Lake Jackson Fishing
A 4,750-acre Georgia reservoir in Butts County, Jasper County and Newton County.
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First things to know about Lake Jackson
Lake Jackson is a Georgia reservoir of 4,750 acres located in Butts County, Jasper County and Newton County. Another name in use for it is Jackson Lake. For fuel and food, Jackson sits about 8 miles off.
Georgia Power Company runs the dam and the water level. Species flagged for it by WRD include largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, channel catfish, bluegill and black crappie. There are 1 public boat ramp on it. Land-based anglers can use 1 pier or bank fishing site.
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The WRD forecast for Lake Jackson reads in part as follows.
“Lake Jackson is a 4,750-acre impoundment owned and operated by the Georgia Power Company. The Alcovy, South and Yellow Rivers meet near Jackson, Ga. to form this heavily developed lake that is very popular with boaters and skiers during the summer months.”
WRD points anglers on Lake Jackson toward Crappie, Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Bream, and Striped Bass.
| Species | WRD prospect (quoted) |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Largemouth bass continue to perform well in Lake Jackson and remained the majority of black bass collected in 2025 sampling, showing they are still competing effectively with the expanding spotted bass population. |
| Spotted Bass | Spotted bass abundance appears to have stabilized in recent years. Average size for spots caught in 2025 will be around 11 inches. However, anglers should expect a portion of the catch to be over 14 inches. There are some trophy spots (> 20") out there. |
| Striped Bass | Striped bass continue to provide anglers with an additional sport‑fishing opportunity on Lake Jackson. Recent stockings remain on schedule and support the potential for a solid fishery in the coming years. Anglers can expect the average striped bass caught in 2026 to weigh around 4–5 pounds. |
| Catfish | Lake Jackson supports fishable populations of several catfish species, including bullheads, channel, white, blue, and flathead catfish. The reservoir continues to hold a higher proportion of large channel and blue catfish than most central Georgia lakes, with typical catches averaging 3–5 pounds. |
| Bream | Lake Jackson remains one of middle Georgia’s stronger bream fisheries. Bluegill and redbreast sunfish typically reach 5–7 inches, while redear sunfish are both more numerous and noticeably larger. |
| Crappie | Crappie abundance in Lake Jackson is expected to remain strong in 2026, similar to recent years. Average‑size fish should exceed 7 inches, and anglers willing to be patient and focus on deeper structure can still find crappie in the 1–1.5 pound range. |
Georgia WRD fishing forecast for Lake Jackson, updated February 12, 2026. Read the full forecast.
The Lake Jackson species list
Every fish here is named for Lake Jackson by a WRD source.
WRD Water Access Points species flags, WRD fishing forecast and WRD record lists; checked October 2026.
Ramps that put trailers into Lake Jackson
- Lloyd Shoals Park2 lanes, dock, restroom, fee, Georgia Power
Walk-up fishing spots at Lake Jackson
- Lloyd Shoals Parkfishing pier, Georgia Power
More public ramps around Lake Jackson
- Lloyd Shoals Dam Boat RampOcmulgee River, 5 miles southeast
- Marben PFA, Boar Boat RampBoar, 8 miles northeast
- Marben PFA, Allen Boat RampAllen, 8 miles east
- Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center Boat Ramp on Lake ShepardLake Shepard, 8 miles northeast
- Marben PFA, Teal Boat RampTeal, 8 miles northeast
- Marjorie Kahn Popper Hand LaunchOcmulgee River, 8 miles south
WRD Water Access Points layer and CRD coastal ramps, checked October 2026.
Harvest rules for Lake Jackson
| 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 |
Nothing in the exceptions list mentions Lake Jackson, so use the statewide limits.
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.
State-record catches from Lake Jackson
| Species | Weight | Date | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Carp | 35 lb, 12 oz | 1972 | hook and line |
WRD state record freshwater fish list; angler names left out. All Georgia records.
Lakes near Lake Jackson side by side
Of the lakes around Lake Jackson, Boar Pond is nearest (8 miles) and Sheppard Lake is largest.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Type | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Jackson | 4,750 | 1 | reservoir | 16 | |
| Boar Pond | 8 miles northeast | 4 | 1 | Public Fishing Area lake | 4 |
| Allen Pond | 8 miles east | 4 | 1 | Public Fishing Area lake | 0 |
| Teal Pond | 8 miles northeast | 1 | 1 | Public Fishing Area lake | 0 |
| Sheppard Lake | 8 miles northeast | 12 | 1 | Public Fishing Area lake | 5 |
| Otter Pond | 9 miles northeast | 4 | 1 | Public Fishing Area lake | 3 |
WRD waterbodies, reservoirs and Water Access Points layers.
Within reach of Lake Jackson
Neighboring lakes to Lake Jackson
- Boar Pond8 miles northeast
- Allen Pond8 miles east
- Teal Pond8 miles northeast
- Sheppard Lake8 miles northeast
- Otter Pond9 miles northeast
Creeks and rivers around Lake Jackson
- Murder Creek12 miles
- Towaliga River15 miles
- Little River, Putnam County17 miles
Bait and tackle stops near Lake Jackson
- Bear Creek Marinamarina, Mansfield, 4 miles
- Lakeside Bait And Tacklebait and tackle shop, Jackson, 16 miles
- J J's Magicbait and tackle shop, Covington, 17 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 198 South Point Boulevardsporting goods store, McDonough, 18 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 1448 Old Salem Rd.sporting goods store, Conyers, 20 miles
- Sierrabait and tackle shop, Mcdonough, 21 miles
Georgia towns handy to Lake Jackson
- Jackson8 miles
- Flovilla9 miles
- Jenkinsburg10 miles
Which counties share Lake Jackson
- Butts Countyseat: Jackson
- Jasper Countyseat: Monticello
- Newton Countyseat: Covington
Piscifun reels to rig up for Lake Jackson
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Scenes from the water around Lake Jackson
Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Thomson200, CC0 1.0
Photo: Light-jet pilot, CC0 1.0
Photo: Alexdi at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
Lake Jackson in a few quick answers
Which Georgia town makes a handy base for Lake Jackson?
Head for Butts County, Jasper County and Newton County, about 8 miles from Jackson.
What size is Lake Jackson on the state map?
Georgia data give 4,750 acres.
Where do I launch a boat on Lake Jackson?
Try Lloyd Shoals Park, one of 1 public ramp.
Which fish do Georgia sources tie to Lake Jackson?
Expect largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, channel catfish, bluegill, black crappie and hybrid striped bass.
Are there exceptions to statewide limits on Lake Jackson?
It follows the statewide rows, including 10 black bass and 30 crappie a day.
Is a trout license needed at Lake Jackson?
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase.
Is there a bait store close to Lake Jackson?
Bear Creek Marina is the nearest at 4 miles.
Is there another lake near Lake Jackson?
Boar Pond sits 8 miles from it.
What are the best bets on Lake Jackson?
The forecast names Crappie, Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Bream, and Striped Bass.
Circle a Saturday for Lake Jackson
Read the posted rules and keep your license on you.