Lake Varner is an 850-acre water-supply reservoir two miles northeast of Covington, off Alcovy Road at I-20 exit 92. Newton County runs it, gasoline motors aren’t allowed, and that quiet water grows some of the best largemouth bass in the Atlanta area: about a quarter of the bass DNR sampled were 16 inches or longer.
- Size850 acres
- MotorsNo gasoline motors
- HoursApr to Oct, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Nov to Mar, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- ContactNewton County, 770-784-2049
Getting on the Water
The park has a boat ramp; electric trolling motors and paddle craft only. Newton County sets the fees, rules and hours, which can change, so call 770-784-2049 before your first trip.
2026 Fishing Outlook
Summarized from Georgia DNR fisheries biologists’ 2026 forecast for Lake Varner, based on their sampling.
| Species | Outlook | Where and how |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | Good to excellent for several years. About a quarter of the fish are 16 inches or more, and spring and fall give a real shot at a 5-pounder. DNR suggests keeping smaller legal fish (12-inch minimum) and releasing bass over 18 inches. | Grass edges, stumps, laydowns and offshore humps. Crankbaits, suspending jerkbaits and jigs in late winter; topwater, floating worms and flukes in late spring; worms and deep cranks in summer; spinnerbaits in fall. |
| Hybrid bass | Stocked every year. Plenty of 14- to 16-inch fish, with 6- to 8-pounders possible. | Deep water near creek channels and the dam; watch for fish busting shad on the surface. Live bait, jigging spoons, inline spinners, lipless and small crankbaits. |
| Bream | Bluegill and redear in good shape, mostly 5 to 8 inches with some near 10. | Shallow shorelines and coves from early spring through summer, and spawning beds in late spring and summer. Worms, nightcrawlers, crickets, small spinners and jigs. |
| Crappie | Black crappie in good condition, 7 to 9 inches with some over 10. Best in late fall and in March and April. | Deep creek channels and the dam area early in the season; shallows at the upper ends of the two main tributaries as water nears 60°F. Minnows and jigs. |
Lake Varner
Lake VarnerContact: Newton County Parks and Recreation, 770-784-2049. Georgia DNR fisheries, Social Circle, 770-918-6418.
More nearby: Lake Jackson, Metro Atlanta fishing lakes and all Georgia lakes.
Sources we checked
Facts in this guide were checked in October 2026 against the agencies and operators that run these places:
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.