“The Southern Fishing Report” by Ken Sturdivant
770 889 2654
Cumming, Georgia 30040
February 26, 2015
LAKE LANIER IS FULL POOL, THE MAIN LAKE AND CREEKS ARE STAINED & MID 40’S
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 542 7764
The DVD’s from my January 17th Seminar are now available. They are $39 each. Give me a call if you are interested in purchasing one: 770 542 7764.
Bass fishing is fair. There have still been fish shallow as well as in mid depth and deep ranges. 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. Docks in the 15 to 20 foot range are starting to hold fish as well. If the jerk bait and SuperSpin do not produce, switch to a shaky head and present plastics such as a creepy crawler. The ditches with standing timber in 45 feet 60 feet can still be productive as well. They are not everywhere so stay flexible in your search. Check for bait in these likely areas. If there is no bit, move to the next ditch. 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! This is still a great time to learn how to fish the deep timber on Lanier, and is also a great time to learn the art of fishing the winter to spring transition on Lanier. My March is filling up quickly. Please give me a call ASAP if you are looking to shake off the stench of winter! Here is what I have left open in March right now: 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31 Give me a call and let’s go get ’em
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 weather has once again kept me off the lake. As a matter of fact we are writing this while listening to a winter storm warning on the TV. The good news is it looks like we will get a break in the weather for this weekend and spring is right around the corner. We can’t wait to get on the water without ice in the bottom of the boat. There is a shallow water early morning bite using herring, threadfin and gizzard shad on free lines and planner boards. Once the sun gets up, weight your lines with several split shots, deploy your down rods in addition to your free lines and move to deeper water. The bait has been moving to a depth of 25 to 40 feet over 40 to 80 foot bottom. If you are not marking bait; move until you do and fish there. This pattern should hold as long as the water temperature stays in the mid 40 degree range. If the water temperatures dips into the low 40’s we will start to see a threadfin shad die off and the stripers will get “locked in” on these small bait fish. This will require you to fish with smaller baits in an attempt to match the small Threadfins. You may also want to reduce your trolling speed to .3 to .5 miles per hour. 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 40’s and the water is lightly stained on the main lake with heavy stain in the backs of the creeks. The lake is less than one foot below full pool.
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. Water temperature in the backs of the creeks is about thirty eight degrees. If you pull out to the middle of the creek in deeper water, you may find temperatures at about forty two degrees. That is significant because sustained temperatures in that range will trigger bait kill. Before the bait dies, it becomes lethargic, becoming easy targets, and the crappie will be on a feeding frenzy. It is good that they are getting fatter, but with an abundant food source, they will be harder to catch. The fish we are catching now are not the big fish we normally catch toward the end of February. You will see a major change as the water temperature begins to rise within the next week or so. When it does rise and the spawn nears, look for a strong bite. At that point, you will reap the benefit of the bait kill. We are currently catching fish on docks in about twenty feet of water, with the fish suspended from six to ten feet below the surface. The desired docks are definitely the ones with structure underneath. Your side scan electronics are very important this time of year. Expect fish to start to move quickly to more shallow water as temperatures rise. When that occurs, the color of the fish will begin to darken, especially the males. This will indicate that the spawn is near. Mr. Crappie and Bobby Garland soft body straight tails are still our favorite jigs, with either one twenty fourth ounce or one sixteenth ounce jig heads. Be safe on the water and wear your life jacket, it can save your life.
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 26, 2015
WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 5.2 FEET, STAINED & LOW 50’S
Bass fishing is fair. Off shore hot spots on spotted bass have continued to produce with drop shot rigs and jigging spoons. If largemouth are your focus you are going to need to cover a lot of water with shallow crank baits and spinnerbaits. Look for red clay points and rocky banks with sunlight on them most of the day. Find the warmest water with the Lowrance sonar and be sure there are some bait schools close by. Bait fish loves any rocky bank as the water will be a bit warmer. Most of these points and banks will be north eastern shorelines. Make long casts with crank baits and spinnerbaits on the shallow end of points. Slowly reel baits making sure to keep continuous contact with the bottom. The best crank baits are a Bomber 4A and Bandit 200 series in a red craw pattern. Spinnerbait patterns can be limited to a ½ ounce War Eagle white with double willow leaf blades gold and silver.
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 26, 2015
LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 8.6 FEET, STAINED & LOW HIGH 40’S DEGREES BY MATT DRIVER WWW.PROANGLERRADIO.COM
Bass fishing is great. Expect things to slow a little toward the end of the month as temps begin to get into the lower 40s. This time of year is when we see a shad kill, if it does occur. As of right now, fishing is great with the Float n Fly bite in full swing. Fish the Red Rooster Carters Special on 9 to 12 feet of 6 pound test Sunline Sniper leader on wind blown bluff walls in the mid lake areas. The Alabama rig bite is good, as well. The Yumbrella with blades and the Dayton Boat Dock rig are really good ways to find good schools of big spots. The key to the Alabama rig is slow rolling it. We are tipping the rig with 1/8 ounce round ball jig heads and Big Bite Baits 3.5 inch white Cane Thumpers. The drop shot and jigging spoon bites are great, if you can keep the white bass and hybrids off the line. While in search for productive water and as long as clarity stays good, you can pick a few fish up on the Spro McStick and McRip, but we haven’t had the results we would like to have on these baits yet. Don’t fish alone this time of year. Hypothermia is a killer.
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 fair. The cold weather we have had the last several days has slowed the bite down some, but it’s still worth getting out. The south end of the lake is still the place to be right now. All of our stripers are coming on trout and shad fished on planner boards and free lines out over open water. And all of our hybrids are coming on trout and shad fish on down lines 20 30 feet deep on humps and points. The umbrella rig bite has picked back up. We are using a 4 arm rig loaded with pink trailers. Our better bite is coming in eye sight of the dam. We are pulling our rigs at 3 miles per hour and a 100 feet back right just off the river channels..
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 26, 2015
LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 3.1 FEET & HIGH 40’S
Bass fishing is fair are fair. Use the small Fish Head Spin with a small Zoom Fluke trailer. Also use the Rattle Back jigs in black and blue or all black 1/2 ounce jig and a larger Pro Pork Trailer by Uncle Josh. Cast to the banks cover and work baits tight. Afternoons are better for faster moving baits with a Rebel Deep Wee R in silver and blue back on points. Spoons are fair in the creeks. Anglers are using the Alabama rig with limited success with small Zoom Flukes as trailers. The Zoom blue pumpkin lizard on a Texas rig has been fair on deep docks and points. Add a glass rattle in the lizard. A dark Strike King jig in black or browns and a crawfish Uncle Josh trailer, in matching colors can get strikes. But fish the baits slowly. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing “On the Water” fishing schools.
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.
February 26, 2015
CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 2.9 FEET, HIGH 40’S DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is fair and the weather continues to try test man and machines this winter. Bass are tight in cover after the snow and ice. Get into the shallows and find the warmest water possible. Use the Super Spin and the Rattle Back black and blue or all black 1/2 ounce jig and a larger Pro Pork Trailer by Uncle Jos, on the heavy cover and on rocks. The bass can be tight in cover and the Zoom lizards in pumpkinseed colors is fair. In the creeks on points close to the current, use the dark jig and pig combination, fishing tight in any cover on the bank as far out as 15 feet. Use some Real Craw scent and use it often casting to the same location. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.
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
February 26, 2015
LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & LOW 50’S
Bass fishing is fair and the weather is still cold and then warm. For a bigger fish, use a 1/2 ounce Enticer Back black and blue and a larger Pro Pork Trailer by Uncle Josh on the heavy cover. Find thick brush piles on points as they will hold bass. The Ito Vision 110 in the shad pattern and a small Fat Free shad are fair as the water warms later in the day. Start out using worms and jigs worked slowly. The Zoom smoke red u tail worm in the brush using a Texas rig with light sinker will draw a few strikes. Crank baits are better in the creek and bright perch or bream colors are fair. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.
Sample of the BASS FISHING LAKE RUSSELL e mail ken@southernfishing.com
February 26, 2015
LAKE SEMINOLE IS DOWN ONE FOOT, CLEAR AND MID 50’S MATT BATY
Bass fishing is good. Deep crank baits and jerkbaits having been working for bass. I suspect a red 3/4 ounce Rat L Trap will start to work. If it turns colder, then a 1/2 ounce Little George, Heddon Sonic or Silver Buddy will work. Also, drop shots will start to work. The water temperatures are down and the grass is dying. This has made the lipless crank bait bite and Chatter Bait bite turn on. With the cold water, the bass are still relating to the deep grass edges. The middle grounds between the Firebreak and Stinky Island and the flats in front of Wingates are both good places. For the lipless crank bait, opt for a heavier 3/4 ounce bait such as a Spro Aruku Shad 85 in mudbug red. For the Chatter Bait, use a 1/2 ounce green pumpkin with a 4 inch Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper in easy money color. Another pattern that seems to be working is using drop shots in Spring Creek. For the best setup, use a Lew’s spinning reel, a Duckett spinning rod, 7 lb. Sunline fluorocarbon, a Gamakatsu drop shot hook and a 1/4 ounce drop shot weight. Nose hook a Big Bite Baits 6 inch Shaking Squirrel in earthworm, and then you’re in business. The best areas to drop shot are anywhere in Spring Creek in deep timber. You need really good electronics with DownScan, such as the Lowrance HDS touchscreen units. They make it much easier to locate fish and shad to increase your odds.
Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
February 26, 2015
LAKE GEORGE IS FULL, LOW 50’S
Bass fishing is fair and use the Stanley jigs in black and blue or all black 1/2 ounce jig and a larger Pro Pork Trailer by Uncle Josh. Cast to the banks cover and work baits tight. Afternoons are better for faster moving baits with a Rebel Deep Wee R in silver and blue back on points. Spoons are fair in the creeks. The Zoom green pumpkin lizard on a Texas rig has been fair on deep docks and points. Add a glass rattle in the lizard. A dark Rattle Back jig in black or browns and a crawfish Uncle Josh trailer, in matching colors can get strikes. But fish the baits slowly. Down lake work the main lake points with a Bagley’s Killer “B” II in baby bass or a spinner bait with gold and silver combinations in willow leaf blades. Day fishing is fair in the creeks on the ends of points. Worms in smoke and red colors of a Carolina rig is fair. Cast to any bank cover with the watermelon green floating trick worm half way in the creeks and the off river coves. We teach “ON THE WATER SCHOOLS” for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.
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 26, 2015
LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, LOW 50’S
Bass fishing is fair. The lake is full, stained over most of the lake, sugar creek and lick creek are starting to clear. Water temperature is 45 to 51 degrees. Small crank baits with rattles fished on sea walls and around docks. 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. This is the time of year when cold fronts come in and move the fish back into deeper water. Then as we move away from the fronts the fish will move back toward the banks and rocks. Remember to slow down your retrieve as the water is still cold below the surface.
Crappie fishing is fair. The fish are moving into the major creeks. Use a dark jig tipped with a minnow. Spider rigs have been the best producers over the past week. Use your Lowrance to located the depth and location of the schools and adjust your depth to put the jig on top of the fish. Over the next few weeks the largest fish will be moving into the coves and creeks to spawn so now it the time to fill a cooler with big slabs.
Striper report by Mark Smith, Reel Time guide service. Call 404 803 0741 reeltime@bellsouth.net
Striper fishing is poor. Some fish are starting to show up at the dam for the spring run. Live bait fished on down lines will pick up a few fish. Use small baits like a very small thread fin or a crappie minnow. Most of the stripers being caught are by crappie fisherman. 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
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 26, 2015
WEISS LAKE IS DOWN 3.2 FEET, STAINED AND 39 TO 41 DEGREE’S
From: Mark Collins Guide Service www.markcollinsguideservice.com 256 779 3387
Fishing was great this past week with a lot of Crappie caught, there were not many Bass fishermen on the water. The roads and boat ramps are clear of snow, so come on over to Weiss Lake and get in on some great fishing.
Bass fishing is fair and a lot are on the old creek and river channel ledges and deeper humps and road beds, 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. Some Bass are being caught shallow on deeper banks with rocks. Spotted Bass are starting to show up on some secondary points also. The Rat L Trap bite should turn on over the next few weeks.
Striper fishing Poor and most of the fish have left the main lake making their spring run up the Coosa river, We have not had any reports on the upper Coosa river
Crappie fishing is great and they are being caught in the main Coosa River, 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. Long line trolling with Jiffy Jigs in 1/16 ounce and 1/24 ounce in colors JJ08, JJ13,JJ17, JJ24, 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
February 26, 2015
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 47 52 DEGREES, RIVERS AND CREEKS ARE STAINED, LOWER LAKE IS CLEAR, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 478 451 0167 ext 1215 (SINCLAIR MARINA)
WWW.SINCLAIRMARINA.COM MATT@SINCLAIRMARINA.COM
For more fishing reports on other Georgia lakes, see www.southernfishing.com.
Bass fishing is good. Crank baits, jigs, and shaky heads have been the most productive over the past week. Shallow to medium depth crank baits have been good in the early morning and late evening fishing river points and rocky banks near deep water. The Spro Little John 50 and MD 50 crank baits have been getting bites when fishing it really slowly bumping it off the rocks and lay down trees. Chartreuse with a blue back and blood red craw have been the best two colors. The crank bait will produce bites all day long in overcast conditions. On bright sunny days, a jig and shaky head will work best when fished around docks and lay down trees. A 1/4ounce black and blue Buckeye Mop Jig paired with a Zoom Super Chunk will produce quality bites around boathouses and brushy docks in 6 to 8 feet of water. A 1/8 ounce Buckeye Spot Remover shaky head with a black trick worm will be best on tough post front days. Target brush piles, docks, and rock piles in 8 15 feet of water with the shaky head for the best results.
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. Water is 43 degrees, and is .49 feet below full pool.
FEBRUARY 26, 2015
JACKSON LAKE IS DOWN .90 FEET, STAINED & HIGH 40’S
Bass fishing is fair. Go up the rivers and flip and pitch black or blue Stanley jigs with a matching plastic Zoom pork style trailer to the docks and heavy bank cover. Use the darker red colors in all worms and lizards and shad crank baits are good casting them right on the banks. Early and late each day, use a bubble gum Zoom trick worm on the wood and even rip rap on bridges. The bass bite better later in the day, on the grass lines or the rip rap on bridges. On main lake points a 3/8th ounce Stanley sinner bait is good and cast to any stumps. During the middle of the day, the river bass are fair on a larger Gilraker worm and fish them right on the bank cover. The Zoom water melon seed lizard and a long 3 foot Carolina rig can draw a few strikes on points down lake. We teach “ON THE WATER SCHOOLS” for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.
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.
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.