“The Southern Fishing Report” by Ken Sturdivant
770 889 2654
Cumming, Georgia 30040
February 6, 2015
LAKE LANIER IS .74 FEET BELOW FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE AND CREEKS ARE STAINED & MID 40’S
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764
Bass fishing is good. 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 still be your first check. They are not everywhere, but when you find them they are schooled up nicely on most days. Check for bait in these likely areas. If there is no bait, move to the next ditch. In the early mornings, start shallower in 15 feet or less in pockets or the back of productive creek ditches 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 and have remained consistent producers for us. Focus on timber edges and work your baits SLOWLY! With the days getting longer and the weather stabilizing on the warm side for the next 10 days, look for a move of fish to the shallower staging areas at the mouths of creeks. More to come on this pattern as it continues to emerge. This is still 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. This is also a great time to learn the art of fishing the winter to spring transition on Lanier. Here is what I have open next week: Feb 9, 10 and 11. 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. However, the weather continues to be tough with the cold temperatures and more importantly the high winds. With the wind and cold temperatures being the bad news the good news is there is an afternoon bite with both bait and umbrella rigs. If you can get on the water early and are able to handle the cold temperatures, pulling bait on free lines and boards before sun up on flats in the back of the creeks can produce a big fish. As the sun gets up move over deeper water and weight your free lines and drop a couple of down rods over the side. Vary the depth of your baits depending on the bottom. Herring remains the top bait producer but do not overlook small shiners or better yet; net some threadfins. As the afternoon approaches you can switch to Umbrella rigs and pull humps and points from the mouth of the creeks to half way back in the creeks. With the umbrella rigs, always start with both chartreuse, pearl or white trailers on buck tail jigs. Biased on your results you can determine the preferred color and switch your umbrella rigs to the most productive color. We use 4 inch shad bodies but worm trailers also work well. Feel free to use different colors and trailers but day in and day out white/pearl and chartreuse tend to work best. There are fish in every creek with high concentrations of bait. However, Flat Creek, Balus Creek and Four Mile creek are hard to beat this time of year. The lake temperature mid to 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.
We have posted an article explaining the effects of barometric pressure on our web site. The following is the link to the article. http://www.bigfishonguide.com/2011/07/using barometric pressure and the thermocline for striper fishing.
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
February 6, 2015
WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 5.9 FEET, STAINED & HIGH 40’S
Bass fishing is fair. A few fish pulled up a little following bait seeking warmer temperatures. Cover as much water as possible throwing small shallow running crank baits in a shad pattern. Bass have preferred tighter wobbling crank baits like a Rapala glass Shad Rap in the shad pattern. Using long cast as close to rocky banks make about five turns with the reel and pause. Repeat this cadence all the way back to the boat. Fish the northern end of the lake because of the stained water is warming faster. Focus on rocky points closest to the main river channel.
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.
February 6, 2015
LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 10.7 FEET, STAINED & LOW HIGH 40’S DEGREES
This Lake Allatoona bass fishing guides report is from Matt Driver, www.proanglerradio.com
Bass fishing is fair. The spoon and drop shot bite has been great. The fish are hold of points in the main lake that is where most of the bait is still staged. Idle around till you locate some activity on the Lowrance and drop the 1/2 ounce spoon to the fish. Activity will come and go throughout the day. I’m mixing it up with the Spro little john DD and the A rig tipped with 3.5 in big bite cult tailed jigs in white. There has actually been some really good fish caught. Don’t let the wind and cold stop you from getting out on the lake.
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@gmail.comatt
Line side fishing is good. Most of the bait and fish have moved south and can be found from the dam to the blockhouse. Small gizzard shad along with small trout fished on free lining and planner Boards are working best early. Once the sun comes which to down lining these same baits at 20 to 30 feet deep out over the river. We also have a very good umbrella rig bite going on right now. We are pulling an umbrella rig 4 arm 3 ounce loaded rig. Pull your rigs at 2.9 to 3.3 miles and hour at 120 feet back. Our better fish this week have come on live bait. But, we are also catching some good ones on rigs. The spoon bite is good. Use a 1/2 white Flex It spoon on the south end flats and points. Over all the bite is extremely good for this time of year. And if we get any kind of warm up, I look for the bite to stay steady the rest of the winter.
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.
February 6, 2015
LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 3.7 FEET & HIGH 40’S
Bass fishing is good. The water temperatures should not get any colder this month unless winter comes back for a week. Bass are staging now and secondary points near deeper water seem to be the favorite this week among anglers. A few early morning bass are being caught on spinnerbaits around brush piles and wood and one or two around the bigger docks. Throw shallow and work it slow all the way back to the deeper water. Most of the fish being taken are biting slow moving crank baits while fishing small cuts and the sides of smaller secondary points. Good baits for this are the Storm deep wart and of course the RS Shad raps. The key here is not to over work the bait. A slow retrieve with an occasional pause is what is getting the most bites. Try several colors and baits before leaving an area. Good baits for locating and catching the shallow water bass are the Rattle Hot Craw Tube and the Zoom Magnum trick worm Rig both of these baits on a Texas rig with heavy line and flip right into heavy cover and let it sit. Several casts might be necessary to get a bite. Work your way from the mouth to the back of the smaller creeks and then back out again. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.
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.
February 6, 2015
CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 2.9 FEET, HIGH 40’S DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is fair. Start the day with the shakey head and a green pumpkin Zoom trick worm and use a very light head. Also cranking the number five and seven Shad Raps along with the DT10 in hot mustard will work. Stay in the channel and crank the ledges and you go along. The bass will be holding to the cover as expected with the low water. A limit of bass should be easy enough to get. Worm fishing is the best bet. Shallow crank bait fishing is good early and late in the day or any time the light is low. Increased water clarity will move fish deeper or under docks on a clear day. Deep Net Boy football jigs and shakey head finesse worms will produce on deeper fish. Jerk baits also come into play with increased water clarity and a little wind. The crank bait bite is in 3 to 6 foot of water, and can be found shallow on flat clay bottom with chunk rock and other hard bottom. South to West points, cuts and flats should be targeted. Flat sided baits like a Little John or lipless baits can be good choices. A #7 Shad Rap will work well. The water color is right for natural shad, craw, and pearl colored baits. February is the month that most of the largest bass are caught.
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.
February 6, 2015
LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & LOW 50’S
Bass fishing is good. With the water temperatures on the rise now is a good time to head to Elberton. The surface temperatures will vary depending on the amount of sun and cloud daily but it won’t bother the bass. This bass are starting to stage up for the pre spawn move and some of them are being caught in very shallow water along the banks. Slow rolling spinnerbaits along with a good slow moving crank bait will get the job done. The areas between points and secondary point is a good place to start but don’t overlook the rocky and wood cover found up in the rivers. Throw small Bandits and the Husky Jerks and as well as the Shad Rap. Take along some Zoom green lizards with a Texas rig, and throw directly in the heavy cover. Work lay down trees all the way out to the deeper water with this bait. The lizard bite is working as these early moving bass are clearing out a path and getting ready to make their move. Also use the Shad Raps on the rip rap at the 72 bridge and around the islands.
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.
February 6, 2015
LAKE SEMINOLE IS FULL, STAINED AND LOW 50’S BY MATT BATY
Bass fishing is good and the bass are starting to move up on the beds now. Sight fishing is really a good way to catch bass right now, as long as you are in clear water near a good bedding area. Use a good pair of polarized glasses to find the beds and the bass. Once you find a bass on bed, you need to determine whether or not the fish is worth your time. Some of the bass will be locked on and will stay on the bed when you pitch your bait in. These are the ones that will usually bite. If the bass swims off when you pitch in your bait, than they usually are the ones that are difficult to catch. Each bedding bass is different, so you just have to experiment to learn a little about each fish. There are many different bait’s that will catch bass like the Big Bite Baits. Look for the Big Bite sight fishing bait called the Warmouth. It really resembles a bream feeding on the eggs of a bass when Texas rigged. Also use the jerk bait near spawning areas. Go with the Spro McStick 95, as it is a little smaller than its original 110. The bait works real well on 10 pound Sunline FC Sniper, so you may have to use a spinning outfit. Fast erratic actions with 4 to 5 second pauses seem to work best this time of year. This technique really works well, so go out and give it a shot. The best color we use is the clear chartreuse.
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.
February 6, 2015
LAKE GEORGE IS FULL, LOW 50’S
Bass fishing is good. Bass are hitting jigs and Texas rigs and the greens are a good choice. Lipless and lipped cranks are doing the trick. Working these baits deep on top of ledge drops is producing. Use the 3/8 ounce Stanley spinner bait in white or chartreuse and the Shad Raps right on the banks. Shad Raps in the #7 shad/black back on 10 pound test Sufix Siege line are good choices. Work the lower lake creeks and ledges with a Zoom green pumpkin chartreuse tail or sour grape lizard or worm either on a Texas or Carolina rig. Use the longer leader on the Carolina rig and a full one ounce weight. Bass are on the creek points, ledges and wood as well as shallow pond dams in the lower lake creeks. A chrome 1/2 ounce Rat L Trap on points can draw bass and cast the baits right on the bank. The river fish are biting bright Stanley spinner bait mid day and work the wood. Black and blue jigs will work on the wood.
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.
February 6, 2015
LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, LOW 50’S
Bass fishing is poor. The lake is full, muddy from the 44 bridge north, stained over most of the lake.
The Richland creek arm of the lake has the best water color and has been producing better than the Oconee side. Small crank baits with rattles fished on sea walls and around docks. Jigs fished around docks in the Richland creek arm of the lake have produce a few fish over the past week. Dark Jigs with a rattle, brown, blue and black have been the best colors. Spinner baits fished along any rock bank will also draw a strike. 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 spoon down to the school.
Striper report by Mark Smith of Reel Time guide service. Call 404 803 0741 or
Striper fishing is fair. Early in the mornings there have been some birds working on the south end of the lake. When you find the birds think small bait. A 1/4 ounce. jig head with a small supper fluke, a small rooster tail will work. Keep a Capt. Mack 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 good to 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.
I will be at the Great Outdoor Show in Perry Ga. at the fair grounds this weekend. Come by and see me and talk fishing. You can also book your Crappie and striper trips with Reel Time Guide 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 Guide Service at 404 803 0741 or reeltime@bellsouth.net
February 6, 2015
WEISS LAKE IS AT 4′ 4″ BELOW FULL POOL AND Stained AND 43 45 DEGREE’S
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.
Striper fishing is poor and most of the fish have left the main lake making their spring run up the Coosa river, I have not had any reports on the upper Coosa river.
Crappie fishing is great and they are being caught in Cowan Creek, Little River and the Chattooga River and Little Spring Creek. The bays off the Coosa River near Riverside Campground are starting to produce some Crappie, The log jams on the main Coosa channel near Riverside are producing some Crappie. Long line trolling with Jiffy Jigs in 1/24 ounce in colors JJ08, JJ13, JJ24, JJ25,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.
February 6, 2015
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 48 53 DEGREES, STAINED ACROSS MUCH OF THE LAKE, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 478 451 0167 ext 1215 (SINCLAIR MARINA)
WWW.SINCLAIRMARINA.COMMATT@SINCLAIRMARINA.COM
For more fishing reports on other Georgia lakes, see www.southernfishing.com.
Bass fishing is fair. The weather has been a little bit colder which has been keeping the water temperatures low and unable to rise. We have also experienced a full moon this week which has made the fish key in on crawfish type baits. A crank bait and jig have been the dominant baits over the past week and I expect this to continue into next week. In the morning start out with a Spro Little John in the blood craw or spring craw color. The red and orange colors will mimic wintertime crawfish. Focus fishing the crank bait on primary points, river channel banks, or creek channel swings that contain rock or red clay. After the crank bait bite slows, pick up a Buckeye mop jig in black and blue or green pumpkin. Fish the jig in these same areas. Docks and lay down trees are ideal targets to fish this jig. A ¼ ounce jig works best this time of year as it falls slower and will stay in the strike zone longer. If we get some warm weather in the next week, look for the fish to move up extremely shallow on flats and points that contain hard bottom. The afternoon will be the best time to fish for the next couple of weeks as the water temperature will be slightly warmer. Some deep fish can also be found on the lower end of the lake in 25 to 30 feet of water. A gold Buckeye Jiggin’ blade will catch these fish by dropping it vertically in front of the boat. Use your Lowrance HDS electronics to find the schools of bait in the creek channels near the mouth of major creeks.
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.
FEBRUARY 6, 2015
JACKSON LAKE IS DOWN .70 FEET, STAINED & HIGH 40’S
Bass fishing is fair. Up in the rivers white Chatterbaits are fair cast them to any structure. Docks and stumps as well as the docks with the heavy cover have fish and they will bite the u tail worms and jigs. Lizards are also productive on the points about midway up in the rivers. Try the six inch Zoom green lizard on a Carolina rig on the smaller rocky points and secondary points. Use the pumpkin fire tail and smoke and chartreuse. Stay off the area and make long casts using 12 or 14 pound Sufix Elite line. Slow roll the lizard over the bottom and stop it every three feet or so for 15 to 20 seconds. Most of the bites will come after the bait has stopped or just when it starts to move again. Crank baits are also working but only while using a slow retrieve. Work short stretches of bank that connects a point with a secondary point. Use the Rapala Shad colored DT10 to catch the larger bass that are staged up on the channel ledges near the deeper water and around the dam area.
We teach On the Water Schools for Sonar and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for Ken details at 770 889 2654 for details.
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.