Lake Chatuge, Ga/NC

[geo g]

As a South Florida fisherman most of my life, I fish waters 2 to 6 feet deep 90% of the time, with thick weeds and pads.   I just spent a week on Lake Chatuge, a rental home,  with a Tritoon Boat, with full electronics, and 150 four stroke.  My son and I scoured the lake looking for fish willing to play.  130 feet deep in many places, very little shore vegetation, and lots of points, underwater mountain tops, and some laydowns, and sunken fish attractors.  Quite a difference from Lake O, and the Everglades.  We saw countless big bait balls, with big arches around the outside.  We fished at least 10 hours total and caught 1 suicidal fish.  For me it was like being on the moon.  We saw a bunch of 4 pound bass in the clear water but everything we threw had no effect.  We threw rattle traps through the bait balls with no effect.  Jigs and chatterbaits on points, and shallow hill tops.  Extremely humbling, but a pleasant change from the waters I normally fish.  I have an extra respect for tournament guys that have to fish all kinds of waters on a weekly basis.  Has anyone out there fished this beautiful body of water, and had better luck then my experience.  

[jakkbauer]

i have fished it, it is basically as you descirbe... the moon

[geo g]

Lol

 

[TnRiver46]

Sounds like 80% of the lakes near me! Haha. When they have a shad buffet to chose from, sometimes something that stands out like a wild color crank or a tube jig will trigger a bite . 

[Looking for the big one]

I’ve done a couple trips on North Georgia herring lakes that fish very similarly. Those fish up shallow can be really smart, if you see them you’re probably too close. Weightless 6” senkos casted from a distance are good for those big shallow largemouth. Also you can try to make them react to a big topwater like a Shower Blows or Duo Pencil 110. They seem to really like erratic walk the dog baits. Chatuge has lots of big spots in it that will follow herring all around the lake. Underspins and flukes work well for them, and if they’ve hunkered down in brush lots of guys will move to a dropshot or shaky head. In the summer it really helps to get out in the morning while fish are most active and you can get them corralling bait shallow.