“The Southern Fishing Report”
By Ken Sturdivant
106 Hickory Ridge Drive
770 889 2654
CummingGeorgia30040
March 27, 2014
LAKE LANIER IS FULL & THEMAINLAKEIS CLEAR AND CREEKS ARE STAINED IN THE BACKS & 50 DEGREES
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764
Bass fishing is good. The cold front pushed the fish back a little. But, thankfully, another warming trend is headed our way that should cause the lake to bust wide open in the near future. Fish can still be found in the back of creeks and on secondary points at the mouth of creek arms as well as pockets near the main creek channels. A jig, a Davis Shaky Head and a jerk bait have been the most productive lures again this week. The dock bite is starting to pick up as well, particularly when the sun is out. Look for the docks in the 15 to 20 feet range at the front to be the best right now, and if brush is around, even better. Also, look for the rocky areas in creek that receive all day sun to continue to produce at times also. These areas still need to be next to deep water for the most part, although you can find activity in the backs of creeks and pockets in shallower water. One thing to add this week, we have been doing well in the mornings on a Fish Head Spin in the creek ditches in the 15 foot range. Now is a great time to learn prespawn fishing on Lanier. We have the following dates left open in April 7, 11, 15, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29, and 30. I am also booking for May. Give me a call and let’s go fishing.
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 despite the cold temperatures for this time year, the high winds, and rain. We have two distinct patterns on the lake. The first is the typical pattern of fish relating to points and flats from the mouth of the creeks to all the way in the back of the creeks. The second is an open water bite fromBrownsBridgeto Big Creek including the mouth of Flat Creek, Mud Creek and Flowery Branch. The technique for both patterns is the same. Use free lines with herring and trout 120 feet back and planner boards with bait at varying distances from 25 feet to 100 feet. Use both weighted and un weighted lines to cover more of the water column. Casting a 1/2 ounce buck tail jig with a fluke trailer while pulling baits, will get an extra fish. The open water bite defies traditional thinking of shallow in the backs of the creeks at this time of the year. Stripers have a way of throwing you a curve about the time you think you have them figured out. The message here is sometimes you have to fish where they are and not where they are supposed to be.
This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, President of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. 404 425 4059
Crappie fishing is great. With March known for its unpredictable weather swings, it is going out with a flourish with snow flurries over the lake At least it only lasted a few minutes Water temperatures remain in the mid fifties. Fishing in general remains good to excellent. The trolling bite is about average for this time of year. If you are long line trolling, your best option is the double rig 1/16 ounce jig head with curly tails in a variety of colors. Don’t hesitate to use the darker curly tails. Your trolling speed should be an average of 0.8 mph with your trolling motor. This will keep your jig about 10 feet below the surface. Start putting your spread at 20 foot depth and troll toward the backs of the creeks. If you are tight lining, use 10 to 12 foot rods, 3/8 ounce egg sinker, 18” leader, and a number 6 hook tipped with a crappie minnow. Try to use the slowest speed possible so that your line stays vertical. Keep your bait 12 feet below the surface. Your target areas are flats in the backs of creeks. With both of these methods you should have multiple bites when you’re trolling through a school of fish. When this happens, place a waypoint on your Lowrance, and make a GRADUAL turn to pass back over the waypoint. If you are a dock shooter, you should be in your game. The bite is on, and we are putting a lot of fish in the boat. Four pound high visibility line is a must, with 1/24 ounce jig. This will enable you to see your line movement when you get a bite. Because of the recent cold snaps, we’ve been shooting docks with success in 20’ depths and as shallow as 8 foot depths. Jiffy Jigs and Sugar Bugs are still our favorite any with chartreuse feathers are hot. You are noticing an increased amount of fishermen on the lake. It is hard to determine whether another fisherman has just fished a dock you are approaching. As annoying as it may sound, when you shoot your first shot and you notice spider webs, that is a sign the dock you are fishing has not been visited that day. The fish are still in the pre spawn stage. Hold tight, the spawn is coming. Look for a steady sixty plus degree temperature, and then start fishing the blow downs in shallow water. This is what spring is all about Make it a habit to wear your life jacket; it could save your life.
Dan Saknini is an avid fisherman and President of the Lanier Crappie Anglers Club. See our club’s website, www. laniercrappieanglers.com
Call Ken Sturdivant about the ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for Sonar or the Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass or a full day STRIPERSSchool. Call 770 889 2654 for details. Send an e mail to ken@southernfishing.com
March 27, 2014
WESTPOINTLAKEIS DOWN 4.4 FEET, STAINED & MID TO UPPER 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is food and the fish are feeding on points, around docks and shallow wood. Even the stained to muddy waters up lake are still worth fishing. Start the day with slow moving lures and works, jigs and trick worms are the best baits. The early bite starts on anything in the water in the shallows. Wood, rocks, and docks have fish all around them and casting shallow is the best bet. Use the dark colors of Zooms trick worm. Skip or cast the bait past the cover and pull the lure and let it drop right intothe cover. Depths can vary from 5 to10 feet and spinner baits in the 3/8 ounce size with silver and gold blades in either the willow leaf or Coloradocombinations has been working. Slow roll these baits on and over points and any wood all day. The chrome and blue combination 1/2 ounce Rat L Traps has been good for bass in the same locations. Use the dark smoke red and green worms in the Zoom u tail style on a light Texasrig. The Texasrigged worm and a 3/16 ounce weight cast on and around the bank cover and around docks in the creeks will get strikes. With the water temperatures warming, presentations can be faster. Use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology to help find the concentrations of bait and the bass will be there too. We have GPS Bass fishing locations and a BASSFISHINGWESTPOINTLAKEbook for sale. Ask ken for a sample. This book is $39.00. If you would like a sample, send us an e mail to ken@southernfishing.com
March 27, 2014
LAKEALLATOONAIS DOWN 5.6 FEET, STAINED & MID 50 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. The fish are moving up and chasing lures and the water should warm up fast this week. We are starting to see a strong jerk bait bite and swim bait bite on the main lake. These fish are in pre spring pattern. Concentrate most of your efforts on the main lake points in the clearer waters. Use the Staysee 90 and a 6 and 8 inch Hampton Shad swim bait. For the stained water in the upper reaches of the lake use the Flat CB DR Lucky Craft crank bait in Tennessee Shad color. This color is a whitish color with a black back that will match the forage color in the stained Baitfish tend to turn a whitish color in the muddier waters so white baits are my color of choice. Keep a baby bass Super Fluke ready and cast the bait right up on the bank.
We have a book on BASS FISHING LAKE ALATOONA and we have GPS 50 coordinates also. Ask for samples of the book and the coordinates from ken@southernfishing.com Try these two N 34 10 846 W 84 43 128 Good spawning pockets in McCaskey Creek. Use a Sammy 100 and Big swim baits around the schooling fish. N 34 10 294 W 84 43 092 Good spawning area aroundBartowCounty ramp with a Sammy 100 and big swim bait area.
This LakeAllatoonafishing guides report for striper and hybrid has been brought to you exclusively by Robert Eidson of First Bite Guide Service, 770 827 6282
www.firstbiteguideservice.com eidson6260@comcast.net.
Line side fishing is good. There have been some good reports from both the north end and south end of the lake this week for good numbers of hybrids, Stripers and white bass. The better bite has been on small gizzards and thread fins fished on free lines and planner board. Both ends of the lake are holding decent numbers. The south end of the lake seems to be better for Hybrids. While the north end of the lake seems to be fishing better for stripers and white bass. We look for most of the fish to migrate north in the next few days and start staging for their annual spawn run. Spring is here and it’s time to get back to fishing. Dust of the tackle charge the batteries and grab a kid and head to the lake. 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
March 27, 2014
LAKEHARTWELLIS FULL. THEMAINLAKEIS CLEAR AND 53 DEGREES, THE BACKS OF CREEKS ARE SLIGHTLY STAINED AND 57 DEGREES
From Jimbo’s Guide Service onLakeHartwell. GuideRickSteckelberg.
Bass fishing is good and the fish can be found in main lake pockets and ditches and have been shallow on some days, but the recent cold front has pushed them back deeper, 25 to 28 feet in some cases. We have been using a weedless Fish Head Spin in Pearl White and Albino colors trailed with a Super Fluke Jr. The shad rap has continued to be reliable in the creek pockets, and a 3/16 ounce shaky head around docks has also been productive. Look for the fish to make a big move shallower in the next couple of weeks.
Come fish with Rickon LakeHartwelland learn his top secret approaches and strategies that will be used by the pros in next year’s Bass Master Classic. The Classic is coming to Hartwell in February 2015. Contact Jimbo on Lanier at 770 542 7764 to book a trip with Rick. The book BASS FISHING LAKE HARTWELL is available. We have opened this lake up to avid bass anglers with over 100 key bass fishing holes. ken@southernfishing.com for a sample. See our web site for Rods Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.
March 27, 2014
CLARKS HILL IS FULL, UPPER 50 DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is good. Spinner baits, Texasrigs and jigs are the primary choices. Rip rap continues to hold fish that will hit either crank baits, spinner baits, jigs or Texasrigs. It’s time to try the short pockets near deep water and along the main river and creek runs. A short pocket or cove that is void of fish today may yield a good catch tomorrow using one of these baits. A few fish remain deep, but they are mostly small keepers. Check the sides of points along main creek runs. Bait choices include crank baits, Carolinarigs, drop shot, Ito Vision 110 jerk baits and jig head and worm. Keep a Super Fluke in baby bass ready all day and get this bait right on the banks and any wood. Ask for a free sample of the BASS FISHING LAKE CLARKS HILL book. Ask for a sample at Send a sample request to ken@southernfishing.com
March 27, 2014
LAKERUSSELLIS FULL, CLEAR & UPPER 50 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. The fish were pushed back with the recent cold front and the high winds but they will rebound fast with the warm weather on the way. These fish will soon move intothe shallows with the warm weather warming up the water at a steady pace. Small males will start up first in 10 days roaming the shallow waters on the sunny side of the banks. Then with a steady warming trend next month the females will head in to spawn. Several baits like the spinnerbait, Husky Jerk baits and jigs along with Shad Raps will catch bass this week. Try the warming coves afternoons for the fish that move into these coves. Find a bass then move on. There will not be a concentration in any one area until early in April on the full moon. Ask Ken for a sample of the BASSFISHINGLAKERUSSELLbook @ ken@southernfishing.com
March 27, 2014
LAKESEMINOLEIS .89 FEET ABOVE FULL, STAINED & 62 DEGREES BY MATT BATY 229 726 0513
Bass fishing is good. The bass are in two stages right now, either pre spawn or spawn. The pre spawn fish are still staging near spawning flats and mouths of spawning coves. These pre spawners can by picked off with shallow running crank baits such as a Spro Fat John in Citrus Shad or either a bladed jig in Black/Blue with a Big Bite Baits 5″ Cane Thumper in Hematoma as the trailer. Use 16 lb. Sunline FC Sniper Fluorocarbon for either of these techniques. Beating the banks really seemed to pay off for the Elite Series Anglers in the B.A.S.S. tournament, and you can use these same to lures to fish banks on the main lake. These areas are holding fish because of the sand near the bank where the fish are either spawning or moving up to spawn. With the muddy water, sight fishing is tough on the lake, but can still be done in backwater ponds where the water is clear. If you are not familiar with the lake, use your Lowrance Electronics with Insight mapping to see them on the map. Most of the ponds off of Spring Creek and Fish Pond Drain stay clear year round. When searching for spawning fish, use a good pair of polarized glasses, and cast around as you are looking. A good bait to fish while searching is a 7″ Big Bite Baits Sugar Cane worm in Green Pumpkin. Rig this on a Fish Catchin Fool Bobber Stopper, FCF 3/16 ounce Tungsten, and a 4/0 Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hook. This bait is deadly around bass that are cruising. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools.
March 27, 2014
LAKE GEORGEIS DOWN 2.1 FEET, LOW 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. Water clarity varies from stained in certain areas to clear on the lower end of the lake. High water coupled with warm, sunny days equal’s fantastic fishing. Spinnerbaits in either white or white/chart with willow blades have been working around flooded grass. In addition, Texasrigged lizards are producing some nice fish in both quantity and quality. Fishing shallow grass seems to be the best bet. Use the Texasrigged 8 inch zoom lizard around flooded grass. As the water continues to clear up coupled with bright, shiny days a slower presentation will be helpful. As always, Cowikee creek is one of the best producing areas on the lake. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
March 27, 2014
LAKEWEISSIS AT 1.58 FEET BELOW FULL POOL AND STAINED AND 54 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good and they are being caught 4 8 feet deep on the creek channel ledges, humps and points on spinner baits, Alabama rigs and Carolina rigged plastics, A lot of fish are being caught, shallow in the back of the coves on Rat L Traps, shallow running crank baits and spinner baits.
Crappie fishing is Awesome and they are being caught long line trolling in Little River, Yellow Creek, Embo’s and a lot of fish are starting to be caught in the bays up river near River Side Camp Ground, They are being caught trolling with 1/16 and 1/24 ounce Jiffy Jigs in colors JJ01, JJ06, JJ13, JJ17, JJ20, JJ37 and Marks Special Blue. Shooting docks is starting to produce a lot of Crappie also. A lot of fish were being caught shallow in 3 6 feet of water, until the cold front moved in, look for the shallow bite to turn back on as the weather warms.
Now available for sale 50 of my proven GPS waypoints for off shore structure for Bass and Crappie fishing on Weiss Lake, Alabamacontact Ken Sturdivant at ken@havefunfishing.com.
March 27, 2014
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 62 DEGREES, MUDDY UP RIVER, MAIN LAKE STAINED, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 770 361 4210 (cell) or 478 451 0167 (SINCLAIR MARINA)
WWW.SINCLAIRMARINA.COM MATT@SINCLAIRMARINA.COM.
Bass fishing is great.LakeSinclairhas been showing out the past few weeks as the bass fishing has been on fire. Water levels have been extremely high resulting in a great shallow bite lake wide. Crank baits, spinner baits, and jigs will be the baits of choice for the next few weeks. Fire tiger or Craw colored SPRO Little John crank baits will catch fish consistently the next few weeks on primary and secondary points. A chartreuse Tru Trac Lures spinnerbait with goldColoradoblades will produce bigger bites on the docks and sea walls inside the spawning pockets. Once you have located a pocket holding a concentration of fish, slow down and flip aTexasrigged June bug lizard or a Buckeye Lures mini mop jig under dock walkways. This will produce a big bite from those lazy prespawn females that wouldn’t fall for the reaction baits.
This is the best month to catch a fish of a lifetime. Give us a call to book your guide trip so you don’t miss out on the fun. Trips are booking fast. Make sure to stop by our new boat showroom and see the 2013 and 2014 inventory of Nitro, Tracker, Sun Tracker, Tahoe, and Mako boats. We only have a few 2013 models left. Don’t miss out on some great deals. For more information, go to www.sinclairmarina.com or call 478 451 0167.
Make sure to stop by our new boat showroom and see our 2013 and 2014 inventory of Nitro, Tracker, Sun Tracker, Tahoe, and Mako boats. We only have a few 2013 models left. Don’t miss out on some great deals. For more information, go to www.sinclairmarina.com or call 478 451 0167.
March 27, 2014
LAKEOCONEEIS FULL, MID 50 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. The lake is full, light stain over most of the lake and the lake is clearing. Water temperature is 54 to 60 degrees. Use Shad Raps and small square bill crank bait with rattles fished on sea walls and around docks. Shaky heads fished under docks and around wood stricter will also produce fish. The fish are starting to move into the shallows getting ready for the spawn. Start in the middle of the main lake creeks and large coves and work your way to the back.Richlandcreek has also produced a lot of fish over the past week. Spinner baits fished along any rock bank will also draw a strike. Next week the temperatures will be in the mid 70’s and the water temperature will increase. Keep an eye on the water temperature as it will keep the fish moving into the shallow water.
Striper report byMark Smithof Reel Time guide service. Call 404 803 0741
Striper fishing is good. The fish are at the dam for the spring run. Live bait fished on down lines along with flat lines and plainer boards will pick up fish. The water is clearing up and the umbrella rig bite will improve and start to produce fish. Shiners have been the best bait over the past week.
Crappie fishing is good. The fish are moving into the major creeks. Use a dark jig tipped with a minnow. Spider rigs have been the best producers over the past week. Use your Lowrance to located the depth and location of the schools and adjust your depth to put the jig on top of the fish. Over the next few weeks the largest fish will be moving into the coves and creeks to spawn so now it the time to fill a cooler with big slabs.
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 Guide 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
March 27, 2014
JACKSONLAKEIS DOWN 2.1 FEET, STAINED & MID SIXTIES
Bass fishing is fair. More fish continue to move toward the banks and shallows as spring approaches. At present, most fish are feeding along main lake points and banks, whether in the creeks or on the rivers. But this will change soon, possibly in the next few days if the air and water temperatures rise a few more degrees. Small to medium sized crank baits have been the most successful lures for the last week or more. Try the crank baits like a Bandit in 100, Bandit Flat Maxx, the old reliable #5 and #7 Shad Raps, the Norman Little N and Bomber Flat A. Some good colors are fire tiger, shad, and silver blue. Rat L Traps in one and 1/2 ounce sizes have also produced a few fish, but should get better as the water warms. Spinner baits have also caught a few fish in the same areas. Watch for rocky bottoms and concrete seawalls in these areas as the water temperature should be one or two degrees warmer. A few fish are already holding on docks, but even more will as fish begin moving away from the outer banks toward the spawning banks.
If you would like to have a free set up sheet for your sonar, send me an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net and ask for the “Sonar Setup Quick List”.
We have these books for sale “BASS FISHING ON WEST POINT LAKE”, “BASSFISHINGLAKERUSSELL”, “BASSFISHINGWESTPOINTLAKE” 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.