“The Southern Fishing Report” by Ken Sturdivant
106 Hickory Ridge Drive
770 889 2654
Cumming, Georgia 30040
January 23, 2015
LAKE LANIER IS 1.1 FEET BELOW FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE AND CREEKS ARE CLEAR & HIGH 40’S
REMINDER: I will be hosting a 3 and 1/2 hour training classes on the morning of January 31st, 2015 at the Dekalb Office Conference Center in Alpharetta, Georgia. This will be an intensive, Lanier focused class addressing these areas: In depth review of Lowrance Electronics with Lowrance Expert, the one, the only, Ken Sturdivant. Also, Ken will review specifics in the area of reading and understanding electronics and I will be addressing fishing the winter to spring transition, tournament preparation, as well as establishing seasonal patterns. We only have just a very few spots remaining for this seminar. Don’t miss out! The price for this one Seminar will be $85. Call or email me NOW to register: jim@laniermapped.com, 770 542 7764.
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764
Bass fishing is fair. There have still been fish shallow as well as in mid depth and deep ranges. The ditches with standing timber in 45 feet or more should be your first check. Check for bait in these likely areas. If there is no bait, move to the next ditch. Start shallower in 15 feet or less with a Spro McStick or a 1/4 ounce SuperSpin. A spoon, a Chattahoochee Jig, a Shaky Head worm, and a drop shot are all good potentials out deep. Focus on timber edges and work your baits SLOWLY! As the water continues to get colder, the slower your presentation should be. This is a great time to learn how to fish the deep timber on Lanier. How and where to find the most productive timber, how to fish it, and with what lures. Here is what I have open next week: January 28, 29, and 30th. Give me a call and let’s go bust some fish!
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 lake temperature is high 40’s and the water is lightly stained on the main lake and the backs of the creeks. The lake is one foot below full pool. The typical winter fishing technique during the winter months of pulling live bait on free lines and planner boards is working when pulled in areas with large concentrations of bait. This technique is clearly the most fun way to fish in the winter. There is nothing like watching a planner board screaming across the water with a big striper on. Herring has been the most productive bait with small trout and Gizzard second. If you are pulling baits always try to keep someone on the front deck casting a 1/2 ounce buck tail jig with a fluke. The umbrella rig is still working when pulled across points and flats. Our stripers are scattered all over the lake from Shoal Creek to Little River. Stripers can be found in pockets and on points from the back of the creeks to the mouth. They should be more concentrated in the back of the creeks this time of year but that’s one of the challenges of Striper fishing. They are not always where you think they should be. However, there is one key that seldom fails; find the bait and fish there. One of the questions we often get asked is “when is the best time to go Striper fishing”. Being guides we always respond with “anytime you can”:) The reality is this is true! There are many conditions that affect the fish biting or not biting and you cannot rely on any one condition. Lake conditions both temperature and dissolved oxygen content, moon phase and barometric pressure are the factors most often discussed.
We have posted an article explaining the effects of barometric pressure on our web site. The following is the link to the article.
This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, Member of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. See our club’s website, www. laniercrappieanglers.com
Crappie fishing is good. The water temperatures are ranging between forty six to forty eight degrees. On a sunny day, you will see a mild jump in the temperature later in the day, but as night falls it begins to dip. The pattern is simple: locate the bait, and it will lead you to the fish. Shooting docks is one of the best methods to put fish in the boat. Target docks at the mouths to the middle of creeks in eighteen to thirty foot depths, with the bite occurring at five to ten feet below the surface. Docks in river channels at the same depths are also holding fish. After locating fish on docks, your biggest challenge will be dealing with all the debris from the extended rain that has gotten wedged between boats and docks. You may have to pass on fish to find docks with less debris. The more docks you target, the better your chance of catching fish. We have been using darker color jigs, taking into consideration the water stain. Four pound high visibility test line is important. This is not important for the fish, but for you to see the movement of your line to immediately respond to the bite. Soft body jigs are definitely working best for us. This also makes it easier to shoot your jig in the dock, as it skips the water better than a hair jig. Historically, the water temperatures dip down to the lowest points during the next month. This will make catching fish more challenging, but always remember that fish have to eat, and the females are fattening up in preparation for the spring spawn. So don’t hesitate to bundle up and go wet a line! Be safe on the water and wear your life jacket, it can save your life!
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com. Call 770 887 2217 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
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
January 23, 2015
WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 6.9 FEET, STAINED & HIGH 40’S
Bass fishing is fair. Expect a lot of rain and runoff to work its way into the lake this weekend. Spoons, jigs and Carolina rigs are the best baits with the cold weather. The weather usually gets these fish active but this week it’s been off after a cold week ten days ago. Expect only a warming trend to get them going. There are some fish shallow in the creeks but they are stuck heavily under the grass beds. Zoom Baby Bush Hogs in green pumpkin on a pegged Texas rig may work on the grass beds but be sure to use a heavy weight to get though the grass. If there is a warm up this week, get the weights off the baits and look in the sandy areas for small bass to start roaming around.
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
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com.
Call 770 887 2217 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
January 23, 2015
LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 13.3 FEET, STAINED & LOW 49 DEGREES
This Lake Allatoona bass fishing guides report is from Matt Driver, www.proanglerradio.com
Bass fishing is slow. Water temperatures are 45 to 46 degrees and the lake is stained to muddy from the dam north. The floating fly and drop shot bite is still good in between Iron Hill and Red Top where the water is clear. Size has been down for me on the drop shot, most of the larger fish are coming north of Galt’s on a crank bait in depth between eight and 15 foot. This Spro fat papa and Little John DD in red and copper colors have been working best. There is lots of bait in the main channel and at the mouth of the creeks and coves. With rain in the forecast a couple of times in the next week I don’t expect the lake to clear up very much at all. If we have days with good sunshine you will find that bass move up shallow in the stain water for short periods of time to feed. If these areas for the afternoon. We believe as the water clears up we will see the A rig and jig bite get much better.
This Lake Allatoona fishing Guides Report for striper and hybrids is brought to you exclusively by Robert Eidson of First Bite Guide Service, 770 827 to 6282. www.firstbiteguideservice.com Lake Allatoona, Georgia email eidson6260@att.net
Line side fishing is good and 90 % of the lake is stained. The key to catching fish right now is finding the other 10%. Clear to slightly stain water is the key right now and a good starting point is the dam. Small trout and gizzard shad fished on free lines and planer boards early is working. The better bite is after the sun comes up. Down lining small trout and Gizzard shad 40 to 60 near or in clear water will catch you fish. We are also catching some nice fish on umbrella rigs right now. Again, clear to slightly stain water is the key. Thirty fish days just isn’t going to happen right now. But it is possible to catch double digits of stripers and hybrids right now on any given day. And that is great concerning February is only a week away.
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
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com.
Call 770 887 2217 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
January 23, 2015
LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 4.2 FEET & HIGH 40’S
Bass fishing is fair. If the wind is up, expect the fish to turn on the main lake points. The Rapala DT10 and Rapala DT6 will be fair mid day and later on the points. The better points to fish are the one with the most structure on them. This structure needs to be located in the three to five foot range. Find the ones with the larger rock on them and fish the entire point with either a DT10 or DT6. Shad and silver seem to be the colors that are working the best. At the northern part of the Tugaloo River past the last channel marker is a great place to work rocky points. Stay and fish only the side of the river that the wind is blowing on. Expect the same to work on the Seneca River as well. From the Fair Play ramp and north is the best areas to fish. If the sun comes out se the Shad Raps and Rapala DT6 and fish the rock. Once again, let the sun shine on the rocks for at least forty five minutes before fishing these areas. Small shad and bait fish are moving up on the warmer days and the bass are following right behind. Worms and drop shot rigs are still working along with jigs but these methods of fishing are slow and only catching two good keepers out of five on a daily basis. Watch out for the cold fronts that might approach and use a rod with some fiberglass in it while cranking.
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.
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com.
Call 770 887 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
January 23, 2015
CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 3.4 FEET, HIGH 40’S DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is fair. Bass are still being caught on the main lake points early. Reese Branch is producing some quality bass. Good road beds with plenty of rock are holding the bass here. The water is deep enough for the bass to go and hide and the points are providing an ample supply of herring for them to feed on. Fish the Rapala DT10 in the shad color and the Glass Shad Rap in the glass shad color. For the ledges and deeper water, use the Rapala #7 and the #5 will work fishing shallow. The Carolina rig catch the cold water fish in the deeper water up the lake near the Little River area. Use a small Zoom lizard in dark colors Use a ½ ounce weight and work the ledges with this rig. Try to find brush piles is the fifteen to twenty foot range. These areas are where the bass like to hang around this time of the year.
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. For a sample: ken@southernfishing.com
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com. Call 770 887 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
January 23, 2015
LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & LOW 50’S
Bass fishing is fair. The lack of good wind on some days put a damper on the bigger bass moving up to the shallow water in numbers. Look is the shallows on the windy days. The shad and silver color Rapala DT10 will work on the shallow rocky points. The best results are coming during the first half of the day. Up the Savannah River and down towards the dam are producing as well as Beverdam Creek. Down towards the dam try cranking the Rapala DT10 and use the Shad Raps as well. The bigger baits like the #7 Shad Rap will catch bigger bass. The spotted bass are really on the move and are chasing the shad and herring up to the shallow water. This is a really good time to fish as many points as you can for a trophy spot. Several in the four pound range have been caught over the last couple of weeks. The Carolina Rig and the Drop Shot Rig is working fair on those days the wind isn’t blowing. Anglers are finding bass in the two pound range in water depths anywhere from 15 to 25 feet deep. Green pumpkin and watermelon colors are the favorite for the deep water. Don’t expect to fill the live well real quick with these methods.
Sample of the BASS FISHING LAKE RUSSELL e mail ken@southernfishing.com
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com.
Call 770 887 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
January 23, 2015
LAKE SEMINOLE IS DOWN .59 FEET, STAINED AND LOW 50’S BY MATT BATY
Bass are biting but are in tight schools and are a little hard to find. Look for areas on the main lake that are close to deep water and have good grass present. Of course a lipless crank bait is hard to beat right now, but a chatterbait is also good. For the lipless crank bait, use Sunline FX2 Braid in 50lb, a Spro Aruku Shad 75 in Mudbug Red, and a Lews Team Lite Speed in 7:5:1 gear ratio. For the chatterbait, use a 1/2 Buddha Bait Co. Swagger Jig in Black/Blue with a 4.25″ Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper in Hematoma. The best places are areas that are close to spawning areas such as ditches and depressions. The flats from Ship Island to the Firebreak on the Flint side is a good place to start and spend all day. Your Lowrance HDS units with a Navionics chip will show you where these areas are. There is also a good flipping bite in backwaters off of the Flint River and Chattahoochee River. Looks for dead hyacinths, as they will give off heat during a sunny day. Use a 1 1/4 ounce Fish Catchin Fool Tungsten weight, a bobber stopper, a 4/0 Gamakatsu heavy cover flipping hook and a 4″ Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in Hematoma. Power Poles come in handy with the flipping technique because you can pull up to a mat, drop the poles and fish it thoroughly as the bite is slow.
Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com. Call 770 887 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
January 23, 2015
LAKE GEORGE IS FULL, LOW 50’S
Bass fishing is fair. Concentrate on areas in the main lake. Dead grass patches will be holding bass on the secondary points mid lake. Work the water with the most color in the water as the fish will go shallow so check the pockets. Use a Strike King 3/8 ounce green pumpkin jig with a Zoom Super Chunk trailer in Root beer is hard to beat. Also, try the smaller sizes like the mini jig in ¼ ounce sizes. Use the watermelon, watermelon gold and of course green pumpkin. Use a Jr. sized trailer on the mini jigs. A few fish are being caught on Fat Free shad pearl and sexy shad crank baits but mainly it’s all about the jig.
Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com. Call 770 887 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
JANUARY 23, 2015
LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, LOW 50’S
Bass fishing is fair. The lake is full and a heavy stain over most of the lake, Richland creek light stained. Water temperature is 48 to 52 degrees. Richland Creek and Double creek have the best water. When you find the cleaner water a shaky head with a dark trailer fished under docks and around wood structure have been producing fish. There is also a spoon bite on the south end of the lake where Richland Creek and the Oconee come together. Find the schools on your Lowrance and drop a Capt. Mack’s spoon down to the school.
Striper/hybrid report by Mark Smith of Reel Time Guide Service. Phone 404 803 0741 or reeltime@bellsouth.net
Striper fishing is fair. Striper fishing can be great if you can find the birds diving on bait. If you cannot find the birds, the fishing will be fair at best. When you find the birds think small bait. A ¼ ounce jig head with a small supper fluke, a small rooster tail will work. Keep a spoon ready for when the fish go down. Use your Lowrance to locate the school and drop the spoon down to the school.
Crappie fishing is fair. The fish are moving into the coves and major creeks. The major creeks are muddy so make sure you are using a dark jig and tip it with a minnow. Spider rigging is the best option. Start in the middle of the creeks and work to the back. The mud has the fish scattered so keep moving until you find them. Stop by Sugar Creek Marina and pick up your Capt. Mack’s 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
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com.
Call 770 887 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
January 23, 2015
WEISS LAKE IS AT 5′ 2″ BELOW FULL POOL AND Stained AND 45-47 DEGREES
From: Mark Collins Guide Service www.markcollinsguideservice.com 256-779-3387
Bass fishing is fair and they are on the old creek and river channel ledges and deeper humps, Carolina rigged plastics, Texas rigged Senko worms and Jigs are producing well right now. The Alabama Rig is catching fish also. The ledges in Little River and the Chattooga River are producing a lot of good Bass.
Crappie fishing is great and they are being caught in Cowan Creek, Little River and the Chattooga River and Little Spring Creek. Long line trolling with Jiffy Jigs in 1/16 ounce in colors JJ08, JJ13, JJ24, JJ41 and Marks, Ice Blue color, is the way to catch these winter fish, They can also be caught on a float and fly technique, live minnows under a slip float is also producing some fish.
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@southernfishing.com
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com. Call 770 887 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
JANUARY 23, 2015
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 49 DEGREES, STAINED ACROSS MUCH OF THE LAKE, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 478 451 0167 ext. 1215 (SINCLAIR MARINA)
WWW.SINCLAIRMARINA.COMMATT@SINCLAIRMARINA.COM
Bass fishing is fair. The number of bites you get in a day has decreased but the size of fish seems to have increased. The recent rains have dirtied up the water particularly on the upper ends of the lake and creeks. The influx of fresh water has also caused rapid changes in water temperatures in a short period of time. Waters temperatures in any given area can fluctuate up to 10 degrees in just one day. Keep an eye on your water temperature when fishing new water and try to stay around the warmest water you can find. Crank baits, big bladed spinner baits, and jigs have been best this week when fishing for shallow fish. The Spro Little John MD 50 in the fire craw color will get a bite when fished extremely slowly over primary and secondary points in the rivers, as well as short pockets located near deep water. A chartreuse and white spinner bait with a large gold #7 willow leaf blade slow rolled around laydown trees on the main river bank will get fewer bites but look for them to be big fish. A black and blue ¼ ounce Buckeye Mop Jig is great for flipping docks in short pockets or docks that have brush around them. Many fish can be caught deep right now as well with most of the deep fish being in 28 40ft of water. A gold Buckeye Jiggin’ Blade or a gold spoon will catch these fish that are relating to bait schools in deep water. Try to find some kind of structure in the same depth the fish are holding. The Lowrance HDS Structure Scan system is very helpful for finding the fish and the fish holding structure. I have a few guide trips available over the next couple of weeks. 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.
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com.
Call 770 887 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
JANUARY 23, 2015
JACKSON LAKE IS DOWN .70 FEET, STAINED & HIGH 40’S
Bass fishing fair. Fish down lake at the and around the dam. Since this is the deeper parts of the lake, work the channel ledge, stay off in the deepest water and cast along the channel with a Rapala RS Shad Rap. Use the darker colors if rain moves in and the water is stained. Stay with the shad and blue shad colors in the clear water for the best results. Use the trick worm weightless and the crank all day and throw an occasional jig around the stumps and rocks when you come across them.
The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation department will host an “Outdoor Fun Festival 2015” on April 25, 2015. The location will be the Caney Road Park in south Forsyth County off Highway 141. See the web site at www.outdoorfunfestival2015.com.
Call 770 887 2217 Carrie Toth or cmtoth@forsythco.com for all the details and vendor options.
Anglers 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.