Georgia Fishing – Southern Fishing Report 7-31-14

“The Southern Fishing Report” By Ken Sturdivant

106 Hickory Ridge Drive

770 889 2654

Cumming Georgia 30040

www.southernfishing.com

July 31, 2014

LAKE LANIER IS .49 FEET BELOW FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE AND CREEKS ARE CLEAR & 83 DEGREES

This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764

Bass fishing is very good the past week especially for late July. The cooler surface temps have really kept the fish active and willing to come up Top water and swim baits have been the deal. We have been working these baits fast over brush in 20 to feet of water. A Sworming Hornet Bite Sized Herring and a Sebile have been our best choices on the swim baits and a Sammy and a chug bug have been best on the top water side. When the fish won’t come up a drop shot and a jig have been good choices. There are some fish holding out deep. That 40 foot area at the timberline seems to be best.

This Striper report is from Captain Ken West and Captain Mike Maddalena of Big Fish On Service 404 561 2564. www.bigfishon .com

Striper fishing remains very good. The cold front and rain dropped the surface temperature to below 80 degrees, which sent most of the fish into the trees. The key has been trees in 70 to 100 feet of water just off the creek channel. The single 30 foot fish are difficult to catch with bait, but the fish at 50 to 80 feet will bite if you can find a bald spot void of trees. Trolling Captain Mack’s buck tail jig with a 4 inch shad body will trigger a reaction bite if you can stay out of the trees and get your jig down to the fish. Lead core at eight to nine colors and umbrella rigs at 140 to 160 feet back are your best bets. We use a 3 ounce four arm rig with nine 1 ounce buck tail jigs with white and chartreuse 4 inch shad bodies for my umbrella rigs. If you have downriggers, drop them down to 2 feet above the fish. Your Lowrance fish finding sonar, structure scan and GPS electronics are critical tools for locating summertime stripers. Pay special attention to your down scan, and look into the trees for deeper fish. Look for the fish to become a little more active with the increase in water temperature, and look for them to start to school up off the river channel from Browns Bridge to the dam. Flat Creek, Two Mile Creek, Six Mile Creek, Big Creek and Flowery Branch are good places to start.

Meet Lowrance Pro Staffer, Ken Sturdivant at the new Cabela’s in Acworth, Georgia, August 21 though 24, 2014. Ken will be hosting these FREE Seminars: FRIDAY August 22, 2014 at 3 pm and 7 pm: Fishing Georgia Lakes for bass. SATURDAY August 23, 2014 at 3 pm and 7 pm: Finding Fish with Lowrance technology. SUNDAY August 24, 2014 at 3 pm and 5 pm: The Bass Anglers Tackle Box. Located at the Cherokee Village at I 75 and Highway 92, Kennesaw Georgia

Anglers 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 they have Herring and other baits like shiners ready to go to the lake. 706 867 5102

Ken Sturdivant, Lowrance Pro Staff, will be at Dreher Island State Park, 3677 State Park Road, Prosperity South Carolina 29127, August 13 through 17, 2014. Ken will doing Lowrance demonstration rides from 8am until 2pm Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday at the park.

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

July 31, 2014

WEST POINT LAKE IS FULL, STAINED & LOW 80’S

Bass fishing is slow with the high temperatures. Most fish are coming from deep water road beds and humps when current is present. Use Carolina rigs and shaky heads worked slowly. When generation is at its strongest and bait is present, use deep diving Rapala DT10 crank baits in shad patterns. The best colors have been watermelon and green pumpkin when using a Carolina rig and deep crank baits in a shad or baby bass patterns. From time to time throughout the day fish will come up schooling and a Zoom Super Fluke is the bait to catch them with. A top water bait like a Sammy is also a good choice. When they’re not on top they can be caught in brush 20 to 25 feet deep on a drop shot. There is an early morning top water bite on schooling fish before the sun tops the trees. For these fish, use a popping cork and fly. The best locations for these schooling fish have been on the southern end of the lake, south of Wehadkee Creek.

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

Ken Sturdivant, Lowrance Pro Staff, will be at Dreher Island State Park, 3677 State Park Road, Prosperity South Carolina 29127, and August 13 through 17, 2014. Ken will doing Lowrance demonstration rides from 8am until 2pm Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday at the park.

July 31, 2014

LAKE ALLATOONA IS FULL, STAINED & LOW 80’S

This Lake Allatoona bass fishing report is from Mat Driver, www.proanglerradio.com

404 456 6094

Bass fishing is fair. There are still tons of tiny bait around and tons of tiny bass feeding on them. Lots of 9 to 13 inch fish. If you’re just going to fun fish thing aren’t all that bad. But if you are your looking for big tournament winning stringers, you will have your work cut out for you. Small bait is the key to getting bit right now. Tiny flukes and the new 3 1/2 jointed Big Bite jerk minnow are good choices fished on the drop shot. Whether fish vertically on sonar or throw at schoolers this is my number 1 choice for bites right now. The top water bite is decent at day break and sundown. Small walking style bait and poppers are the best choice. The crank bait bite is very slow. At night the jig head tipped with a trick stick in green pumpkin and a jig are the best option around boat docks and lit areas.

Lake Allatoona Fishing s Report is provided by First Bite Service of Lake Allatoona. When you’re ready to catch stripers and hybrids, contact Robert at 770 827 6282 or by e mail: eidson6260@gmail.com.

Line side fishing is very good. The live bait bite is still the best bite going. We are still catching very good numbers stripers, hybrids and white bass. The numbers are starting slow down some because the dissolved oxygen level is dropping fast. All of the fish seem to be within two mile of the dam. Concentrate your efforts from the mouth of Clear Creek to Clarks Creek. Once you find the fish, start the morning fishing live shad on down lines at 24 feet. This can be a good bite if you’re on feeding fish, but fresh baits is the key, change your baits often Once the live bait bite slows down, switch to trolling umbrella rigs. We have been having our best success pulling nine 1, 2 ounce jigs and change colors often to find the hot color for that day. The white buck tails with chartreuse trailers about 110 feet behind the boat, which put this rig about 24 feet deep. Also keep your top water baits ready in case any schooling fish come up. They’ll hit a popping cork, fluke or Sammy, but we use the big white Rooster Tail. The secret to getting bit is to fish with light line (6 pound test) and to retrieve your bait as fast as you can crank it in. In these conditions it’s important to get your fish back in the water quickly if you want to release it. Keep your camera ready because a quick release can mean the difference between a dead fish and one that swims away. We also suggested riding back over the area you just fished and keeping any floaters. Striper Soup has plenty of bait in stock for those of you that don’t want to get to the lake at 4am. Our boats are taking know less then 80 baits out for our four hour trips. Fresh bait is a must right now.

Carters Lake.

Line side fishing is very good. We have been catching stripers up to 24 pounds and hybrids weighing close to 13 pounds this past month. Down lining shad at 30 to 50 feet has been our best over all bite. The mouth of most of the major creeks on the south end of the lake are holding stripers. And the backs of the Creeks, main lake points and humps are holding the Hybrids. Fresh bait is the key to catching line sides on Carter. Be sure to carry plenty of bait. We are also catching a few fish on lead core. I am running a 2 ounce jig with a white trailer and 7 to 9 colors depending on the day at 2.9 miles and hour.

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 Try these two N 34 10 846 W 84 43 128 Good spawning pockets in McCaskey Creek. Use 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

July 31, 2014

LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 2.2 FEET & LOW 80’S

Bass fishing is fair. Try Pop R’s and small Zara Spooks at first light around main lake and main creek points and docks. Once the sun gets up, move off these same areas and switch to deep crank baits like a Strike King 6XD and a Carolina rig on a 3 foot leader with a Senko or Trick worm. Anglers are running main lake humps points and deeper docks catching fish. You can catch some fish right at daylight throwing a top water hollow belly Spro frog Aaron. After that, break out the Carolina rig. Try the Wackem Crazy Baits Trick Stick in June bug or red bug. When working deep docks, use the Net Boy Baits jig or a shaky head with a Trick Stick.

Anglers, 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.

July 31, 2014

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 2 FEET, LOW 80’S DEGREES & STAINED

Bass fishing is slow. Try marking fish and bait on main lake humps that are in the 15 to 23 foot range. Patient and slow presentations with a jig or worm will be your best bet. Try a Texas rigged Ol’ Monster worm or you can fish a smaller 6 inch worm on a Carolina rig. Plum and tequila sunrise are good colors. The schooling bite around these main lake humps isn’t really going on too well. If they come up at first light try a Spook Sammy Chug Bug or a popping cork rig.

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

Ken Sturdivant, Lowrance Pro Staff, will be at Dreher Island State Park, 3677 State Park Road, Prosperity South Carolina 29127, August, 13 through 17, 2014. Ken will doing Lowrance demonstration rides from 8am until 2pm Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday at the park.

July 31, 2014

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & LOW 80’S

Bass fishing is fair and current makes the fish active. Spotted bass are nuts and anglers can catch them all day on a 3 8 ounce Rooster Tail in all white out on the shoal markers deep brush or rock in 15 to 25 feet of water. A drop shot with a Zoom Finesse worm in green pumpkin or watermelon red will do the trick. A Carolina rigged Trick worm will also catch fish. If there’s generation happening the bite really picks up and you can switch to a crank bait like a Bomber Fat Free Shad or a Norman Deep Little N. There’s also a decent big fish bite for largemouth in the timber when there is water moving. These largemouth are suspended in 20 feet of water. Pick apart the timber with a Texas rigged Zoom U tail worm in green pumpkin and use a Venom glass rattle in the worm for extra bites.

For a sample of the BASS FISHING LAKE RUSSELL book e mail ken@southernfishing.com

July 31, 2014

LAKE SEMINOLE IS FULL, STAINED & MID 80’S BY MATT BATY

Bass are biting fairly well and the best pattern seems to be frogging on the main lake and Chattahoochee. On the Flint River side of the lake, look for grass lines that are close to deep water and throw a frog that you can swim over the tops of the grass, such as a 3.5 Big Bite Baits Top Toad in Green Pumpkin Pearl. On the Hooch, look for the thick pad fields with 8 foot water nearby and throw a Spro Bronzeye 65 in Rainforest Black. Another way to catch them is to fish ledges near the old Chattahoochee River Channel. You will definitely need to use some good electronics to find the structure that the fish are relating to. The new Lowrance Touch Screen Units with Structure Scan are awesome. Once you find the cover, throw a Spro Little John DD crank bait in Nasty Shad or a 3/8 ounce Fish Catchin Fool Tungsten Weight on a Texas Rig 10 Worm.

Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com

July 31, 2014

LAKE GEORGE IS FULL, HIGH 80’S

Bass fishing is fair. The mornings are great at daybreak and it really stays nice if the clouds are present. When the sun breaks through it gets hot in a hurry. Be sure and keep plenty of sunscreen and water with you. After a good morning bite the fish are continuing to bite up into the day if you will work at it. Bass are holding in the cover in the creeks. The top water bite is early and quick. After the sun gets on the water keep working the same areas with a jig or Texas rig. Work the baits slowly.

Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com

July 31, 2014

WEISS LAKE IS AT 0.29 FEET BELOW FULL POOL AND CLEAR TO LIGHT STAINED AND 81 83 DEGREES BY MARK COLLINS SERVICE

Bass fishing is fair and they are being caught on deep brush 8 feet or more, under deeper docks, and on the creek and river channel ledges. Pig and jigs, crank baits, spinner baits and Carolina rigged plastics are all producing some good bass. Tournament weights have really dropped the last few weeks.

Striper fishing is fair and they are being caught in the lower Chattooga River, the Cave Hole and Little Spring Creek on live shad down lined about 8 to 10 feet deep and flat lined live Shad.

Crappie fishing is fair they have moved back to deeper water. Spider rigging with live minnows on the creek and river channel ledges and deep brush in the flat is the way to catch these summer Crappie. Shooting docks is producing a few crappie also.

July 31, 2014

LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 86 DEGREES, STAINED UP RIVER, MAIN LAKE CLEAR, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 478 451 0167 ext 1215 (SINCLAIR MARINA)

WWW.SINCLAIRMARINA.COM MATT@SINCLAIRMARINA.COM

Bass fishing has been decent this week on Lake Sinclair. Mayflies are starting to show up all over the lake more and more frequently. Look for the shallow bite to get better over the next month as we should see new Mayfly hatches every few days. Top water, jigs, and square bill crank baits are the baits of choice when fishing around the Mayflies. Early and late each day, throw a popper or a prop bait around sea walls, lay down trees, and overhangs that have flies present. Bream imitating colors will get the most bites. When the top water bite slows, try a Spro Fat John square bill crank bait around these same areas. Fishing the crank bait parallel to the sea wall will produce more bites as your bait will stay in the strike zone the entire way back. If you find a stretch of bank that is holding a good many fish, turn around and fish it again with a Buckeye Lures mop jig in a brown and orange color. Fish these jigs slowly underneath dock walk ways, at the base of sea walls, and in any wood cover you can find. This is a great way to catch a big fish. Concentrate your efforts on main river stretches for best results. There are still a good many fish deep as well. Most of the deep fish have been 18 to 23 feet deep over the past week. Deep diving crank baits, Carolina rigged soft plastics, and drop shot rigs have all been productive on these deep water off shore structures. Deep humps, long points, and river ledges will all hold fish this time of year. The deep bite is better when Georgia Power is moving water.

I have some trips available next week. 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 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.

July 31, 2014

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, MID 80’S DEGREES

Bass fishing is fair. The lake is full, light stain on the north end clear over most of the lake. Water temperature is 84/88 degrees. Start the day with a buzz bait fished along the sea walls and rip rap. Then use a shaky head and fish it under deep water docks. There are some fish coming off the deep ledges and humps on the south end of the lake. Use a deep diving crank bait and fish it down the side of the humps.

Striper fishing is fair. If Georgia Power is moving water there is a good top water bite off of the points from the 44 bridge to the dam. Use a popping cork to draw the most strikes. They are feeding on small thread fins so match the hatch.

Crappie fishing is good. Use your Lowrance structure scan to locate the fish in the tree tops and drop a live minnow to them. Most of the schools are showing up just off the main channel in timber from 10 to 20 feet deep.

Make sure you stop by Sugar Creek Marina and pick up your umbrella rigs 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

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

July 31, 2014

JACKSON LAKE IS FULL, STAINED & LOW 80’S

Bass fishing is fair. Look for the deeper brush with the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology and find the deep brush. When the right brush pile is found, you can see the fish with this technology clearly. When you crank the right brush pile there are some big fish out there. Use the Zoom Trick worm in dark colors with a light Texas rig. Use the jigs mid day but the crank bait bite has been heating up lately. Look for isolated brush near steep drops in the 15 to 25 foot range and burn a sexy shad colored Mann’s 20 Plus through the limbs. Spend more time than you normally would fishing the brush and crank it from all angles. It can be tempting to throw a worm in there if you hit a couple and don’t get bit, but if you stick with the crank bait it can pay off with some nice bass. If burning a deep diving crank bait in extreme heat isn’t for you there is still a decent shallow bite up the rivers. You can pick off some fish by skipping a green pumpkin Trick worm under docks and by shallow cranking a bluegill colored Mann’s Baby X Square Bill around stumps and rock.

Meet Lowrance Pro Staffer, Ken Sturdivant at the new Cabela’s in Acworth, Georgia, August 21 though 24, 2014, located at the Cherokee Village at I 75 and Highway 92, Acworth, Georgia. Ken will be hosting these FREE Seminars: FRIDAY August 22, 2014 at 3 pm Finding Fish with Lowrance technology and 7 pm Fishing Georgia Lakes for Bass. We have on SATURDAY August 23, 2014 at 3 pm Finding Fish with Lowrance technology and 7 pm Fishing Georgia Lakes for bass. SUNDAY August 24, 2014 at 3 pm Fishing Georgia Lakes for bass and 5 pm, The Bass Anglers Tackle Box.

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.