Lake Nottely, GA

About Lake Nottely

Lake Nottely is a TVA reservoir tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains of Union County in far North Georgia, just south of Blairsville. Impounded on the Nottely River, it stretches roughly 4,000 surface acres with long, winding creek arms, deep clear water, and steep timbered banks that are typical of a highland reservoir. Its mix of standing timber, rocky points, brush piles, bluff walls, and feeder creeks gives anglers an enormous variety of structure to work, and the mountain scenery makes it one of the more scenic fisheries in the state.

Among Georgia anglers, Nottely has earned a reputation as a strong spotted bass lake and one of the better walleye destinations in the southern Appalachians. It also produces good numbers of crappie, bluegill, and catfish, plus a population of striped and hybrid bass. The clear, relatively cool water means fish often relate to depth and structure rather than shallow cover, which rewards anglers who learn to read their electronics and fish vertically.

Fish Species

Nottely supports a diverse warm- and cool-water fishery. The standouts are spotted bass and walleye, but several other species draw consistent attention.

• Spotted bass — the dominant black bass here and the fish Nottely is best known for. Spots thrive in the clear, deep water, relate heavily to rock and brush, and put up a hard fight for their size.
• Largemouth bass — present in the creek arms and around shallower cover, though generally fewer than spots.
• Walleye — a signature cool-water species for this lake, prized as table fare and pursued hard in late winter and early spring.
• Crappie — both black and white crappie school around brush, standing timber, and bridge structure, offering excellent spring fishing.
• Bluegill and other panfish — abundant around shoreline cover and bedding flats in the warm months, great for kids and bank anglers.
• Catfish — channel and flathead catfish hold in deeper holes and creek channels, active especially after dark in summer.
• Striped and hybrid bass — present in open water; they chase baitfish and can be found schooling at times.

Best Seasons & Times

Spring is prime time on Nottely. As water warms into the 50s and 60s, walleye stage and run toward the upper river and feeder creeks to spawn, and bass move shallow to stage and bed. Crappie pile into brush and standing timber in the backs of creeks. Pre-spawn through the spawn is the most productive window of the year, with the bite strongest in the morning and again in the evening.

Summer pushes fish deeper as the surface warms and the lake stratifies. Spotted bass and walleye relate to deep points, humps, ledges, and the thermocline, and topwater action can be excellent early and late around schooling fish. Night fishing for catfish, walleye, and stripers is a strong summer tactic. Plan for low-light periods — dawn, dusk, and after dark — when the midday sun has the fish holding deep.

Fall brings cooling water and a renewed shallow-to-mid bite as baitfish move into the creeks and gamefish follow. Spotted bass chase shad on points and in pockets, and feeding windows lengthen as the water cools. This is one of the most reliable times to catch numbers of active fish.

Winter concentrates fish deep and slows the metabolism, but it can be the best season for trophy walleye as they begin pre-spawn movement in late winter. Spotted bass school on deep structure and respond to slow, vertical presentations. Midday tends to fish better in cold months once the water has warmed slightly.

Techniques & Baits

Because Nottely is clear and deep, finesse presentations and good electronics use pay off. Match your approach to the target species:

• Spotted bass — finesse tactics shine here. Drop shots, shaky heads, Ned rigs, and small soft-plastic worms worked on rock and brush produce well. Jigs and football jigs along deep points and ledges are strong, and a jerkbait or spy bait can be deadly in cooler, clear water. Watch your graph for schooling fish and bait, then drop on them.
• Walleye — target them by trolling crankbaits and bottom-bouncer/nightcrawler harness rigs along points and channel edges, or by casting jigs tipped with minnows or soft plastics near spawning areas in late winter and spring. Live minnows fished near bottom are a classic and effective approach.
• Crappie — spider-rigging or vertical jigging small jigs and live minnows around brush piles, standing timber, and bridge pilings is the go-to. In spring, target the backs of creeks; in summer, fish brush in deeper water.
• Catfish — cut bait, live bait, and prepared baits fished on bottom in creek channels and deeper holes, especially at night, take both channels and flatheads.
• Stripers and hybrids — live shad or trolled/cast baitfish imitations around schooling activity and open-water bait balls.

General tips: fish low-light periods, keep presentations natural in the clear water, and use electronics to find brush, bait, and bottom transitions — Nottely rewards anglers who fish structure precisely rather than blindly covering banks.

Access & Launches

Lake Nottely is a public TVA reservoir with multiple public boat ramps and access points scattered around its shoreline and creek arms, making it convenient to launch from several parts of the lake. There are marina facilities on the lake offering fuel, supplies, and seasonal services, and you can typically find areas suitable for bank fishing near ramps, bridges, and public-use areas. The lake sits just outside Blairsville, so lodging, bait, tackle, and supplies are readily available nearby. Because the lake has long, branching arms, it helps to consult a current lake map or your GPS/electronics to plan which ramp puts you closest to the water you want to fish. Always confirm ramp conditions and water levels before a trip, as TVA reservoir levels fluctuate seasonally.

Regulations & Licenses

A valid Georgia fishing license is required for anglers of applicable age, and you can purchase one online through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources or from local license vendors. Lake Nottely is managed under Georgia state regulations, and size limits, slot limits, and creel (bag) limits apply and can vary by species — walleye, bass, and crappie in particular may have specific length and harvest rules. These regulations change periodically, so always check the current Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division rules before keeping fish. Practicing selective harvest and releasing larger breeding fish helps sustain Nottely's quality fishery for the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish is Lake Nottely best known for?
Lake Nottely is best known for spotted bass and walleye. The clear, deep mountain reservoir is a strong spotted bass fishery, and it is also one of the better walleye lakes in North Georgia, especially during the late-winter and spring spawning runs. Crappie, catfish, bluegill, and striped/hybrid bass round out the fishery.

When is the best time to fish Lake Nottely?
Spring is the standout season, with pre-spawn and spawning bass, walleye runs into the upper river and creeks, and crappie stacking up in brush and timber. Fall is also excellent as cooling water triggers shad-chasing feeding. In summer, fish early morning, evening, and after dark; in winter, focus on deeper structure and midday for trophy walleye.

How do you catch walleye on Lake Nottely?
Target walleye by trolling crankbaits or bottom-bouncer and nightcrawler harness rigs along points and channel edges, or by casting jigs tipped with minnows near spawning areas in late winter and early spring. Live minnows fished near the bottom are a proven approach. Low-light periods and night fishing are often most productive.

Do I need a license to fish Lake Nottely?
Yes. A valid Georgia fishing license is required for anglers of applicable age, available from the Georgia DNR or local vendors. Size, slot, and creel limits apply and vary by species, and these rules change periodically, so check the current Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division regulations before your trip and before keeping any fish.