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| General Lake Info |
| The lake offers many boat docks and piers that provide good structure for concentrating fish. Anglers will find two available boat ramps on the GA side - one at Idle Hour Park and one at Blanton Creek Park. |
 Shoreline: 156 miles Surface area: 5,850 acres Formed by: Bartlett's Ferry Dam
Source: Chattahoochee River |
| Attractions |
The main Georgia Power recreation area on the Georgia side of the lake is Blanton Creek Park. Shaded by tall stately pines, the full-service campground includes picnic areas, pavilions, a boat ramp and a playground.
Adjacent to Lake Harding, Georgia Power has established the 5,000-acre Blanton Creek Wildlife Management Area, which it leases to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for managing. This area provides nesting, food, and shelter for several native animals, including white-tailed deer, grey and red fox, raccoon, grey and fox squirrel, bobcat, waterfowl, wild turkey, dove, quail, and numerous other bird species. Under the lease agreement, the area is available to Georgians for controlled hunting as long as it complies with agency regulations and does not interfere with hydro plant operations.
Within the area, Georgia Power, along with the Georgia DNR and Ducks Unlimited, has also established the Mark Prevatt Waterfowl Management Area, a waterfowl refuge where hunting is prohibited. Comprised of a marsh pond on some 60 acres, it provides waterfowl a safe, inviting habitat for feeding, resting and breeding.
On the Alabama side of the reservoir are Chattahoochee Valley Park and Po-Boy Landing which offer boat launching and day use. |
Blanton Creek Park and Campsite is located on the east side of Lake Harding (Georgia side) in Harris County. This is a full service campground which provides lake-side camping with sites featuring water hook-ups and electricity, as well as primitive tent sites. Additionally, the park has accommodations for day-use activities including a boat ramp, picnic tables, picnic pavilions, playground, restrooms, and parking. The park is accessible from Georgia Highway 103 and Lick Skillet Road, south of West Point.
Chattahoochee Valley Park is located on the northwest side of the reservoir off of State Hwy 89 in Lee County, AL. This park is a nice location for fishermen as well as people seeking a day-use recreation area. Facilities include a boat ramp, fishing pier, picnic areas, and parking.
Po-Boy Landing - Located at the southern-most point on Lake Harding in Lee County, Alabama, and directly east of Bartletts Ferry Dam is Po-Boy Landing. This access area provides a boat ramp, parking, and a fishing pier. Po-Boy Landing is accessible from Alabama State Highway 76.
More Special Areas on the Lake and their Amenities are:
Idle Hour Park - Boat ramp, fishing pier, restrooms and bank fishing
Hallawakee Creek Boat Ramp - Boat ramp and fishing pier
Chambley Marina - Boat ramp, food, restaurant, gas, tackle and restrooms
The Landing - Picnic area, food, restaurant, gas, tackle and restrooms
Lake Harding Marina - Gas, tackle, food and restrooms |
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| Lake Rules and Regulations |
Follow posted rules.
Practice safe boating.
Be considerate of other visitors and the environment.
No alcoholic beverages or other intoxicants.
Hours: 7 am - 9 pm during Sun - Thu and 7 am - 10 pm during Fri - Sat |
| Boat Ramp |
| WRD operates one boat ramp at Idle Hour Park on Bartlett’s Ferry. |
| Best Fishing Bets |
Largemouth bass, striped bass, spotted bass, crappie and catfish
Angling prospects are compiled by fisheries biologists and are based on sampling efforts of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), knowledge of past fishing trends, angling experience and information provided by anglers and marina owners. For more information, contact the Wildlife Resources Division, West Point Fisheries office at 706-845-4180. |
Largemouth Bass abundance has been steady or slightly increasing over the last few years. About half of the population is greater than 12 inches and fish greater than 15 inches are fairly common. The average catch weighs 1 - 1 1/2 pounds.
Technique - For spring spawning fish try shallow crankbaits, plastic worms and spinners. In warmer months, fish deeper crankbaits and worms. And during winter fishing, try deep-running plugs, jigs and worms.
Target - Boat docks and fishing piers are popular areas to target largemouths. Also target rocky points and underwater humps. The peak time for largemouth fishing is from early March through May, when water temps are in the 60s. In fall, fish further up the lake, above Georgia Power's Blanton Creek Park. |
Spotted bass fishery are under utilized and anglers are encouraged to take spotted bass home for a meal due to the lack of a minimum size restriction. The average spot will be 7-10 inches and weigh 1/2 to 3/4 pound.
Technique - Jigs and plastic worms work well for spots. Also, live bait like night crawlers, crayfish and minnows.
Target - During the spring, target rocky points in deeper water. Boat docks are good places for spots to hide in the summer and they tend to hold to structure like blow downs and woody debris year-round. |
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Striped Bass - Experienced anglers can find stripers exceeding 25 pounds. However, most stripers are in the 14 to 20 inch and 3 to 5 pound range.
Technique - Spoons and popping corks with trailing jigs. Also try bucktail jigs and live shad.
Target - Look to the dam during the winter and upstream to Riverview Dam in early spring during spawning runs. During summer and fall, the target extends lake wide as they school after young-of-the-year shad near the surface. Also target immediately below Riverview dam during periods of power generation at West Point. |
Crappie - Bartlett’s maintains an excellent black crappie population. At least 50 percent or more measure in at 10-15 inches in length and the average crappie weighs 3/4 to 1 pound, though larger slabs are abundant.
Technique - Trolling with jigs at different depths to locate schools of crappie is effective. Minnows also can provide excellent results.
Target - From early February through April, target fish on structure and the upper end of the lake below Riverview dam. Later in the year, target the lower end of the lake, where hundreds of cypress and Tupelo trees have been planted both as fish habitat and as shallow area markings for
boaters. |
Catfish - Fishing for catfish is considered good to excellent year-round. Average channel cats weigh 2 to 3 1/2 pounds, but 8-12 pound catches are possible.
Technique - Big cats like stink and cut baits. Live bait like worms and minnows also are effective.
Target - Fish bait on or near the bottom. After a big rain, try tributary mouths where muddy water enters the lake. Also, night fishing in the hot months works well. |
Hybrid Bass - Hybrid fishing remains good despite no recent stocking efforts. Therefore, the smallest hybrid should be at least 15 inches long and weigh nearly 3 pounds. Average hybrid catches should be in the 3 to 5 pound range.
Technique - Spoons, curly-tail jigs, and live shad work well.
Target - For good fishing action in early spring, target just below the Riverview dam area (a.k.a. Crow Hop) during normal flows. For summer and winter months, try lake wide fishing especially in the area near the dam. |
Other Fish Species - Though not known for bream fishing, bluegill, redbreast sunfish, and shellcrackers are all available. Bluegill average 7 inches and only 3-5 ounces. Redear sunfish generally grow to 1/3 to 1/2 pound. Few white bass are available and average around 1 pound. Bartlett’s Ferry also maintains a good white crappie population.
Technique - Red wigglers and crickets work well on bream.
Target - In spring, fish bream beds in shallow water areas in protected coves and tributaries. Target bluegill and shellcrackers around docks and piers during the summer. |
| Additional Info |
Boating can be hazardous during low flows at the upper end of the lake.
Blanton Creek WMA borders much of the upper Georgia side of the lake.
Georgia Power operates Blanton Creek Park, which has an additional ramp and camping.
However, Blanton Creek is a seasonal park and not open in the winter months (see Georgia
Power’s link under 'Contact Information, above for more details).
Generating schedules and lake level information is available by calling 706-317-6000. |
| Contact Info & Website Link |
| Georgia Power Company - Info and Camping Reservations - Phone: 706-317-6041 or toll free at 1-888-GPC-LAKE - Georgia Power Company's Lake Harding Website Info |
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