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For the largemouth bass herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 $159.99
Redbreast Sunfish
Photo: Bclegg77, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Spotted Bass
Photo: Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), CC BY 4.0 
Chain Pickerel
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0 
American Shad
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Georgia lakes
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Lake Brantley Fishing
A 45-acre Georgia lake in Morgan County.
Pick for largemouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo, nearby stand in for Lake Brantley: Thomson200, CC0 1.0
Morgan County
Lake Brantley in brief
Plan on 45 acres of lake water when you visit Lake Brantley in Morgan County. Some signs and charts say Hard Labor Creek and Lake Brantley (Hard Labor Creek) instead. Head to Rutledge, around 3 miles away, for supplies.
Expect largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, redbreast sunfish and redear sunfish, going by WRD records. Boaters can use 1 public boat ramp.
45acres
1public ramps
6species listed
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Fish WRD names for Lake Brantley
This list for Lake Brantley merges the WRD access point flags, forecast species and any state records set here.
WRD Water Access Points species flags, WRD fishing forecast and WRD record lists; checked October 2026.
Access
Ramps around Lake Brantley
- Hard Labor Creek State Park, Lake Brantleycarry-in launch, restroom, fee, Georgia DNR
Other boat ramps near Lake Brantley
- Hard Labor Creek State ParkLake Rutledge, 2 miles southeast
- Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir Boat RampHard Labor Creek Reservoir, 2 miles northwest
- Lake Varner Boat RampLake Varner, 11 miles west
WRD Water Access Points layer and CRD coastal ramps, checked October 2026.
Regulations
Creel and size limits at Lake Brantley
| 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 |
No water-specific exception names Lake Brantley, so statewide freshwater limits govern it unless signs say otherwise.
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.
Compare
A side-by-side of Lake Brantley and its neighbors
The closest lake with its own page is Lake Rutledge, 2 miles away; the biggest nearby is Hard Labor Creek Reservoir.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Type | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Brantley | 45 | 1 | lake | 6 | |
| Lake Rutledge | 2 miles southeast | 229 | 1 | lake | 8 |
| Hard Labor Creek Reservoir | 2 miles northwest | 1,370 | 1 | lake | 5 |
| Lake Varner | 11 miles west | 850 | 1 | reservoir | 8 |
| Crossroads Pond | 16 miles southwest | 2 | 1 | Public Fishing Area lake | 3 |
| Boyle Lake Number One | 16 miles southwest | 5 | 1 | Public Fishing Area lake | 4 |
WRD waterbodies, reservoirs and Water Access Points layers.
Nearby
Around Lake Brantley on the map
Other lakes a short haul from Lake Brantley
- Lake Rutledge2 miles southeast
- Hard Labor Creek Reservoir2 miles northwest
- Lake Varner11 miles west
- Crossroads Pond16 miles southwest
- Boyle Lake Number One16 miles southwest
River pages near Lake Brantley
- Little River, Putnam County9 miles
- Apalachee River14 miles
- Murder Creek18 miles
Where to grab bait close to Lake Brantley
- Timbuktu Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Madison, 9 miles
- Classic City Marinas, 1150 Julian Drmarina, Watkinsville, 18 miles
- Sinclair Marina, 1150 Julian Drmarina, Watkinsville, 18 miles
- J J's Magicbait and tackle shop, Covington, 19 miles
- Sinclair Marina/Classic City Marinas, 2055 Oconee Connectormarina, Athens, 19 miles
- Zoom Bait Co Incbait and tackle shop, Watkinsville, 19 miles
Towns to bunk in for a Lake Brantley weekend
- Rutledge3 miles
- Social Circle7 miles
- Bostwick7 miles
County guides covering Lake Brantley
- Morgan Countyseat: Madison
Piscifun
Spinning and baitcast picks from Piscifun for Lake Brantley
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Which fish
Telling apart the fish of Lake Brantley
Photo: Bclegg77, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), CC BY 4.0
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Answers
What gets asked most about Lake Brantley
How do I locate Lake Brantley on a Georgia map?
Point the truck toward Morgan County, about 3 miles from Rutledge.
How many surface acres does Lake Brantley spread over?
It measures about 45 acres.
How many public launch ramps reach Lake Brantley?
1 public ramp, with Hard Labor Creek State Park, Lake Brantley at the top of the list.
What might a Georgia angler hook at Lake Brantley?
Listed fish: largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, redbreast sunfish and redear sunfish.
What are the creel limits on Lake Brantley?
No exception is listed, so statewide limits such as 50 bream and 8 walleye apply.
What do visitors pay to fish Lake Brantley?
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase.
Who sells tackle near Lake Brantley?
Timbuktu Outdoors, about 9 miles away.
Where else could I wet a line close to Lake Brantley?
Closest page: Lake Rutledge, 2 miles.
Set a date for Lake Brantley
All Georgia fees and limits sit on the license page.