“The Southern Fishing Report”
By Ken Sturdivant
106 Hickory Ridge Drive
770 889 2654
Cumming, Georgia 30040
September 19, 2014
LAKE LANIER IS 3.2 FEET BELOW FULL POOL, THE MAINLAKE AND CREEKS ARE CLEAR & 83 DEGREES
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764
Bass fishing is good. We have been working top water and swim baits fast over brush in 20 to 30 feet of water. A Sworming Hornet Bite Sized Herring and a Sebile have been our best choices on the swim baits and a Gun Fish and a Chug Bug have been best on the top water side. The wind definitely helps this bite. There are some fish holding out deep, so don’t hesitate to try them on the drop shot rig. That 40 to 45 area foot area at the old timberline seems to be best. We have noticed a lot more fish holding out in that area this week. Look for the singles and doubles to drop on as they will most likely be your best fish. I only have September 26 open this month, but have some dates open in early October. The bite is good right now! 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.bigfishon.com
Despite the full moon and having Bananas on board the fishing last week was very good and should remain so with the stable weather conditions. The pattern remains the same with the mouth of the creeks from Orr Creek to the Dam as your best bet. Blue back herring on down rods at 50 to 80 feet down over a 90 to 130 foot bottom is the top producer. We are rigging our down rods with a 2 ounce weight and a 7 foot, 12 pound test Seaguar fluorocarbon leader with a Gamakatsu Octopus hook number 1 or 1/0 depending on the size of the herring. Buck tail jigs with a 4 inch shad body with lead core line at 8 to 9 colors is improving and almost as effective as bait. White has been the preferred color for the shad bodies on both lead core and umbrella rigs. Umbrella rigs at 170 to 190 feet back will work but most of the fisherman are using lead core. Flowery Branch, Big Creek and Two mile Creek are good places to start. The lake temperature is in the low 80’s in the morning and low to mid 80’s in the afternoon. The water is lightly stained in the back of the creeks and clear on the main lake both north and south.
Anglers stop by the 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
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
September 19, 2014
WEST POINTLAKE IS DOWN 2.6 FEET, STAINED & LOW 80’S
Bass fishing has been slow and there are no firm patterns as fish can be caught in both deep or shallow water. For the shallow water fisherman, focus on the blow downs lake wide. Throw a Texas rigged trick worm with a 1/8 ounce Tru Tungsten weight in the green pumpkin, watermelon candy, and June bug. Use 8 pound test Sufix fluorocarbon line to get the most bites possible. Keep a Rapala DT6 in shad pattern tied on and use this bait at every stop. Use only 10 pound test Sufix Elite clear line on a spinning reel. Frog fishing can work around grass in the backs of pockets. Try the Stanley Ribbit, Sizmic toad or the Spro Bronzeye Frog. Mid lake, use a medium diving crank bait on the wind blown side of the lake. Focus on 6 feet to 9 feet of water and look for shad on the Lowrance depth finder.
Anglers, we have GPS Bass fishing locations and a BASSFISHINGWESTPOINTLAKE book is for sale. Ask ken for a sample. This book is $39.00. Sample just e mail ken@southernfishing.com
September 19, 2014
LAKE ALLATOONA IS FULL, STAINED & LOW 80’S
This LakeAllatoona bass fishing report is from Mat Driver, www.proanglerradio.com 404 456 6094
Bass fishing is fair. The main lake is both crystal clear near the dam but has a stain as you get up towards Gault’s Ferry. The swim bait bite is hit or miss. The Senko bite is fair and use the blue pearl colored Senko in 4 inch length fished weightless. The key is to use 10 pound Stren clear line to help avoid detection from the fish while the Senko is falling. It also helps the Senko fall faster due to fluorocarbon being a sinking line. Use this bait wherever there a lot of fry as usually the spots are nearby. Small Shad Raps imitate the smaller bait fish in the lake and use light 8 pound test line on a spinning reel to get the moat action and depth from the bait.
This Lake Allatoona Fishing Guides Report for Striper and Hybrid report fishing report has been brought to you exclusively by Robert Eidson of First Bite Guide Service, 770 827 6282. www.firstbiteguideservice.comLake Allatoona, Georgia email: eidson6260@att.net
Lines side fishing is good. The super moon we had last week really slowed the fishing down, but it is finally starting to rebound. We have caught fish on all methods this week from down lines, to free lines, to top water and even trolling. Top water has been the over all best producer, with trolling umbrella rigs and down lining live bait running a close second. Mid lake south has been producing best for the bigger hybrids, but if you are after numbers, the white bass bite is hard to beat on the north end of the lake. 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 to fee lines, to top water and trolling will all catch you fish on any given day. We really look for the bite to pick up in the next two weeks with these cooler temperatures.
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
September 19, 2014
LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 3.5 FEET & LOW 80’S
Bass fishing is fair. Smaller bass are chasing top water baits and a variety of other surface baits on the back side of the points and in the small cuts and coves. Medium to deep diving crank baits like the Rapala DT6 and Rapala DT10 crank baits in shad around the docks and between two main lake points. Use the Carolina rigs with a small Zoom lizard in green pumpkin and small Strike King jigs around the docks. The bass are still feeding on the small shad along with the bream up in the shallows. Shallow running Shad Raps around any form of structure is also working well. Use the small Zoom plastics like a Bush Hog or small lizard on the Carolina rigs. Touch the tails up with a little bit of garlic flavored Spike It also.
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.
September 19, 2014
CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 3.7 FEET, LOW 80’S DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is fair. The grass mats and humps are still getting a lot of attention from the anglers this past week. Bass are just now starting to move up to the flats and out of the deeper water in the creeks and rivers. Suspended fish are showing up all over the graph in about ten to fifteen feet of water. Rapalas DT10 and DT16 will get into this zone and catch you some keeper bass. X Raps on the flats along with RS Shad Raps and Glass Raps will work too. White 3/8 ounce spinner baits on the wind blown points will catch some big bass, but the herring in the area will help. Also, use a Rattlin’ Rap up in the rivers around the rocky islands and rocky stretches of bank. The water is a little more stained up in Little River and the feeder Creeks. Remember, the darker the water, the darker the bait.
The book, BASSFISHINGCLARKSHILLLAKE 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
September 19, 2014
LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & LOW 80’S
Bass fishing is fair. Work these three areas: Cold Creek, Beaver Dam Creek and up in the Savannah River. Texas rigged finesse worms, jigs and spot removers fished slowly will work. Rocky bluffs, points and the long run out points and old road beds are the key places to fish. Use the Rapala DT10 crank baits along the ledges and small flats just off of the channels. If the water is stained, switch to a 1/4 to 3/8 ounce white Strike King spinner bait and fish shallow. Keep the Carolina rig ready as well as the Super Fluke and be sure to use them at every stop. Water temperatures are cooling a little and the fish will soon start gearing up. For a sample of the BASSFISHINGLAKERUSSELL book e mail ken@southernfishing.com
September 19, 2014
LAKE SEMINOLE IS DOWN .5 FEET, CLEAR & MID TO UPPER 80’S
Bass fishing is fair. Fish main lake docks near deep water and the points, ledges, and drop offs. The shaky head jig with a Zoom Finesse Worm in redbug or June bug color is best around the docks. A #5 Rapala Jointed Shad Rap in silver shad or fire tiger has produced some quality fish. On the main lake points drag a 1/2 ounce Texas rig with a Zoom Old Monster or a Lake Fork 10 inch worm in black or neon black. The bite is very light so pay attention to your line. In many cases the fish are just holding the lure and it will feel like a snag. Texas rig a Chomper’s Twin Tail grub in black and blue flake or orange marmalade, and once again stay in touch with your line because the bite is light.
Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
September 19, 2014
LAKE GEORGE IS DOWN .28 FEET, MID 80’S
Bass fishing is good. The shallower water bite is good. Use a black and blue swim jig and in the gator grass or a Big Bite Baits Top Toad in green pumpkin pearl or a Natural Red null frog. Fish these isolated grass patches and gator grass right off the main lake around the mouth of null Creek and the duck blind. When the sun gets up, you can either stay shallow or head to the ledges. Flip mats with a Big Bite Baits fighting frog in green pumpkin or black blue with a 1 ounce True Tungsten weight or stick with the bull frog all day long in the pads. The crank bait bite has been great when you find them grouped up on the ledges but look for these schools to be headed shallow soon following the bait. Crank the ledges with a #7 Fat Free Shad in Citrus or Foxy Shad on 10 pound test GAMMA Fluorocarbon. The best crank bait bite on the ledges has been from River Bend to the causeway. There is also a good Carolina rig bite on the steeper ledges up north and in the man made brush piles on the south end of the lake. Look for ledges with a hard bottom in 15 foot of water on top, with your boat sitting in 30 to 40 feet. Slowly drag your rig all the way down the ledge because some of the better fish have been hanging at the bottom of the ledge. The best brush piles down south have been in the 12 to 15 foot range close to ditches leading into the larger creeks and on the flats close to the creek mouths. The best colors up north have been June bug and plum apple with green pumpkin being the dominate color on the south end. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
September 19, 2014
WEISS LAKE IS AT 0.80 FEET BELOW FULL POOL AND CLEAR TO LIGHT STAINED AND 79 81 DEGREES
From Mark Collins Guide Service www.markcollinsguideservice.com 256 779 3387
Bass fishing is fair and most our bass are still deep on a summer pattern. Some fish have started moving shallow, in the bays and coves following the shad. Pig and Jigs, Crank Baits, Spinner Baits and Carolina rigged plastics are all producing some good Bass. Look for a lot more fish to move shallow as the water cools.
Striper fishing is fair and they are being caught in the lower ChattoogaRiver and the Cave Hole on live shad down lined about 8 to 10 feet deep and flat lined live Shad and Bream.
Crappie fishing is good and they are in the flats in 7 to 10 feet of water on stumps and brush piles. Spider rigging with live minnows on brush in the flats is the way to catch these summer Crappie. Shooting docks is producing a few Crappie also. Night fishing has turned on, and they are being caught on live minnows under lights.
Now available for sale 50 of my proven GPS waypoints for off shore structure for Bass and Crappie fishing on Weiss Lake, Alabama.
September 19, 2014
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 83 DEGREES, STAINED UP RIVER, MAIN LAKE CLEAR, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 478 451 0167 ext 1215 (SINCLAIR MARINA)
WWW.SINCLAIRMARINA.COMMATT@SINCLAIRMARINA.COM
Bass fishing is good. Fall weather is quickly approaching meaning great fishing is right around the corner. The shad are starting to make their transition to the backs of the creeks and pockets. As the shad migrate to the backs of the creeks, the bass will setup on ambush points and flats looking for an easy meal. Crank baits, spinner baits, jigs, and soft plastics are the baits of choice for this fall transition. The crank baits and spinner baits will be best in the morning or evening, or on overcast days. The Spro Fat John and Little John 50 crank baits in shad imitating colors have been producing really well. A lipless crank bait, such as the Spro Aruku Shad Jr. or the Aruku Shad 65, will catch a ton of fish by fan casting shallow flats and points in the creeks. As the sun gets higher throughout the day, a Buckeye Mop Jig and a Spot Remover stand up shaky head is hard to beat fished around docks and brush piles in 5 8ft of water. The larger creeks such as Cedar, Crooked, and Potato Creeks will all hold good populations of fish throughout the fall months. Fall fishing is a great time to catch a ton of fish and big fish too! September and October 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.
September and October 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.
September 19, 2014
LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, MID 80’S DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair to good. The lake is full, stained up the rivers clear on the south end; Richland creek has a light stain. The water temperature is 80 to 85 degrees. Fish are starting to move from the deep summer water to the creeks and coves. There are some fish still on the deep water humps on the south end of the lake. Use a deep diving crank bait like a Norman DD22 in a shad pattern. Make sure to stay in contact with the bottom. Deep water docks in the mouths of the creeks and big coves are also holding fish. Docks with structure are best. Use a Texas rig worm or a shaky head worm fished under the dock and around the cover. Dark color worms with green in them have been the best producers over the past week. Some limited early morning top water action that should improve as the water cools.
Striper fishing is slow. It is still to hot for the stripers. There is a top water bite at first light down at the dam. Use a popping cork with a floating jig tied behind it. This bite will last as long as Georgia Power is pumping water. There is some activity on the main lake humps in the afternoon when Georgia Power is pulling water. The umbrella rig pulled over the humps has been the best producer. As the water cools the fishing will improve.
Crappie report by Mark Smith, Reel Time Guide Service at 404 803 0741 reeltime@bellsouth.net
Crappie fishing is good. Use your Lowrance to locate the schools of fish in the timber from 10 20 ft. deep. When you find the schools drop a minnow down to the fish and hang on. The weather is cooling and now is a good time to take a child fishing as the crappie are feeding well.
Line side fishing report by Mark Smith of Reel Time guide service. reeltime@bellsouth.net phone: 404 803 0741
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
September 19, 2014
JACKSON LAKE IS FULL, STAINED & LOW 80’S
Bass fishing is good. Fish any of the main lake docks and brush. The Rat L Trap and Shad Rap bite is fair. Be sure to use green pumpkin and watermelon red finesse worms. The shaky heads and small jigs will work if the crank bait bite is slow. Put the finesse baits under docks and other shady cover during bright skies. Shad Raps and Rat L Traps can perform well as searching tools in a variety of conditions, but particularly under overcast skies. They will take fish on the bottom when burned out to about 8 or to 10 feet. Should low pressure, clouds, and wind prevail, keep an open mind and look just off the main lake. Top water baits can take shallow fish in the early morning, but that bite will be hit and miss. Lipless baits, Shad Raps and other relatively shallow runners have out preformed top water baits at times.
Anglers 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.
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.