Fishing Forecast - Lake Tugalo
Overview
Lake Tugalo is a beautiful 600-acre lake formed by the Tallulah and Chattooga rivers. Owned and operated by the Georgia Power Company, Lake Tugalo lies on the Georgia-South Carolina border near the city of Clayton. The steep canyon walls and small waterfalls that surround the forested shoreline create unusual scenic beauty. To maintain the pristine aspects of this small reservoir, outboard motors are restricted to 25 horsepower. Both largemouth and spotted bass occur in good numbers in Lake Tugalo, but this unique reservoir also offers good fishing for walleye and yellow perch. In addition to a quality bream fishery consisting of large redbreast, bluegill and shellcrackers, Tugalo also provides seasonal opportunities to catch white bass and channel catfish.
Contact Information: Georgia Power: (706) 746-1450; DNR Office: (770) 535-5498.
Best Bets: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Redbreast Sunfish, Bluegill, Shellcrackers and White Bass
Lake Tugalo - Largemouth Bass
Prospect: Catch rates for Largemouth Bass in Lake Tugalo have remained high and stable over the course of the last few years, with this year continuing that pattern. Anglers will mainly catch bass in the 1 – 2 pounds weight range, but the chance for trophy-sized individuals still remains. The fish pictured below weighed in at 10 pounds and was collected during a past GA-DNR spring sampling event on the reservoir.
10 lb Lake Tugalo Largemouth Bass
Technique: From December through March, largemouth bass find shelter among the submerged branches of fallen trees that are scattered along Lake Tugalo’s steep, undeveloped shoreline. Fishing the trees with Wacky-rigged worms, pig & jig combinations and live baits are effective cold water tactics.
During the spawning season (April and May), cast soft-bodied jerk baits, floating worms, spinner baits or plastic lizards around visible structure near the shore's edge. Slow rolling spinnerbaits in the creek channels is also an effective springtime tactic. When water temperatures heat up in the summer months, look for quality-sized fish in the cooler headwater areas of the lake. Bouncing crayfish imitations or live nightcrawlers along the rocky bottom are effective baits for catching bass in these rocky, shallow water areas. Shallow running stickbaits in herring color patterns or jigs tipped with a curly-tailed grub can also be effective in the headwaters. The transition into the cooler fall months pushes bass into the interior recesses of downed trees, especially on the upper end of the lake. Shad-imitating crankbaits, soft plastics and jigs are best bets in the fall. Anglers should also keep a watchful eye for surface feeding fish in the upper reaches of the lake and cast toward breaking fish with crankbaits and surface plugs.
Target: The shoreline of Lake Tugalo is very steep, undeveloped and dotted with fallen trees, which provide a haven for largemouth bass. The in the vicinity of South Carolina boat ramp is one of the best places to fish for bass during the spring and fall months. The upstream headwater areas on both river arms are the best places to fish for bass in the summer.
Lake Tugalo - Spotted Bass
Prospect: Lake Tugalo's steep, rocky shoreline provides favorable habitat for Spotted Bass. Spots have resided in the lake for more than a decade, but the population has not soared during this time frame as it has in other nearby reservoirs. This continues to hold true, with catch rates remaining low and most of the population being dominated by individuals bordering a pound or so in weight.
Largemouth Bass collected from Lake Tugalo in DNR bass surveys
Technique: Spotted bass will roam a wide area in search of their favorite food, which is blueback herring. White-bodied soft plastics or hard baits that imitate herring will likely attract the attention of a hungry spotted bass on the prowl.
Target: Spotted bass are more abundant in the Tallulah River arm of the lake. Anglers who want to target spotted bass are advised to start in the mid-section of the Tallulah River arm and fish toward the upper reaches of the gorge. Spotted bass orient to points and areas with large rocks. Spots will also be attracted to the deep side of the downed trees that are scattered around the shoreline. During the fall months, spots can be seen feeding on blueback herring over open water.
Lake Tugalo - Walleye
Prospect: Walleye are relatively abundant in Lake Tugalo, giving this reservoir the distinction as one of the best Walleye lakes in Georgia. This year was no different from the norm, having excellent catch rates with multiple individuals captured in each gill net. Most fish that anglers catch will be in the 2 - 3 pound range, though there are still a few trophies, like the one pictured below, that continue to roam the lake.
Technique: From March to early-April, several lure styles will attract a walleye bite in the flowing headwater areas of both river arms, including small crankbaits or stick baits in crayfish and herring patterns as well as a small jig-head tipped with a nightcrawler or curly-tailed grub. Use a slow but steady retrieve when bouncing the bait along the bottom. Be prepared for gentle resistance on the line, which indicates a strike, and maintain that steady retrieve. During daylight hours, anglers should bounce nightcrawlers on the bottom around downed trees in deeper water.
The summer heat forces walleye to migrate into the main body of the lake. Brushpiles and downed timber in 30 to 50-feet of water are the favorite summertime hideouts for Tugalo walleye. Using sonar, locate these areas on the Chattooga River arm and then slowly and patiently dabble nightcrawlers, minnows or jigs into every nook and cranny of the structure in hopes of enticing a gentle strike. If you suspect the walleye has taken the bait, allow plenty of time before setting the hook.
In the fall months, walleye often move into shallow water at night to feed on bluegill, yellow perch and blueback herring. Nightcrawlers, minnows and shad-imitating lures are effective this time of year. Walleye have a very light bite, so anglers new to walleye fishing should remain alert to slight movements in the line, which may indicate a strike.
Target: From March to mid-April, walleye congregate in the headwater areas of the and arms. These areas are only accessible by boat. The Tugalo arm below the Power Plant is easier to fish during the non-generation periods, which usually occur from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. The Chattooga River arm maintains a steady flow all year. Anchoring in the slack water adjacent to the large cascade is the safest way to fish this fast water area, and it is well worth the effort because large concentrations of walleye are within casting distance of this spot.
From mid-April through June, anglers should fish on the bottom around downed trees along the upper half of the main lake. Cast nightcrawlers toward the bank and move it along the bottom very slowly.
The best catches of walleye occur on the during the summer months. Use sonar to locate downed trees and structure on the bottom in 30 to 50-feet of water. Walleye will hide under these structures and wait to ambush their prey. Slowly and methodically drift nightcrawlers or jigs in and around these structures to entice a strike.
Lake Tugalo - Yellow Perch
Prospect: A successful Yellow Perch fishery with trophy individuals also exists as a by-product of the Walleye fishery, with Walleye feeding on the perch to keep numbers low and allowing perch to achieve maximum growth and size. Due to this, Yellow Perch weighing multiple pounds have been caught, often nearing the state record of 2 lb 9 oz.
Techniques and Targets: The technique for catching yellow perch is simple. Thread a nightcrawler or small minnow onto a jighead and bounce it slowly across the bottom near blowdowns or creek channels. Seriously, this technique works year-round; however, the monster-sized fish are caught in late-winter before they spawn.
Lake Tugalo - White Bass
Prospect: White Bass are not overly abundant in Lake Tugalo, but a fishable population persists despite this. This year catch rates matched the average for prior sampling events and individuals were most commonly seen in the 1 - 2 pound range.
Anglers can expect reasonable success in the months of March and October if they want to target White Bass. In mid to late-March, they will migrate into the headwaters of both river arms to spawn. During the fall months, White Bass will feed on small Blueback Herring near the surface in the upper reaches of the Chattooga River arm of the lake.
Technique: During the spring months, a small curly-tailed grub on 4 lb test line with a #6 hook is all the tackle that is needed to catch these scrappy fighters. If fish seem to be holding a little deep, then change to in-line spinner baits, like a Mepps Spinner or Rooster Tail, or small curly-tailed grubs in white, yellow or chartreuse threaded onto a light-weight jig head. Small topwater plugs will generate strikes during the fall months when white bass are feeding on schools of small herring at the surface.
Target: During the springtime, anglers will find white bass in the upper portion of the . Start fishing where the river narrows down and fish upstream as far as motor boat access is possible. In the fall, look for breaking fish in the narrow section of the lake on the upper Chattooga River arm.
Lake Tugalo - Bream
Prospect: Bluegill, Redbreast Sunfish, and Redear Sunfish are plentiful in Lake Tugalo. Bluegill and Redbreast Sunfish in the 6 – 8 in. range are very common around downed timber and stream outlets in the upper half of the lake. Catch rates continue to be looking good for the coming year, with size structures for both populations having a high amount of keeper-sized individuals. Redear Sunfish are less abundant, but trophies weighing up to 3 pounds are caught each year along the steep, rocky banks near the South Carolina boat ramp.
Technique: Crickets and small spinners are effective baits for redbreast and bluegill. Cast around shallow water structure that is located in the small pockets and backs of coves. Fishing with red wigglers on slightly deeper rocky bottoms on the main shoreline is a more effective approach for targeting trophy shellcrackers.
Target: Fallen trees are abundant along the rugged, undeveloped shoreline of Lake Tugalo. The submerged tree trunks and branches provide a perfect hideout for bream that should be targeted by bream anglers. In addition, good numbers of bream reside in the many small creek mouths that drain into the lake.
Lake Tugalo - Catfish
Lake Tugalo was once known by local anglers as a great catfish lake. However, as time went on their numbers dwindled into almost non-existence. To help remedy this and jumpstart the catfish population, the GA-DNR stocked Channel Catfish into the lake and that initial stocking has had outstanding success with the population rebounding. This success continues to show in the population today, with catch rates remaining high and an abundance of Channel Catfish in the 1 – 3 pound range available to be harvested from the lake.
You can't beat chicken liver and nightcrawlers for catfish bait. The highest concentrations of Channel Catfish are usually on the Chattooga River arm within eye-shot of the boat ramp.
Additional Information
Lake Tugalo 2023 Angler Card
Lake Tugalo has a 25 hp motor restriction, which makes this lake an excellent destination for those who fish from kayaks or small boats. Because of Lake Tugalo's rugged access roads, anglers should use vehicles with four-wheel drive and trailer small boats less than 16-feet long. Boating access at the on the Georgia side of the lake is available through Tallulah Gorge State Park, which is located off Hwy. 441 in Tallulah Falls, Ga. Less rugged access to the lake is available at the South Carolina Boat Ramp located on Bull Sluice Road. Directions to the are as follows: From Hwy. 441 in Clayton, Ga., turn east onto Hwy. 76. After crossing the Chattooga River Bridge into South Carolina, travel about three miles and turn right onto Orchard Road. At the stop sign, turn right onto Battle Creek Road. At the fork in the road, bear right. After passing Damascus Church, turn right onto the gravel road. This long, winding gravel road will lead to the boat ramp, which becomes paved and very steep as you approach the parking area.
A walleye fishing guidebook is available at no cost on the Wildlife Resources Division website and can be downloaded by clicking here .
