The Southern Fishing report by Ken Sturdivant 12-16
By Ken Sturdivant
106 Hickory Ridge
770 889 2654
Cumming, Georgia 30040
December 16, 2011
LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 12.43 FEET, THE BACKS OF CREEKS ARE STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR & 56 DEGREES.
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jim Mathley, www.jimboonlanier.com 770 542 7764
Bass fishing is good. This report will sound very similar to my reports of recent weeks – the fishing for us has truly not changed much. The weather has stayed warm for this time of year and the surface temperatures have remained fairly stable as a result. The bottom line is that we are catching some very big fish shallow consistently each day. These fish range in depths from 1 foot to 15 feet or so. We have been focusing on rocky pockets and points near the mouths of the creeks as well as steeper main lake rocky banks and points in the lower lake for the majority of our fish. We have caught fish on shaky head worms, jigs, crankbaits, jerk baits, and the Fish Head Spin. Early morning, lake evening and during times of a predominant wind are the best times to throw the moving baits. There are fish out deep relating to the timber, and these fish can be caught on a spoon or drop shot. The timber is your best bet for numbers of fish right now, but the size of most of those fish is three pounds or less. When searching for these fish, use your Lowrance electronics to identify subtle structure changes. Where there is bait, there is or will soon be fish. A consistent big fish bite should occur in and around the timber in deep water as the water temperature continues to decline. As always, once you find a creek, pocket, or main lake area holding bait and fish, you may have success by rotating that area with other areas you find holding bait and fish. Fish move up and down in the water column throughout the day, and in the same context move from deep to shallow. Given that, if you have success at one point in the day in a particular location, you may return again later and enjoy further success in the same area. Make sure to come see me, Jimbo, in January 2012 at the Atlanta Boat Show on Saturday and Sunday as well as the Great Southern Fishing show later in January at the North Georgia Trade Center.
This Lake Lanier Striper report is from Captain Ken West and Captain Mike Maddalena of Big Fish On! Guide Service, 404 561 2564. www.bigfishonguide.com
Striper fishing is very good both in terms of size and numbers. The colder temperatures followed by a warm up this week seems to have fired up the fish. The bait has moved out over a 30 to 40 foot bottom. The pattern remains; find the creeks with the highest concentration of bait and fish there. Trout, Gizzard Shad and Herring are all working. The key difference is with Herring you will also pick up a few spotted bass. Start your day with baits 40 feet behind your boards, free lines 80 to 100 feet back and a couple down rods 15 to 30 feet deep. Keep your down rods just over the bait. When the sun gets up start to weight some of your lines with 1 or 2 split shots. Vary your trolling speed. This will let your baits relax and swim instead of just following in a straight line. I had a chance to use Umbrella rigs this week and they worked! As you would suspect I also spent some time getting them out of the trees. We are only using Umbrella rigs if we cannot get the fish to eat baits. Flowery Branch Creek, Mud Creek, Orr Creek and Flat Creek are good places to start. On the north end of the lake try Gainesville, Little River and Wahoo creeks. Check with US Army Corps of Engineers web site to find a list of the ramps that are open before going out. Due to the low lake level a significant number of ramps are closed.
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/lanier…Elevations.htm
See the New Bait and Tackle Store On Lake Lanier. Island Bait and Tackle is located on 5825 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford Georgia 770-614-0080 www.islandbaitandtackle.com. Check with US Army Corps of Engineers web site to find a list of the ramps that are open before going out. Due to the low lake level a significant number of ramps are closed.
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/lanier…Elevations.htm
December 16, 2011
WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 11. 75 FEET, STAINED & 54 DEGREES BY CHRIS BELL
Bass fishing has been great. Fishing conditions have not changed over the recent week. With some of the warmer days mixed in, fish have continued to stay shallow. Lake conditions right now are really low. Use extreme caution when navigating the lake right now. With the lower water stay within channel markers when navigating areas that you are not familiar with. The best ramps still available are located at Yellow Jacket Creek access. These conditions although difficult to run have made for some great wintertime offshore fishing. Catching thirty plus fish a day is very possible. The two best baits are a jigging spoon and drop shot rig. For a jigging spoon use silver or gold half ounce jigging spoons. On sunny days use silver and cloudy days switch to gold. For drop shot rigs use a number one Gamakatsu drop shot hook tied eighteen inches above a quarter ounce drop shot weight. Locate bait offshore in depths eighteen to twenty feet of water. Fish are positioned on structure relating to the main river channel. Once you have located fish stay put as catching numbers is very possible.
Hybrid and striper fishing is great. Temperatures have continued to be consistent this week. There are two patterns dominating right now. You can catch fish by down lining live shad on humps and rod beds. If fish have scattered from offshore structure switch to trolling medium depth crankbaits such as a Bomber Fat Free shad in a shad pattern. Troll baits near the main river channel. As you begin trolling these areas look for bait that is grouped up and fish will not be far behind them.
Crappie fishing has been fair. Trolling has begun to pick up a little this week. Troll a 1/8 ounce Jiffy Jigs black chartreuse curly tail jig. Troll these baits in the ten to twelve feet range going into creeks such as Half Moon and White Water creeks.
December 16, 2011
LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 16.74 FEET, 58 DEGREES AND CLEAR
This bass fishing report is from Matt Driver 404-456-6094 www.proanglerradio.com
Bass fishing has been a little slower this wee and the reason is that the fish are all over the water column due to the warmer weather. The best way to catch them this week is to run and gun with baits like the Spro 95 Mcstick. Fish it quick like you would in the early fall. Fish are really scattered. Spinner baits, and lipless crank baits are also good choices. The jig head bite is pretty good right now but could be better if we get a drop of a few degrees. With the weather being up and down be prepared to adjust day by day.
This Lake Allatoona Fishing Guides Report Is Bought To You By Robert Eidson Of First Bite Guide Service. www.firstbiteguideservice.com 770 827-6282
Line side fishing is good and this week we fished mid lake from Kellogg’s Creek to Clear Creek. We caught some really nice hybrids and stripers on down lines, flat lines spoons and umbrella rigs. We even caught a few nice fish on planner boards this past week. We look for the planner board bite to be wide open in the next two to three weeks. The fish are starting to move halfway back into the creeks and up on the flats. We also starting to see more top water action midday. The fish that are hugging the bottom are willing to eat almost anything. The suspended fish are a little more picky. If they don’t bite within 10 minutes move on to another school We are running a December Special and book a six hour trip on Lake Allatoona or Carters Lake and receive and extra hour on me. You can also view our daily catches on www.lakeallatoonafishing.net under the thread recent trips with First Bite.
December 16, 2011
LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 9.16 FEET, CLEAR & 58 DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair and the fish are on secondary points and moving to the coves all over the lake. Start shallow with a half ounce Bass Pro enticer spinner bait in bright colors and blades and make lots of casts to any wood. Keep a Zoom Super Fluke ready all day and pearl is the best color. The creek points down lake at 10 feet and docks close by have bass close by. Get all baits tight to cover and mid day go to the creek ledges and cast a Bagleys baby bass Killer B II. Use the Texas rigged lizard in pumpkinseed or water melon and add some Real Craw scent. Around lower lake sea walls and docks, use a green Zoom trick worm on and around the docks and work it off the bottom with no weight. Use some Jacks Juice and add a glass Venom rattle in the worm and let it sink on a free line. Slowly work the worm right in the brush around these docks. The Bass Fishing Lake Hartwell guide is for sale. Ask for a free sample via e mail.
Lake levels are from www.lakelevels.info/?StateID=GA
December 16, 2011
CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 10.46 FEET, 57 DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is fair and the water is cooling down with the cooler weather and high winds. Up lake the best baits will be worms and jig and dark colors and larger sizes could prove effective for a big fish. Main lake creek points and creek bends are fair and Culprit red shad worms in the large size on a Texas rig will work but use light sinkers. The afternoon will be better as the warmer coves can offer more shad movement. Work the Bass Pro Entice 1/2 ounce jig and a #1 Uncle Josh pork trailer all in black, on the docks and points. Add some Jacks Juice in garlic scent and make casts to the same location. Crank baits later each day can also work, but with the stained waters, use bright Bomber Flat "A"s in chartreuse and crawfish colors. The same tactics are also fair down lake and add the 1/2 ounce Hopkins spoon and the jigging technique to the plans.
December 16, 2011
LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN 2.90 FEET, CLEAR & 59 DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair and the water is cooling daily with the shorter days. Bass will be suspending on the ledges on or around all major points. Deep diving crankbaits like the DT10 from Rapala will get down to these fish and get the job done. Also try the suspending 7 Rapala Shad Rap and add four or five storm suspend strips to the front of the bait. Long casts will be necessary for full performance and getting down to these suspending fish. Best bet will be to go about half way up either of the two main rivers and stay off the points and areas around them. Make long casts and crank the bait down fast for the first eight to ten feet then slow the bait down to almost a crawl. Work the area thoroughly then move to another. Early morning to mid day will be the most productive using this pattern. Later on it will be necessary to tie on a blue or black/blue jig combination. Any and all wood structure needs a good application of the jig. The bite at times will be very subtle and you may not even feel one at all. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.
December 16, 2011
LAKE SEMINOLE IS DOWN ONE FOOT, CLEAR, 57 DEGREES BY MATT BATY
Bass fishing is good. The lipless crankbait bite and shallow crankbait bite has really turned on down on the main lake. The fish are still somewhat relating to the grass lines and have not yet moved up on top of the flats. Target the areas that are near ditches and grass lines that have good points and cuts on them. Fish with a Spro Aruku Shad 75 in Old Glory and rip it out of the shallow grass. To fish the deeper grass lines and points/ditches use a Stanford Razor Shad Medium Diver in shad color. This bait really comes through the grass nice as it is a cedar bait that has good buoyancy. Once you find a group of fish, then you can really slow down with a Texas Rig 6" Big Bite Kriet Kreature in Watermelon Seed. This is a big bait so you need at least a 5/0 Gamakatsu Worm hook and a 3/8 ounce tungsten weight. Make sure you use heavy line in order to get the fish out of the grass. Don’t be scared to use 20 pound Sunline fluorocarbon as it is some of the best that we have ever fished with. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing On the Water fishing schools.
December 16, 2011
LAKE GEORGE IS DOWN 2.8 FEET, 60 DEGREES AND CLEAR
Bass fishing is fair and the top water fishing is good early on grass lines down lake. The river is still stained, and the fishing is better down lake to the dam. Run the large shallow running crank baits on docks and points later each day. Also use a dark Texas rigged Berkley Power worms in larger sizes slowly worked on these docks all over the lake, can be fair. The upper lake bass are biting and the jig and pig or a crawfish colored Rapala DT10 will work. Later each day, run a Lunker Lure buzz bait over the grass beds and cast these baits right on the banks and pull them slowly over the grass.
December 16, 2011
LAKE WEISS IS DOWN 5.35 FEET, 58 DEGREES & STAINED
Now available for sale 50 of my proven GPS waypoints for off shore structure for Bass and Crappie fishing on Weiss Lake, Alabama. E mail ken@havefunfishing.com
Bass fishing is good. Look for the groups of shad and use the lipless crankbaits and flat sided crank baits. Work the main lake points lake wide. Keep the jig and pig ready because the crawfish are a great fall forage for bass. Jigs can produce spotted bass too, just scale them down. Skipping finesse jigs under docks on light 10pound test Sufix Elite line. Work any lay downs also. Largemouth will get active as the water temperatures drop. get colder. Later this month fish the river channel drops with crank baits finesse jigs and shaky heads.
December 16, 2011
LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.82 FEET, 58 DEGREES, MOSTLY STAINED.
Bass fishing is fair and there are bass almost all over the water column. Fish the main lake points with worms and the jig and pig. The up river fish are on the points and the dark Stanleys in the 3/8th ounce sizes with a #11 Uncle Josh trailer is fair. Use the blacks and silver colors in these jigs cast shallow on the points and docks up lake and work these baits slowly. The Zoom u tail worms in the red shad and green pumpkin on a light Texas rig are fair. Also try a watermelon seed lizard on the short 2 foot leader Carolina rig. Be sure to use the egg sinker in 1/2 ounce sizes are best on the rig. The Flat A Bombers in the fire tiger and baby bass colors are also fair on the points and around docks. Keep the line sizes down to 10 pound Sufix Elite and these baits will run a few feet deeper. Zoom Flukes in pearl are catching a few bass but the water needs to cool off several more degrees for this to become a good pattern.
December 16, 2011
LAKE OCONEE IS DOWN 1.04 FEET, 57 DEGREES AND CLEAR.
Bass fishing is fair. There is a light stain on main lake and stained up the rivers. The bait is in the middle of the main lake creeks. Some days it is so thick with bait you think you could walk across the coves. Then other days you will only have small bait pods moving around in the creeks. Look for the fish to be holding tight to wood cover in the creeks with bait. Docks or any wood structure are holding fish. Small crank baits, jigs, slow rolled spinner baits are all working to some degree. Start the day with the small crank bait and work any wood you see on off the bank. As the day light increases work a jig under the docks from the middle of the creeks to the back. The dark blue black jigs have been working best over the past few days. If Georgia Power is moving water then we move to the rip rap on the bridges and start throwing a number 7 Shad Rap in a shad pattern.
Lake Oconee Line Side report brought to you by Mark Smith at Reel Time Guide Service. 404-803-0741. wwwreeltimeguideservice.com
Line side fishing is good to excellent. The birds are starting to give the fish away. Keep an eye to the sky. The fish have shown up this past week from the 44 bridge to the dam. The early morning bite has been off of the charts most days. If Georgia Power is moving water you can run out of bait fast. The fish are starting to school. Use your Lowrance to locate the schools. When you find the fish drop the live bait to them. Down lines are out producing the flat lines this week. The spoon bite is starting to pick up. If you do not have bait or if you have run out of bait then the spoon is a great way to put more fish in your boat. There have been days in the past when the spoon has out produced live bait, so keep them handy. The new Capt. Mac spoons are out producing all other spoons 2 to 1. They seem to have more flash and they are same size as the bait fish. You will need the ½ ounce or the ¾ ounce to match the hatch. This spoon bite will last all winter unless we get a big shad kill. Sugar Creek has the Capt. Mac umbrella rigs in stock along with Okuma line counter reels and Okuma striper rods and a complete line of striper gear. Just in they have Cap. Macs spoons and crappie jigs for the winter season. If you like to see the Lowrance HDS units in action give me a call and we can show you how it works. You can have an on the water demo. 404-803-0741 Make plans to attend the Atlanta Boat show January 12-15. Come to the fish tank and say Hi.
Crappie fishing is very good. The crappie are showing up in the middle of the major creek. Live bait is the best bet for loading the cooler. Use your Lowrance to locate the fish and drop a live shad down. Keep moving until you locate the fish. They are scattered all over the major creeks but when you find them they will feed.
December 16, 2011
JACKSON LAKE IS DOWN 4.10 FEET, LIGHT STAIN & 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair and they are moving to the points and creek bends down lake and are tight on cover. Down lake, use the Rattle Back 1/2 ounce jig and a larger Pro Pork Trailer by Uncle Josh, on the heavy cover. The crank bait and spinner baits cast on the bank cover and slowly fished will get strikes. Later in the day, spinner baits down lake in the creeks are fair, just work bank cover. Stanley spinner baits with bright blades will draw shallow strikes as the bass move to the creek banks and points during the day. The Zoom water melon seed lizards on a Carolina rig, has been good later each day. Also on creeks on old channels, use a Culprit red shad worm on a Texas rig with the brass and glass combination. Work baits right on the bank around any cover.
Our DVD, Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass is now on sale for only $ 25.00 including shipping. Send a check payable to Southern Fishing Schools Inc. to: Southern Fishing Schools Inc to 106 Hickory Ridge Drive, Cumming Georgia. Please allow 14 days for delivery.
The 2012 Atlanta Boat Show is January 12-15, 2011 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Come and see our fishing seminars.
The Great Southern Fishing Show will be held at the North Atlanta Trade Center January 121-22, 2011. We have shallow water seminars, fly fishing, guide trips and much more. Seminars will be posted soon.
Ken Sturdivant, Lowrance Professional Fishing Staff will be conducting FREE! Sonar Seminars at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Lawrenceville Georgia. The BASICS OF SONAR seminars are held on the last Saturday of each month at 2pm. All seminars are subject to change without notice.
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. See the new Lowrance machines at www.lowrance.com. Lowrance Announces HDS Gen2. See them in action at Bass Pro Shops in Lawrenceville this Saturday from noon until 5pm.
We have these BASS FISHING books for sale: BASS FISHING LAKE LANIER, BASS FISHING LAKE ALLATOONA, BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE, BASS FISHING LAKE RUSSELL, BASS FISHING WEST POINT LAKE and BASS FISHING LAKE HARTWELL. These books are written exclusively for Bass and each book 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.
Copyright 2011, Southern Fishing Schools Inc. calls us to set up a school, Maps and Depth Finders or Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. www.havefunfishing.com 770 889 2654
2012 Atlanta Boat Show Lets Go Fishing Center Seminars Presented by Allstate!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
2:00 pm Trophy Bass Tactics, Hawg Trough Fishing Team
3:00 pm Drop Shots, Carolina Rigs and Jerk Baits, Tyrone Phillips
4:00 pm Lake Oconee Fishing, Mark Smith
5:00 pm Stripers! Captain Ken West
6:00 pm Lowrance HDS Technology, Ken Sturdivant
7:00 pm Drop Shots, Carolina Rigs and Jerk Baits, Tyrone Phillips
8:00 pm West Point Lake, Chris Bell
Friday, January 13, 2012
1:00 pm Lowrance HDS, Ken Sturdivant
2:00 pm Drop Shots, Carolina Rigs and Jerk Baits, Tyrone Phillips
3:00 pm Trolling for Stripers, Marty Allagood
4:00 pm Trophy Bass Tactics, Hawg Trough Fishing Team
5:00 pm Fly Fishing Accuracy Beginner to Advanced, Rene Hess CCI
5:30pm Phil Johnson, Spotted Bass Secrets
6:00 pm Stripers! Captain Ken West
6:30 pm Fish Head Spin Techniques, Rick Stickelberg, Jim Mathley
7:00 pm Lowrance HDS Technology, Ken Sturdivant
8:00 pm Lake Oconee Crappie, Al Bassett
Saturday, January 14, 2012
11:00 am Trophy Bass Tactics, Hawg Trough Fishing Team
Noon West Point Lake, Chris Bell
1:00 pm Stripers! Captain Ken West
1:30pm Lanier Bass Tactics, Jim Mathley
2:00 pm Crank Baits for Bass, Ken Sturdivant
2:30 pm Kayak Fishing 101, Drew Gregory
3:00 pm Fly Fishing Accuracy Beginner to Advanced, Rene Hess CCI
3:30 pm Springtime Spotted Bass, Phil Johnson
4:00 pm Fish Head Spin Techniques, Rick Stickelberg, Jim Mathley
4:30 pm Lake Allatoona Bass, Matt Driver
5:00 pm Lowrance HDS Technology, Ken Sturdivant
5:30 pm Bass Tournament Basics, Matt Driver
6:00 pm Lake Oconee Crappie, Al Bassett
6:30 pm Float-N-Fly Techniques, Matt Driver
7:00 pm Spotted Bass Brush Pile Techniques, Captain Marty Allagood
8:00 pm Trophy Bass Tactics, Hawg Trough Fishing Team
Sunday, January 15, 2012
11am Trophy Bass Tactics, Hawg Trough Fishing Team
Noon West Point Lake, Chris Bell
12:30pm Lanier Bass Tactics, Jim Mathley
1:00 pm Bass Tournament Basics, Matt Driver
1:30 pm Fly Fishing Beginner to Advanced, Rene Hess CCI
2:00 pm Lowrance HDS Technology, Ken Sturdivant
3:00 pm Stripers! Captain Ken West
4:00 pm Trophy Bass Tactics, Hawg Trough Fishing Team
5:00 pm Advanced Striper Techniques, Ken Sturdivant
Sport Fishing Forums – North Carolina, South Carolina & Georgia Fishing
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