Description: Lake Jackson is a 4,750 acre impoundment located in Jasper, Butts, and Newton counties in central Georgia and is owned and operated by Georgia Power Company. Lake Jackson is formed by the Alcovy, South, and Yellow Rivers and Tussahaw Creek. Several boat ramps provide public access. One ramp is owned and operated by Georgia Power (Lloyd Shoals Park) and the others are at privately operated marinas. There is also a GPC boat ramp and fishing pier just below the dam that provides fishing access to the upper Ocmulgee River. The shoreline is heavily developed and the lake is very popular with recreational boaters and skiers during the summer months. Annual lake drawdowns occur between December and March and only two or three of the boat ramps are usable when the drawdown approaches 8 feet or more. For additional information on the location of the boat ramps, bank fishing opportunities, and lake draw-down schedules, contact Georgia Power Company's Land Department at 770-775-4753.
Lake Jackson is one of the better bream lakes in middle Georgia.
Bluegill and redbreast sunfish typically reach 5-7 inches. However, redear sunfish (shellcracker) are also numerous and often much larger. Live bait such as red worms, meal worms, or crickets fished just off the bottom will often result in catches of redear from 7-10 inches, and individuals weighing 1 lb or more are common. April, May, and June are the best months for big bluegill and redear. The current lake record is 2 lbs 3 oz.
Catfish are the second most-harvested fish. Most will be white catfish or bullheads and average 3/4-1Ib. Large channel catfish, 10 lbs or better, are there for the dedicated catfish angler, but expect the average size to be about 2-3 lbs.
The crappie population has remained fairly stable in recent years. Most will be about 8 inches. A couple of good spawning seasons within the last six years have resulted in better than average crappie fishing. Those fish have continued to grow and should produce some nice catches again this year.
Largemouth bass abundance has not changed notably in recent years. The average bass has remained 3/4-1 lb. In 2000, 13% of the bass were greater than 15 inches, and averaged just under 1 lb. Anglers seeking large bass (5 lbs or better) have the most success during fall, winter, and early spring (October-February). Crankbaits and Carolina rigged worms fished in or near deep water are most effective for larger bass. Early morning and night are the best times to fish during the summer. The spotted bass population appears to be on the increase. Last year the average spotted bass was just under 9 inches. Spots will undoubtedly provide increased fishing opportunities in the future and should be targeted by anglers looking for something a little different. Spotted bass tend to be located deeper than largemouth bass. They are commonly caught at depths of 25-40 feet, but they may also be attracted by surface baits when they are shallow enough to take notice of these offerings. Remember that there is no minimum size limit on spotted bass in Lake Jackson.
Hybrid striped bass have been stocked annually since the early 1980s. Hybrids will average 1-3 lbs, and some will weigh in at 7-8 lbs. Though not noted for large hybrids, the lake record is 15 lbs 2 oz. Hybrids are in good condition and average just under 1 lb. Try casting bucktails or jigging spoons around the dam or looking for schools feeding on top in the spring and summer.
Species: Largemouth Bass
Prespawn fish are along the edge of river channels that border large shallow flats.
