“The Southern Fishing Report”
By Ken Sturdivant
106 Hickory Ridge Drive
770 889 2654
Cumming Georgia 30040
May 15, 2014
LAKE LANIER IS FULL, THE MAINLAKE IS CLEAR & CREEKS ARE SLIGHTLY STAINED & 74 DEGREES
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764
The surface temps on Lanier have skyrocketed over the last week with all the warm weather. We have seen an 8 degree swing by my calculations. The spawn is now in full swing and there are also several post spawn fish showing up as well. There are still many fish very shallow in the weed lines in the backs of creeks and pockets. A small jig head and worm combo will catch these fish as will a fluke. The main lake fish are moving up shallower on the points and humps and are also spawning in those same places. In addition, in many of the same type areas the spots are spawning, the blue back herring are spawning as well. Great choices to fish the herring spawn: fish head spin, spinnerbait, wake bait, jerk bait and a fluke. Also, top water baits such as a popper are starting to work as are many other options. Throw these baits when you see schooling fish, which may or may not be related to the herring spawn. The dock bite is good right now also. Davis Shaky Head and worm combo, Senko’s or a fluke around the docks are still your best bet. I have the following dates left open for the month of May: 22, 27, 29, and 30. I am also booking for June which is traditionally a great top water season and a great time to go spot tail minnow fishing!! 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. The only thing that has changed this week is the fishing seems to be getting better each week. The primary pattern continues to be the creek mouth and main lake points. The Stripers are starting to move out into a little deeper water, still off the points, but over a 30 to 50 ft bottom. Consequently, the spotted Bass are less of a problem. A few fish are being caught with the Red Fin but the bite is not strong. We have not seen any fish surfacing this week but keep your eyes on the water as things change very fast this time of year. We are fishing with a single board on each side and 3 or four free lines out the back. By using only one board per side and three to four free lines we can maximize the number of baits in a given area and decrease my turning radius. One fish on a given point seems to be rule for me as the fish spook while we are getting the first fish in the boat. If you catch a fish on a given point or flat think about revisiting that same area later in the day. We have been using herring and have had some reports that the gizzard shad bite has slowed. The key is keeping baits in the water and focus on points. There are fish lake wide. We caught fish on the south end and mid lake this week and have had good reports of fish on the north end of the lake.
This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, President of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. 404 425 4059
Crappie fishing is good to excellent. Water temperature is approximately seventy five degrees and rising. There are still a few fish lingering, but most have abandoned the blow downs and the shallows, headed to deeper docks. The more docks you target, the more fish you will catch. If one is not producing, move on to another one. Don’t forget to look for docks with structure below. We’ve been catching good numbers of fish targeting docks in fifteen to twenty five feet of water, mostly three quarter pound to one and a half pounds in weight. When you start catching smaller fish, move on. Also, some fish are moving to submerged brush piles in fifteen to twenty feet of water. The top of the brush piles about 10 feet below the surface are producing best. Locate them on your graph, throw down your buoy and fish the whole brush pile by circling your buoy to find the best angles. Stay off the brush about thirty feet, cast your jig past the brush pile and retrieve slowly while shaking your rod. This will give the jig more action. You will get most of your bites ten feet below the surface either directly over or slightly to the side of the brush pile. If you’re into night fishing, target bridges using a hydra glow light. This will attract bait, and the crappie will come to feed under the light. The bridges that are producing well are SixMileBridge, WahooCreekBridge and Clark’s Bridge. An extra advantage of those three bridges is that they are in sight of the boat ramp. Our preferred bait is still one twenty four ounce soft body jigs or hair jigs. Fish are aggressive, so the color doesn’t seem to matter, but if the bite slows, switch colors. Crappie minnows also are producing. May is a good month to catch fish in numbers. With the full moon, the bite should be excellent, so take advantage of it! Be safe on the water! Wear your life jacket, it can 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
We have a new Bait Shop on Buford Dam Road at the Buford Dam Quick Stop at 2595 Buford Dam Road. Open daily from 6 to 6, Marty Kenney has Herring and other baits like shiners ready to go to the lake. Please call him at 706 867 5102 and say hello.
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
May 15, 2014
WESTPOINTLAKE IS FULL, STAINED & UPPER 70 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good and the top water lures and spinner baits are producing during early morning from shallow cover such as blow downs, docks, rip rap, grass, and shallow points. Anglers should experiment with varying types of baits because the best lure today may not produce tomorrow. Some excellent choices are: Super Spook Jr., Pop R, Chug Bug, Spin Bang A Lure, buzz baits, and Baby Torpedo. Spinner baits and weightless Flukes and Trick worms can also be the best on some mornings. Try bulging the surface with a 3/8 or ½ ounce spinner bait with double Colorado blades. A weightless yellow Trick worm will work. When using spinning tackle, make sure to use a #10 swivel about 8 to 10 inches above the worm to control line twist. Most shad have finished spawning except for a few scattered areas. If shad are seen spawning, try the fore mentioned top water baits plus a small white spinner bait. Although some bass are still around shallow docks, more are now on deeper docks, especially those that have brush under or around them. Catches from docks have come mostly on soft plastics; with jigs, crank baits, and spinner baits fooling a few fish. Try a Carolina rig Finesse worm along the sides and end of docks. We have GPS Bass fishing locations and a BASSFISHINGWESTPOINTLAKE book for sale. Ask ken for a sample. This book is $39.00. Sample just e mail ken@southernfishing.com
May 15, 2014
LAKEALLATOONA IS FULL, STAINED & LOW 70’S DEGREES
Bass fishing are holding on primary and secondary points. They are still spawning and shallow in 0 2 feet of water trying to find some clearer water. This week’s full moon will mark the end of the spawn for this year and fishing will really pick up in the weeks ahead as the bass move out into deeper water. May and June are the best two months for fishing with crank baits and top water lures. Best baits for now are spinner baits in chartreuse, red colored crank baits, and worms rigged either Carolina or Texas style in June bug.
This Lake Allatoona Fishing s Report has been brought to you by Robert Eidson of First Bite Service, 770 827 6282 www.firstbite service.com Lake Allatoona, Georgia eidson6260@att.netwww.firstbite service.com
Line side is good and the good and the spawn run is almost over. Most of the fish are back on the main lake and are starting to set up on a summer pattern. Big schools of hybrids can be found anywhere from the S turns to as far south as Tanyard Creek. The down rod bite is the most productive bite going on the lake right now. Fishing live shad at depths from 20 to 30 feet is producing for our boats from one end of the lake to the other. Our baits of choice have been big thread fins with small gizzards running a close second. These fish can be found on your Lowrance on or around most points, humps and flats. Good electronics can be a big help during the summer months.
We have the book on BASS FISHING LAKE ALLATOONA 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 BartowCounty 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
May 15, 2014
LAKEHARTWELL IS FULL POOL. THE MAINLAKE IS CLEAR AND 76 DEGREES, THE BACKS OF CREEKS ARE SLIGHTLY STAINED AND 78 DEGREES
From Jimbo’s Guide Service on LakeHartwell. Guide Rick Steckelberg.
There are still some fish on the bed, but for the most part, the spawn is beginning to wrap up. There are several post spawn fish showing up as well. Look for the shore line grass and pockets with grass to hold the majority of the spawners still remaining. Look specifically for the pockets with sand and clay. A Sworming Hornet Dude in pearl white, a frog, a spinnerbait and a jig head worm are working well for these fish. As far as the main lake, the spotted bass are on every shoal marker that has sand or rock around it. Jerk baits, flukes, top water, and shaky heads are taking these fish. The herring spawn is in full swing. Focus on the sandy blow throughs as well as the rocky points to find the herring spawn areas. Great herring spawn baits: fish head spin, top water, crank baits, flukes and spinnerbaits.
Come fish with Rick on LakeHartwell 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.
May 15, 2014
CLARKS HILL IS FULL, UPPER 70’S DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is good. Crank the banks that hold rock and wood as well as the flats. The jointed Shad Rap in the fire tiger and natural shad color. Use the fire tiger only in the stained water. Jigs will work but use the lighter ¼ ounce size for best results. The larger sizes get caught up in the grass and the bass just aren’t hitting them as well. Color choices for the plastics will be the white, pink and yellow colors. The lighter watermelon green colors are working and try to stay with the lightest shade possible. Top water baits like the Skitter Walk and Chug Bug are producing early in the morning hours while working the coves and smaller deeper creeks. The water may be a little stained up in the Little River area. Take along a variety of baits for the trip. Work the points and flats, especially those that are holding grass with Rapala Scatter Raps and Husky Jerks. The bigger bass are now relating to the grassy areas and are holding tight. Floating worms and flukes are working for some anglers but your best bet for that plastic bite is a 6 inch worm with little or no weight. Toss this bait right on top of the grass and let it sink.
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
May 15, 2014
LAKERUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & UPPER 70’S DEGREES
Bass fishing is good lake wide and Beaver Dam Creek and the area way up the Savannah River is worth some time. The top water bite is good early in the morning. Use a Pop R, Skitter Walk and the Chug Bugs to catch the bass in the shallow water. Use plastics early, concentrating on lay down trees and stumps. Good fish are biting Rapala Glass Shad Raps and Rapala DT crank b baits. Use these baits on wind blown points and the rip rap. Carolina Rigged Tubes and lizards are catching nice spotted bass all during the day. Small chunk rock is the target while fishing the Carolina Rig. Use a pearl Zoom Super Fluke round rock and wood. Start off with the faster moving crank baits in the morning and then move to the slower moving plastics as they day heats up. For a sample of the BASSFISHINGLAKERUSSELL book e mail ken@southernfishing.com
May 15, 2014
LAKESEMINOLE IS 1.09 FEET ABOVE FULL, MUDDY & 70’S DEGREES
Bass are biting all day and there are still big fish being caught on lizard’s larger spinner baits and large jigs and pig combinations. Stay in the creeks as the bass are still very shallow. The Texas or Carolina rigged worms in red shad or purple and use the brass and glass weight for extra sound. Work all slow lures all the way back to the boat on the points and ledges. Up river in the creeks mouths slow roll larger 1/2 ounce Strike King spinner bait with gold and silver willow leaf blades. Later each day the fish are moving to river points. Run a gold Rapala by any grass and let the bait sit dead still. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
May 15, 2014
LAKE GEORGE IS FULL, UPPER 70’S DEGREES
Bass fishing is good and there are several patterns. The lake is still stained. In the creeks with any stained water, use a Bomber 6A in fire tiger and fish the baits shallow. After the mid morning bites, go to the Carolina rig with a 2 foot leader and add a Larew green pumpkin craw and add some extra Jack’s Juice garlic inside the bags before you use them. Any color is fine as long as it is dark and use watermelon green if all else fails. Baby bass Zoom Super Flukes on a 3/0 Mustad hook on a braid will work on the edges of the grass lines. Also have an all black ¼ ounce buzz bait and use at any time of the day. A gold Strike King buzz bait will work also. White Bandit’s and Fat Free Shad crank baits on main lake points and also work the secondary points with rock. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
May 15, 2014
WEISSLAKE IS FULL AND CLEAR TO LIGHT STAINED UPPER 70 DEGREES
Bass fishing has been good and a variety of baits and structure are working. Grass in the middle of the day down lake and the docks mid lake up seem to be the best overall patterns. Around Little River the waters are clearing. A green pumpkin Senko or a Zoom Bush Hog will work all day in 3 feet of water lake wide. Summer time means a small jig in watermelon on a Bitsey Bug or a small weighted Zoom pumpkinseed finesse worm will work.
Crappie fishing is very good on live bait on down lines in the lower part of the lake. The day fish are at 12 feet and at night they move up to the lighted docks. A small float and troll half way in the back of coves and flats at 7 to 10 feet deep.
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.
May 15, 2014
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 77 DEGREES, STAINED UP RIVER, MAIN LAKE IS STARTING TO CLEAR, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 770 361 4210 (cell) or 478 451 0167 (SINCLAIR MARINA)
WWW.SINCLAIRMARINA.COMMATT@SINCLAIRMARINA.COM
Bass fishing is fair and our bass seem to be transitioning to the post spawn phase over the past week. Numbers of fish can still be caught but the bigger fish are tougher to find as they recoup from the stressful spawn. The morning bite and evening bite is best, but fish can be caught consistently throughout the daytime period. Fish a weightless green pumpkin Zoom super fluke or a Yamamoto Senko around the docks to catch numbers of fish. It is not uncommon to catch fifty or sixty fish in a day using this technique this time of the year. There have been a lot of fish on the Little River Bridge rip rap recently that will fall victim to a Spro Little Jon crank bait in cell mate color. Fishing parallel to the rip rap will get the most bites as your crank bait will stay in the strike zone the entire time it is in the water. Top water baits have been best during the morning and evening time and will even produce a big bite occasionally during the daytime. The bream have started bedding now that we are around the full moon. Fishing around these bream beds with a Bass Hound prop bait will give you a good opportunity at catching some big fish. Numbers of smaller fish can also be caught in the clearer creeks on the lower end of the lake by fishing shaky head worms in green pumpkin color around the docks. Guide trips are booking up fast, so give me a call to book your trip.
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! Don’t miss out on some great deals! For more information, swing by the marina or give us a call at 478 451 0167.
May 15, 2014
LAKEOCONEE IS FULL, 74 TO 81 70 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. The lake is full, light stain on the north end clear over most of the lake. Water temperature is 74 to 81. Small crank baits, Rat L Traps are still the best baits. Fish them on the sea walls and bridge rip rap in the creeks and large coves off of the main lake. Sugar and Lick creeks have been good producers over the past week. White and chartreuse spinner baits fished on the bridge rip rap have also been very productive. Wood structure up the lake and in the rivers fished with a soft plastic has been producing larger fish. You will not get as many bites but the fish are usually bigger. Look for the buzz bait bite to take off any day as the water temperature continues to rise.
Striper report by Mark Smith of Reel Time guide service, 404 803 0741 or reeltime@bellsouth.net
Striper fishing is good. The stripers/hybrids are on the move looking for food. Large schools of fish are showing up from the 44 bridge to the dam. Use your Lowrance to locate the large school on the mid and south end humps. When you find the fish drop a live bait down to the fish and hang on. All types of live bait have been working shad, shiners and bream. While you are looking for these fish troll an umbrella rig and you can catch fish while you are looking for the schools. These schools are moving fast so if you do not see them keep moving until they show up.
Crappie fishing is fair. Use a 1/16 jig head and long line it about 40 ft. from the boat. Over the past week the black green or black chartreuse curly tail grub have been the best producers. Look for fish from the middle out to the mouth of the coves and major creeks. A lot of fish are starting to show up on the deeper brush piles and trees. Use your Lowrance structure scan to locate the fish in the tree tops and drop a live minnow to them.
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
May 15, 2014
JACKSONLAKE IS FULL, STAINED & MID 70’S
Bass fishing is fair on worms and crank baits. The lake is clear main lake with a slight stain in the rivers and creeks. Crank baits are fair and a Shad Rap is a good all day bait. Use a red shad Culprit worm on a brass and glass Texas rig is the best bet on the docks. For a big fish, head up the rivers and flip a dark jig and pig or a worm in the larger sizes on the down stream current pockets. Never overlook a jig even for shallow bass on this lake up the rivers. Blacks, blues and greens are good choices and add a Zoom salt trailer in matching colors.
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.