Ochlockonee River Fishing
Colquitt County and 3 other counties.
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The Ochlockonee River: what to expect
Anglers meet the Ochlockonee River, a river, in Colquitt County and 3 other counties. About 97 miles of it lie in Georgia. From its midpoint, Coolidge is roughly 4 miles away. Georgia River Network lists Ochlockonee River Water Trail on it.
Check 2 live gauges before a trip. Access comes through 1 public ramp or put-in.
the Ochlockonee River outlook from WRD
Here is part of the state forecast for the Ochlockonee River, as written.
“The Ochlockonee River may not be as familiar to anglers as other major rivers in south Georgia, but it is worthy of a visit. It is one of the few rivers in Georgia to catch Suwanee Bass. It is a small black water river that lends itself best to small motorized boats due to the long stretches between access points.”
Best bets on the Ochlockonee River per WRD: Redbreast Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Catfish.
| Species | WRD prospect (quoted) |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | The Largemouth population has been stable in recent years and fish larger than 5 pounds are commonly caught. Largemouth bass numbers should be good this year. For trophy bass try early spring before spawning. |
| Suwanee Bass | Smaller than its largemouth cousin, Suwannee bass are a unique member of the sunfish family and are only found in a few streams in south Georgia and north Florida. The overall population is relatively small but the average fish caught is over 12 inches. |
| Catfish | The river is home to channel, flathead, and bullhead catfish. Fish the river during the warmer months for numerous catfish catches. Recently, flathead catfish were also discovered in the river. For catfish anglers, this will add another species to target. |
| Bream | The Ochlockonee is a slow-moving, blackwater stream that offers good fishing for redbreast sunfish. Redear sunfish, bluegill, black crappie, spotted sunfish and warmouth also are available. Fishing will be down this year due to drought conditions late last year. |
Georgia WRD fishing forecast (Fishing Forecast – Ochlockonee River), updated February 11, 2026. Full forecast.
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Every fish listed is named for the Ochlockonee River in a WRD source.
WRD Water Access Points species flags, WRD trout layer and forecasts.
USGS gauges posted along the Ochlockonee River
Gauges on the Ochlockonee River report every 15 minutes or so to USGS; the latest values are below.
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Ochlockonee River At Ga 188, Near Coolidge, Ga | 24 cfs, 2.34 ft gage height | Nov 13 9:30 am |
| Ochlockonee River Near Thomasville, Ga | 56 cfs, 2.75 ft gage height | Nov 13 9:45 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 10:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Getting on the Ochlockonee River
- US Hwy 19 Boat Ramp1 lane, Thomas County
Water trails on the Ochlockonee River
- Ochlockonee River Water Trailestablished, 69 mi
WRD Water Access Points, Georgia water trails layer, USGS gauges.
Keeper rules Georgia sets for the Ochlockonee River
| 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 |
Limits from the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations guide; every Georgia limit on one page.
Within reach of the Ochlockonee River
Neighboring lakes to the Ochlockonee River
- Bridge Creek Structure Number Eight Lake9 miles
- Cassidy Road Pond9 miles
- Cherokee Lake10 miles
- Scott Lake12 miles
Bait and tackle stops near the Ochlockonee River
- Nelms Bait Tackle & Deer Processingbait and tackle shop, Thomasville, 6 miles
- Daryl's Bass Academybait and tackle shop, Ochlocknee, 7 miles
- Gone Fishingbait and tackle shop, Thomasville, 8 miles
- Hi Way Bait & Tackle 2bait and tackle shop, Cairo, 16 miles
- Larry's Quick Stopbait and tackle shop, Moultrie, 17 miles
Georgia towns handy to the Ochlockonee River
- Coolidge4 miles
- Ochlocknee7 miles
- Thomasville11 miles
- Meigs11 miles
Streams to try near the Ochlockonee River
- Little Ochlockonee River6 miles
- Aucilla River12 miles
- Little River, Cook County29 miles
- Flint River32 miles
Which counties share the Ochlockonee River
- Colquitt County
- Thomas County
- Grady County
- Worth County
Piscifun reels to rig up for the Ochlockonee River
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Scenes from the water around Ochlockonee River
Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 4.0
Straight answers about the Ochlockonee River
Which Georgia counties does the Ochlockonee River pass through?
Check the maps of Colquitt County, Thomas County, Grady County and Worth County.
Will I find trout in the Ochlockonee River?
The trout layer leaves it out.
What height and flow is the Ochlockonee River showing?
The 2 USGS gauges readings sit above.
Will I find a public ramp anywhere on the Ochlockonee River?
1 public ramp, such as US Hwy 19 Boat Ramp.
Is there an exception for the Ochlockonee River?
It follows the statewide table: 50 bream, 30 crappie, 10 black bass.
Is a trout license needed on the Ochlockonee River?
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 a tackle store close to the Ochlockonee River?
Nelms Bait Tackle & Deer Processing, roughly 6 miles from the midpoint.
Which species does WRD list for the Ochlockonee River?
The state ties largemouth bass, suwanee bass, channel catfish, bluegill, suwannee bass and flathead catfish to it.
Where could I stay for a weekend on the Ochlockonee River?
Coolidge sits about 4 miles from the channel.
Circle a Saturday for the Ochlockonee River
The gauges and Georgia limits are on this page.