Chatuge Lake Fishing
Clay County, NCWRC District 9, 6,700 acres.
- 3launches
- 6,700acres
- 25attractors
Photo of Lake Santeetlah: John Matzko, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fishing Chatuge Lake, North Carolina
In Clay County, Chatuge Lake is a lake that falls in NCWRC District 9. Surface area on the federal dam record: 6,700 acres. Its dam, Chatuge Dam, blocks the Hiwassee River and dates to 1942. About 5 miles separate the water from Hayesville.
Species tied to it in NCWRC records: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, alabama bass, spotted bass, black crappie and white crappie. Count 3 mapped launches around the shore, 2 in the Commission program. There are 25 attractor sites on the NCWRC map, 5 with buoys. Public access areas here are owned by US Forest Service and NC WRC.
Boating access on Chatuge Lake
- Jackrabbit2 lanes, 20 trailer spaces, restrooms, 1 dock, US Forest Service
- Ledfords Chapel2 lanes, 42 trailer spaces, restrooms, 1 dock, NC WRC
- Boat launch, Chatuge Lakeboat ramp, public
Bank and pier fishing areas at Chatuge Lake
- Jackrabbit1 pier, owner US Forest Service, open
- Ledfords Chapel1 pier, owner NC WRC, open
- Shooting Creek3 piers, owner NC Dot, open
Boating access near Chatuge Lake
- HayesvilleHiwassee River, 5 miles north
- Mission TrailraceHiwassee River, 9 miles northwest
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Fish of Chatuge Lake
Species for Chatuge Lake are those NCWRC stocks, regulates, profiles or holds a record for here. regulated: 8.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
Creel and size limits on Chatuge Lake
Rules written for Chatuge Lake come first and override the statewide rows.
| Species | Size limit | Daily creel |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 12-inch minimum | 10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass and spotted bass in combination |
| Smallmouth Bass | No minimum size limit | 10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination |
| Alabama Bass And Spotted Bass | No minimum size limit | 10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination |
| Crappie (Black And White) | None | 30 in combination |
| Crappie (Black And White) | 8-inch minimum | 20 in combination |
| Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) | No minimum size limit, and only 2 fish may be greater than 22 inches | 15 in combination, including only 2 greater than 22 inches |
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie | 20 a day | 8 in minimum | No closed season |
| Sunfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Striped and Bodie bass | 4 a day | 20 in minimum | No closed season |
| White bass | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Walleye | 8 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Blue, channel and flathead catfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Trout (undesignated waters) | 7 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
NCWRC splits some limits at I-95 and I-77; the rows shown match where Chatuge Lake sits.
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations (eRegulations), checked October 2026. All North Carolina limits.
Heaviest fish from Chatuge Lake
| Species | Weight | Date | Bait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodie Bass (Hybrid Striped Bass) | 17 lbs, 7 oz | 3/15/1996 | Rebel Jointed Plug |
NCWRC freshwater state records, angler names left out. All records.
Lakes near Chatuge Lake, compared
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatuge Lake | 6,700 | 3 | ||
| Nantahala Lake | 16 miles northeast | 1,605 | 3 | yes |
| Hiwassee Lake | 20 miles northwest | 5,870 | 3 | yes |
| Lake Cherokee | 21 miles west | 50 | 0 | |
| Queens Creek Lake | 22 miles north | 28.8 | 1 | yes |
| Lake Santeetlah | 26 miles north | 2,884 | 5 |
The area around Chatuge Lake
Other reservoirs by Chatuge Lake
- Nantahala Lake16 miles northeast
- Hiwassee Lake20 miles northwest
- Lake Cherokee21 miles west
- Queens Creek Lake22 miles north
- Lake Santeetlah26 miles north
Counters a drive from Chatuge Lake
- Chatuge Cove Marinamarina, Hayesville, 4 miles
- Jerking Bass Fishing Servicebait and tackle shop, Marble, 13 miles
- H & H Sportssporting goods store, Murphy, 15 miles
- G & S Baitbait and tackle shop, Andrews, 15 miles
- Bryant Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Topton, 18 miles
- Duke's Hideaway Marinamarina, Murphy, 20 miles
Towns within a drive of Chatuge Lake
- Hayesville5 miles
- Murphy15 miles
- Andrews15 miles
Counties that hold Chatuge Lake
- Clay Countyseat: Hayesville
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Chatuge Lake, the common questions
Which county is home to Chatuge Lake?
Look in Clay County, NCWRC District 9, about 5 miles from Hayesville.
How many acres does Chatuge Lake span?
Federal dam data say 6,700 acres.
What ramps reach Chatuge Lake?
3 launches, with Jackrabbit listed first.
Which species are worth targeting at Chatuge Lake?
Species on file: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, alabama bass, spotted bass, black crappie and white crappie.
Are hatchery fish added to Chatuge Lake?
It is not on the 2026 stocking lists.
Are there size limits at Chatuge Lake?
Largemouth Bass: 12-inch minimum, 10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass and spotted bass in combination; Smallmouth Bass: No minimum size limit, 10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination.
Which license works on Chatuge Lake?
The $32 resident inland license, from age 16.
Where does the pool sit at Chatuge Lake?
No USGS or USACE station is matched.
Which counter sits nearest Chatuge Lake?
Drive 4 miles to reach Chatuge Cove Marina.
Spend time on Chatuge Lake
The license page has every North Carolina limit.