Lake Tugalo Fishing & Recreation

Lake Tugalo is a wild, roughly 600-acre Georgia Power lake formed by the Tallulah and Chattooga rivers on the Georgia-South Carolina line near Clayton. Steep canyon walls, small waterfalls and an undeveloped shoreline make it one of the most scenic lakes in the state, and one of Georgia’s best for walleye.

Outboard motors are limited to 25 horsepower, which keeps the lake quiet and makes it a favorite for kayak and small-boat anglers. Access is rugged, so plan ahead.

• SizeAbout 600 acres, 18 miles of shoreline
• Best betsWalleye, largemouth and spotted bass, yellow perch, bream, white bass
• Motors25 hp maximum
• FeesFree ramps and bank fishing

Getting on the Water

Lake Tugalo Fishing Forecast

These prospects come from Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division fisheries biologists, based on their sampling on the lake.

Walleye

Prospect: Tugalo is one of Georgia’s best walleye lakes, with excellent catch rates in recent sampling. Most fish run 2 to 3 pounds, and a few trophies still roam the lake.

Technique and target: From March to mid-April, walleye gather in the flowing headwaters of both river arms, reachable only by boat; bounce small crankbaits, stickbaits in crayfish or herring colors, or a jig with a nightcrawler or grub slowly along the bottom. The Tallulah (Tugalo) arm below the powerhouse is easier to fish when the plant is not generating, usually mid-morning to mid-afternoon. From mid-April through June, fish nightcrawlers around downed trees on the upper half of the lake. In summer, use sonar to find brush and timber in 30 to 50 feet of water on the lower lake and drift nightcrawlers or jigs through it. In fall, walleye move shallow at night.

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: Catch rates are high and steady. Most bass run 1 to 2 pounds, with a chance at a trophy; DNR has sampled a 10-pounder here.

Technique and target: In winter, fish the fallen trees along the steep shoreline with wacky-rigged worms, pig-and-jigs or live bait. In April and May, work soft jerkbaits, floating worms, spinnerbaits and lizards around shoreline cover. In summer, head to the cooler headwaters with crayfish imitations or nightcrawlers on the rocky bottom. The Chattooga arm near the South Carolina ramp is a top spring and fall spot.

Spotted Bass

Prospect: Spots have been here more than a decade but remain less common than largemouth, mostly around a pound. Target: the mid and upper Tallulah arm, around points, big rocks and the deep side of downed trees, with herring-colored soft plastics or hard baits.

Yellow Perch

Walleye keep perch numbers low, so the perch that survive grow big, some weighing multiple pounds and nearing the state record of 2 pounds, 9 ounces. A nightcrawler or small minnow on a jighead bounced near blowdowns and creek channels works all year; the biggest fish come in late winter.

Bream

Bluegill and redbreast of 6 to 8 inches are common around downed timber and creek mouths on the upper lake. Shellcrackers are fewer, but fish up to 3 pounds come each year from the rocky banks near the South Carolina ramp. Try crickets and small spinners for bluegill and redbreast, red wigglers on the bottom for shellcrackers.

White Bass & Channel Catfish

White bass run up both river arms in mid to late March and chase herring on the upper Chattooga arm in October; small grubs, Mepps or Rooster Tail spinners and small topwater plugs work. DNR restocked channel catfish, and the population has rebounded, with plenty of 1 to 3 pounders near the South Carolina ramp; chicken liver and nightcrawlers are the go-to baits.

Tallulah PowerhouseWalleye gather below it in March

Rocky ShorelineSteep banks and downed trees

Contact

Georgia Power (lake information): 706-746-1450. Georgia DNR fisheries office, Gainesville: 770-535-5498.