Tugalo - A lake to see

Since things are slow I thought I would post this report here on the SC board.

Tugalo is a another lake that SC & GA share in the top corner of the upstate. I have been there a few times this year in different seasons and have never been disappointed with the scenery and the clearness of the water close to the dam. Friday was no different as myself and one of my kayak club members John meet at Hardee's in Westminster Friday morning. John had never been on the lake so he followed me on the trip there. The lake takes a while to get to after turning off from HWY 76. On the last turn you will have a 15 + minute ride down a dirt road with a lot of views of the mountains before you arrive at the lakes landing.

The reason for the trip there was to try for summer Walleye deep trolling, we knew it was a long shot but we wanting to try it. With my kayak rigged with down-riggers I dropped some spoons down to 40' and John throw out some baits behind his kayak and trolled along beside me. We never had anything hit our baits but was making fish anywhere from 20' to 80' deep in 140' deep waters. No schools, just a few fish here and there.

We trolled for over 5 hours enjoying all the sights of the lake and watching some fish hit top water. We could have changed over to bass, crappie or bream but the day was set aside for Walleye.

If you ever have the chance to spend some time on this lake please do, you will enjoy it. I know Shawn (sccamper) has fished this lake with his daughter and he made me want to go there. The lake does have a 20 hp limit so you won't have to deal with any boats throwing you around while fishing from a small craft.

A few pics from Friday.

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man that looks peaceful don't blame you for not changing over to fish for something else.

laid back like that I believe if a fish hit my line I'd (choot em stumpy)

thanks for the story and pics.

btw how big is this lake?

Remus it is a 600 acre lake. Awesome lake to spend the day on.

Beautiful lake, sorry no action, but the views are awesome.

Enjoy your jig tying videos and thanks for the post!!! Double WOW!!!Beautiful Lake!!!!

Beautiful lake and scenery guys. Sorry the fish were not biting, but you peaked my curiosity. I did not know we had any Walleye lakes in SC. I have caught a bunch of them in Lake Erie and in Canada, but did not know we had any here. That would make it worth the trip, they are really good eating fish. You put much more stuff on that Yak, you gonna need outriggers. :Rofl Cool setup, I like it.

Going shark fishing next month in the yak :) can't wait to hook up to some of those salt fish.

Ray Hartwell has some Walleye but not many are caught. Up the Tugalo river from Hartwell lake Is another small lake that also have Walleye, Yonak Lake. It only has two boat ramps and both are in Ga, one at the dam and the other close to the base of Tugalo lake. Summer isn't the time to fish for them but we had to try some deep water trolling.

Great story and pictures Stump! It looks like a lake with some breath taking views!!!

Wow, I got a whole tackle box of Walleye jigs and plugs. Might have to slip up that way. What month is best for them?? We caught ours in June, but that was just after ice out in Canada and they were HUNGRY. Erie we trolled plugs for them in July.

Ray, It would be April-May here when they spawn up the rivers in shallow water.