Lake Blackshear Fishing
A 8,500-acre Georgia reservoir in Crisp County and 4 other counties.
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Lake Blackshear: what to expect
Georgia mapping puts Lake Blackshear at 8,500 acres of water in Crisp County and 4 other counties. Measured in a straight line, Warwick lies about 8 miles from the lake.
Crisp County Power Commission is listed as the lake operator. Fish named for it include largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, white bass, striped bass, channel catfish and bluegill. Launching works from 5 public boat ramps. There are 2 pier or bank fishing sites for fishing from land.
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Quoted below: the Georgia WRD forecast entry for Lake Blackshear.
“Crisp County Power Company operates this shallow 8,500-acre Flint River reservoir. Lake Blackshear is in southwest Georgia, near Cordele. This reservoir's waters support good populations of bass, crappie, white bass, hybrid bass, stripers and catfish.”
For Lake Blackshear the forecast picks Largemouth Bass, White and Black Crappie, Bream, Hybrid Striped Bass, White Bass & Channel Catfish.
| Species | WRD prospect (quoted) |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Average largemouth bass are 12-15 inches, with fair numbers of 16-20 inch fish available. Visit the lake from March to June for the best overall largemouth fishing. There are opportunities to catch largemouth over 8 pounds in Blackshear's tailrace as well. |
| Hybrid Bass | Blackshear is stocked with hybrids annually. Blackshear hybrids average 1-3 pounds, although the occasional 5-6 pounder is caught. Good numbers of 1-3 pound fish should be available to anglers this year based on our gill net survey. |
| White Bass | Generally smaller than their striped bass or hybrid striped bass cousins, white bass average 8-10 inches. Good numbers of 1-2 pound fish were caught in our fall surveys. When found, White Bass are relatively easy to catch and provide excellent table fare. |
| Striped Bass | The average striped bass in Blackshear is approximately 15 inches. Biologists stock Blackshear with striped bass, but extremely limited habitat in the reservoir proper means relatively few fish for harvest (compared to white bass and hybrid striped bass). |
| Catfish | A good population of channel catfish are present in Blackshear, and most fish average 1-2 pounds. The lake's population of flathead catfish average 5-10 pounds. Blue catfish can also be caught in Lake Blackshear, fall surveys captured <1 to 11-pound fish. |
| Bream | Bluegill and redear sunfish make up the bulk of Blackshear's bream fishery. Bluegill average 6-8 inches and shellcrackers (redear sunfish) average 7-9 inches. The first couple weeks of May usually offer good shellcracker fishing, as fish begin their spawning efforts. |
| Crappie | Blackshear represents the only reservoir in southwest Georgia where catches of both black and white crappie can be expected. Catches usually average 9-12 inches in length. |
Georgia WRD fishing forecast for Lake Blackshear, updated February 16, 2026. Read the full forecast.
The fishery at Lake Blackshear
For Lake Blackshear, WRD access points, the forecast and record lists supply the fish below.
WRD Water Access Points species flags, WRD fishing forecast and WRD record lists; checked October 2026.
Boat ramps on Lake Blackshear
- The Marina at Lake Blackshear Resort4 lanes, dock, restroom, fee, a private operator
- Georgia Veterans State Park (Middle)2 lanes, dock, restroom, fee, Georgia State Parks (DNR)
- Georgia Veterans State Park (South)2 lanes, dock, fee, Georgia State Parks (DNR)
- Lakeshore Marina2 lanes, dock, restroom, fee, a private operator
- Georgia Veterans State Park (North)1 lane, dock, fee, Georgia State Parks (DNR)
Casting from land around Lake Blackshear
- Georgia Veterans State Park (South)fishing pier, Georgia State Parks (DNR)
- Georgia Veterans State Park (Middle)fishing pier, Georgia State Parks (DNR)
Ramps within a few miles of Lake Blackshear
- Camper's Haven MarinaFlint River, 7 miles north
- Reeves LandingFlint River, 13 miles north
WRD Water Access Points layer and CRD coastal ramps, checked October 2026.
Keeper rules Georgia sets for Lake Blackshear
Water-specific rows for Lake Blackshear come from the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations.
| Water as printed | Rule |
|---|---|
| Lake Blackshear | Largemouth bass minimum length: 14 inches. |
| 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 |
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.
Georgia state records caught in Lake Blackshear
| Species | Weight | Date | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longnose Gar | 31 lb, 14 oz | March 5, 2026 | hook and line |
WRD state record freshwater fish list; angler names left out. All Georgia records.
Nearby lakes beside Lake Blackshear
Lake Chehaw sits 26 miles from Lake Blackshear; Lake Chehaw is the largest of the neighbors.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Type | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Blackshear | 8,500 | 5 | reservoir | 13 | |
| Lake Chehaw | 26 miles southwest | 1,400 | 1 | reservoir | 11 |
| FLAT CREEK PFA Pond | 33 miles north | 108 | 1 | Public Fishing Area lake | 5 |
| Casting Pond | 35 miles north | 0 | 0 | pond | 4 |
| Ocmulgee PFA Pond | 40 miles northeast | 92 | 1 | Public Fishing Area lake | 5 |
| Kids' Fishing Lake | 40 miles northeast | 2 | 0 | Public Fishing Area lake | 0 |
WRD waterbodies, reservoirs and Water Access Points layers.
Short drives from Lake Blackshear
Georgia lakes in the same area as Lake Blackshear
- Lake Chehaw26 miles southwest
- FLAT CREEK PFA Pond33 miles north
- Casting Pond35 miles north
- Ocmulgee PFA Pond40 miles northeast
- Kids' Fishing Lake40 miles northeast
Moving water near Lake Blackshear
- Kinchafoonee Creek24 miles
Crickets, shiners and line near Lake Blackshear
- Lake Shore Marinemarina, Cobb, 1 mile
- Flint River Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Cordele, 2 miles
- The Marina At Lake Blackshearmarina, Cordele, 2 miles
- Senky'sbait and tackle shop, Warwick, 8 miles
- Clark Buford Fisheriesbait and tackle shop, Cordele, 8 miles
- Mitchell Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Cordele, 8 miles
Places to stay close to Lake Blackshear
- Warwick8 miles
- De Soto8 miles
- Cordele9 miles
County pages that include Lake Blackshear
- Crisp Countyseat: Cordele
- Sumter Countyseat: Americus
- Lee Countyseat: Leesburg
- Dooly Countyseat: Vienna
- Worth Countyseat: Sylvester
Piscifun tackle chosen with Lake Blackshear in mind
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Pictures of the fish at Lake Blackshear
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Stevo2011, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Blackshear: questions Georgia anglers send in
Which Georgia county is Lake Blackshear in?
Georgia county lines put it in Crisp County and 4 other counties, about 8 miles from Warwick.
What acreage does Georgia list for Lake Blackshear?
8,500 acres.
Can a trailered boat get onto Lake Blackshear from a public ramp?
5 public ramps; The Marina at Lake Blackshear Resort has the most lanes.
Is Lake Blackshear good for bass?
Look for largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, white bass, striped bass, channel catfish, bluegill and black crappie.
What size limits apply at Lake Blackshear?
Lake Blackshear: Largemouth bass minimum length: 14 inches.
What would a Georgia license for Lake Blackshear run me?
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase.
Where do I pick up bait on the road to Lake Blackshear?
Closest on our list: Lake Shore Marine at 1 mile.
What is the nearest lake page to Lake Blackshear?
Lake Chehaw at roughly 26 miles.
What do biologists recommend on Lake Blackshear?
The WRD forecast lists Largemouth Bass, White and Black Crappie, Bream, Hybrid Striped Bass, White Bass & Channel Catfish.
Hook up the trailer and head for Lake Blackshear
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