The Southern Fishing Report” by Ken Sturdivant 4-2

By Ken Sturdivant

106 Hickory Ridge

770 889 2654

Cumming, Georgia 30040

www.havefunfishing.com

April 1, 2011

LAKE LANIER IS FULL, THE CREEKS ARE SLIGHTLY STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR & 55 DEGREES.

Spotted bass are trying to get shallow as they are in and around the spawning areas and they are at depths of 8 to 12 feet of water. The spots spawn on rocky points and on sandy areas. The longer days and the warming sun will get the fish very active. When the full moon hits in two weeks, look for the lake to come alive with fish. Almost any color finesse worm will work and the green’s or sand are good colors with the sun out. On the points mid way in the backs of the creeks the Limeaide, water melon seed, and baby bass will work on a Texas rig. Spots are short striking small baits this week and will keep you guessing all day. Use light 8 pound test and a light spot sticker to get these fish to bite. Usually these fish are hard to catch on a Carolina rig because of short striking lures. Use a short leader and fish the under water points and humps to 15 feet deep. The Texas rigged plastic worm and a 3/16 ounce sinker will get the small 4 inch baits to the fish. There has not been any top water action as the water is still cold. But next week with a warm up look for the fish to respond to small shad imitation top water lures. A hungry spot will come after a Zoom Fat Albert grub in lime, pearl and chartreuse. Use a 1/8 ounce Bass Pro Shops lead jig head and light line to get a lot of strikes. The Sufix Elite line in the 8 pound test. This line is strong and line colors can be clear or green. Light line is a must for spots because lures have to be fished deeper and slower.

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 fair and is improving but remains only fair. The fishing will continue to improve with the increased water temperature and should catch fire and day. Pulling herring on points and flats with herring on free-lines 80 – 100 feet back is your best bet. As the sun gets up put a split shot or two on your free lines to run a little deeper. Run your herring on the outside board 50 – 70 feet back with a single split shot. Run your inside board with a large gizzard shad 10 – 20 feet behind the board. Casting a bucktail while pulling baits will get you a additional bite and you can also pick up a couple of spots. There is still a good striper bite at night but it is getting later. You may have to stay out until 10:00 or 11:00 pm before you get bit. The north end of the lake has not been productive. The rivers are stained and were also slow this week. Your best bet is the creeks from the Chestatee to the Dam. Spend some time looking for bait mid way to all the way back in the creeks. Focus on points and flats in 15 to 30 feet of water. We have not had any luck unless there was a good concentration of bait. Bald Ridge, Shoal Creek, Mud Creek, Balus Creek and Flat Creek are good places to start but bait remains the key.

April 1, 2011

WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 3.1 FEET, STAINED & 65 DEGREES BY CHRIS BELL

Bass fishing has been good. Some fish have begun spawning, but the majority of fish have not. They are still in a pre spawn mode, but have slowed down on the moving baits with the cooler temperatures. This has been a week for the soft plastics. On open shallow flats and pockets fan cast shaky head trick worms and creature baits to isolated cover and depressions. These fish are most likely relating to small ditches waiting to pull up for the spawn. A light Carolina Rig can also be effective in these same areas. My best areas have been from Wehadkee creek north to the 109 bridge.

Hybrid and striper fishing is good. Fish are following shad into pockets and creeks in ten feet of water or less. Find the shad and you will find fish. Troll small crankbaits and bucktails through feeding fish and bait. The best pockets have been north of the 109 bridge.

Crappie fishing has been great. Fish are spawning in shallow pockets and creeks. Use live minnows or jigs eighteen to twenty four inches below popping corks. Once you have located a bed first start by using jigs to catch the most active fish and then switch to live bait. Jig colors to use would be black/chartreuse or white/pink patterns until water clears.

April 1, 2011

LAKE ALLATOONA IS FULL, 58 DEGREES AND CLEAR

Bass fishing is on fire. Bass fishing doesn’t get any better than the month of April when 30 plus fish days are not uncommon. Largemouth bass have started to show signs of the spawn in late March, and the spotted bass with follow later within the first couple of weeks of this month. The spot bite is great due to the pre spawn feed up. Schooling has begun and should continue until the spots lock on the bed. Rattle baits, Scroungers and top water will best when these fish surface. Anglers should also try spinnerbaits like the Mini Me in white and chartreuse with painted blades fished on wind-blown primary and secondary points. Also great is a belly weighted Gamakatsu wide gap hook with a 5 inch Big Bite Jerk Minnow fish very quickly and erratically. As the spots start to stage for the spawn the shaky head bite will turn on. Fish wind protected coves with an 1/8 ounce 3/0 jig head tipped with a Big Bite Squirrel Tail worm. Fish it slowly and shake the rod tip to generate strikes. Small jigs work great too.

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This Lake Allatoona striper and hybrid fishing guides report 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

Line side fishing is great and the striper and hybrid bite is on fire. We are still catching between 20 to 50 fish on most trips. But the good news is we are starting to see more Stripers in the mix.. The fish are schooling up and are staging for the spawn run up the rivers. The recent rains we have had has push the fish out of the rivers and back into the main lake. As soon as the water clears up the rivers it will be game on for you river anglers. Almost every point and flat north of Clear Creek is holding good numbers of fish. We would think the river run will be in full swing by the first week of April. We are also catching good numbers of line sides on the south end of the lake like Iron Hill, Clark Creek and around the Islands at Red Top have been great. But your best bet in the up coming weeks will be up north. Mid lake fishermen should fish the main lake points and flats. Flat lines and planner boards have been producing fish early. But the down line bite has been better for big fish and numbers. This is the time of year to pull big baits for big stripers. Use shad as big as 10 to 12 inches. Trolling is really starting to improve. The fish are moving up in the water column and on the flats. The Mack Farr umbrella rig is a great way to catch these fish.

April 1, 2011

LAKE HARTWELL IS FULL, & 59 DEGREES

Bass fishing is good and the fish are ready to get shallow. There is little top water this week but that will change next week with the warming trends. Bass are chasing bait and small crank baits will work in bluegill and shad translucent colors. Spotted bass are biting on the points and the sides of points on worms and small jigs. Find the rock and there they will be. Also a few are still hanging out in the larger coves around the docks and secondary points. Plastics will be the key and there are plenty of spots to go around. Many are small males. The best bite is to head up the Seneca river and check out the sides of points and docks with ¼ ounce weighted twin tail skirted grubs by Storm. Use the watermelon and the phantom colors for the best results. Find rock on the bank near a point and look for brush piles off a drop off ledge and work these baits slowly. Check out the docks and walkways to the docks out in the larger creeks to load up on the largemouth. The spots aren’t present in these areas and the largemouth bass will be the bite here. Take along plenty of grubs and fish as deep as 17 ft. in the stumps and brush piles. Work the bait as slow as possible on good ten pound test and a medium heavy rod.

April 1, 2011

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & 60 DEGREES

Bass fishing is good and the fish are heading to the sand pockets lake wide. On the main part of the lake around the islands and towards the dam, check out all the points and small cuts or coves that you can find. For the most part, the majority of the bass will get shallow with the moon the middle of the month. Long cast and slow to medium retrieves will get the job done. Stay with the more natural colors like something in the shad family. Arrive early just in case an afternoon storm moves in. Try heading up the rivers and throwing finesse worms targeting the lay downs and secondary rocky points. Channel ledges or creek channels that come close to the bank is another good place to target. Texas and Carolina rigs are working and most of the bass are the small but fun to catch. The larger bass are holding a little tighter to cover and a jig is the most common bait use under these conditions. Shad Raps are still working early around the islands and on the rip rap. Way up the rivers where the water is still stained, work the fire tiger color shad rap along the small creek channels for best results. Some anglers are catching a bass here and there on the spinnerbait but don’t live on this bait too long. Results have diminished over the last week or so.

April 1, 2011

CLARK HILL IS DOWN 2.3 FEET, STAINED & 59 DEGREES

Clarks Hill large mouth bass fishing is good and a good number of the bigger bass can be caught right now. Start out early with a small top water lure and then get out the spinner baits. The herring are very active now and the wind is keeping them stirred up. Fishing the large wind blown flats is a must this week along with the tops of the larger hydrilla mats. Wind blowing across these two types of areas is keeping the bait fish along with the Largemouth isolated here. Another good bait to fish these areas with is a Number 10 X-Rap in the olive green color. Don’t use this bait like a Jerk Bait, but like a medium retrieved crank bait instead. Do not forget the Super Fluke on a Scrounger head.

April 1, 2011

LAKE SEMINOLE IS FULL, STAINED AND 69 DEGREES

Largemouth bass fishing is fair off the rivers with buzz baits and Manns Shallow Minus One bright crank baits. Keep a trick worm and a Super Fluke ready for the shallow fish on and over the grass. Up the river, use a spinner bait and the Stanley 3/8 ounce all white spinnerbaits will work off the rivers in the pockets and around wood. Try the clear creeks with buzz baits and spinner baits as well as trick worms. When you are ready learn how to find the bass with the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology, call us to set up a day on Lake Lanier. We will “show” you the fish.

April 1, 2011

LAKE GEORGE IS FULL, 60 DEGREES & STAINED

Bass fishing is good. The best fishing in the early and late evening hours seems to be the best bet. Spinnerbaits, buzz baits and floating worms all have been catching fish. Look around for those grass lines near deeper water as from the patterns this weekend that’s been a big plus in catching the better fish. June bug and red shad are local favorites when going deep. Work the drop offs and channel or creel ledges and any sharp drop off points during this time. Added scent is another good idea and garlic is preferred by most anglers. Long cast and slow retrieves will be the secret on the Carolina rig. Down the lake towards the dam, a darker color jig along with the Carolina rig will be all the big baits of choice all day. Fish every stump and lay down you can find either on your graph or on the bank. When you are ready learn how to find the bass with the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology, call us to set up a day on Lake Lanier. We will “show” you the fish.

April 1, 2011

LAKE WEISS IS .36 FEET OVER FULL, LIGHT STAIN & 55 DEGREES BY MARK COLLINS GUIDE SERVICE

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 and the fish are shallow in the spawning bays, they are being caught on secondary points, humps and ditches and shallow stump flats. A lot of bass are starting to cruise the spawning banks also. Rat L Traps and shallow running crank baits and Spinner Baits are catching these pre spawn Bass, Jigs and worms are also catching some good fish.

Crappie fishing is good and the crappie are staged in the spawning bays in 10-14 feet of water, and they are being caught long line trolling with Jiffy Jigs in 1/24th ounce in colors JJ13, JJ17, JJ24. Little River, Little Spring Creek and the bays around Bay Springs are producing best. Shooting docks is also starting to produce a lot of Crappie. Look for a lot of crappie to move shallow and start spawning over the next week or so.

April 1, 2011

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 66 DEGREES AND STAINED

Bass fishing is good. We have had more than 3 inches of rain this week. The Rivers are muddy and the main lake is stained. The water temperature has not dropped much so the fish will still be close to the banks. Us a big bladed spinner bait, fished down the sea walls and around boat docks in the back of the creeks and coves. You can also use a crank bait with some type of rattle in it. Slow the retrieve down and make sure you are in contact with as much structure as possible. Fish the same areas with a Carolina rigged Zoom lizard to pick up the buck bass that are up close to the banks.

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. Go to the dam. It is spring time on Oconee. Most of the fish we have been catching have been Hybrids. Over the past week the bigger fish have come on down lines. The flat lines are also producing a good number of fish as well. Bass shiners are catching more fish than the threadfin shad,

Crappie fishing is good. Dark jigs tipped with a minnow are working best. The crappie are lake wide from the river down below the river bend area. Richland creek is also giving up some slabs. These fish are in shallow water preparing for the spawn on the next full moon. Boat docks in the back of the coves should hold good number of fish. When you are ready learn how to find the bass with the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology, call us to set up a day on Lake Lanier. We will “show” you the fish.

April 1, 2011

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.3 FEET, 61 DEGREES, MOSTLY STAINED.

Bass fishing is good and the fish are biting over most of the lake. Top water and spinner baits are producing in the early morning. Shallow cover like stumps, blow downs, grass, and rocks are holding fish eager to smack top water baits. This action is happening mostly along shallow banks both in coves and along main river and creek banks. Try the Pop R, Chug Bug, Tiny Torpedo, buzz bait, and Super Fluke. On cloudy days the bite may last for much of the day. Some shad are still spawning, mainly up the rivers. Also try the white spinner bait, ¼-ounce Rat L Trap, and #5 Shad Rap, and #9 Rapala. After the early bite ends, soft plastics are the most reliable baits to fish. Carolina rigs are producing on slow tapering primary and secondary points at 4 to 10 feet deep. Try a Zoom Finesse or Trick worm on a 2 or 3 foot leader with a half ounce weight. Some good colors are green pumpkin, June bug, and black. Boat docks and brush piles are holding a lot of fish and Texas rigged soft plastics will catch them. Use the lightest weight possible and fish slowly. The schooling action will pick up daily. The shallow bite is just as good for numbers and with the water stable all week fishing will get better every day.

April 1, 2011

JACKSON LAKE IS FULL, STAINED & 61 DEGREES

Bass fishing is fair. As the bass move to the shallows, be ready mid day with the Pop R and a Skitter Pop. Early use a buzz bait. After early top water dies off, the bass move to the creek channels and Senko’s and Stick O’s on a 3/0 Mustad hook will work. Add a nail weight to the center of the bait so it will sink and also use a light Carolina rig. A Rapala D10 in hot mustard will also work. There are not many fish biting up the river in the current so get off the edges and work the coves and small creek mouths. A Zoom trick worm is deadly off the edges of the grass beds all day. If you want to try for a bigger fish, head up the river and use a Stanley ½ ounce spinner bait with gold and silver combos and buzz the bait on the edges of the river. When you are ready learn how to find the bass with the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology, call us to set up a day on Lake Lanier. We will “show” you the fish.

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.

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. Call us to set up a school, Maps and Depth Finders or Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. www.havefunfishing.com 770 889 2654.