Lake Yonah is a lake on the Tugaloo River, separating Georgia and South Carolina.

The lake is created by the Yonah Dam, which is owned and operated by Georgia Power, and generates 22 megawatts. Lake Yonah is a residential lake with about seventy-two vacation and permanent homes. After the Tugaloo River flows from Yonah through the lower dam, it continues to Lake Hartwell, and joins the Savannah River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Another tributary to this great river is the Seneca River, which flows into it from South Carolina. Lake Yonah is also a source of fresh water for the town of Toccoa, which is about twenty miles away.

Lake Yonah supports an abundant walleye population that is maintained by WRD's annual stocking program. Anglers typically catch walleye in the 2 to 4 lb size range, but small walleye weighing about 1 lb will be plentiful this year. In addition, walleye weighing up to 8 lb have been collected in WRD samples.

During March, cast floating stickbaits, diving crankbaits or nightcrawlers threaded onto a jig-head into the flowing waters below Tugalo Dam for about 1/4-mile downstream. Allow the bait to make regular contact with the rocky bottom. Use a slow but steady retrieve to entice a walleye's gentle strike. Throughout the remainder of the year, walleye reside in the main lake. Slowly troll baits like herring or nightcrawlers about a foot or two above the bottom along the 45 ft contour from the mid-section of the lake downstream to the dam. Vertical jigging with spoons is an alternative approach. Walleye prefer to stay close to structure, so good electronics will help you find the occasional downed tree that has fallen into the lake. Work these structures methodically.

During the March spawning season, walleye will be found in the upper river section adjacent to the Georgia Power campground. In fact, walleye can be caught from the shoreline or by boat in this area, especially at night, using slow moving baits that maintain contact with the bottom. During daylight hours, anglers should fish on the bottom around downed trees using nightcrawlers worked slowly back to the boat. For the remainder of the year, walleye will be found near the bottom in about 45 ft of water from the mid-section of the lake to the dam. Walleye will often bite better at night than during the day. In the fall months, walleye seem to stack up in 30 to 40 ft of water along the steep bank near the dam on the South Carolina side of the lake.