lake Harding?
The NHD outline measures about 4,978 acres, about 52% of it in Alabama.
What is the nearest ramp to Lake Harding?
2 public ramps on the ADCNR list, including Halawakee Creek boat ramp on Lake Harding.
Which fish swim in Lake Harding, by the sources?
ADCNR sources leave its fish roster blank.
What creel rules govern reef fish in Lake Harding?
Black Bass: 10 a day. The limits band shows its exception.
May an out-of-state angler fish Lake Harding?
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 Lake Harding?
Long Bridge Fishing Pier on Lake Harding is one of 3 bank sites.
Where do anglers stock up for Lake Harding?
Lakefront Bait & Tackle, about 11 miles away, is the first shop on our list.
Is Bartletts Ferry another name for Lake Harding?
Yes; Bartletts Ferry is another name for the same water.
Pick a calm morning for Lake Harding
Fees and the digest limits are on one page.