“The Southern Fishing Report”
By Ken Sturdivant
106 Hickory Ridge Drive
770 889 2654
Cumming, Georgia 30040
September 26, 2014
LAKE LANIER IS 3.2 FEET BELOW FULL POOL, THE MAINLAKE AND CREEKS ARE CLEAR & 79 DEGREES
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764
Bass fishing is very good. Top water and swim baits worked fast over brush in 20 30 feet of water is still the deal. A Sworming Hornet Bite Sized Herring and a Sebile have been our best choices on the swim baits and a Gun Fish, a Chug Bug and a Zara Spook 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. That 40 to 45 area foot area at the timberline seems to be best. Look for the singles and doubles to drop on as they will most likely be your best fish. Next week I have the mornings of October 2 and 3 open, and I have the mornings open most of the following week. The bite is good right now and will be getting better as the fall weather has arrived.
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 is very good. The trolling bite has turned on and both the umbrella rig and lead core is working. Run your umbrella rigs from 130 to 150 feet back at 2.75 to 3.0 MPH. Set your lead core at 8 to 9 colors with a 1 ounce jig tipped with a white or chartreuse 4 inch shad body. Down rod fishing with herring is also working and if you can find a school with the Lowrance Structure Scan technology, the action is non stop. The Ben Parker Spoon (Hammonds Fishing 770 888 6898) is deadly on the deep fish and the bite is almost always on the fall. Be sure to use a heavy rod and 20 pound Sufix Elite lone to set the hook. For the live bait fishing, use 6 to 7 foot leaders of 12 pound test Seaguar fluorocarbon line as a leader and a 1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook depending on the size of the herring. Focus your fishing on the mouths of the creeks from Flat Creek to the dam as well as on the main lake channel.
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 18, 2014
WEST POINTLAKE IS DOWN 2.3 FEET, STAINED & LOW 80’S
Bass fishing is fair and fish the lower part of the lake right now until the upper end and main lake clear. The water temperature has cooled down and the bass will be moving up into the coves and will starting hitting buzz baits. Look for largemouth and spots on points, roadbeds and back in the coves gravelly areas are the best bet. Wehadkee Creek is a good area to fish and this lower lake area is clear.
Anglers 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 18, 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 hit or miss right now. It’s that time of year where we’re having those cooler nights and it had got the water temp to the perfect place for an algae bloom. Algae bloom will last for a few weeks and fishing is slow during that time. The best place to be this time of year is in the Etowah river where there is current. Blow down and bends in the river are the best areas to target. Buzz baits, Jigs and creature baits like the Big Bite fighting frog or Yomama. Pay attention to eddies. That’s where the bass are. If you’re fishing the main lake stay shallow and use reaction baits like the Spro Fat john, or a Big Bite Jerk minnow. You almost have to make the fish bite. It will be over soon and the feed bag will be on for the bass!
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
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
Line side fishing is fair. The fish are starting to move north and can be caught from the Dam to the S turns. The flats on the north end of the lake seem to be holding more fish than the flats mid lake. But the fish we are catching in the mid section of the lake seem to be bigger. Down lining shad has been working best for us. The numbers are fair. Trolling is fair and the key to catching these fish is to bottom bump the umbrella rigs on flats with an 18 to 20 foot bottom. Top water is still good in the afternoons. There has been some really good top water action near the dam and mid lake from Clear Creek to Galt’s Ferry.
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 18, 2014
LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 3.3 FEET & LOW 80’S
Bass fishing is fair. Try a variety of baits from top water to bottom fishing. The smaller bass are chasing top water Skitter Pops 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 DT10 around the docks and between two main lake points are catching fish. Continue using the Carolina rigs and jigs around the docks. The fish are still feeding on the small shad along with the bream up in the shallows. Shallow running square bill crank baits around any form of structure is fair early and late. Use a variety of plastics on the Carolina rigs and use some Spike It on any soft bait.
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 18, 2014
CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 3.7 FEET, LOW 80’S DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is fair. Deep cranking a Rapala DT14 and DT10 are catching some quality fish but not a lot. Underwater humps on the Navionics chips will show angers these areas. Main lake points fished early in the morning with X Raps, Rapala DT14 and RS Shad Raps are still working. The smaller shoal bass on river bass along with some red eyes are being caught here. Also continue to pick apart the heavy cover along the ledges with the jigs and Texas rigged worms.
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 18, 2014
LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & LOW 80’S
Bass fishing is fair. The early morning periods are good with the Rapala Shad Raps and Rapala Scatter Raps along the banks. The rip rap rock is also holding fish but only until about 9:30 a.m. at the latest. After mid morning, the vast majority of the bass are being caught out in the deeper water along the main lake points with Carolina rigs. Fish from 20 to 25 feet deep with the Zoom mini lizards and 6 inch lizards in green pumpkin. A jig or Carolina rig along with six inch U Tail worms will work and add some Jack’s Juice garlic scent and a add some Spike It red dye for a little more color to these baits.
For a sample of the BASSFISHINGLAKERUSSELL book e mail ken@southernfishing.com
September 18, 2014
LAKE SEMINOLE IS DOWN .6 FEET, CLEAR & MID TO UPPER 80’S BY MATT BATY
Bass fishing is fair but they are just not biting right now on the lake except for late in the evenings. The morning bite has simply vanished. You can still manage some bites as long as you are in an area that has fish. Grass beds on the main part of the lake have seemed to be the best. The bass are feeding on little tiny schools of shad, and it definitely helps to match the hatch. A Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper 3.5 is perfect for the size of shad that the fish are feeding on. Rig this bait Texas Style on a 2/0 Gamakatsu Superline Hook, a 1/16 Fish Catchin Fool Tungsten Weight and a Fish Catchin Fool bobber stopper. Another decent pattern is to throw top water all day. Use the Spro Dawg 100 or a buzzbait. Also, you need a good reel in order to make long casts to stay away from the fish as far as possible. A Lew’s Speed Spool is the best on the market for this. There are a few grass beds that still submerged that are holding fish. Use your Lowrance Down Imaging to locate these grass humps and use a spinner bait or square bill to catch fish in these areas.
Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
September 18, 2014
LAKE GEORGE IS DOWN .48 FEET, HIGH 80’S
Bass fishing is fair. Top water baits in the coves and creeks with an abundance of shad is fair. Try a 1/8th ounce chartreuse and white buzz bait. Fish the banks and docks and cast the buzz bait or other top water lure to blow downs, docks, stumps, rocks, and brush piles. Use the Pop R, Chug Bug and a Baby Torpedo. Try a Zoom Trick worm with a 1/8 ounce weight and 3/0 Gamakatsu wide gap hook. Use the June bug, green pumpkin and red bug trick worms. Try a Stanley 5/16 ounce rattling jig with a Baby Brush Hog trailer. Some fish are hitting small crank baits and Rat L Traps near the back of coves. Use a ½ or ¼ ounce Rat L Trap and #5 Shad Rap RS. With the sun shining, try both baits in chrome blue and fire tiger and a shad pattern with cloud cover.
Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
September 18, 2014
WEISS LAKE IS AT 1.12 FEET BELOW FULL POOL AND CLEAR TO LIGHT STAINED AND 76 78 DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair and some fish have started moving shallow, in the bays and coves following the shad. Rat L Traps, flat side style crank baits and spinner baits are producing well right now. Look for a lot more fish to move shallow as the water cools more.
Striper fishing is fair and they are being caught in the lower ChattoogaRiver and the Cave Hole on live shad down lined about 8 10 feet deep and flat lined live Shad and Bream.
Crappie fishing is good and they are in the flats in 7 10 feet of water on stumps and brush piles, and on the main CoosaRiver channel 12 to 16 feet deep. The Crappie have started turning on and it will get better, with the cooling trend. Spider rigging with live minnows on brush in the flats is the way to catch the 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 18, 2014
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 82 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. Cool fall weather is officially here, giving us an early preview of what the next couple months will be like. The shad are moving to the shallows in the creeks and coves, and the bass are right behind them. The next two months will be a lot of fun as the bass will be gorging themselves in preparation for the cold winter that awaits us. Shad will be the primary forage for the bass this month. Shad imitating lures such as top water baits, crank baits, spinner baits, and flukes will be most productive. White or chrome colored top water baits such as a Lucky Craft Sammy will be hard to beat walking them back over stumps or brush on shallow flats. Bigger fish will also fall victim to a white Buckeye Lures DH2 buzz bait fished around heavy cover. Mid morning and throughout the rest of the day, cover a lot of water in the creeks and coves with a Spro Little John 50 crank bait or an Aruku Shad Jr. lipless crank bait. Nasty shad will be the best color on the Little John and chrome/blue will work great on the Aruku Shad. If the bite slows and the fish get finicky, try a weightless Zoom Super Fluke in the pearl white color on a 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook. This will get many bites throughout the day by finicky fish. On some post front blue bird days the fish will not chase a bait. On these tough days, try a Buckeye Spot Remover shaky head with a green pumpkin Zoom trick worm around docks, brush piles and stumps. Fishing will be good all over the lake, but concentrate your efforts around the larger creeks.
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, 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 18, 2014
LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, MID 80’S DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair to good. The lake is full and stained up the rivers clear on the south end. The water temperature is 76 to 82 degrees. Use a #7 Shad Rap around docks in the mouths of the creeks and large coves. Contact the dock polls and fish under the docks. Look for docks in 8 plus feet of water. A shaky head with a small green worm fished under the same docks. The water is cooling every day and the fish are moving into the coves and creeks. Start on the outside of creeks and work your way to the back. Some fish are still on the humps on the south end of the lake. Use a large crank bait and work the bait off of the hump into the deeper water.
Line side fishing report by Mark Smith of Reel Time guide service. reeltime@bellsouth.net phone: 404 803 0741
Striper and hybrid fishing is poor. Some fish are still on the mid lake humps and will feed when Georgia Power is pulling water. Trolling Shad Raps and Rat L Traps is a good way to catch these fish. There is an early morning spoon bite at the dam when Georgia Power is pumping water back into the lake.
Crappie fishing is good. The fish are in deep water brush piles and tree tops. Look in the submerged timber with your Lowrance and locate the schools in the trees. When you find the fish drop you live shad down to the schools. As the water cools the fish are starting to move into the mouths of the creeks.
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 18, 2014
JACKSON LAKE IS FULL, STAINED & LOW 80’S
Bass fishing is fair. Down lake fish the steeper banks with jigs and slow moving dark colored Zoom green pumpkin u tale worms. White spinner baits are catching a few when thrown right up next to the bank and slow rolling it back. With real muddy water up in the rivers, spinner baits and Rat L Traps thrown real close to deep water banks and utilizing a slow retrieve will be a good choice. Black or any dark color jigs worked close to cover is also producing a few good bites. Stay with the jig and work heavy cover in shallow water slow and good. Several casts might be necessary before the bass strike. Add a little scent every 6 to 10 casts.
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.