J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir

Boat Ramps: 68
Access Points: 75
Species: 39

J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir, also known as Clarks Hill Lake in Georgia, is the second-largest artificial lake east of the Mississippi River, spanning 71,000 acres with approximately 1,200 miles of shoreline. Created between 1951 and 1952 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this impressive body of water stretches across the Georgia-South Carolina border in the Savannah River Basin. The reservoir was formed by damming the Savannah River near the confluence with the Little River. With its vast expanse and diverse underwater structure, J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir has established itself as one of the Southeast's premier fishing destinations, offering abundant opportunities for both experienced anglers and novices alike.

Georgia licenses and regulations5 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Walleye

Sander vitreus

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Alligator Gar

Atractosteus spatula

Black Bullhead

Ameiurus melas

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Brown Bullhead

Ameiurus nebulosus

Chain Pickerel

Esox niger

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

Freshwater Drum

Aplodinotus grunniens

Grass Carp

Green Sunfish

Lepomis cyanellus

Longear Sunfish

Lepomis megalotis

Longnose Gar

Lepisosteus osseus

Northern Hogsucker

Hypentelium nigricans

Pumpkinseed

Lepomis gibbosus

Quillback Carpsucker

Carpiodes cyprinus

Redbreast Sunfish

Lepomis auritus

Redear Sunfish

Lepomis microlophus

Redeye Bass

Micropterus coosae

Shortnose Gar

Lepisosteus platostomus

Silver Redhorse

Moxostoma anisurum

Smallmouth Buffalo

Ictiobus bubalus

Spotted Bass

Micropterus punctulatus

Spotted Gar

Lepisosteus oculatus

Spotted Sucker

Minytrema melanops

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

Warmouth Sunfish

Lepomis gulosus

White Bass

Morone chrysops

White Catfish

Ameiurus catus

White Crappie

Pomoxis annularis

White Perch

Morone americana

Yellow Bullhead

Ameiurus natalis

Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Know where you can legally fish on J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Georgia licenses and regulations

Georgia Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Georgia Delayed Harvest Streams

Anglers fishing delayed harvest streams must release all trout immediately and use and possess only artificial lures with one single hook per lure from Nov. 1–May 14 annually. The use of additional “dropper” lures on one line is permitted as long as each lure contains one single hook. These restrictions do not apply from May 15–Oct. 31 of each year.

Georgia Fishing License

Anglers age 16 and older must have a current Georgia fishing license in their possession while fishing in fresh or salt water in Georgia. Additionally, a free SIP is required to fish in saltwater. A temporary authorization number obtained by telephone or internet sale may be used for seven days until the paper copy is received or printed. Game Wardens may require photo identification when checking fishing licenses. Exception: A fishing license is not required to fish in private ponds (does not include ponds owned by governments—city, county, state, or federal) nor by a resident and their immediate family when fishing on their land.

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Georgia Fishing Regulations

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Georgia Stream Access Laws

Navigable waters are those capable of regular barge traffic. The public may boat and fish to the low water mark only where the streambed is owned by the state. If the streambeds are private, you need permission to wade and fish.

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Take J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.

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Water and weather conditions (10 day forecast)

See the best times to fish J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir and check the forecast before you go.

THURMOND LAKE NEAR PLUM BRANCH, SC

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