The Southern Fishing report by Ken Sturdivant 1-21

By Ken Sturdivant

106 Hickory Ridge

770 889 2654

Cumming, Georgia 30040

www.havefunfishing.com

January 20, 2012

LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 10.25 FEET, THE CREEKS ARE SLIGHTLY STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR & 50 DEGREES.

Bass fishing is good. The water level has remained steady over the past week and is now starting to rise again slightly after the recent rains. The water temperature has dropped to the 50 degree mark, but should be back on the rise with more warm weather on the way. Our focus over the last week has continued to be the creek channel ditches which are present throughout the lake and range from shallow to deep depending on the location. We have been working the ditches from 5 feet deep all the way out to 40 feet deep. When we are out deeper, we are focusing on the ditches with isolated timber and using either a spoon jigged vertically or a jig worked VERY slowly through the timber. We have caught the shallow fish on shaky head worms, jigs, crank baits, jerk baits, and the Fish Head Spin. The shallow fish seem to be the best and most available during periods of sunny weather, while the cloudy weather pushes the bait and fish deeper. If there is wind blowing, fish your moving baits where the wind is the strongest and most direct into the bank and use a very slow retrieve with any of the above baits. When using the jerk bait, make sure to impart long pauses between your twitches. Don’t expect to get many bites, but the ones you get will be quality. Look for secondary points in the mouths of creeks that offer clay and rock that are close to deep water. When searching for the deeper fish in the creek channels and ditches, use your Lowrance electronics to identify subtle structure changes to include creek ditch depressions. Where there is bait, there is or will soon be fish. 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 and perhaps at different depth.

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. Find the large continuous strings of bait half way back in the creek channel and fish there. This has been the key for the last several weeks and will continue as long as the water temperatures stay in the mid to high 40’s. Once the temperature drops to 45 degrees the fish will be locked in on small baits. If you can throw the net get some Threadfin Shad and use those. If not, downsize your baits to medium shiners, trout fingerlings and small herring. The down rod bite just over the bait has been the ticket this week. Keep your eyes open for birds and follow their lead. If they are diving at bait and you can get to the fish before they disperse, throw a Mack Farr 1/2 ounce buck tail with a small fluke trailer. You can also use a spinning rod to toss a small herring or threadfin on a weighted float into the center of the activity. Keep your bait about three feet below the float. If the birds are actively searching an area, set out a spread with baits 40 feet behind your boards, free lines 80 to 100 feet back and a couple down rods. Try both weighted and non weighted free lines. Use the umbrella rigs to quickly search an area. When the sun gets up your best bet is to switch to down rods over bait half way back in the creeks. Remember to keep your hook size matched to the size of your bait. Balus and Flat creek are good places to start on the south end. On the north end try Johnson Creek, Lathem Creek, Wahoo Creek and Little River. We teach “ON THE WATER SCHOOLS” for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.

January 20, 2012

WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 5.84 FEET, DIRTY & 52 DEGREES BY CHRIS BELL

Bass fishing has been good. Patterns have remained consistent this week with continuous cool evenings and periodic rain. Offshore hotspots 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. 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.

Hybrid and striper fishing is great. Fish have positioned on top of humps and road beds. Using live shad dropped down to schools of fish is working the best. Use your depth finders to locate fish. You may have to check multiple areas before locating fish with the recent changes in water levels.

Crappie fishing has been great. Crappie are beginning to show up mid way in pockets on cover and points. For your trolling bite troll Jiffy jigs in a black chartreuse pattern to depths of ten to twelve feet. Whenever cover is present in the way of brush piles and lay downs will hold multiple crappie this time of year. Use live minnows down lined to depths ten to twelve feet in and around cover

January 20, 2012

LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 11.93 FEET, STAINED AND 52

This bass fishing report is from Matt Driver 404-456-6094 www.proanglerradio.com

Bass fishing has been fair and the fish are still all over the water column. Run and gun with baits like the Spro 95 McStick and fish it quickly 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. It’s still hard to beat a Shakey head with a Zoom green finesse worm lake wide in and around docks and any brush. For the larger bass, get the jigs out and add a small Zoom pork imitation and make all the colors all black or black and blue combinations.

This Lake Allatoona Fishing Guides Fishing Report Is Bought to You by Robert Eidson of First Bite Guide Service 770 827-6282 www,firstbiteguideservice.com.

Line side fishing is good and the hybrids and stripers are concentrated mid lake from the “S” turns to Bartow Carver and on the river channel between Kellogg Creek and Victoria. Early in the morning, flat lines and planer boards are getting hammered. Trout and shad seem to be working equally well. The down line bite should also produce, and the fish are anywhere from 18 to 35 feet. The best bite is on umbrella rigs once the sun gets up, though. My clients have been catching very good numbers on an umbrella rig pulled 80 to 100 feet behind the boat with chartreuse jigs and trailers. He said to pull the edges of the river and creek channels and to expect bites when you start marking the huge clouds of baitfish. Also, be sure to keep something tied on for the schooling fish. When you see gulls diving, you’ll find hybrids and stripers pushing bait up. Fish this schooling action fish with a white Rooster Tail, fluke or Spook. We teach “ON THE WATER SCHOOLS” for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.

January 20, 2012

LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 8.59 FEET, CLEAR & 52 DEGREES

Bass fishing is fair are fair and use a 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.

January 20, 2012

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 9.06 FEET, 52 DEGREES & STAINED

Bass fishing is fair and the weather continues to try and fool the anglers and the fish. Warm then cold weather can force bass tight into cover after a cold front. Use the Rattle Back black and blue or all black 1/2 ounce jig and a larger Pro Pork Trailer by Uncle Josh, on the heavy cover. 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.

January 20, 2012

LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN 2.99 FEET, CLEAR & 53 DEGREES

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.

January 20, 2012

LAKE SEMINOLE IS DOWN ONE FOOT, CLEAR, 55 DEGREES BY MATT BATY

Bass fishing is fair and the fish are on the points and creeks bends. Look down lake on creek bends and up in creeks. Find the clearest water possible in the creeks. Use the Culprit green shad worms on the points as tight as possible. In the Spring Creek area use a floating Rapala with a gold side and black back and work it slowly around grass beds. Frogs are still working just be sure to use a braid. Try the Culprit worm in dark colors over the grass and wood cover. Fishing is better later each day as the water warms. Finesse worms floated over grass beds or a u tail worm in dark colors, can work after the sun is up. Use a light 1/16 lead weight on the edges of the grass. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing “On the Water” fishing schools.

January 20, 2012

LAKE GEORGE IS DOWN 1.60 FEET, 55 DEGREES AND CLEAR

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 Bulldog 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.

January 20, 2012

LAKE WEISS IS DOWN 5.20 FEET, 45 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 fair and the fish have moved to a deeper winter pattern, some Bass are being caught on rip rap rocks on jigs. A Carolina rig is working well for the deeper fish on main lake points and ledges. Very few largemouth are being caught, most all are spots. Little River and the Chattooga River are producing some great spot fishing with a lot of 2 to 4 pound fish, a drop shot rig with a 4 inch craw or a mini fluke, is working awesome on most any deeper, rocky river channel ledge in Little River. The smaller spots are up shallow on the rocks and the larger spots are on the deeper parts of the ledge 10 to 16 feet deep, look for the bigger fish right in the middle of the channel.

Crappie fishing is good and the fish are starting to move in to the deeper water of the creeks and bays on a pre spawn pattern. Little spring Creek is producing some great Crappie fishing, long line trolling with 1/24 ounce Jiffy Jigs in colors JJ 08, JJ 13, JJ 17, JJ 25, JJ 37 in 6 to 12 feet of water, a float and fly is also working well in the stumps and flats in Little Spring Creek. The bays near Riverside are producing some Crappie long line trolling also. The crappie bite is good and we are catching a lot of mixed sized fish from 8 to 13 inches. Look for the bite to really get good with any warming trend that comes in over the next few weeks.

January 20, 2012

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.30 FEET, 54 DEGREES, MOSTLY STAINED.

Bass fishing is slow and the smaller fish are all that you can count on. Fish the main and up lake points with the cooler weather. Depths can be from 4 to 15 feet and the cold front and high skies put them tight on cover. Worms and a Texas rig using a Zoom u tail in smoke and red tight on bank structure can draw strikes. The Stanley 3/8 ounce jig in the black and blue and black and browns is a good choice. Be sure to add the Uncle Josh #11 matching dark pork trailer. Later each day up in creeks, the bass will bite crank baits in fire tiger and crawfish. A slight stain in the water is an advantage during a warm up later each day. Bomber 7A’s cast right on the bank, can produce strikes just work lures slowly on 10 pound test line for better action and depth. Also creek points and deep docks are good locations, and run the lures under and around these docks. Main lake points in the deeper waters around any of the stands of trees using a 1/2 ounce Hopkins spoon, is starting to work. Locate man made brush piles and work spoons over the brush as well as the brush on the old docks. We teach “ON THE WATER SCHOOLS” for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.

January 20, 2012

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 48 DEGREES

Bass fishing is fair and the main lake is clear, stained up the rivers. Winter is here so it is time to think jigs. Black blue jigs under docks and around wood structure. Work these jigs slowly the fish are in the winter mood and they like things slow. The bite will be very soft so stay in contact with your line. Any change the feel of the bait and it is time to set the hook. It is also time for spoon jigging off of the main lake points and around the humps on the south end of the lake. Use your Lowrance to locate the schools of fish staging on the side of the points and humps and drop your Capt. Mack’s spoon down to the fish. If the water is clear use a shad pattern for your spoon if it is stained then switch to a chartreuse 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. The stripers and hybrids continue to bite down near the dam. These fish are after smaller baits. We have cut down the size of the umbrella rigs. You can take the trailers and cut about an inch off of them and this will down size your rigs. Live bait is also producing. Use your Lowrance to locate the schools of bait and drop your bait in the schools. The Stripers may not show on the Lowrance but they are close to the bait. Keep a Capt. Mac spoon tied on. There are times that it will out produce the live bait.

Crappie fishing is good. The fish are in the middle of most creeks and big coves. Spider rigging is working as well as finding the fish on your Lowrance and dropping live bait to them. Tip you jig with a minnow to increase your bite. Lick Creek has been out producing most of the other creeks. I will be starting my crappie trips this month. Give me a call and we will try and fill your cooler with big slabs. Remember to stop by Sugar Creek Marina for all your bass, crappie and striper needs. They have Capt. Mack’s umbrella rigs in stock along with the Capt. Mack spoons, and all the crappie jigs you can use. Call about our “ON THE WATER SCHOOLS” for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for 770-889-2654 for details.

January 20, 2012

JACKSON LAKE IS DOWN 4.50 FEET, LIGHT STAIN & 51 DEGREES

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.

Our DVD, Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass are 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.

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 2012, Southern Fishing Schools Inc. calls us to set up a school, Maps and Depth Finders or SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details.www.havefunfishing.com 770 889 2654.