Fishing · Georgia–South Carolina line
Fishing the Tugaloo arm
Forty-nine miles up toward Toccoa: rocky bluffs, Georgia’s best crappie creeks, and the spring walleye run.
Right now
Late October 2026The rivers ran murky in late October while the main lake cleared. Walleye hold around 30 ft on wood near Eastanollee Creek in October and November, and crappie gather on deep timber.
From the latest Southern Fishing and Angler’s Headquarters reports, and Georgia DNR. Conditions across the lake are on the fishing page; the live level is on water level.
Where this water runs
From the river forks up the Tugaloo past Lake Hartwell State Park and Tugaloo State Park to the headwaters below Yonah Dam near Toccoa. Georgia creeks include Shoal, Gum Log and Eastanollee; on the South Carolina side, Choestoea and Mullins Ford. I-85 crosses near Fair Play.
How it fishes, season by season
Spring
Walleye run from February into early April, from Walker Creek up to Yonah Dam. Crappie move to shallow brush and the backs of creeks. Hybrids work points above the GA 123 bridge.
Summer
Largemouth at 20–40 ft on the reef-marker points between Tugaloo State Park and the I-85 bridge. Early-summer stripers feed up the rivers before moving downlake.
Autumn
Walleye near Eastanollee at about 30 ft on wood. Crappie around 30-ft timber.
Winter
Crappie on creek-channel brush; spots on riprap and rocky points.
Ramps on this part of the lake
GA Tugaloo State Park (six-lane Gumlog mega ramp), Paynes Creek, Crawfords Ferry, Mary Ann Branch, Rock Spring, Harbor Light Marina, Franklin County Access, Poplar Springs, Holcomb, Bruce Creek, Jenkins Ferry, Stephens County Park, Walker Creek
SC Lake Hartwell State Park, Glenn Ferry, River Bend, Bartons Mill, Port Bass, South Union, Choestoea, Mullins Ford
Closed or partly closed now
Rocky Ford, Durham / Fair Play, Tabor and Spring Branch are closed; Jenkins Ferry and Poplar Springs are down a lane. Live ramp status
Georgia’s advisory for the Tugaloo arm: don’t eat stripers or hybrids over 16 inches; one meal a month of stripers 12–16 inches, largemouth over 16 inches or channel cats over 16 inches; crappie have no restriction.