Fishing and Boating

If you’re in search of the catch of the day or the catch of a lifetime, Habersham County is the place for you. With mountain lakes and numerous trout streams Habersham County is every angler’s dream location for catching The lakes are home to several species of fish, including Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, White Catfish, Walleye, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Yellow Perch.

Lake Burton

A Georgia Power hydropower reservoir, Lake Burton is a deep, infertile impoundment on the Tallulah River in northeast Georgia. Although the lake supports a variety of sport fish, steep shorelines with little underwater cover make Lake Burton challenging angling. Created in 1919 with the construction of 128-foot high Burton Dam, which spans 1,100 feet across the Tallulah River, Lake Burton’s purpose was to meet Georgia’s growing demand for electricity. Burton Dam and its sister dams on the Tallulah River were considered engineering marvels of the time, and are still impressive today. Burton has 2,775 surface acres and 62 miles of shoreline. Like many older reservoirs opened to shoreline development, Lake Burton is almost completely surrounded by lakeshore homes and summer cabins. The beauty of the lake and its deep, clear water makes it a favorite with pleasure boaters. The lake gets very crowded during the summer months, making night-fishing an option that should be strongly considered. Key species: spotted bass, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, yellow perch.

Lake Rabun

Ten miles long, 834 acres, and 25 miles of shoreline, Georgia Power’s Lake Rabun is a tremendously diverse fishery. Lake Rabun was created in 1915 by the completion of 108-foot high Mathis Dam and is the third largest of the Tallulah River chain. Boaters and anglers both enjoy the clear, deep waters of the lake but the boating traffic on the lake can make midday summer angling a nerve-racking proposition. Most anglers prefer to ply the lake’s waters by night in the summer season. The lake’s shorelines are heavily developed with homes and cabins. Although both largemouth and spotted bass are found in the lake, unlike in the two lakes immediately upstream, Burton and Seed, largemouth bass dominate in Lake Rabun. Like most mountain lakes, Rabun’s bass population is low compared to more fertile waters. However, Lake Rabun is known for the quality fish it produces. Largemouths weighing more than 12 pounds have been caught from the lake. Big bass are not the only trophy fish in Rabun. Bluegill and redear sunfish weighing up to 1 pound are common, and walleye in the 10-pound class are occasionally caught. Walleye were introduced into the lake in 1994 and 1995 when high waters washed them down from upstream reservoirs. They have successfully reproduced in the lake but receive very little fishing pressure and are a virtually untapped resource. Key species: largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish,

Lake Seed

A narrow Tallulah River impoundment of 240 acres with 13 miles of shoreline, Lake Seed is one of Georgia Power’s chain of north Georgia hydroelectric lakes. The Nacoochee Hydroelectric Plant is on the Tallulah River downstream of Burton Dam. The name “Nacoochee” comes from the Cherokee language and means “evening star.” The plant’s dam impounds the waters of Lake Seed. The Nacoochee Plant was completed in 1926, and was the last in a chain of Tallulah River developments built by the Georgia Railway and Power Company. Lake Seed is probably the most overlooked link in the Tallulah River chain of lakes, except for tiny, undeveloped Tallulah Lake. However, Lake Seed receives a fair amount of use in the summer, when boat traffic from visiting pleasure boaters, anglers, and those fortunate enough to live on the lake can make the narrow lake appear very busy. Both spotted bass and largemouth bass are present, with spots making up most of the fish caught. Spotted bass in the 2- to 4-pound range are common, with even larger fish a possibility. Other species popular with anglers are yellow perch and walleye. Rounding out the list of target species are various species of panfish including sunfish and crappie. Access to Lake Seed is limited to one boat ramp on the upper north side of the lake. The small size of the lake makes it a short boat ride to anywhere you want to fish. Key species: spotted bass, largemouth bass, walleye, yellow perch.

There are three designated primary Trout Streams within Habersham County. These are the Chattahoochee River, the Soque River and Panther Creek. Trout fishing is a well known recreational opportunity within the county.

Seasonal Trout Streams

Amy's Creek Watershed
Upstream from Georgia Highway 17

Chattahoochee River Tributaries
Downstream to Georgia Highway 255
(except Amy's Creek downstream from Georgia Highway 17 and
Sautee Creek downstream from Georgia Highway 255 Alternate bridge)

Left Fork Soque River
Upstream of Georgia Highway 356 and all tributaries to the entire Left Fork Soque River

Nancytown Creek Watershed
Upstream from Nancytown Lake

Right Fork Soque River
Upstream of Wilson Falls and all tributaries to entire Right Fork Soque River

Soque River Tributaries
That enter the river from the confluence of the Left Fork Soque and the Right Fork Soque rivers downstream to the mouth of Deep Creek.

Year-Round Trout Streams

Chattahoochee River
Downstream to Georgia Highway 255

Left Fork Soque River
Downstream of Georgia Highway 356 excluding the tributaries

Liberty Creek Watershed

Middle Fork Broad River Watershed

North Fork Broad River Watershed

Panther Creek Watershed

Right Fork Soque River
Downstream of Wilson Falls excluding the tributaries

Roberts Branch Watershed

Sautee Creek
Downstream from Georgia Highway 255 Alternate bridge

Soque River
Excluding tributaries downstream from the confluence of
Left Fork Soque and Right Fork Soque rivers to the mouth of Deep Creek

Toccoa Creek Watershed

Small Lake Fishing

Lake Russell

This lake offers fishing opportunities for bass, sunfish, catfish and crappie. The Forest Service operates a 41unit campground adjacent to the lake. Although the camping facilities and swimming beach are open only from mid May through October, the lake is accessible by vehicle and open to fishing year round. Outboard motors are not allowed on the lake, but electric motors are permitted. There is a concrete launching ramp.

For more information:
U.S. Forest Service
P. O. Box 1960
Clarksville, GA 30523
(706) 754-6221