Bass Boats Banned From Lake Toccoa

Bass boats must stay off Lake Toccoa.

That was the decision of the Toccoa City Commission earlier this week.

At their regular work session, City Manager Billy Morse said there have been problems recently with owners of bass boats.

“One issue that we’re having is bass fisherman want to take their boats and put them in the lake,” Morse explained. “They’re not using their gas motor, they’re using their electric motor. But the ordinance says no gasoline powered boats on the lake at all. So, we have to pull them off the lake. Sometimes that doesn’t go very well.”

While the lake is stocked for anglers, Morse noted that a city ordinance bans gas-powered boats and watercraft from Lake Toccoa, which is also the city’s main water supply.

Bass boat owners argue that they because they use their electric trolling motor, not their gas motor on Lake Toccoa, they should be allowed.

However, City Commissioners said they can’t make exceptions.

“What if they’ve got a leak in that (gas motor) and that gasoline is leaking into our water,” asked Commissioner Gail Fry.

“And where does it stop?” Commissioner Jeanette Jamieson said. “If we went ahead and we approve this, then whenn is somebody else going to come forth and want something else approved? I can’t ever see jeapardizing the water supply. Not ever.”

No formal vote was taken, but after more discussion, commissioners directed Morse to leave the ordinance as is.