“The Southern Fishing Report”
By Ken Sturdivant
106 Hickory Ridge Drive
770 889 2654
CummingGeorgia30040
April 18, 2014
LAKE LANIER IS 1.03 FEET UP FROM FULL POOL, THEMAINLAKEIS CLEAR AND CREEKS ARE STAINED & 59 DEGREES.
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764
Bass fishing is fair. The whacky spring weather continues! That seems to be the one constant this spring, crazy weather. More rain and another cold front this week has pushed the fish back once again and caused the lake to rise. Still, the fish can still be found in the back of creeks and on secondary points at the mouth of creek arms as well as pockets near the main creek channels. There are 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. The main lake fish are moving up shallower on the points and humps. A Davis Shaky Head and a jerk bait have been the most productive lures still this week. The dock bite is still there, particularly when the sun is out, and is getting stronger. The deeper docks have been more productive for us again this week vs. the shallower docks but it is becoming more balanced. Look for the docks in the 10 to 20 foot range at the front to be the best right now and if brush is around, even better. As the water warms, look to those shallower docks to be better producers. There are some fish bedding now, but it is not prevalent everywhere yet. I have the following dates left open in April: 22,25,29,30. I am also booking for May. 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 one day and not so good the next day. It has been hit or miss all week. The fish are moving all over the lake. Full moon, cold fronts, temperatures ranging from the 80’s to the 30’s and high winds are all contributing factors. They are in open water in the main lake, the mouths of the creeks and mid way back in the creeks to all the way in the back. It also seems like all the fish are loners catching only one fish in one general area. We are not marking many single fish and no multiples. You can spend some time trying to find some bait but the key for me has been “baits in the water”. Put out a spread of baits and pull. Free lines pulled behind planner boards and behind the boat at 120 feet back has been the most productive method. You can also pull big baits up on the banks with a combination of big and small baits on your other lines. Again, the key is keeping baits in the water. Hopefully the weather will settle down and we get the fish schooled up on flats and points in the creeks.
This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, President of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. 404 425 4059
Crappie fishing is good. With the unusually cool temperatures we are experiencing this week, water temperatures in the backs of the creeks may drop a little, but should stabilize by the weekend. With the new moon phase, we feel that the majority of the females will be completing their spawn within the next few days. If you are unable to catch fish on the blow downs, your best bet will be fishing around docks at about 20 foot depths. The bite in those areas is more predictable. How do you catch those fish? The best way is to learn the dock shooting technique. You should be ten feet or so away from the dock, with a five to six foot medium action rod, and four pound high visibility test line. Release a length of line about two thirds the length of your rod, and leave the bail in the open position while you are holding the line with one finger. Grab the curve of the hook (below the barb) and bring it toward your body. Keep the base of the rod parallel to the water while pulling the line toward you to sharply bow the tip of the rod. Release the jig and the line at the same time, while aiming toward your target. A good way to practice this method at home is in your driveway, standing about 20 feet from your garage door, with the door cracked open about a foot. Follow the steps above, aiming for the garage door opening. To avoid accidents while you practice, clip the barb of the hook (especially if you have a cat!) By far, all year round, this is the best way to consistently catch crappie onLakeLanier. Always remember that crappie relate to structure. Put your Lowrance to good use, especially if you have side scan. You can scan docks and mark any structure under the dock. Another fun way to catch crappie is with a popping cork. Your jig should be about two feet below the popping cork. It is critical to throw the cork in or past the weeds, then pop it and reel it very slowly toward you. With both of these methods we recommend 1/24 ounce hair jigs or soft body jigs. For those who prefer live bait, a slip cork and a trusty crappie minnow should put a few fish in the boat. Wear your life jacket; it can save your life!
This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, President of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. 404 425 4059
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
April 18, 2014
WESTPOINTLAKEIS FULL, STAINED & MID TO UPPER 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. The bass are spawning in shallow water. Fishing is great lake wide but Yellow Jacket Creek, Stroud Creek, and Wedhakee Creek have lots of fish on the bed. Good baits to use are Zoom Trick worms or a Zoom 6″ Lizard fished on a shakey Head. Use the light colors like white and yellow but any of the colors are doing just as good. Use the light colors because they are easy to see in the stained water. Spots are still in the 8 to 10 feet of water and are biting really well. Keep a Mini Me spinnerbait bite is good. Use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology to help find the concentrations of bait and the bass will be there too. We have GPS Bass fishing locations and a BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE book for sale. Ask ken for a sample. This book is $39.00. For a sample, send us an e mail to ken@southernfishing.com
April 18, 2014
LAKEALLATOONAIS FULL, STAINED & UPPER 50 DEGREES
ThisLakeAllatoonabass fishing guides report is from Matt Driver, wwww.proanglerradio.com
Bass fishing is good and the lake is in full spring mode. Many fish are on bed yet hard to find due to the heavy rain as of late. The lake is a few inches over full pool and is slightly stained. Cranking is still good with several fish coming off the Spro fat john in spring craw. The jig andCarolinarig tipped with a 4 inch Big Bite Yo Mama fished on primary and secondary points is producing some good pre spawn spots. There a lot of 1 pound to 2 pound schooling fish as well. Spro McSticks and Spro Dawgs are working great.
ThisLakeAllatoonafishing guides report for Striper and Hybrids has been brought to you exclusively by Robert Eidson of First Bite Guide Service, 770 827 6282.
www.firstbiteguideservice.com Lake Allatoona, Georgia email: eidson6260@comcast.net
Lines side fishing is good. The water color is getting better and the bite is getting better now that the water level is returning to normal. The river bite is finally started. The white bass have moved up and are being caught on white Rooster Tails and crappie jig. There are also a few Hybrids and small stripes being caught right now up both the Etowah and Little River. We expect the river bite will be in full swing in the next couple of days. Right now we are pending most of our time in the creeks. There are decent schools of fish in all the major creeks right now. Kellogg’s Creek, Stamp Creek, Clark Creek, Tanyard Creek and Iron Hill have all produced in the last 7 days. There is also another bite, mostly white bass, going on from Little River all the way up to Fields Landing. If you find the bait fish, you’ll find stripers and hybrids nearby. These fish are feeding up for the upcoming spawn run. Flat lines in the morning and afternoon and down lines midday is the way to go. We have a book on BASS FISHING LAKE ALATOONA 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 aroundBartowCounty 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
April 18, 2014
LAKEHARTWELLIS FULL, THEMAINLAKEIS CLEAR LOW 60’S THE BACKS OF CREEKS ARE SLIGHTLY STAINED
From Jimbo’s Guide Service onLakeHartwell. GuideRickSteckelberg.
Bass Fishing is fair and the fish are spawning. Fish can be found in main lake pockets and ditches and have been as shallow as 2 to 10 feet, as well as still around points and pockets in 20 feet. We have been using green pumpkin trick worms on a shaky head, a weedless 1/4 oz Fish Head Spin in Pearl White and Albino colors trailed with a Super Fluke Jr. as well as jerk baits in the pockets. The shaky head has also been effective around the docks. Look for the fish to move into a hard stage shallower over the next week. There are some fish on the beds, but it is not yet consistent due to all the cold fronts. Come fish with Rickon LakeHartwelland 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.
April 18, 2014
CLARKS HILL IS FULL, UPPER 60 DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is good. With the full moon the early bite is best. By noon the bite will just fizzles out. The first wave of spawners are now hitting the beds but the slightly colored water back in the creeks and on the flats is making it hard to sight fish for these monsters. Anglers will see more bass locking onto the beds. The water warms up nicely to the upper 60’s by the afternoon and the bite gets tough. Carolinarigs are still being used on the flats along with the Shad Raps early as pre spawn bass are still on the move. The Bussy Recreation area is a good place to find some quality bites this week and it doesn’t matter which side you fish. The Rapala DT FAT3 are excellent baits to use up in the shallow water right now. 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
April 18, 2014
LAKERUSSELLIS FULL, CLEAR & MID 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. There are some fish setting up now in the mouths of the creek and coves and the best way to get them is with the jerk bait and the crank bait. The points are working with the spinner baits and crank baits but be sure there are plenty of rocks present. The Rapala DT6, DT10 and the 3/8 ounce spinner baits will work. Fish the Rapala #10 X Raps along with aCarolinarig on the back sides of the points leading into the coves and creeks too. There is a good bite on the Flukes, Shad Raps, Rat L Traps and original Rapala’s. Crank baits andCarolinarigs are producing on secondary points and flats and some on primary points. Try a Rapala DT10 in blue shad and parrot colors. For the Carolina rig, try a 5” Zoom Lizard or Finesse worm in green pumpkin on a 2-foot leader with a half ounce weight. For asample of theBASSFISHINGLAKERUSSELLbook e mail
April 18, 2014
LAKESEMINOLEIS .09 FEET ABOVE FULL, MUDDY & 67 DEGREES BY MATT BATY 229 726 0513
Bass are in between right now and are not that easy to catch. There are still plenty of spawning fish, but the problem is that you cannot see them. Slower presentations are definitely better and they work well around sand bars on the main lake. If you do not already know where the sandbars are, you can find them easily on your Lowrance Sonar and Structure Scan Units. Once you find a good area, lower you Power Poles and work the area real slow with a 8″ Big Bite Baits Kreit Tail lizard in black and blue. With this technique, you will need a Fish Catchin Fool 3/8 ounce Tungsten Weight and a 5/0 Offset Shank Gamakatsu Hook. There is also a shad spawn beginning in backwater areas where green peanut grass is present. To capitalize on a shad spawn, you need either bladed jig or a swimming jig. A new company known as Buddha Baits has some of the best jigs on the market right now. These jigs come with an extremely large heavy duty hook and a very creative and attractive head design. For the swimming jig, use a white 3/8 Buddha Baits In Seine Swim Jig. Use the white swim jig with a 5″ Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper in white as a trailer. The bladed jig is called a Swagger Jig. For the Swagger Jig, use a 3/8 in white with silver blade and a 5″ white Cane Thumper as well. This technique can be really good if you find the shad in the right areas. For more information and ordering of Buddha Baits, e mail the following address jbassbandit1@yahoo.com. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
April 18, 2014
LAKE GEORGEIS DOWN 2.1 FEET, HIGH 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good and the fish are still shallow. Small crank baits such as a Spro Little John or Stanford Lures Razor Shad in a chartreuse shad have been catching fish all day down the lake around Thomas Mill Creek around rip rap on sea walls. Throw these shallow crank baits on a fluorocarbon because of all the rocks. There is also a good spinnerbait bite early around main lake. Hydrilla flats where shad are spawning in four to six feet of water. The best bite up the lake where the water is stained up pretty good is flipping a Big Bite Baits Fighting frog in black blue around isolated wood in the River Bend area. When the sun is out, flip this same bait with a 1 ounce Tru Tungsten flipping weight to the grass mats around grass creek and Cowikee Creek. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
April 18, 2014
LAKEWEISSIS AT 1.14 FEET BELOW FULL POOL & HEAVY STAINED, 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good and they are being caught shallow in 2 to 5 feet of water on spinner baits, Chatter Baits, shallow running crank baits. Pig and jigs under docks is also producing some good bass. Tournament weights have been 24 to 28 pounds to win over the last month, a lot of big largemouth are being caught.
Crappie fishing is good and they have moved back to deeper water, due to all the rain and muddy water. They are being caught long line trolling with 1/24 and 1/16 ounce Jiffy Jigs in colors JJ01, JJ06, JJ13, JJ17 JJ20, JJ37 and Marks Special Blue. Shooting docks is starting to produce a lot of Crappie also. A lot of fish are also being caught casting jigs and minnows to the banks.
Stop
Now available for sale 50 of my proven GPS waypoints for off shore structure for Bass and Crappie fishing on Weiss Lake, Alabamacontact Ken Sturdivant at ken@havefunfishing.com.
April 18, 2014
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 66 DEGREES, MUDDY UP RIVER, MAIN LAKE STAINED, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 770 361 4210 (cell) or 478 451 0167 (SINCLAIR MARINA)
WWW.SINCLAIRMARINA.COM MATT@SINCLAIRMARINA.COM
Bass fishing is good and the spawn is in full swing. Last weekend’s warm weather and the full moon this past Tuesday caused the bass to flood into the spawning pockets in big waves. Catching these fish will require slowing down and fishing soft plastics baits in protected sandy spawning pockets. These fish will spawn on any piece of cover they can find in the pockets. Isolated stumps, dock walkways, and sea walls will be the best targets to hit when trying to catch these spawning fish over the next few weeks. You might be able to sight fish for some of these fish if you find some of the clearer water down the lake. Bottom crawling baits that you can fish slowly will work best. A Buckeye mop jig with a craw trailer and aTexasrigged Zoom 6” lizard have been extremely effective the past couple of weeks. This is the best time of year to catch that fish of a lifetime! 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 left! Don’t miss out on some great deals! For more information, swing by the marina or give us a call at 478 451 0167.
April 18, 2014
LAKEOCONEEIS FULL, MID 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. The lake is full, stained on the north end, clearing near the dam andRichlandcreek. Water temperature is 66 degrees. All of the major creeks Sugar, Lick, Rocky, and Double branches have lots of fish on and around docks and wood structure. Small square billed crank baits have been the bait of choice. The shad are staging and they should spawn any day. When this happens use the same crank baits along with a rattle trap and fish the sea walls and rip rap in the same creeks.
Striper report byMark Smithof Reel Time guide service. Call 404 803 0741
Striper fishing is good. The fish are at the dam for the spring run. Live bait fished on down lines along with flat lines and plainer boards will pick up fish. You can also pick up extra fish on the 4 arm umbrella rig fished 100 feet behind the boat at 3 mph. You will need shad and shiners as the fish are changing from one to the other from day to day.
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. Look for fish in the middle to the back of the coves and major creeks on flats in the area.
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 Guide 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
April 18, 2014
JACKSONLAKEIS FULL, FEET, STAINED & MID SIXTIES
Bass fishing is good and much of the lake has cleared up but some light stained water is still there. Spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits are fishing well along with crank baits. Bass are plentiful in 1 to 3 foot. Shallow running crank baits in natural colors are effective. Throw something like a Bandit 100 or Little John. Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits are also fishing well. White and pearl baits are good colors in the clear water but Chart/White with gold is good in some areas still. Fish wit a green or pumpkin 3/8 ounceStanleyjig in all the good shallow cover along the way. Search for fish between the mouth and the back of creeks and pockets. Target feeding fish on secondary points and every kind of cover through the pockets. From dock posts and sea walls, to wood and rocks. If it is shallow cover, it can hold fish.
SONAR WITH KEN STURDIVANT at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in the Outdoor Skills Workshop. Lowrance Pro Staff Member Ken Sturdivant will go over the settings for the sonar @ 2pm the last Saturday of the month.
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, BASSFISHINGWESTPOINTLAKEand 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.