Photo by Kurt Finlayson

By Jeff Samsel

Knee deep in a rocky creek, an angler drifts a dry fly across a swift current line and watches intently for a snappy strike from a feisty rainbow or brown trout. The fish probably won't be more than 10 inches long, but it will strike with vigor and put up a respectable fight against a 2-weight rod and a tiny tippet.

Only a dozen miles distant the scenario is vastly different. Rainbow and brown trout are once again the target, but now three anglers sit comfortably in a big pontoon boat and watch for downrigger rods to pop up. Most fish that take their spoons will be at least 16 inches long. Any fish that strikes could turn out to weigh several pounds.

Compared to other Southern Appalachian states, South Carolina's trout waters aren't very extensive. Good things can come in small packages, however, and that is the case in the Palmetto State. Trout offerings are quite good here, despite being limited in scope.

Diversity of opportunities is likewise outstanding. Whether fishermen like wild trout or stocked fish, moving waters or reservoirs, free-flowing creeks or tailwaters, South Carolina has something good to offer. Let's take a look at the best of all worlds.

The Chattooga rises in the North Carolina mountains and forms the uppermost border between Georgia and South Carolina. A National Wild and Scenic River, it tumbles almost exclusively through U.S. National Forest Service lands. Automobile access points are limited, but trails provide good fishing access to all trout waters.

The two most significant access points for trout fishermen are Burrells Ford, which is located three miles from the North Carolina border, and the state Highway 28 bridge, another 10 miles downstream.

No trout get stocked upstream of Burrells Ford, so hiking upstream of the bridge takes anglers through the best wild trout waters. Catchable-sized rainbow trout are heavily stocked at the bridge and from the campground just downstream, so the first mile or so of waters downstream offers the best prospect overall for anglers who want a limit of trout to take home. Downstream, the river transforms back into a brown trout stream, with a good population of trout, most of which come from fall helicopter stockings of sub-adult fish.

The Highway 28 bridge marks the lower end of the relatively new delayed-harvest section. From the mouth of Reed Creek to the bridge, the river is heavily stocked from November through the middle of May and only catch-and-release fishing with single-hook artificial lures is permitted during that time. Beginning May 15, this section reverts to general regulations. Some trout also get stocked each spring at Highway 28 and just downstream of the bridge.

The creel limit for the Chattooga River is eight trout (except in the delayed-harvest section). The state line runs down the center of the river, but a reciprocal agreement between Georgia and South Carolina allows anglers to fish either side of the river with a valid license for either state.

Lake Jocassee is managed as a trophy trout fishery. Most trout in the population are hatchery produced, but a 15-inch minimum size protects fish for a while and allows them to grow. Fish harvested range from 15 inches to several pounds. Most trout that have been in the lake awhile are plump, regardless of size, because of the lake's abundant shad and herring.

Most anglers fish Jocassee using one of two major techniques. Many use downriggers or lead-core lines to troll spoons, plugs or bucktails at controlled depths. Others fish at night, usually under lights, using live shad or minnows, night crawlers or cut herring. Both techniques are somewhat specialized but highly effective once anglers get them down.

Jocassee's trout move a lot, both vertically and horizontally, often in relation to movements of baitfish schools. Veteran anglers, therefore, spend a tremendous amount of time of time watching their electronics. They look for game fish and baitfish, taking note of depths and the types of structure that the fish are holding over. They also take note of every detail anytime a fish strikes.

Anglers who fish Lake Jocassee need to be aware of special regulations. The trout limit is five fish, with a 15-inch minimum size. It is unlawful to fish on Lake Jocassee with corn, cheese, fish eggs or imitations of the same or to possess a cast net on the lake. Also, a small part of Lake Jocassee lies in North Carolina, and there is no reciprocal licensing agreement between North and South Carolina.

Access to Lake Jocassee is from Devils Fork State Park, which has a very nice boat ramp.

A few years ago, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division began regularly stocking rainbow and brown trout in Lake Tugalo. The added stockings (along with increased walleye stockings) were designed to control a booming population of non-native blueback herring and to provide anglers with added sportfishing opportunities.

Lake Tugalo, which is remote, steep-sided and fabulously scenic, covers 600 acres. It impounds the Tugaloo River, which begins beneath the lake's impounded waters at the confluence of the Chattooga and Tallulah rivers. The South Carolina border runs down the center of the Chattooga arm and then down the center of a very short main-lake body.

The best spring fishing on Lake Tugalo typically occurs in the upper ends of the lake's two main river arms, where moving waters flow over boulders. Small minnow- or crawfish-imitating plugs work well in these areas, as do various live-bait offerings. Arguably, the best single bait for prospects of catching a large trout is a live spring lizard.

Other good areas during spring and early summer are bluff banks in the upper Tallulah arm and cool waters in the backs of coves, most of which are fed by waterfalls. During the summer, most trout will move to the lower lake arms and the main body, where they will feed on herring. Through summer, night-fishing offers the best prospects.

The daily limit on Lake Tugalo is eight trout, with no minimum size. The reciprocal licensing agreement with Georgia applies to all of Lake Tugalo. No motors over 25 horsepower can be operated on the lake.