Lake Nottely Fishing
A 4,180-acre Georgia reservoir in Union County.
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Lake Nottely in brief
Plan on 4,180 acres of reservoir water when you visit Lake Nottely in Union County. Some signs and charts say Nottely Lake instead. Head to Blairsville, around 6 miles away, for supplies.
The dam and lake are operated by Tennessee Valley Authority. Expect largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, black crappie and channel catfish, going by WRD records. Boaters can use 5 public boat ramps.
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Here is what the state forecast says about Lake Nottely, quoted as written.
“Lake Nottely is a 4,180-acre Tennessee Valley Authority reservoir located in Union County near Blairsville. The lake's relatively fertile water supports a diverse fish community.”
On Lake Nottely, the forecast favors Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, and Crappie.
| Species | WRD prospect (quoted) |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Largemouth bass comprised 30% of the total black bass catch based on spring 2025 survey data, although biomass of Largemouth bass exceeded that of spotted bass thanks to the large average size of Nottley's bucketmouths. |
| Spotted Bass | Spotted Bass in Lake Nottely support an exciting fishery that provides year-round fun for novice and expert anglers alike. Spotted Bass make up roughly 70% of the black bass fishery in terms of numbers of fish. |
| Striped Bass | DNR annually stocks Lake Nottely with striped bass fingerlings. Survival of the young stockers from year-to-year determines the overall abundance of the striped bass population. |
| Hybrid Bass | Renewed interest in fishing for hybrid bass on Lake Nottely resulted in their reintroduction starting in 2016. These fish exhibit excellent growth and can achieve respectable sizes in just a few years. |
| Crappie | Anglers enjoy fishing for black crappie in Lake Nottely, and reservoir conditions have been conducive to crappie production over the last several years. In 2025, numbers of crappie available to anglers will be similar to prior years. |
| Other Species | Fishable populations of bream, catfish and carp also occur in Lake Nottely. From May to September, anglers should target bream spawning beds on sandy bottoms near creek mouths and adjacent flats in 4 to 10-feet of water. Live earthworms, crickets or small jigs are effective bream baits. |
Georgia WRD fishing forecast for Lake Nottely, updated June 18, 2026. Read the full forecast.
Fish WRD names for Lake Nottely
This list for Lake Nottely 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.
Ramps around Lake Nottely
- Jacks Creek Boat Ramp2 lanes, Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division
- Poteete Creek Boat Ramp2 lanes, restroom, Union County
- Canal Lake Boat Ramp1 lane, Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division
- Deavertown Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, Union County
- Nottely Marina1 lane, dock, restroom, fee, a private operator
Other boat ramps near Lake Nottely
- Meeks ParkNottely River, 5 miles southeast
- Morganton Point Boat RampLake Blue Ridge, 12 miles west
- Vogel State ParkLake Trahlyta, 12 miles southeast
- Lake Winfield Scott Boat RampLake Winfield Scott, 13 miles south
- Lakewood LandingLake Blue Ridge, 13 miles west
- Deep Hole Recreation AreaToccoa River, 13 miles southwest
WRD Water Access Points layer and CRD coastal ramps, checked October 2026.
Creel and size limits at Lake Nottely
| 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 Nottely, 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.
A side-by-side of Lake Nottely and its neighbors
The closest lake with its own page is Lake Trahlyta, 12 miles away; the biggest nearby is Lake Chatuge.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Type | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Nottely | 4,180 | 5 | reservoir | 10 | |
| Lake Trahlyta | 12 miles southeast | 22 | 1 | lake | 4 |
| Lake Winfield Scott | 13 miles south | 18 | 1 | lake | 4 |
| Lake Blue Ridge | 13 miles west | 3,290 | 4 | reservoir | 11 |
| Lake Chatuge | 16 miles east | 7,050 | 4 | reservoir | 9 |
| Rock Creek Lake | 17 miles south | 10 | 1 | lake | 2 |
WRD waterbodies, reservoirs and Water Access Points layers.
Around Lake Nottely on the map
Other lakes a short haul from Lake Nottely
- Lake Trahlyta12 miles southeast
- Lake Winfield Scott13 miles south
- Lake Blue Ridge13 miles west
- Lake Chatuge16 miles east
- Rock Creek Lake17 miles south
River pages near Lake Nottely
- Nottely Riverunder a mile
- Brackett Creek2 miles
- Barnes Creek, Union County3 miles
Where to grab bait close to Lake Nottely
- Paradise Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Blairsville, under a mile
- Nottely Marine Incbait and tackle shop, Blairsville, 3 miles
- Carolina Luresbait and tackle shop, Blairsville, 4 miles
- Southern Highroads Outfitters Gift Co.sporting goods store, Blairsville, 5 miles
- Lake Blue Ridge Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Morganton, 11 miles
- Tri State Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Mineral Bluff, 12 miles
Towns to bunk in for a Lake Nottely weekend
- Blairsville6 miles
- Morganton11 miles
- Young Harris11 miles
County guides covering Lake Nottely
- Union Countyseat: Blairsville
Spinning and baitcast picks from Piscifun for Lake Nottely
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Telling apart the fish of Lake Nottely
Photo: Dick Biggins, USFWS, Public domain
Photo: Bclegg77, CC BY-SA 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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What gets asked most about Lake Nottely
How do I locate Lake Nottely on a Georgia map?
Point the truck toward Union County, about 6 miles from Blairsville.
How many surface acres does Lake Nottely spread over?
It measures about 4,180 acres.
How many public launch ramps reach Lake Nottely?
5 public ramps, with Jacks Creek Boat Ramp at the top of the list.
What might a Georgia angler hook at Lake Nottely?
Listed fish: largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, black crappie, channel catfish and flathead catfish.
What are the creel limits on Lake Nottely?
No exception is listed, so statewide limits such as 50 bream and 8 walleye apply.
What do visitors pay to fish Lake Nottely?
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 Nottely?
Paradise Bait & Tackle, under a mile away.
Where else could I wet a line close to Lake Nottely?
Closest page: Lake Trahlyta, 12 miles.
Which fish does the forecast favor on Lake Nottely?
Biologists point to Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, and Crappie.
Set a date for Lake Nottely
All Georgia fees and limits sit on the license page.