Lake Oliver

A 2,150-acre Georgia Power hydropower impoundment on the Chattahoochee River, Lake Oliver is one of the newest of Georgia Power’s 19 hydroelectric generating plants. Since its lower end is within the Columbus city limits, Lake Oliver receives heavy recreational boating use in the summer. The lake is long, narrow, and only 2,150 acres, so it cannot absorb much boat traffic without feeling crowded. Houses and cabins line the lake’s shoreline, and nearly all of them have at least one boat tied up. Lake Oliver gets about as much summer boat traffic as it can stand. The arrival of cooler weather brings a respite from the boat traffic and Lake Oliver’s main clientele becomes the angler. Public access on Lake Oliver is only fair, but since the lake is so small, not many ramps are needed. At the lower end of the lake on the Georgia side is the Columbus City Marina with paved boat launching facilities. Georgia Power’s Goat Rock Recreation Area is on the upper end of the lake just below Goat Rock Dam on the Alabama side. This ramp is narrow and gravel-surfaced. Lake Oliver is best known for its bream fishing with plenty of fish in the 6-to 8-inch range, and some much larger. Both largemouth and spotted bass are found in the lake, but largemouths support the bulk of the fishery. A lucky angler will occasionally catch a largemouth bass in the 10-pound range, but most fish will average less than 2 pounds. The average spotted bass will measure around 12 inches and weigh less than a pound. Hybrid striped bass and white bass populations are good. The average hybrid weighs 2 to 3 pounds and whites weighing more than a pound are not uncommon. Crappie are also available. Most crappie will weigh about half a pound, but larger fish are common. Key species: largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, hybrid striped bass, white bass.