Fishing Forecast - Lake Varner
Overview
This 850-acre reservoir is about two miles northeast of Covington on Alcovy Road (Exit 92 off Interstate 20). The Newton County Parks and Recreation Department manages Lake Varner. Gasoline motors are not allowed on the lake.
Contact Information: DNR Office: 770-918-6418
Contact Newton County for more information, including regulations, hours of operation and current fee pricing by calling (770) 784-2049.
Best Bets: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, and Hybrid Bass
Lake Varner - Largemouth Bass
Prospect: Abundance and quality of largemouth bass have remained in the good to excellent range for the past few years. The most recent electrofishing survey indicates that about 1/4 of the fish are 16 inches or larger. In the spring and fall, Varner offers a great opportunity to catch a 5-plus-pound bass. Practice selective harvest to improve bass quality by harvesting smaller, legal fish (bass at least 12 inches) and releasing larger bass (those greater than 18 inches)
Technique: Popular lures include topwater baits, soft plastics, swim baits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs. These baits can be fished around grass, stumps and lay-down trees. Crankbaits, suspending jerk baits and jigs around cover are effective in late winter and early spring. In late spring, try topwater lures, floating worms and soft plastic shad imitations like flukes or bass assassins. Plastic worms and deep diving crankbaits are ideal for summer, and spinnerbaits work well in fall.
Target: During winter months, use crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits and jigs around the edges of grass and around other shoreline cover. In spring and summer, concentrate on fishing around grass, shoreline cover and off shore humps. Use lures such as topwater baits, soft plastic baits, deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits umbrella rigs and lip-less crankbaits baits.
Lake Varner - Hybrid Bass
Prospect: Hybrid bass continue to be stocked annually to provide anglers with additional opportunities. Anglers can expect good numbers of fish in the 14 to 16-inch range, however, catches over 20 inches (6-8 pounds) are possible.
Technique: Live bait, jigging spoons, rooster tails, rattle traps and small crankbaits are recommended.
Target: Fish in deeper water near the creek channels and . Keep an eye to the surface as hybrid striped bass chase shad around the surface, providing some exciting fishing action.
Lake Varner - Bream
Bluegill Sunfish
Prospect: Bluegill and redear sunfish populations are in good condition. Expect good numbers of sunfish in the 5-8 inch range, with some catches around 10 inches (1/2 to 3/4 lbs).
Technique: Live bait-worms, night crawlers and crickets. Also try rooster tails, bettle spins and smaller jigs.
Target: Fish shallower water along shorelines and coves in early spring through summer. Also target spawning sunfish in late spring through summer.
Lake Varner - Crappie
Prospect: The black crappie population is in good condition. Anglers can expect the average size fish to be in the 7 to 9-inch range, however some larger (10-inch plus) fish are available. The best time to fish for crappie is in late fall and early spring, especially in the months of March and April.
Technique: Minnows and jigs are recommended.
Target: Early in the season, fish in deeper water near the creek channels and . In the spring, focus on more shallow water as temperatures approach 60 degrees (F), and target the of the two for spawning fish.
Additional Information
Lake Varner hours of operation are as follows: April - October 7:00AM - 9:00PM
November - March 7:00AM - 6:00PM For more information, call 770-784-2049
