South Carolina Border Waters
The Georgia reciprocal license on the Savannah chain and the missing North Carolina agreement on Lake Wylie.
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Chattooga River: ChattOconeeNF, CC BY 2.0
The Savannah chain license agreement with Georgia
All persons holding a valid license from Georgia or South Carolina will be allowed to fish in the waters covered by this agreement.
Waters covered: All channels of the Savannah River from its mouth to the confluence of the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers, the Chattooga River to the Georgia-North Carolina line, and Thurmond, Russell, Hartwell, Yonah, Tugaloo, Stevens Creek impoundments and the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam; not tributary streams.
The SC size and possession table gives the Savannah border lakes their own black bass, striped/hybrid and trout rows (10 black bass combined; etc.). Contact Georgia DNR for Georgia limits (guide note).
- Lake HartwellAnderson County and 2 other counties
- Lake RussellAnderson and Abbeville counties
- Lake ThurmondMcCormick County
- Lake TugalooOconee County
- Savannah Riverriver
- Chattooga Riverriver
2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide, valid August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027 (online guide), read November 9, 2026.
Guide rows written for the Savannah border lakes
| Fish | Waters as printed | Size | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | Lakes Hartwell, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell tailwater), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah; Stevens Creek Reservoir; the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers | Any length | No more than 10 combined total of black bass |
| Redeye (Bartrams) Bass | Lakes Hartwell, Keowee, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell tailwater), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah; Stevens Creek Reservoir; the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers | Any length | No more than 10 combined total of black bass |
| Largemouth Bass | Lakes Hartwell, Keowee, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell tailwater), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah; Stevens Creek Reservoir; the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers | 12 inches min | No more than 10 combined total of black bass |
| Spotted Bass | Lakes Hartwell, Keowee, Russell (including the Lake Hartwell tailwater), Thurmond, Tugaloo, Yonah; Stevens Creek Reservoir; the Chattooga and Savannah Rivers | Any length | No more than 10 combined total of black bass |
| Striped or Hybrid Bass or a combination | Lake Hartwell & Lake Thurmond | Only 3 fish over 26 inches | 10 |
2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide, valid August 14, 2026 to August 14, 2027 (online guide), read November 9, 2026.
Lake Wylie and the North Carolina line
The 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Guide prints no reciprocal license agreement with North Carolina, so the South Carolina license and limits apply on the South Carolina side.
Lake Wylie on the Catawba straddles York County and North Carolina; fish the South Carolina side on a South Carolina license, and check North Carolina rules before crossing the line. Lake Keowee, Jocassee and the Chattooga headwaters reach North Carolina too, but only the Georgia agreement is printed.
- Lake WylieYork County
Marsh, reservoir and landing scenes for South Carolina Border Waters
Photo: Ron Cogswell, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ted Kerwin, CC BY 2.0
Photo: amblin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
South Carolina border water questions
Does a Georgia license work on Lake Hartwell?
Yes. The guide says a valid Georgia or South Carolina license covers the waters in the agreement, which include Hartwell, Russell and Thurmond.
Which waters does the Georgia deal cover?
All channels of the Savannah River from its mouth to the confluence of the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers, the Chattooga River to the Georgia-North Carolina line, and Thurmond, Russell, Hartwell, Yonah, Tugaloo, Stevens Creek impoundments and the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam; not tributary streams.
Are tributary creeks covered?
No. The agreement text excludes tributary streams.
Do Georgia limits apply on the South Carolina side?
The guide prints its own rows for the Savannah border lakes; on the South Carolina side follow those rows.
Is there an agreement with North Carolina?
The 2026-2027 guide prints none, so Lake Wylie anglers on the South Carolina side need a South Carolina license.
Is Clarks Hill the same as Lake Thurmond?
Yes. Georgia calls it Clarks Hill Lake; SCDNR and the Corps use J. Strom Thurmond.
How many border lakes have pages?
4 Georgia line lakes and 1 North Carolina line lake pages.
Does the agreement cover the Savannah River below Augusta?
The text covers all channels of the Savannah from its mouth up to the Tugaloo and Seneca confluence.