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For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 $79.99
Savannah River 87 mi
Photo: Dclemens1971, CC BY 4.0 
Richmond County 20 mi
Photo: Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Clarks Hill Lake 16 mi
Photo: Jcgaylor, CC0 1.0 
Ogeechee River 110 mi
Photo: w:Flickr user Karol M, CC BY 2.0
Georgia counties
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Fishing in Columbia County, Georgia
Seat: Appling. Population 156,010 (2020).
- 1lake page
- 14launch sites
- 1trout stream
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond Lake): U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District, CC BY 2.0
Columbia County, Georgia
Meet the water of Columbia County
Appling is the seat of Columbia County, one of the counties grouped here as Northeast Georgia. Census 2020 found 156,010 residents on 290 square miles of land, with 17.5 square miles under water.
1 lake in the county have a page of their own, adding to 71,535 acres with Clarks Hill Lake on top. Count 14 public launch sites in the county on WRD records, 22 launch lanes noted. More of them belong to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers than to anyone else. The Trout Fishing layer counts 1 stream and 5.1 trout miles in the county. Shore anglers can use 1 pier or bank site listed by the DNR.
1lake page
14launch sites
1trout stream
9shops and marinas
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Pinpointing the water of Columbia County
Georgia DNR WRD Water Access Points, CRD coastal layers and WRD waterbodies, checked October 2026.
Lakes
Where to fish still water in Columbia County
| Lake | Acres | Type | Ramps | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarks Hill Lake | 71,535 | reservoir | 39 | largemouth bass, striped bass |
Few lake pages fall inside Columbia County, so the table adds the closest ones to Appling across the county line.
| Lake | From Appling | Acres | Type | Ramps | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dearing Number Nine Lake | 14 miles southwest | 13 | PFA lake | 1 | largemouth bass, channel catfish |
| McDuffie PFA Jones (8E) | 14 miles southwest | 9 | PFA lake | 1 | largemouth bass, channel catfish |
| McDuffie PFA Bridge (3W) | 14 miles southwest | 10 | PFA lake | 1 | largemouth bass, striped bass |
| McDuffie Pond 8E | 14 miles southwest | 38 | PFA lake | 2 | largemouth bass, channel catfish |
| McDuffie PFA Bridge (2W) | 14 miles southwest | 12 | PFA lake | 0 | |
| McDuffie PFA Rodbender (3E) | 15 miles southwest | 6 | PFA lake | 0 |
WRD waterbodies and reservoirs layers, NHD areas, WRD access point species flags and WRD fishing forecasts.
Streams
Current to fish in Columbia County
- Savannah Riverriver, 5.1 trout miles, 8 ramps
- Little River, Wilkes Countyriver
Columbia County trout creeks
The trout layer marks 5.1 miles across 1 county streams; 1 carry heavily stocked segments.
Columbia County stream gauges
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta Canal Upper Nr Augusta, Ga | 2,820 cfs, 6.20 ft gage height | Nov 11 2:15 am |
| Uchee Creek At Ga 104, Near Evans, Ga | 11 cfs, 2.18 ft gage height | Nov 11 2:45 am |
| Kiokee Creek At Ga 104, Near Evans, Ga | 14 cfs, 0.66 ft gage height | Nov 11 3:00 am |
| Savannah River Near Evans, Ga | 14.38 ft gage height | Nov 11 3:00 am |
| Reed Creek At Blue Ridge Drive Near Martinez, Ga | 2.49 ft gage height | Nov 11 3:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 3:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
WRD Trout Fishing layer (designated trout streams), checked October 2026.
Ramps
Columbia County launch sites
- Below Clarkes Hill Dam Boat RampSavannah River, 1 lane, fee
- Clarks Hill MarinaClarks Hill Lake, 2 lanes, dock, restroom, fee
- Keg Creek RampClarks Hill Lake, 1 lane, dock, restroom
- Keg Creek WMA Boat RampClarks Hill Lake, carry-in launch
- Lake Springs ParkClarks Hill Lake, 3 lanes, dock, restroom, fee
- Mistletoe State Park CabinsClarks Hill Lake, 1 lane, fee
- Mistletoe State Park CampgroundClarks Hill Lake, 1 lane, restroom, fee
- Mistletoe State Park Day UseClarks Hill Lake, 2 lanes, dock, restroom, fee
- Petersburg CampgroundClarks Hill Lake, 1 lane, dock, restroom, fee
- Ridge Road CampgroundClarks Hill Lake, 1 lane, dock, restroom, fee
- Savannah Rapids ParkSavannah River, carry-in launch, dock, restroom
- Trade Winds MarinaClarks Hill Lake, 2 lanes, dock, restroom, fee
- Wildwood ParkClarks Hill Lake, 6 lanes, dock, restroom, fee
- Windfield CampgroundClarks Hill Lake, 1 lane, restroom, fee
Piers and bank sites in Columbia County (1)
- Clarks Hill Marinafishing pier, Clarks Hill Lake
Georgia DNR WRD Water Access Points.
Stocking and records
Trout stocking and record fish in Columbia County
Columbia County on the state record lists
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sauger | 4 lb, 3 oz | Clarks Hill Lake | 1986 |
WRD 2026 Trout Stocking Frequencies and Weekly Stocking Report; WRD freshwater and CRD saltwater record lists.
Regulations
Waters with their own rules in Columbia County
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (all species combined) | 10 in total, only 5 of which may be Altamaha, Bartrams, Chattahoochee, Coosa, Shoal, Smallmouth, Suwannee, Tallapoosa | Open all year |
| Largemouth bass | Counts toward 10 black bass total; minimum length 12 inches statewide (exceptions on listed lakes and PFAs) | Open all year |
| Spotted bass | Counts toward 10 black bass total; no statewide minimum length (14 inches on Lake Lanier) | Open all year |
| Shoal bass | Counts toward 10 black bass total (only 5 may be shoal and other listed bass); minimum length 15 inches statewide (Flint River below Warwick Dam slot) | Open all year |
| Smallmouth bass | Counts toward 10 black bass total; only 5 of the 10 may be smallmouth and other listed bass; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Striped, white and hybrid bass | 15 in total, only two of which can be 22 inches or longer | Open all year |
| Crappie | 30 | Open all year |
| Bream (sunfish) | 50 in total | Open all year |
| Catfish | No limit | Open all year |
Most Columbia County lakes and streams follow these statewide limits; listed waters differ.
Where the rules differ in Columbia County (2)
| Water | Rule |
|---|---|
| Clarks Hill Reservoir (J. Strom Thurmond Lake) | Georgia-South Carolina agreement water: striped bass or hybrid bass or combination 10, only 3 may be over 26 inches; white bass 10; trout 5; bass (largemouth, spotted, redeye, smallmouth) 10 with 12-inch minimum for largemouth; walleye or sauger 8; aggregate of all game fish (not catfish) 40. Live b |
| Savannah River (downstream of J. Strom Thurmond / Clarks Hill Dam) | Striped bass, hybrid bass, white bass or combination: 2 fish, 27-inch minimum length. Georgia-South Carolina agreement water. |
2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations (effective July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), statewide limits and listed exceptions.
Tournaments
Events based in Columbia County
Organizer pages tie 1 event to the county, 1 still ahead.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027-05-07 | Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 at Clarks Hill Lake (2027) | Clarks Hill Lake |
Organizer and news pages, checked October 2026.
Local help
Tackle and guiding around Columbia County
Shops anglers use in Columbia County
- Broadway Tacklebait and tackle shop, Augusta
- Buckeye Luresbait and tackle shop, Augusta
- Ghann's Cricket Farm Incbait and tackle shop, Augusta
- Ridge Road Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Appling
- The Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Augusta
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 4210 Washington Roadsporting goods store, Evans
- JC Marinemarina, Grovetown
- Sinclair Marina/Classic City Marinas, 4271 Old Lincolnton Rdmarina, Appling
- Trade Winds Marinamarina, Appling
Guide listings for Columbia County
- Little River Guide Servicefishing guide, Appling, (706) 210-3474
Nearby
Beside Columbia County
Every town page we have for Columbia County
- Evanspop. 34,536
- Martinezpop. 34,535
- Grovetownpop. 15,577
- Harlempop. 3,571
- Applingpop. 658
Counties touching Columbia County
- McDuffie County14 miles west
- Richmond County17 miles southeast
- Lincoln County20 miles northwest
- Warren County27 miles west
- Glascock County30 miles southwest
Piscifun
What to pack from Piscifun for Columbia County
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In pictures
Pictures from Georgia water near Columbia County
Photo: Dclemens1971, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jcgaylor, CC0 1.0
Photo: w:Flickr user Karol M, CC BY 2.0
Answers
Fishing Columbia County, asked and answered
Where would I back a trailer in around Columbia County?
Count 14 public launch sites and 22 lanes on WRD records.
Which lake with a page is largest in Columbia County?
Clarks Hill Lake, at 71,535 acres.
Can I catch trout in Columbia County?
Yes, 1 stream and roughly 5.1 trout miles, which need the trout license.
Which bass limit covers Columbia County lakes?
Ten black bass in total statewide, with a 12 inch largemouth minimum unless a listed water differs.
Does Columbia County have its own bait and tackle store?
Broadway Tackle and others; 9 in all.
Which guides list Columbia County?
The list has 1 guide or charter for the county.
Does WRD run a PFA in Columbia County?
The county has no PFA; see the statewide list.
Which Georgia town serves as seat for Columbia County?
Appling holds the courthouse for the county.
Which permits apply in Columbia County?
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase. Designated trout water needs the $10 resident trout license (nonresidents $25) on top of the Georgia fishing license ($15 resident, $50 nonresident).
When is the next event in Columbia County?
1 event on file; next is Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 at Clarks Hill Lake (2027) on Clarks Hill Lake, 2027-05-07.
Make a plan to fish Columbia County
Pick a lake, ramp or stream above for details.