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Lake Chatuge

Lake Chatuge is a TVA reservoir on the Hiwassee River that was created by the construction of Chatuge Dam, which was completed in 1942. The dam is located in western North Carolina, and the lake extends southeast into Georgia around the city of Hiawassee.

Lake Chatuge Resources

Lake Chatuge Fishing Report – February 2025

By GON Staff | January 29, 2025

Chatuge: Level: 7.5 feet below 1925. Temp: 44-46 degrees. Clarity: Clear. Bass: Eric Welch, of Welch’s Guide Service, reports, “Fishing has been decent. It’s been a cold winter so far, and we are hoping for a big shad kill. Fish biologists said a few years back that all of our lakes that had herring baitfish in them were getting out of balance, meaning there are more baitfish than the bass could eat. I’m going to be throwing smaller-sized baitfish lures this time of year to try to match the herring they’re feeding on. I like a  Bandit 200 or an old Deep Wee R in a crawfish or shad pattern. I’m going to drag a Ned rig in green-pumpkin, a 3.5-inch tube and also a 3.8-oz. jig in green pumpkin and pb&j. My choice of jerkbaits are going to be Lucky Craft, Berkley Stunna and Megabass. Silver Buddy spoons will…

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Lake Chatuge Fishing Articles

Lake Chatuge Mountain Bass In February

It seems counterintuitive to go north in the winter to catch bass, but Lake Chatuge largemouth and spots are moving from winter holes to prespawn structure and cover, and they offer great catching opportunities. February is a good month to land your personal best largemouth or spot on Chatuge. Chatuge is a 7,000-acre, 13-mile-long TVA…

Catch Hungry Lake Chatuge Bass In June

Lake Chatuge spotted bass are moving from spring spawning areas toward their summer holes. Also in late May and throughout June, the herring are finishing up spawning. The presence of these baitfish can stimulate feeding frenzies. You can intercept the spotted bass as they move out and have great catches if you hit it right.…

Gilmer County Teen Drowns While Duck Hunting On Lake Chatuge

A high-school senior from Ellijay drowned when he tumbled overboard while duck hunting on Lake Chatuge just across the Georgia-North Carolina border on Nov. 18. Authorities said 18-year-old Trenton Daniel Johnson, a student at Gilmer High School, was attempting to retrieve a downed duck when he toppled headfirst into the water. His hunting partner, Carson…

Crappie Sets Lake Record On Chatuge

A black crappie that weighed 2 pounds on the dot has set a new record for Lake Chatuge. Howard Stimis, of Hiwassee, was fishing on Chatuge April 6 when the big slab bit a 2-inch Hot Grub made by Crappie County Bait & Tackle that Howard purchased at Hammond’s Fishing Center near Lake Lanier. “I…

Lake Chatuge Bass Mapped For January

  Lake Chatuge spotted bass are feeding heavily in January, eating shad and herring. They follow the same wintertime patterns as Lanier spots, and you can catch them on ditches and rocks. There is also a good largemouth bite at Chatuge after a heavy rain stains the rivers and creeks. Chatuge is a good choice…

Lake Chatuge Record Fish

Largemouth Bass16-lbs., 11-ozs.David Presely03/27/1976
Smallmouth7-lbs., 2-ozs.Jack Hall03/28/1973
Spotted Bass6-lbs., 13.8-ozs.James Dean10/11/03
Hybrid Bass25-lbs., 8-ozs.David C. Hobby05/01/1995
Walleye9-lbs., 4-ozs.Carol Owenby04/07/1991
Black Crappie2-lbs., 3-ozs.Dillon Phillips03/31/24
Rainbow Trout2-lbs., 8.5-ozs.Walker Ross06/23/2012
Yellow Perch1-lb., 2.24-ozs.Mark McClure04/19/2021

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Lake Allatoona

Lake Allatoona is a 12,010-acre reservoir in the north Atlanta suburbs located primarily in Bartow and Cherokee counties. The major tributaries are the Etowah and Little rivers and Allatoona and Stamp creeks, although numerous other creeks flow into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment. Allatoona is known as a good lake for catching numbers of spotted bass, and it's also known for good striped bass and hybrid bass. Allatoona is a very busy lake for recreational boaters during the summer, when many bass anglers opt to fish at night.

Allatoona Links

Lake Allatoona Fishing Report – February 2025

By GON Staff | January 29, 2025

Allatoona: Level: 12.2 feet below 840. Temp: 39-44 degrees. Clarity: 3 to 5 feet. Bass: Tournament angler Matt Driver reports, “Fish are still in their winter pattern, and the jig bite has been great all winter.  Brush, bluffs and rock on red clay banks have been the most productive. A green-pumpkin Picasso Little Spotty in 3/8-oz. with a green-pumpkin trailer has been the go-to bait. A slow presentation is best. The other technique has been FFS in the main-lake area and targeting bass chasing shad. The jig minnow, spoon and lipless crankbait have worked best. Look for bait, and bass are definitely nearby. Toward the end of the month, bass will begin to migrate toward staging areas and preparing for the spawn. If we were to get warmer weather for a few days, bass will go shallow. The jerkbait bite will get good.”  Linesides: Guide Robert Eidson, of First Bite…

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Lake Allatoona Fishing Articles

Lake Allatoona Alligator Found Dead

Scott Webb and Cliff Scott, of Woodstock, were putting in near the mouth of the Etowah River at Lake Allatoona on July 9, 1990 when they saw what appeared to be a large fish floating on the surface about 100 yards away. “We got about halfway to it when Cliff stammered, ‘That ain’t no fish……

Lake Record Allatoona Hybrid

Last Wednesday I was sitting at my desk going over a project GON has been working on for the past few weeks. We’re trying to compile a list of lake-record fish in Georgia for an upcoming issue. Then the phone rang and an excited fishing guide Mike Mobley said one of his clients, Danny Alsobrook, had…

Allatoona Alligator

The crisis is over; the kids are safe; the Allatoona alligator has been captured The story started in mid-June with the first reports called into the Northwest Region Game and Fish Division office of an alligator sighting at Lake Allatoona. The menacing gator was reportedly lurking near Little River Landing—specifically in the first cove on…

Allatoona Lake Records

Largemouth Bass16-lbs., 9-ozs.Greg Rymer08/31/82
Spotted Bass7-lbs., 11-ozs.George Clark11/18/74
Hybrid Bass13-lbs., 9.5-ozs.Danny Alsobrook02/07/90
Striped Bass42-lbs.Clint Hight02/15/02
Black Crappie3-lbs., 7.36-ozs.Corey Harmon03/05/22
White Bass3-lbs., 2-ozs.Darrell Baxter05/15/94
Flathead Catfish35-lbs., 10.88-ozs.Sandy Sanders06/20/08
Blue Catfish52-lbs., 1-oz.Aaron Churchwell10/27/20
Tiger Trout2-lbs., 12.8-ozs.Bob Geresti02/01/18
Yellow Perch1-lb., 1.44-ozs.David Brewer12/02/23
White Crappie3-lbs., 4.24-ozs.Cody Hopkins02/10/22
Longnose Gar27-lbs., 4-ozs.Caleb McClure06/24/23
Shellcracker2-lbs., 5-ozs.Dan Huizinga04/20/24
Redbreast10-ozs.Dan Huizinga08/03/24