Largemouth bass typically average a little over a pound, but good growth in recent years has made 2-3 pound fish more common. Though few in number, 9 and 10 pound largemouth are not out of the question at Blue Ridge. Largemouth are the most abundant black bass species in the reservoir. Their abundance will remain above average this year.
Technique
Baits vary from season to season, but larger u-tail or ribbon tail plastic worms or plastic lizards (especially in May and June) and the standard pig-n-jig are successful largemouth techniques in this lake. Top water lures like Zara Spooks or Rapalas, fished at the end of the day, can generate some exciting top water action.
Target
Largemouth are most often found in the up-river locations of the Toccoa arm of the lake. Target the backs of coves and tributary mouths around any fallen trees or stumps.
Smallmouth bass
Prospect
Over the last few years, smallmouth growth has been good. Consequently, 1-pound smallies have become the norm at Blue Ridge. However, persistent anglers should not be surprised to see a few 5-6 pound smallmouth pulled from these waters.
Technique
Use medium action rods and reels spooled with 8-10 pound line. April and May are great for using shad or herring patterned crankbaits (#5 shad raps or Bill Normans) fished on long points. In summer, top water baits fished at dawn or dusk can be effective. However, most summer fishing is done using subtle presentations like Texas rigged plastic worms/lizards, or drop shot rigs fished around brush or rock piles. The cool fall weather pushes smallmouth out of the deeps to more moderate depths around 15-30 feet. At this time drop shot rigs, flukes and crawfish-imitating jigs are good bets. These same tactics will work in winter as well. Live minnows are a good bait just about anytime of year.
Target
Fish long shallow points in spring when smallies are spawning. When smallmouth move shallow to spawn in spring, head to long rocky points in the Toccoa arm of the lake. Summer time sends fish deep in the main lake, where they hold on brush piles, ledges and humps. Try nighttime fishing in summer for fish that move to shallow water to feed under the cover of darkness. Cooling fall weather initiates aggressive feeding activity on wind-blown main lake points. In winter, smallmouth tend to congregate around creek mouths where water temperatures are often a few degrees warmer than the main lake.
Spotted bass
Prospect
Spotted bass abundance unfortunately continues to steadily rise at Blue Ridge. In addition to growing numbers, bigger and bigger spotted bass are being caught each year. The average spot will be around a pound, but more and more 3-4 pound plus fish are out there. The DNR encourages anglers to harvest their limit of spotted bass whenever possible, to reduce the competition this invasive species places upon the native smallmouth bass population.
Technique
Follow the same techniques listed for smallmouth bass in your pursuit of spotted bass.
Target
Spotted bass will be found in the same locations listed for smallmouth bass.
White bass
Prospect
Once common in the reservoir, white bass numbers have dramatically declined in recent years. Their dramatic decline has been concurrent with the establishment of blueback herring, which may be negatively influencing white bass reproductive success. Most white bass are older fish that have grown to large size.
Technique
Small lures like "doll flies," and plastic grubs in light colors, along with small, herring-imitating crankbaits, fished on light spinning gear are recommended.
Target
For spawn-run fish, target rocky points and shoals in the upper end of the lake in March. Throughout the rest of the year, look for white bass in the main lake body anywhere schooling herring are found.
Catfish
Prospect
Though often overlooked, good populations of channel and flathead catfish are available.
Technique
For channel cats, a variety of baits to include chicken liver and cut shad or bream are good bets. For flatheads, anglers should use live bream weighted with a heavy sinker.
Target
Probe deep holes and river ledges. The cracks and crevices found on rocky banks also provide good hiding places for catfish.
Bream
Prospect
Quality, not quantity best describes this bream fishery. Bluegill average 6 inches, but thick 9-10 inch “bull-gills” are present.
Technique
For artificial baits, small is the key. Try small spinners and natural crawfish imitating micro-jigs. As for live bait, crickets or worms rigged under a bobber, or bottom presentations weighted with split-shot are both good tactics. Drop shot rigs, typically used for bass, can also be employed using live bait, as a means of targeting deeper nesting fish.
Target
Anglers should concentrate on fishing around downed trees or other structure in shallow coves, tributary mouths, or on sand flats. Look shallow for nests, but nesting colonies of magnum “gills” may also set up shop on deeper locales in 15-20 ft. of water. The Toccoa arm of the reservoir is a favored location for these large bluegills, which become concentrated during the May-July spawning period.
Walleye
Prospect
Walleye reproductive success has been poor in recent years - following the introduction of blueback herring to reservoir. This resulted in a walleye population increasingly dominated by older, larger fish, with few young fish recruiting to the fishery each year. Fortunately, recent DNR sample data suggests last spring's walleye spawning success was much improved over previous years. An abundance of yearling walleye were collected throughout the lake. These young fish will grow rapidly, and should reach 14-16 inches in length in 2011. Good growth of older walleye over the past few years means there is the distinct possibility a lake or even state record walleye will be pulled from these waters in the near future.
Technique
Between February and April when fish are shallow, use shallow running crankbaits or jigs. Work deeper fish with ¼ ounce light colored jigs or vertical jig silver or blue chrome spoons. In summer, walleye move deep, sometimes suspending in the thermocline over deep water. Flex–it spoons are a good choice, but trolling deep diving (weight them to get them deeper) crankbaits (shad raps or jerkbaits) can be productive. Fall and winter techniques are similar to spring, with shap raps and spoons being the most effective approaches. Throughout the year, jigs tipped with live baits like night crawlers or live minnows also are effective.
Target
In late winter and spring, fish the deeper river ledges in the Toccoa arm of the lake. Warming water will bring walleye shallower to feed and spawn. By summer, walleye are back in the main lake, on deep (30 to 50-plus feet) rocky points, humps or even suspended in the thermocline over deep water. With the cooling of fall, walleye move out of their deep summer haunts, into the 20-30 foot depth range. Find them on points and or ledges in tributary coves. Throughout the year, night fishing during a full moon can be a productive approach.
Other Species
Prospect
Though not overly abundant, yellow perch do call Blue Ridge home. What they may lack in numbers, they more than make up for in size. Jumbo perch, 12 to 15-plus inches in length and 1-plus pounds in size, can be caught.
Technique
Perch and walleye are often found together, so try some of the same methods listed for walleye. Smaller baits are preferred, as yellow perch have a smaller mouth than that of a walleye.
Target
Yellow perch are often found in the Toccoa arm of the lake. Fish the deeper coves where they may be found holding on brush piles or channel ledges.
Additional Information
Anglers wishing to camp along the shores of Lake Blue Ridge can do so at the USFS’s Morganton Point Campground. Information about this facility is available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/mgntncmp.htm
Since 2006 the TVA, DNR and local volunteers have actively worked to improve fish habitat in Lake Blue Ridge. Anglers can find information about this program, as well as current maps showing the location of these deepwater fish attractor sites on this DNR web page.
Spotted bass are now established in the lake - probably the result of illegal stockings. Their population size has increased significantly in recent years. Spots compete with and can hybridize with smallmouth bass, which in the past, has resulted in the collapse of other Georgia smallmouth bass fisheries. To help reduce spotted bass competition with smallmouth, anglers are encouraged to harvest their limit (10) of spots to help sustain this unique Georgia fishery for years to come. An extended deep draw down of the reservoir water level began in July 2010, as part of TVA's Blue Ridge Dam Rehabilitation Project. The reservoir is projected to remain approximately 60 ft. below the full pool water level until April 2011 - the projected project completion date. At this water level, boat access to the reservoir is restricted to a single low water boat ramp located at Blue Ridge Marina, in Blue Ridge, GA. Once the project is complete, TVA will begin refilling the reservoir. The speed of this refill will be entirely dependent upon regional rainfall amounts.
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