Randy Poynter Lake Fishing
A 650-acre Georgia reservoir in Rockdale County.
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Randy Poynter Lake in brief
Plan on 650 acres of reservoir water when you visit Randy Poynter Lake in Rockdale County. Some signs and charts say Black Shoals Lake and Black Shoals Lake (Randy Poynter) instead. Head to Walnut Grove, around 5 miles away, for supplies. WRD tags it for Gateway to Fishing at Black Shoals Park.
Expect largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish and redbreast sunfish, going by WRD records. Boaters can use 1 public boat ramp. Bank anglers get 1 pier or bank fishing site.
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Here is what the state forecast says about Randy Poynter Lake, quoted as written.
“Randy Poynter is a 650-acre reservoir constructed to meet the water needs of Rockdale County and is located about six miles north of Conyers on Black Shoals Road in Black Shoals Park. The park is open six days a week, and is closed on Wednesdays. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Daylight Savings) and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. the remainder of the year. Gasoline motors are prohibited on the lake.”
On Randy Poynter Lake, the forecast favors Largemouth Bass, Bream, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and Hybrid Bass.
| Species | WRD prospect (quoted) |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Randy Poynter Lake continues to have a reputation for producing quality size-bass. However, due to vast amounts of granite bedrock in its watershed, Randy Poynter Lake is relatively clear and may not be as productive as other area reservoirs, so anglers can expect to catch fewer bass per hour of… |
| Hybrid Bass | Hybrid bass continue to be stocked annually to provide anglers with additional opportunities. Anglers can expect good numbers of fish in the 14 to 16-inch range, however, catches over 20 inches (6-8 pounds) are possible. |
| Bream | Redear sunfish (shellcracker) and bluegill offer the best fishing for sunfish during the spawns in spring and early summer. Redear sunfish average about 8 inches in length, but some 12 inches and longer are available. |
| Crappie | Randy Poynter Lake is known for producing good catches of black crappie. The crappie population is healthy with strong reproductive rates. Expect crappie to average 8-10 inches, with some fish larger than 12 inches. |
| Other Species | WRD has routinely stocked the lake with channel catfish when hatcheries have productive seasons and additional fish are available. Channel catfish should average 2-3 pounds, however, these fish can reach larger sizes. |
Georgia WRD fishing forecast for Randy Poynter Lake, updated February 19, 2026. Read the full forecast.
Fish WRD names for Randy Poynter Lake
This list for Randy Poynter Lake 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 Randy Poynter Lake
- Randy Poynter Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, restroom, fee, Rockdale County
Land-based fishing at Randy Poynter Lake
- Randy Poynterfishing pier, Rockdale County
Other boat ramps near Randy Poynter Lake
- Lake Varner Boat RampLake Varner, 10 miles southeast
- Tribble Mill Park, Chandler LakeChandler Lake, 11 miles north
- Stone Mountain Lake Boat RampStone Mountain Lake, 11 miles west
- Tribble Mill Park, Ozora LakeOzora Lake, 12 miles north
- Panola Mountain State Park, Lower AlexanderLower Alexander Lake, 14 miles southwest
- Panola Mountain State Park, Upper AlexanderUpper Alexander Lake, 14 miles southwest
WRD Water Access Points layer and CRD coastal ramps, checked October 2026.
Lake level at Randy Poynter Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Randy Poynter Lake At Spillway, Near Milstead, Ga | 732.16 ft lake elevation | Oct 23 7:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 23, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Creel and size limits at Randy Poynter Lake
| 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 Randy Poynter Lake, 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 Randy Poynter Lake and its neighbors
The closest lake with its own page is Lenora Park, 5 miles away; the biggest nearby is Lake Varner.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Type | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Poynter Lake | 650 | 1 | reservoir | 7 | |
| Lenora Park | 5 miles northwest | 2 | 0 | lake | 3 |
| Lake Varner | 9 miles southeast | 850 | 1 | reservoir | 8 |
| Turner Lake | 11 miles south | 20 | 0 | lake | 6 |
| Chandler Lake | 11 miles north | 40 | 1 | lake | 5 |
| Mountain Lake | 11 miles southwest | 14 | 0 | lake | 3 |
WRD waterbodies, reservoirs and Water Access Points layers.
Around Randy Poynter Lake on the map
Other lakes a short haul from Randy Poynter Lake
- Lenora Park5 miles northwest
- Lake Varner9 miles southeast
- Turner Lake11 miles south
- Chandler Lake11 miles north
- Mountain Lake11 miles southwest
River pages near Randy Poynter Lake
- Yellow River8 miles
- South River14 miles
- Alcovy River16 miles
Where to grab bait close to Randy Poynter Lake
- Sinclair Marina Classic City Marinas, 403 Rockingham Ctmarina, Loganville, 6 miles
- Sinclair Marina, 1040 Turner St NEmarina, Conyers, 6 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 1448 Old Salem Rd.sporting goods store, Conyers, 8 miles
- J J's Magicbait and tackle shop, Covington, 9 miles
- Ravi's Food Martbait and tackle shop, Lithonia, 10 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 1585 Scenic Hwysporting goods store, Snellville, 11 miles
Towns to bunk in for a Randy Poynter Lake weekend
- Milstead5 miles
- Walnut Grove5 miles
- Lakeview Estates6 miles
County guides covering Randy Poynter Lake
- Rockdale Countyseat: Conyers
Spinning and baitcast picks from Piscifun for Randy Poynter Lake
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Telling apart the fish of Randy Poynter Lake
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Hellion102792, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
What gets asked most about Randy Poynter Lake
How do I locate Randy Poynter Lake on a Georgia map?
Point the truck toward Rockdale County, about 5 miles from Walnut Grove.
How many surface acres does Randy Poynter Lake spread over?
It measures about 650 acres.
How many public launch ramps reach Randy Poynter Lake?
1 public ramp, with Randy Poynter Boat Ramp at the top of the list.
What might a Georgia angler hook at Randy Poynter Lake?
Listed fish: largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, redbreast sunfish and redear sunfish.
What are the creel limits on Randy Poynter Lake?
No exception is listed, so statewide limits such as 50 bream and 8 walleye apply.
What do visitors pay to fish Randy Poynter Lake?
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 Randy Poynter Lake?
Sinclair Marina Classic City Marinas, 403 Rockingham Ct, about 6 miles away.
Where else could I wet a line close to Randy Poynter Lake?
Closest page: Lenora Park, 5 miles.
Which fish does the forecast favor on Randy Poynter Lake?
Biologists point to Largemouth Bass, Bream, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and Hybrid Bass.
Set a date for Randy Poynter Lake
All Georgia fees and limits sit on the license page.