Lake Burton Fishing
A 2,775-acre Georgia reservoir in Rabun County.
Pick for largemouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo: JJeffTV at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Burton by the figures
Inside Rabun County, Lake Burton holds about 2,775 acres of fishable water. You may see it listed as Burton Fish Hatchery as well. The closest Census town is Tiger, roughly 7 miles from the water.
The WRD forecast names Georgia Power Company as the operator. WRD access points here list largemouth bass, spotted bass, brown trout, black crappie, bluegill and redbreast sunfish. The shoreline has 3 public boat ramps. Fishing without a boat works from 3 pier or bank fishing sites.
For the largemouth bass herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 The state forecast for Lake Burton
Wildlife Resources Division biologists publish a forecast for Lake Burton; the passages below are quoted from it.
“Lake Burton is a 2,775-acre reservoir located near the City of Clayton. This mountain reservoir features beautiful scenery and exquisite lakeside homes. Managed by the Georgia Power Company, this lake supports an excellent spotted bass fishery and is home to the current state record – a whopper caught in February 2005 that tipped the scales at 8 pounds, 2 ounces.”
Forecast best bets on Lake Burton: Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass.
| Species | WRD prospect (quoted) |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Catch rates for Largemouth Bass in Lake Burton were consistent with past averages for the reservoir. The population’s size structure predominately consists of individuals in the 8 – 16 inch range which generally fall between 1 – 3 pounds in total weight. |
| Spotted Bass | The Spotted Bass population of Lake Burton is stable and shows similar catch rates compared to last year’s sampling efforts, with individuals around the 1 – 2 pound mark being abundant this year. |
| Brown Trout | Lake Burton has the unique capacity to support a reservoir trout fishery and can produce some really big fish, as seen in the picture below. |
Georgia WRD fishing forecast for Lake Burton, updated June 18, 2026. Read the full forecast.
Fish of Lake Burton
The Lake Burton species list joins WRD access flags with forecast and record entries.
WRD Water Access Points species flags, WRD fishing forecast and WRD record lists; checked October 2026.
Public launches at Lake Burton
- Murray Cove Boat Ramp2 lanes, dock, fee, Georgia Power
- Moccasin Creek Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, restroom, Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division
- Tallulah River Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, Georgia Power
Shore access along Lake Burton
- Tallulah River, Lake Burtonfishing pier, Georgia Power
- Murray Covefishing pier, Georgia Power
- Moccasin Creekfishing pier, Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division
Launch sites close to Lake Burton
- Lake Seed Boat RampLake Seed, 6 miles southeast
- Nacoochee ParkLake Rabun, 7 miles southeast
- Lake Rabun Beach Rec AreaLake Rabun, 7 miles southeast
- Hall's MarinaLake Rabun, 8 miles southeast
- Black Rock Mountain State ParkBlack Rock Lake, 10 miles northeast
- Tallulah Gorge State ParkTallulah Falls Lake, 11 miles southeast
WRD Water Access Points layer and CRD coastal ramps, checked October 2026.
Regulations covering Lake Burton
Georgia sets water-specific rules for Lake Burton, printed in the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations.
| Water as printed | Rule |
|---|---|
| Lake Burton | Largemouth bass minimum length: no minimum (0 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.
Fish WRD stocks in Lake Burton
Lake Burton appears on the 2026 WRD trout stocking lists, as shown here.
| Water as listed | County | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Burton | Rabun | Stocked once each year. |
WRD 2026 trout stocking frequencies and weekly stocking report. Georgia stocking.
Lake Burton in the Georgia record book
| Species | Weight | Date | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Bass | 8 lb, 2 oz | February 23, 2005 | hook and line |
| Yellow Perch | 2 lb, 9 oz | February 18, 2024 | hook and line |
WRD state record freshwater fish list; angler names left out. All Georgia records.
Close-by lakes lined up with Lake Burton
Drive 5 miles to reach Lake Seed, the nearest; Lake Rabun is the biggest close by.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Type | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Burton | 2,775 | 3 | reservoir | 12 | |
| Lake Seed | 5 miles southeast | 240 | 1 | reservoir | 9 |
| Lake Rabun | 9 miles southeast | 834 | 3 | reservoir | 6 |
| Black Rock Lake | 10 miles northeast | 17 | 1 | lake | 5 |
| Tallulah Falls Lake | 11 miles southeast | 63 | 1 | lake | 8 |
| Unicoi Lake | 12 miles southwest | 53 | 0 | lake | 6 |
WRD waterbodies, reservoirs and Water Access Points layers.
Spots by Lake Burton
Lakes that pair well with Lake Burton
- Lake Seed5 miles southeast
- Lake Rabun9 miles southeast
- Black Rock Lake10 miles northeast
- Tallulah Falls Lake11 miles southeast
- Unicoi Lake12 miles southwest
Rivers to pair with Lake Burton
- Timpson Creek1 mile
- Bridge Creek3 miles
- Moccasin Creek, Rabun County3 miles
Gear and bait a short hop from Lake Burton
- Rabun Boat Housemarina, Lakemont, 8 miles
- Blackhawk Trophy Flyfishingbait and tackle shop, Clarkesville, 11 miles
- Squiggly Worm Bait & Tackbait and tackle shop, Hiawassee, 14 miles
- Squiggly Worm Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Young Harris, 17 miles
- Southern Highroads Outfitters Gift Co.sporting goods store, Blairsville, 23 miles
Nearby towns for a Lake Burton trip
- Tiger7 miles
- Clayton9 miles
- Tate City9 miles
Lake Burton, county by county
- Rabun Countyseat: Clayton
A Piscifun reel lineup for Lake Burton
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Know what you hooked at Lake Burton
Photo: Dick Biggins, USFWS, Public domain
Photo: Bclegg77, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Hellion102792, CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to know before you fish Lake Burton
What part of Georgia holds Lake Burton?
Georgia maps place it in Rabun County, about 7 miles from Tiger.
How big is Lake Burton?
Close to 2,775 acres of water.
Is there a public boat ramp on Lake Burton?
WRD maps 3 public ramps; Murray Cove Boat Ramp is a good start.
Which species turn up in Lake Burton?
largemouth bass, spotted bass, brown trout, black crappie, bluegill, redbreast sunfish and redear sunfish, per WRD records.
Which rules cover Lake Burton?
Lake Burton: Largemouth bass minimum length: no minimum (0 inches).
Which Georgia license do I carry at Lake Burton?
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 are crickets and shiners sold near Lake Burton?
Drive 8 miles to Rabun Boat House.
What other Georgia lakes sit close to Lake Burton?
Try Lake Seed, around 5 miles away.
What does WRD expect at Lake Burton this year?
WRD picks Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass.
A weekend at Lake Burton starts here
Licenses come from Go Outdoors Georgia; limits are on the next page.