“The Southern Fishing Report”
By Ken Sturdivant
106 Hickory Ridge Drive
770 889 2654
Cumming Georgia 30040
April 10, 2014
LAKE LANIER IS .97 FEET UP FROM FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR AND CREEKS ARE STAINED & 54 DEGREES
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764
Bass fishing is very good. The heavy rains from Sunday and Monday have caused the lake to rise almost 2 feet in a short time. The backs of all the major creeks as well as the rivers are heavily stained to muddy. In addition, the water temperature has dropped around 4 degrees due to the front and the cold rain. The fish have been affected and the fishing the first part of this week has not been as good as the previous week. With all that said, 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. The backs of those creeks are stained to muddy, but this will allow them to warm more quickly as the nice weather moves in for the remainder of the week. The main lake fish are starting to move up and can be caught on points and humps. A Davis Shaky Head and a jerk bait have been the most productive lures still this week. The dock bite is still there, particularly when the sun is out, but is not nearly as strong as it should be. The deeper docks have been more productive for us again this week vs. the shallower docks. Look for the docks in the 20 to 25 feet range at the front to be the best right now, and if brush is around, even better. As the water warms, look to those shallower docks to be better producers. There are some fish bedding now, but it is not prevalent everywhere yet. With the full moon approaching in conjunction with warmer weather, look for a strong push of more spawners in the next week. Now is a great time to learn prespawn fishing on Lanier! I have the following dates left open in April: 15, 22, 25, 29, 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 fair. The lake is lightly stained with a heavy stain in the back of the creeks. The water temperatures are ranging from 52 to 58 degrees. Rain, wind and a return to colder water temperatures all contributed to a lake wide fishing slowdown this week. The weekend forecast looks good with highs in the mid 70S but the forecast for next week is a return to rain, wind and colder temperatures. The good news is the fish must eat and maybe all they need is a couple of days of warming temperatures. Shallow water flats, long soaping points, and reef markers in the creeks will all become Gizzard and Threadfin Shad magnets and the fish will roam these areas looking for a big meal. Free lines with Herring, Trout and Gizzard Shad pulled on boards will be the primary technique. Pull you “bank side” board within a foot or two of the bank where possible. Vary your trolling speed from .75 mph to 1.5 mph which is a little faster than you have been pulling cold water. Do not hesitate to move out to deeper water as the sun gets high in the sky. Stripers will stage off deep water points and chill out after feeding. Also, do not overlook fishing the “mud line”. With all the heavy rain and resultant muddy runoff a section of very heavily stained water will develop and move down the rivers and creeks. The fish will often stack up in the clearer water in front of the muddy water. Don’t forget to take a DAD fishing.
This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, President of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. 404 425 4059
Dan Saknini is an avid fisherman and President of the Lanier Crappie Anglers Club. See our club’s website, http://www.lakelaniercrappieanglers.com/
This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, President of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. 404 425 4059
Crappie fishing is good. Water temperature is 60 plus degrees and continuing to rise. We are in the middle of the spawn. Like a highway, some have completed their spawn and are heading out to deeper water while some are coming in toward the shallows in the backs of creeks to spawn. You can target fish on blow downs, preferably older blow downs in the middle to the back of creeks and in pockets. You won’t find fish on every blow down, and they are usually average sized fish. You can find the bigger fish if you target docks from 8 foot to twenty foot depths. Always remember that crappie are structure related fish. Having said that, use your Lowrance to locate some type of brush under those docks. If you are in above average stained water, try using darker colored jigs. The fish are biting anything, whether artificial or live bait 1/24 ounce jig head, either soft body or hair jigs are working well in various colors. Always remember to tie your jig directly to your high visibility four pound test line. Do not use swivels or additional sinkers. This will maximize the number of bites you are getting. Wear your life jacket; it can save your life!
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
April 10, 2014
WEST POINT LAKE IS FULL, STAINED & MID TO UPPER 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. Concentrate on the spawning pockets to out on ditches on the flats leading to the pockets. Rattle baits are good search baits to find the sweet spots on the ledges. In the pockets try spinnerbaits and jigs, both swimming jigs and working a jig slow across the spawning flats. Bass are being taken in main lake brush and at 6 to 10 feet of water using jigs, Carolina rigs with lizards or frogs and with Texas rigged worms. Keep the Zoom Super Fluke ready in pearl and make long casts to the shallows and around wood and sand in the pockets.
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 BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE book 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
April 10, 2014
LAKE ALLATOONA IS 1.57 FEET OVER FULL, STAINED & MID 50 DEGREES
This Lake Allatoona bass fishing guides report is from Matt Driver, wwww.proanglerradio.com
Bass fishing is great. The water is warming fast and the fish are active and vastly on the move to spawning areas. Fish are being caught several different was. Soft plastic jerk baits “Big bite jerk minnow, hard Jerk baits “Spro Mcstick”, Jigs like the Kustom Kicker freak, Carolina rig tipped with lizards and much more. And now 30 fish a day is not uncommon. Fish are in 6 to 10 feet deep and moving shallower quick. Top water bite will kick in real soon Watch for schooling activity The spots will start to wolf pack any day now.
This Lake Allatoona fishing guides report for Striper and Hybrids has been brought to you exclusively by Robert Eidson of First Bite Guide Service, 770 827 6282.
www.firstbiteguideservice.com Lake Allatoona, Georgia email: eidson6260@comcast.net
Line sides fishing is fair. The rains we had last weekend has put the lake above full pool. The north end of the lake is muddy and there is debris from Little River to Bartow Carver. The south end of the lake is still looking decent from Stamp Creek to Iron hill. The bite slowed down big time with the rising water and drop in temperature. This is only a minor set back, and the bite should return in a couple of days. The live bait bite is still the best bite going with free lines and planners early. Then switch over to down lines after the sun comes up. The shad kill we had earlier this winter is fixing to pay off for us big time. The only down side to it is bait is really hard to net right now. And this week has been even tougher with all the debris on the water. A stop by Striper Soup may be in order for those of you that don’t like get up at 3:30am
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 around Bartow County ramp with a Sammy 100 and big swim bait area.
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
April 10, 2014
LAKE HARTWELL IS FULL. 61.2 DEGREES, THE BACKS OF CREEKS ARE STAINED AND 58 TO 62 DEGREES
From Jimbo’s Guide Service on Lake Hartwell. Guide Rick Steckelberg.
Bass fishing is good. Most of the fish are in prespawn. Fish can be found in main lake pockets and ditches and have been as shallow as 2 to 10 feet, as well as still around points and pockets in 20 feet. We have been using green pumpkin trick worms on a shaky head, a weedless 1/4 ounce Fish Head Spin in Pearl White and Albino colors trailed with a Super Fluke Jr., as well as jerk baits in the pockets. The shaky head has also been effective around the docks. Look for the fish to move into a hard stage shallower over the next week. There are some fish on the beds, but it is not yet consistent due to all the cold fronts.
Come fish with Rick on Lake Hartwell and 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.
April 10, 2014
CLARKS HILL IS FULL, UPPER 60 DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is good. Fish the main lake channel and in the shallow water flats. The long run out points are still getting a lot of attention as the bass continue to move up. Use a Carolina rig on the lake sand bars as the fish are now starting to spawn on the main lake bars. A 6 inch Zoom lizard in watermelon seed and green pumpkin are tough to colors to beat. Take along the # 5 X Raps and the #5 Shad Raps along with the Chug Bugs. Fish the sides of the points and be sure not to over work the baits but keep it moving. Throw a jig or fluke bait in and around the structure. 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
April 10, 2014
LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & MID 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is very good and both the spotted bass and the largemouth are being caught all over the lake as the weather stabilized last week. Catching quick limits on jerk baits on the main lake and secondary points is working all day. Expect to see more and more bass moving up to the shallows all week. Beaver Dam, Rocky River and the northern most part of the Savannah River are getting hammered by tournament anglers. The top water bite has really picked up this past week and should continue. Use the Shad Raps, spinner baits and jigs. Ask Ken for a sample of the BASS FISHING LAKE RUSSELL book @ ken@southernfishing.com
April 10, 2014
LAKE SEMINOLE IS .09 FEET ABOVE FULL, MUDDY & 67 DEGREES BY MATT BATY 229 726 0513
Bass are in between right now and are not that easy to catch. There are still plenty of spawning fish, but the problem is that you cannot see them. Slower presentations are definitely better and they work well around sand bars on the main lake. If you do not already know where the sandbars are, you can find them easily on your Lowrance Sonar and Structure Scan Units. Once you find a good area, lower you Power Poles and work the area real slow with a 8″ Big Bite Baits Kreit Tail Lizard in Black/Blue. With this technique, you will need a Fish Catchin Fool 3/8 ounce Tungsten Weight and a 5/0 Offset Shank Gamakatsu Hook. There is also a shad spawn beginning in backwater areas where green peanut grass is present. To capitalize on a shad spawn, you need either bladed jig or a swimming jig. A new company known as Buddha Baits has some of the best jigs on the market right now. These jigs come with an extremely large heavy duty hook and a very creative and attractive head design. For the swimming jig, use a white 3/8 Buddha Baits In Seine Swim Jig. Use the white swim jig with a 5″ Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper in white as a trailer. The bladed jig is called a Swagger Jig. For the Swagger Jig, use a 3/8 in white with silver blade and a 5″ white Cane Thumper as well. This technique can be really good if you find the shad in the right areas. For more information and ordering of Buddha Baits, e mail the following address jbassbandit1@yahoo.com. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
April 10, 2014
LAKE GEORGE IS DOWN 2.1 FEET, HIGH 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good and the recent rains have stained the upper end and river portion of the lake making the spinnerbait and jib bite better. In the clearer water fish are after flukes and Carolina rigs on structure in the 4 to 6 foot range such as secondary points. The shallow water patterns include flipping, Texas rigging with trick worms and they are getting plenty of action. There will be a top water bite start to appear. Buzz baits and Pop R’s are two local favorites. Concentrate on Cowikee Creek and fish the shallow cover particularly, shallow grass. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
April 10, 2014
LAKE WEISS IS AT 1.38 FEET BELOW FULL POOL AND STAINED AND 58/60 DEGREE’S
Bass fishing is good and they are being caught shallow in 2 to 5 feet of water on spinner Baits, Chatter baits, shallow running crank baits. Pig and jigs under docks is also producing some good bass. Tournament weights have been 24 to 28 pounds to win over the last month, a lot of big Large Mouth are being caught.
Crappie fishing is good and they have moved back to deeper water, due to all the rain and muddy water. They are being caught long line trolling with 1/24 and 1/16 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 are also being caught casting jigs and minnows to the banks.
Now available for sale 50 of my proven GPS waypoints for off shore structure for Bass and Crappie fishing on Weiss Lake, Alabama contact Ken Sturdivant at ken@havefunfishing.com.
April 10, 2014
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 63 DEGREES, MUDDY UP RIVER, MAIN LAKE STAINED, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 770 361 4210 (cell) or 478 451 0167 (SINCLAIR MARINA)
WWW.SINCLAIRMARINA.COMMATT@SINCLAIRMARINA.COM.
For more fishing reports on other Georgia lakes, see www.southernfishing.com
Bass fishing is great and the spawn is in full swing as the full moon nears. Catching these spawning fish will require slowing down and fishing extremely shallow. Focus on protected pockets that have sandy bottoms with a lot of cover. Pockets with stumps, grass beds, or irregular shaped sea walls will be best. A chartreuse Tru Trac Lures spinnerbait will locate some of these spawning and pre spawn fish in the pockets. Sometimes the fish will short strike the bait this time of year if they are on bed. When this happens, slow down and throw a Texas rigged lizard in the same spot as the fish will probably be guarding the nest. Make multiple casts and fish slowly to catch the nest guarding fish. Another good pattern right now is flipping shallow dock walkways with a black and blue Buckeye Lures mop jig. This pattern will get fewer bites, but will reward you with larger fish. This is the best time of year to catch that fish of a lifetime.
Make sure to stop by our 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, swing by the marina or give us a call at 478 451 0167.
April 10, 2014
LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, MID 50 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. The lake is full, light stain on the north end, clearing near the dam. Water temperature is 58 to 63. Use Shad Raps and small square billed crank bait on sea walls and around docks. Fish the major coves and big pockets off of the main lake. On the Richland creek side of the lake fish a shaky head under docks in the back of the pockets and Sandy and Rocky creeks. You can also find good number of fish up the rivers on wood structure. Use a dark color jig and fish it as far back in the structure as you can get it. Look for the wood near deeper water. Spinner baits fished along any rock bank will also draw a strike. We got 2in. of rain last week but the lake did not receive a large amount of mud. The water is clearing all over the lake.
Striper report by Mark Smith of 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. You can also pick up extra fish on the 4 arm umbrella rig fished 100 feet behind the boat at 3mph. You will need shad and shiners as the fish are changing from one to the other from day to day.
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. Trolling or long lining will also produce good catches.
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
April 10, 2014
JACKSON LAKE IS 1.67 FEET OVER FUL, HEAVY STAIN & MID SIXTIES
Bass fishing is very good. Watch for a lot of debris floating lake wide. Bass are shallow and taking a variety of baits from back in the pockets to the main lake. Spots gathered on rocky main lake points and sea walls. Largemouth’s are on shallow wooded banks back in the pockets. Fish from the bank out to about 5 feet of water. Spots may hold a bit deeper. Throw a white spinnerbait with nickel blades and get it close to wood and rock cover. Bump the cover and use a slow retrieve. Another bait you must throw now is a jig and craw trailer. A green jig should work well for finding big fish and taking fish that didn’t jump on the blade bait. Have fun with floating worm’s weightless trick worm around shallow brush piles and dock posts. These bites will likely be smaller fish but the visible bait adds to the fun. Rig it whacky or no weight Texas, in white or watermelon seed. The shade of overhanging trees and docks will hold fish when the sun is up and skipping a floating worm is a fun way to get at them. A green Senko is also a top producer around wood in the 2 to 5 foot range. Flip or skip the 5″ Senko around docks and wood cover and let it fall with plenty of slack. If it makes it to the bottom, twitch and pause it briefly then make another presentation. This bait is working best when falling on a wacky rig, but hang ups will be more of a problem near wood cover.
SONAR WITH KEN STURDIVANT at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in the Outdoor Skills Workshop. Lowrance Pro Staff Member Ken Sturdivant will go over the settings for the sonar @ 2pm the last Saturday of the month.
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, 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.