“The Southern Fishing Report”
By Ken Sturdivant
106 Hickory Ridge Drive
770 889 2654
Cumming, Georgia 30040
October 24, 2014
LAKE LANIER IS 2.7 FEET BELOW FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE AND CREEKS ARE CLEAR & LOW 70’S
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764
Bass fishing is good. Without fail, top water and swim baits worked over brush in 20 30 feet of water has still been producing. A Sworming Hornet Bite sized herring and a Sebile have been our best choices on the swim baits and a Gun Fish, a Chug Bug, and a sexy dawg have been best on the top water side. As always, a breeze helps. The jerk bait is still good at times and is a great follow up to the top water presentations. There are definitely more fish and bait moving shallow and a Davis Shaky Head as well as a jig around rocky points are producing a few bites now. Also of note, we have found a good schooling bite in the early morning hours just after daylight. Humps have been the best areas and there are several across the lake where this is going on. Getting bit is a somewhat random as you need to get a bait into the action when you see it. Next week I have October 29 and 30 open.
This Striper report is from Captain Ken West and Captain Mike Maddalena of Big Fish On Service 404 561 2564. www.bigfishonguide.com
Striper fishing is good. The water temperature has broken below 70 degrees and the fish are scattered lake wide. We are still fishing the south end of the lake but we have had some good reports of fish being caught on the north end and up the rivers. Reef markers, points and humps continue to hold fish and are good places to start. The bad news is the top water bite has not materialized like we had hoped. However, keep a 1/2 ounce buck tail jig with a fluke and a top water bait tied on as the top water bite could kick in this week. Free line Herring pulled at .5 MPH with down rods set at 20 feet on points is your best bet. The umbrella rig is also working when pulled over the same points and reef markers you are bait fishing. Target 30 to 40 foot bottoms with your rigs at 3.0 MPH. Check your umbrella rigs often as leaves and pine straw will run down your line and hang up on this rig. The lake temperature is in the high 60’s in the morning and the low to mid 70’s in the afternoon. The water is stained in the back of the creeks, lightly stained on the North and clear on the south end of the lake.
Call Ken Sturdivant about the ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for Sonar or the Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass or a full day STRIPERS School. Call 770 889 2654 for details. Send an e mail to ken@southernfishing.com
October 24, 2014
WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 4.4 FEET, STAINED & MID 70’S
Bass fishing is fair. Fish the main lake points and continue about half way back into the larger feeder creeks. Also take some time and head up the river and find some off colored waters. Early and late, go to all black or all brown 3/8 ounce Strike King Jigs with either a Zoom salt trailer or an Uncle Josh pork trailer can work. Try swimming the jigs on and around cover then drop them into the cover after a few swimming casts. Run a Strike King spinner bait in the 3/8 ounce size with silver and gold blades in either the willow leaf or Colorado combinations on any wood. Later each day up river, use the chartreuse and white Bill Norman crank baits or the chrome and blue combination Shad Rap crank bait. Work these baits right up on points but get the baits run as deep as 12 feet for strikes.
Anglers have GPS Bass fishing locations and a BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE book is for sale. Ask ken for a sample. This book is $39.00. Sample just e mail ken@southernfishing.com
October 24, 2014
LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 4.2 FEET, STAINED & LOW 70’S
This Lake Allatoona bass fishing report is from Matt Driver, www.proanglerradio.com 404 456 6094
Bass fishing is good. We’re still covering water with square bill cranks like the cell mate Spro fat john. The spinnerbait and Chatter bait are good as well. It’s a safe bet when the square bill is working so is the Chatter bait. Fish are roaming now and not really holding to any one piece of cover. The shaky head bite is a good plan for numbers as well. We are mixing up between the 3.5 Big Bite fighting frog and a bite 6 inch finesse worm on a 3/16 jig head.
This Lake Allatoona Fishing Report for Stripers and Hybrids has been brought to you exclusively by Robert Eidson of First Bite Service, 770 827 6282.
www.firstbiteservice.com email: eidson6260@att.net
Lines side fishing is fair. The fishing has slowed down a little this week, but should rebound quickly as soon as our over night temperatures stabilizes. The fish are starting to move up on the flats and points. Our better bite has been north of Clear Creek all the way up to the delta. The recent rains and dropping temps has gotten the bigger hybrids and stripers eating again. Live bait is working best, with our best luck coming on big Thread fins fished on down lines off of any main lake point, humps or flats. After 9 am, switch over to the umbrella rigs. This is the time of year that you need to be universal and not one dimensional on techniques. Any of these methods from live bait, to down lines and free lines as well as top water, spooning and trolling will all catch you fish on any given day.
Anglers, we have a book on BASS FISHING LAKE ALLATOONA that has GPS 50 coordinates also. Ask for samples of the book and the coordinates from ken@southernfishing.com
Call Ken about the Southern Fishing Schools exclusive ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for SONAR or Rods Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for 770 889 2654 or ken@southernfishing.com for more info
October 24, 2014
LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 4.1 FEET & MID 70’S
Bass fishing is good. Fish the main lake points and continuing about half way back into the larger feeder creeks. Us the 3/8 ounce Rat L Trap or Rapala Shad Rap in the shad and baby bass colors. Use a steady retrieve to get the Bass to strike. A stop and go retrieve is still working while using the jerk baits. Baby bass and Tennessee shad are good colors and be sure to fish any lay downs or the back side of points going into the cove. When you get to the tops of the trees out in deeper water, stop the bait for a three or four count, then a small twitch on two before stopping it again. Flip jigs around the docks after you have worked it thoroughly with the crank bait and a jerk bait. Watch the water temperature and fish the water 70 degrees and cooler.
Our Bass Fishing Lake Hartwell book has over 100 key bass fishing holes. Ask for a sample at ken@southernfishing.com for a sample. See our web site for Rods Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.
October 24, 2014
CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 4.9 FEET, LOW 70’S DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is fair and there are some fish moving up lake. The spotted bass are moving up to the shallows on and off all during the day feeding on shad and crawfish. Up the river, the water has been stained and red shad is working best on the plastic worms. Don’t forget to use those Ito Vision 110 jerk baits rip rap early in the morning and then again just before dark. The main lake points and the flats on the sides are worth some time. The Rapala DT6 will work on the sharper points that drop off to really deep water. Use a Deep Wee R in bone and a DT6’s in hot mustard. When the fishing is slow, go tot short Carolina rig and a small Zoom lizard in green pumpkin and small jigs fish around the wood. The fish are holding tight to cover during the off peak hours.
The book, BASS FISHING CLARKS HILL LAKE is on sale. Get 52 weeks of bass fishing and over 40 bass fishing locations for this popular lake. Ask for a free sample of the BASS FISHING LAKE CLARKS HILL book. Ask for a sample: ken@southernfishing.com
October 24, 2014
LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & LOW 70’S
Bass fishing is fair. Spotted bass fishing is the best right now. Fire tiger is the color to use in this stained water. Bass are biting the Fat Rap and the Rapala DT6 in this color. Up in Beaverdam Creek, the spots are moving up and down the water column holding tight to cover in the shallows. During this transition period, they will suspend on the channel ledges in seven to ten feet of water. Use the jerk baits and the jointed Shad Raps and Husky Jerk Baits. The #7 Rapala Shad Raps will catch the suspended fish. Work the shallow wood with 1/4 ounce jig ands add a little scent and fish them slowly.
For a sample of the BASS FISHING LAKE RUSSELL book e mail ken@southernfishing.com
October 24, 2014
LAKE SEMINOLE IS DOWN .96 FEET, CLEAR & MID TO MID 70’S
Bass fishing is fair mid day to dusk. Use a Culprit green or red shad worm in the grass with a light weight and let it float into holes on the grass. In the Spring Creek area use a Texas rigged Culprit worm in dark colors over the grass and wood cover will be better later each day as the water warms. Finesse worms floated over grass beds or a u tail worm in dark colors can work after the sun is up. Use greens and crawfish colors on a light 1/16 lead weight on the edges of the grass. With the warm weather run an all white buzz bait over and around the grass in the backs of the creeks.
Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
October 24, 2014
LAKE GEORGE IS FULL, LOW 80’S
Bass fishing is good. Early in the morning and just before dark, you can catch bass on top water using a Chug Bug or Pop R. They are also hitting buck tail jigs on some of the main river points Fishing a Zoom watermelon candy or watermelon finesse worm on a drop rig with 8 pound Trilene line and a 1/0 Gamakatsu offset shank hook set about 12 inches above the weight using a worm will also bring a few bites but you need to fish very slow. A few fish are still being caught under docks on a Zoom green pumpkin Magnum Worm.
Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
October 24, 2014
WEISS LAKE IS AT 2.6 FEET BELOW FULL POOL AND CLEAR TO LIGHT STAINED AND 64 66 DEGREES
Call Mark Collins Professional Guide Services on Lake Weiss “Crappie Capital” 256 779 3387 www.markcollinsguideservice.com
Bass fishing is good and a lot of fish are moving shallow, in the bays and coves following the shad. Rat L Traps, flat sided crank baits and spinner baits are producing. Look for a lot more fish to move shallow as the water cools more.
Crappie fishing is great and they are on the old Coosa River channel ledges at 12 to 16 feet deep. Spider rigging with live minnows is the way to catch the fall fish. Shooting docks is producing a few crappie also.
Now available for sale 50 of my proven GPS waypoints for off shore structure for Bass and Crappie fishing on Weiss Lake, Alabama.
October 24, 2014
LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.4 FEET, LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 75 DEGREES, LIGHT STAIN UP RIVER, MAIN LAKE CLEAR, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 478 451 0167 ext 1215 (SINCLAIR MARINA)
Bass fishing is good. The top baits are either a spinnerbait or buzz bait. Using a jig ½ or the 3/8 ounce size in white and chartreuse color fished on 12 pound line with a medium action rod. Using this set up will let you feel the blades turning and also the light hit you might get. It is best to use a trailer hook as they are sometimes just barely hitting the bait. Fish this along the shore in 2 to 5 foot of water in the coves off the main lake. Make sure you fish any blown down trees and hit the corners of the docks to get that extra bite. A small crank bait similar to a ¼ ounce chrome and black Rat L Trap fished in the same areas should bring you a few fish. Using a Texas Rigged worm fished around the docks with some J.J.’S Magic on your bait will help you get a few more good bites.
Make sure to stop by our new boat showroom and see our 2014 and 2015 inventory of new Tracker, Sun Tracker, Nitro, Tahoe, Regency and Mako boats. For more information, swing by the marina, check out our sales page or call 478 451 0167.
November guide trips are booking up fast, so give me a call to reserve your trip today! Make sure to stop by our new boat showroom and see our 2014 and 2015 inventory of new Tracker, Sun Tracker, Nitro, Tahoe, Regency and Mako boats. For more information, swing by the marina, check out our sales page or call 478 451 0167.
October 24, 2014
LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, MID 70’S DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair good. The lake is full water temperature is 70 to 75 degrees. It is stained up the rivers and clear on the rest of the lake. The fish are starting to move into the coves and creeks. Shad Raps fished around docks at the mouths of the creeks and large coves. Rat L Traps fished in the same locations will also produce. A Texas rigged dark green worm fished under the same docks has also produced fish over the past week. Fishing the bridge rip rap with a white and chartreuse spinner bait when Georgia Power is pulling water. You can also use the same shad rap or rattle trap on the bridge rip rap.
Line side fishing report by Mark Smith of Reel Time service. reeltime@bellsouth.net phone: 404 803 0741
Striper fishing is good. The fish are showing up in the river bend area of the lake and the mouths of the major creeks. You can troll a shad rap or a rattle trap and pick up a few fish. The best bait has been live shad or shiners. Fish them on down lines and flat lines with plainer boards. Use your Lowrance to locate the large schools of bait and the stripers will be close by.
Crappie fishing is good. The fish are starting to move into the mouths of the creeks. Look for brush piles in the mouths of the creeks and when you find the fish in the timber drop a minnow down. Most fish are in 10 to 20 ft. deep.
Make sure you stop by Sugar Creek Marina and pick up your spoons and all your tackle needs. You can also book your crappie and striper trips with Reel Time Service at 404 803 0741 or reeltime@bellsouth.net. Learn how to use the Lowrance technology with Ken Sturdivant. Free sonar set up ken@southernfishing.com
October 24, 2014
JACKSON LAKE IS DOWN .48 FEET, STAINED & LOW 70’S
Bass is fair and up in the rivers use a Shad Rap in the red fire crawdad and the red crawdad colors. Try to find isolated areas with small fist size rock on them. Throw in shallow and crank these baits back out to the boat. Use the Thunder Stick by Storm and the Husky Jerks by Rapala. Find and fish the mouths of the smaller coves especially the ones that have water in the 15 foot depth at the mouth. Work the wood and the small cuts or bowls starting at the mouth and work your way back. When you get to the back of the coves, try a Skitter Prop in a silver or shad color. A slow retrieve like the one you would use with a buzz bait is all that is needed.
Anglers we have these books for sale BASS FISHING ON WEST POINT LAKE, BASS FISHING LAKE RUSSELL, BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE and BASS FISHING LAKE HARTWELL. These books are written by Tim White and Ken Sturdivant and each one has over 65 locations exclusively for bass and covers every week of the year. Each book $39.00. If you would like a sample of any book, send us an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net. Our mailing address is Southern Fishing Schools Inc. 106 Hickory Ridge, Cumming Georgia 30040.
If you would like to have a free set up sheet for your sonar, send me an e mail to ken@southernfishing.com and ask for the Sonar Setup Quick List.