Lake Walter F. George Fishing
A 45,180-acre Georgia reservoir in Clay County, Quitman County and Stewart County.
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Lake Walter F. George in brief
Plan on 45,180 acres of reservoir water when you visit Lake Walter F. George in Clay County, Quitman County and Stewart County. Some signs and charts say Walter F George Reservoir instead. Head to Georgetown, around 7 miles away, for supplies.
The dam and lake are operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Full pool sits at 190 feet (NGVD29). Close to 60% of the water belongs to Georgia. Expect largemouth bass, hybrid and striped bass, channel catfish, bluegill, black crappie and striped bass, going by WRD records. Boaters can use 9 public boat ramps. Bank anglers get 2 pier or bank fishing sites.
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Here is what the state forecast says about Lake Walter F. George, quoted as written.
“Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this 45,180-acre Chattahoochee River reservoir encompasses 640 miles of Georgia and Alabama shoreline and 85 river miles between Columbus and Ft. Gaines.”
On Lake Walter F. George, the forecast favors Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and Hybrid Bass.
| Species | WRD prospect (quoted) |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Average catches of Largemouth Bass will be around 11-16 inches and 2-4 pounds. There are excellent numbers of fish of this size available to anglers this year. There is a 14-inch minimum length limit on the reservoir. |
| Hybrid and Striped Bass | Among southwest Georgia reservoirs, hybrid fishing in Walter F. George shows excellent numbers of 1-3-pound fish with some 7 pounders interspersed. Although not near as numerous as hybrids, stripers are periodically stocked in the reservoir and fish less than 10 pounds are harvested annually. |
| Catfish | Channel catfishing is excellent on Walter F. George, with average cats weighing 1-2 pounds, good numbers of 2 to 5-pound fish. There are good numbers of 1 to 5-pound blue catfish as well, with some larger fish exceeding 10 pounds. |
| Bream | Bream fishing includes bluegill and redear sunfish. Bluegill average 6-8 inches and redears average 7-9 inches. Excellent catches can be made from April through September, especially during May-June. |
| Crappie | Spring crappie fishing can be spectacular, both in numbers and in fish size. There are good numbers of 8 to -12-inch fish available and fish to 15 inches are not uncommon. Both daytime and night fishing under lights are effective March-June. |
Georgia WRD fishing forecast for Lake Walter F. George, updated February 16, 2026. Read the full forecast.
Fish WRD names for Lake Walter F. George
This list for Lake Walter F. George 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 Walter F. George
- Cotton Hill Campground2 lanes, dock, fee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- River Bluff Boat Ramp2 lanes, dock, fee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Sandy Branch Boat Ramp2 lanes, dock, Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division
- Cotton Hill Public Use Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, fee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Florence Marina State Park1 lane, dock, restroom, fee, Georgia State Parks (DNR)
- George T. Bagby State Park1 lane, dock, restroom, fee, Georgia State Parks (DNR)
- Lake Walter F. George WMA Cool Branch Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, fee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Pataula Creek Park1 lane, dock, fee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Rood Creek Landing1 lane, dock, fee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Land-based fishing at Lake Walter F. George
- George T. Bagby State Parkfishing pier, Georgia State Parks (DNR)
- Florence Marina State Parkfishing pier, Georgia State Parks (DNR)
Other boat ramps near Lake Walter F. George
- Bradley Impoundment Boat RampBradley Impoundment, 9 miles northeast
WRD Water Access Points layer and CRD coastal ramps, checked October 2026.
Lake level at Lake Walter F. George
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Walter F. George Reservoir Near Fort Gaines, Ga | 187.19 ft lake elevation | Oct 22 6:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 22, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District (CWMS) reading for Walter F George (NGVD29), recorded October 22, 2026; retrieved October 22, 2026. Values are provisional.
Creel and size limits at Lake Walter F. George
Listed exceptions for Lake Walter F. George from the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations come first.
| Water as printed | Rule |
|---|---|
| Lake Walter F. George | 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.
Events and winners on Lake Walter F. George
Upcoming Lake Walter F. George events and past results sit on its tournament page.
A side-by-side of Lake Walter F. George and its neighbors
The closest lake with its own page is Bradley Impoundment, 9 miles away; the biggest nearby is Lake Andrews.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Type | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Walter F. George | 45,180 | 9 | reservoir | 12 | |
| Bradley Impoundment | 9 miles northeast | 29 | 1 | lake | 8 |
| Lake Kolomoki | 31 miles south | 80 | 1 | lake | 8 |
| Lake Yohola | 31 miles south | 50 | 1 | lake | 8 |
| Lake Andrews | 43 miles south | 1,540 | 2 | reservoir | 12 |
| Carver Park Lake | 44 miles north | 12 | 0 | lake | 6 |
WRD waterbodies, reservoirs and Water Access Points layers.
Around Lake Walter F. George on the map
Other lakes a short haul from Lake Walter F. George
- Bradley Impoundment9 miles northeast
- Lake Kolomoki31 miles south
- Lake Yohola31 miles south
- Lake Andrews43 miles south
- Carver Park Lake44 miles north
Where to grab bait close to Lake Walter F. George
- Fishtale'sbait and tackle shop, Fort Gaines, 11 miles
- H & K Packagebait and tackle shop, Fort Gaines, 18 miles
- Top Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cuthbert, 20 miles
- Stanford Baitsbait and tackle shop, Cuthbert, 22 miles
Towns to bunk in for a Lake Walter F. George weekend
- Georgetown7 miles
- Fort Gaines18 miles
- Coleman20 miles
County guides covering Lake Walter F. George
- Clay Countyseat: Fort Gaines
- Quitman Countyseat: Georgetown
- Stewart Countyseat: Lumpkin
Spinning and baitcast picks from Piscifun for Lake Walter F. George
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Telling apart the fish of Lake Walter F. George
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Stevo2011, CC BY-SA 4.0
What gets asked most about Lake Walter F. George
How do I locate Lake Walter F. George on a Georgia map?
Point the truck toward Clay County, Quitman County and Stewart County, about 7 miles from Georgetown.
How many surface acres does Lake Walter F. George spread over?
It measures about 45,180 acres, with full pool at 190 feet.
How many public launch ramps reach Lake Walter F. George?
9 public ramps, with Cotton Hill Campground at the top of the list.
What might a Georgia angler hook at Lake Walter F. George?
Listed fish: largemouth bass, hybrid and striped bass, channel catfish, bluegill, black crappie, striped bass and hybrid striped bass.
What are the creel limits on Lake Walter F. George?
Lake Walter F. George: Largemouth bass minimum length: 14 inches.
What do visitors pay to fish Lake Walter F. George?
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 Walter F. George?
Fishtale's, about 11 miles away.
Where else could I wet a line close to Lake Walter F. George?
Closest page: Bradley Impoundment, 9 miles.
Which fish does the forecast favor on Lake Walter F. George?
Biologists point to Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and Hybrid Bass.
Set a date for Lake Walter F. George
All Georgia fees and limits sit on the license page.