Barnes Lake Fishing
A 11-acre Georgia lake in Screven County.
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Meet Barnes Lake
Barnes Lake spreads across 11 acres, all of it inside Screven County. A base in Hiltonia keeps you about 12 miles from the shoreline.
WRD names largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish and chain pickerel among its fish. You can choose from 1 public boat ramp.
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Fish below are the ones Georgia sources tie to Barnes Lake.
WRD Water Access Points species flags, WRD fishing forecast and WRD record lists; checked October 2026.
Picking a ramp to start a Barnes Lake day
- Tuckahoe WMA, Barnes Lake Boat Rampcarry-in launch, Georgia DNR
Backup launches for Barnes Lake
- Tuckahoe WMA, Johnson Lake Boat RampJohnson Lake, under a mile northwest
- Tuckahoe WMA, Collard Patch Lake Boat RampCollard Patch Lake, under a mile west
- Tuckahoe WMA, Dicks Lookout Boat RampSavannah River, 1 mile south
- Tuckahoe WMA, Conyers Lake Boat RampConyers Lake, 2 miles south
- Tuckahoe WMA- Possum Eddy Boat RampSavannah River, 2 miles northwest
- Tuckahoe WMA, Briarpatch Lake Boat RampBriarpatch Lake, 2 miles northwest
WRD Water Access Points layer and CRD coastal ramps, checked October 2026.
Daily creel and length rules for Barnes Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | 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 |
| Walleye | 8 | Open all year |
| Pickerel | 15 | Open all year |
| American and hickory shad | 8 | Open all year |
For Barnes Lake the statewide numbers stand, since no exception is printed.
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase.
2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations, effective July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027; checked October 2026.
Sizing up Barnes Lake against close-by lakes
Nearest neighbor: Johnson Lake at under a mile. Largest neighbor: Johnson Lake.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Type | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes Lake | 11 | 1 | lake | 5 | |
| Johnson Lake | under a mile north | 12 | 1 | lake | 5 |
| Collard Patch Lake | under a mile west | 7 | 1 | lake | 5 |
| Conyers Lake | 1 mile south | 10 | 1 | lake | 5 |
| Brierpatch Lake | 2 miles northwest | 4 | 1 | lake | 5 |
| Gilt Lake | 3 miles southeast | 1 | 1 | lake | 5 |
WRD waterbodies, reservoirs and Water Access Points layers.
Beside Barnes Lake
More Georgia lakes close to Barnes Lake
- Johnson Lakeunder a mile north
- Collard Patch Lakeunder a mile west
- Conyers Lake1 mile south
- Brierpatch Lake2 miles northwest
- Gilt Lake3 miles southeast
Streams a short drive from Barnes Lake
- Brier Creek5 miles
- Savannah River20 miles
Tackle counters serving Barnes Lake
- Georgia Wilderness Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Sylvania, 13 miles
Towns that make a base for Barnes Lake
- Hiltonia12 miles
- Sylvania13 miles
- Girard19 miles
Counties around Barnes Lake
- Screven Countyseat: Sylvania
What to pack from Piscifun for Barnes Lake
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Pictures from Georgia water near Barnes Lake
Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: w:Flickr user Karol M, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0
Barnes Lake, answered before you load the boat
Where in Georgia will I find Barnes Lake?
It belongs to Screven County, about 12 miles from Hiltonia.
What acreage does the state map give Barnes Lake?
Roughly 11 acres.
Does Barnes Lake have a public launch?
1 public ramp, among them Tuckahoe WMA, Barnes Lake Boat Ramp.
What bites at Barnes Lake?
WRD sources name largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish and chain pickerel.
How many bass can I keep from Barnes Lake?
Only statewide limits apply, for example 50 bream and 30 crappie a day.
Can a nonresident fish Barnes Lake?
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase.
Which listed tackle counter sits closest to Barnes Lake?
Georgia Wilderness Outfitters is around 13 miles from the water.
Which lake page lies nearest to Barnes Lake?
The nearest is Johnson Lake, under a mile off.
Put Barnes Lake on the fishing calendar
Check the creel rules, then pick a ramp from the map.