Richard B. Russell Lake
An Army Corps reservoir on the Savannah River between Lake Hartwell and Lake Thurmond, on the Georgia-South Carolina line. Private docks are not allowed, so the shoreline is almost entirely wooded and the lake is known for spotted bass, stripers and crappie.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Spotted Bass
Deep points and humps. Shaky-head worms early and flukes around bait schools during the day.
Largemouth Bass
Carolina rigs and finesse worms on points. Crankbaits in the creeks once the water cools in fall.
Striped Bass
Down-line live blueback herring 20 to 40 ft deep. Stripers and hybrids roam the main lake.
Crappie
Brush piles and bridge pilings. Minnows suspended 10 to 20 ft deep.
White Perch
Drop-shot minnows or small jigs around schools of bait.
Boat launches
7 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Richard B. Russell State ParkFeeGeorgia State Park near Elberton. Ramps, courtesy docks, campground, cottages. Parking feeDirections ↗
- Beaverdam MarinaMarinaMarina and ramp, 1155 Marina Dr, ElbertonDirections ↗
- Coldwater Creek RampRampPublic ramp with courtesy dock and fishing dockDirections ↗
- Dry Fork Creek RampRampPublic ramp with courtesy dockDirections ↗
- Shuck Pen Eddy RampRampPublic ramp with courtesy dockDirections ↗
- Elbert RampRampPublic ramp with courtesy dock and trailsDirections ↗
- Calhoun Falls State ParkMarinaSouth Carolina State Park across the lake. Ramp, marina, store, campgroundDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Richard B. Russell Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (official eRegulations) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Richard B. Russell Lake ↗Local tips
- Russell is kept within about 5 ft of full pool, so ramps rarely go dry like on Hartwell or Thurmond.
- Much of the lake was flooded with standing timber left in place; watch for submerged trees off the main channel.
- Georgia and South Carolina licenses are honored on the lake under a reciprocal agreement; check both states' rules for the details.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Georgia lakes
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.