The Southern Fishing report by Ken Sturdivant 2-17

By Ken Sturdivant

106 Hickory Ridge

770 889 2654

Cumming, Georgia 30040

www.havefunfishing.com

February 17, 2012

LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 7.87 FEET, THE CREEKS ARE SLIGHTLY STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR & 51 DEGREES.

This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jim Mathley, Jimbo’s Lake Lanier Guide Service. 770-542-7764

Bass fishing is good. The cold front last weekend changed the fish on Lanier this week. Not so much in tactics or types of areas, but more so in location on the lake. We have been focusing our efforts mid lake this week due to the recent sharp drop in water temperature of the upper lake. The mid to lower lake handled the cold weather better and the water temperature along with the fish, have been less affected. We have still been working the ditches and pockets in creek arms and we have also focused on main lake points and secondary points with rock/clay and brush that are near deep water. We have found good activity shallow as well as in the 15 to 25 foot zone where brush is present. We have abandoned the deep bite and focused our efforts in 25 feet of water or less. We have caught fish on Davis Shaky Head worms, jigs, crank baits, Truit jerk baits and the Fish Head Spin. The shallower fish in 15 feet of water or less seem to be the best fish and most available during periods of sunny weather, while the cloudy weather pushes the bait and fish deeper and positions the fish on the bottom. 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 two to three second pauses between your twitches. If you don’t get bit when fishing the moving baits in the wind, try the worm or jig as the wind allows. We have recently found fish very shallow that will not respond to the moving baits, but will hammer a jig or worm. 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.

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 good. Despite the cold temperatures and the wind the lake temperature really has not changed that much. The patter remains one of covering a lot of water with a variety of baits. Find the bait half way back to all the way back in the creeks. Start early with un weighted free lines on four planner boards and use two on each side and two or three free lines behind the boat. Vary your length behind the boards and boat from 40 to 100 feet. Once the suns gets up, weight your lines with 1 to 3 split shots. Also hang a couple of down rods over the side and vary the depth depending on the bait and the depth of the water. Vary your speed from .3 to 1.0 mile per hour. This will cause your baits to work better than being pulled at a constant speed. The Umbrella rig will work and can be used effectively to check out the creek channels. There are fish in every creek with a high concentration of bait. However, Four Mile Creek, Six Mile Creek and Flat Creek are the go to creeks. We teach ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.

February 17, 2012

WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 5.07 FEET, DIRTY & 58 DEGREES BY CHRIS BELL

Bass fishing has been good. Fishing has been sporadic with the up and down temperature over the recent week. Fish are still holding to their pre spawn areas, but the bite can be one day to the next. For bigger fish use small crank baits such as a Bomber 4A or Bandit 200 series in a red craw pattern near rocky points and red clay banks. Do not be afraid to cast baits very shallow on sunny days as many fish will be in less than one foot of water. If water color is present a Z-Man Chatterbait in black and blue with a black trailer can be a great alternative. The most consistent bites have been on shallow humps and points for spotted bass. Some of the largest spotted bass will be up this time of year in preparation for the spawn. Use Carolina rigged lizards in green pumpkin or 3/16 ounce shaky heads pulled slowly along these areas.

Hybrid and striper fishing is good. Fish are still on humps and road beds on main lake, but look to see their annual migration up river. For the upper river areas use live shad dropped into deeper holes where fish are present. The best areas are from Ringer access north.

Crappie fishing has been good. Fish are positioning further into creeks and pockets following bait as they position further into creeks. Troll minnows and Jiffy Jigs in ten to twelve feet of water leading back into creeks along the channel edge. The best areas have been Whitewater and Yellow Jacket creeks. Learn how to use the new Lowrance GEN2 Structure Map technology with our exclusive On the Water schools. www.havefunfishing.com

February 17, 2012

LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 7.63 FEET, STAINED AND 51 DEGREES

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

Bass fishing is great. The cold snap did nothing but make the fish bite it seems. I have been catching good quality fish on the Red Rooster Float-N-Fly with a 10 foot fluorocarbon leader and a duck feather fly. The fish are not as shallow as they have been in past week. Most bait and bass are in the 10 to 20 foot range. Fish can be caught on jerk baits down the lake where the water is a littler clearer, and the old faithful shakey head with a Big bite squirrel tail worm seems to be doing the trick as well. Moving into March we need to be ready for a big push from the main lake to the pockets.

This Lake Allatoona 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

Line side fishing is good. The fish are biting well, and we have been catching 15 to 30 fish on most trips, when at this time last year big shad kills had almost shut down the fishing. The north end of the lake has been so muddy that it hasn’t been worth fishing. Likewise, the south end from Bethany Bridge to Tanyard Creek hasn’t been worth fishing either mid lake from Duck Hole down to the dam is where most of the fish are. There are a few fish being caught from Duck Hole to Harbortown, but the highest concentrations of fish are from Galt’s Ferry to Clear Creek. There are huge schools of fish and tons of boats in the ½ mile stretch at Bartow Carver. The last two weeks has almost been like a late summer bite and down lines are best. The fish are anywhere from 25 to 50 feet deep. Start the morning with down lines at about 32 feet and then adjusting as you figure out where the fish are. Medium shiners and shad are working equally well as bait, with trout running a close third. Spoons are also a good option if the fish appear to be sitting near the bottom. A 1/4 to ½ ounce Flex It in chartreuse will get gobbled as quickly as a live bait if the fish are on the bottom. An umbrella rig will also catch a few fish, but they won’t hit it in muddy water. Find the cleanest water available where you’re still marking fish before you pull the umbrella rig mid lake. We teach ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.

February 17, 2012

LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 8.23 FEET, CLEAR & 51 DEGREES

Bass fishing is good and the largemouth and spots are starting to get a little more active. Crank baits are working all day long. Fat Free Shad and Bandits are producing some good bass. Stick with the points and also try a few of the secondary points to try and locate which ones are producing the best. The swim baits are producing the best chance for catching the larger bass. Also, some of the larger spots are biting the hard baits when fishing the sides of points and the channel ledges. Zoom lizards and tube baits will be a good choice next week. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.

February 17, 2012

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 7.76 FEET, 52 DEGREES & STAINED

Bass fishing is fair to good and the big flat areas next to major points are your best bet as some of the bass that are beginning to move and search for areas for pre spawn. Water temperatures slowly starting to rise and the fish are becoming more active. Bass are biting small shad crank baits on the points and sides of points. When looking for pre spawn bass, use the famous Husky Jerk by Rapala or the Rapala #13. These are ideal search baits this time of the year. It might mean fishing as many points and secondary points as possible in an eight hour day but the results may be worth the trouble. When in the back of the cuts while fishing the secondary points, try throwing a Rattle tube in the green pumpkin or red shad colors. When the fish are in a feeding mode, these tube baits are hard to resist. Throw directly on lay downs and wood that might be present. Rocks on or around these areas of wood will only add to the number of places or targets to cast to. On the longer run out points that drop off into the deeper water, throw a Shad Rap in the darker colors. Those bass that are suspended and haven’t moved up yet will take these lipless crank baits. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.

February 17, 2012

LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN 2.37 FEET, CLEAR & 53 DEGREES

Bass fishing is fair and the fish are shallow on the banks. Look for any warm water. Spinner baits, worms and lizards are catching the fish and live bull head minnows around docks and blow downs will get a big bite. Also look on points in the creeks and the cuts that are close by as they are holding fish. Flipping worms or jigs around and in heavy brush can draw a strike. The gourd green u tail Zoom worms on a Texas rig is fair just fish these baits slowly. Add scent using Jack’s Juice in the garlic flavor and work the lures in the same locations often. Most crank baits are slow but up the river use the 3/8 ounce Stanley spinner bait with all silver blades and slow this bait on the wood on the banks. Shad Raps in the #7 size in shad color right on the banks cover later each day can draw strikes. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.

February 17, 2012

LAKE SEMINOLE IS FULL, STAINED AND 61 DEGREES BY MATT BATY

Bass fishing is fair. The bass are biting okay, but they are sort of hard to pattern. Some people are reporting nice catches on lipless crank baits, but they say the fish are super shallow in 3ft or less. Fish a Spro Aruku Shad Jr. in Red Crawfish Color and rip it from the grass. To get the bait super shallow use a heavy line such as a 20 pound Sunline FC Sniper. This bait comes with Gamakatsu Trebles, so there is no need to change the hooks. Another good bait for this same pattern is to fish a square lip crank bait such as a Stanford Lures Patriot 1.5 in Summer color. Use the same line setup as the lipless crank bait for this pattern. Another good pattern that is going to work extremely well with the upcoming cold front is flipping hyacinths or grass near spawning areas. When flipping use the Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in Hematoma. Team this up with a flipping rod and Sunline FX2 Braid and add a 1 and 1/2 ounce Tungsten and you are ready to catch. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing On the Water fishing schools.

February 17, 2012

LAKE GEORGE IS FULL, 55 DEGREES, STAINED

Bass fishing is good and the fish are shallow. On the creek banks, any dark worm on a Texas rig will get strikes and the fish are aggressive. A craw worm in black with a chartreuse tail will really make’s them mad and pitch the baits into the cover on heavy line. Once the sun is up go to the Texas or Carolina rigged worms in watermelon seed. Use the brass and glass weight for extra sound and work baits all the out off the points and ledges. Later in the day, cast a Poe’s 300 crank bait in the brighter colors right on the creek banks. In the upriver creek mouths, slow roll a War Eagle spinner bait with gold and silver willow leaf blades. The spinner bait is the best bait for the females and they are fat and aggressive. Run an all chartreuse buzz bait by any wood just for fun. We teach ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.

February 17, 2012

LAKE WEISS IS DOWN 3.74 FEET STAINED AND 46 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 spotted bass are biting in Little River and the Chattooga River, they are also being caught on main lake points and humps. Drop Shot rigs with a small craw or 4 inch Senko worm are working well, a Carolina rigged Senko worm is also catching fish. Large mouth are starting to be caught in the bays and creeks on deeper brush and secondary points, Spinner baits and Carolina rigged plastics and the Alabama rig are producing fish.

Crappie fishing is great and a lot fish are being caught, long line trolling in Little River and Little Spring Creek, The bays and creeks in the upper Coosa River are starting to produce a lot of Crappie also. The coves in the lower lake around Bay Springs are starting to produce some fish also. Use 1/16 and 1/24 ounce Jiffy Jigs in colors JJ05, JJ08, JJ13, JJ17, JJ25. A few crappie are starting to be caught shooting docks with jigs.

February 17, 2012

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.75 FEET, 56 DEGREES, MOSTLY STAINED.

Bass fishing is good and the spinner baits and crank baits are catching most of the bass. The Stanley 3/8 ounce spinner baits with willow leaf blades and all white skits are working in the creeks on wood. Also work the points and main lake humps with brush. The bass are in cover and the Zoom Creepy crawlers in pumpkinseed colors is work for the better fish. Work baits slowly and add some extra Dr. Juice scent. Up the creeks on points close to the current, use a dark jig and pig combination. Fish tight in any cover on the bank and work baits deeper. The Stanley jigs in the 1/2 ounce size in dark reds and blacks with a matching #11 Uncle Josh trailer will be best. Use some Real Craw scent and use it often casting to the same location. Flipping and pitching tight trees in the water or docks up lake is fair. Bright 7A Bombers in green crawfish worked slowly in the creeks half way back later in the day, can draw a strikes. Find the warmest water for better action. We teach On the Water Schools for Sonar and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for Ken details.

February 17, 2012

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 53 DEGREES.

Bass fishing is good and the main lake is clear, stained to muddy up the rivers. There are some fish starting to stage outside of the creeks and coves. With the water temp in the 50’s the fish are starting to show up on the points and docks leading into the creeks and large coves. These fish are active and feeding most days. A small crank bait, a spinner bait, or a blue black jig will work on most days. The exception is after a strong cold front comes through. These fish will move up on the points to feed and then retreat back into the deeper water if it cools. If the temperatures drop, then back off into deeper water and slow down. If the temperatures increase then look for the fish to move up on the banks. The cold front over the past few days has slowed the bite down some, but with the wormer air the fishing will pick right back up.

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 are starting to move into a spring pattern. They are not stacked up at the dam yet but they are showing up on the lower end of the lake at the mouth of Richland creek. 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 Cat. Mac spoon tied on. There are times that it will out produce the live bait.

Crappie fishing is good. This is going to sound like a broken record, but it is true. Over the next few weeks some of the biggest crappie will be put into coolers. They are starting to show up in the back of the major creeks. Lick creek, Sugar Creek and up the rivers. This is the time of year to fill your cooler with big slabs. Spider rigging in the back of these creeks will produce the most fish. Tip your jig with a minnow for the best results. The best jug color has been the blue black, or the green black. This should last until the end of spring. But the biggest fish will be caught over the next few weeks. The weather is good and the fish are feeding so now is a good time to take a child fishing. Sugar Creek Marina has a complete line of striper gear, crappie jigs and all the bass tackle you will need. The spring striper bite is on the way now is a good time to stock up. 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.

February 17, 2012

JACKSON LAKE IS DOWN 4.38 FEET, CLEAR & 53 DEGREES

Bass fishing is good. The fish are after crank baits and plastics. The Shad Raps in natural shad and fire tiger are working. The plastic worm is worm just as good later on during the day when the fishing slows down. Docks in the deeper water seem to be the key to finding a pattern this week. Anglers are working the docks early and all the areas between them to find the fish. Also look for the numerous stumps and brush piles, especially up in the creeks. Only look about half way in the creeks and don’t waste your time going to the back of them just yet. Small cuts between points will be another good place to fish. Work each area with a Shad Rap first then go back and throw the plastic. A good choice on plastics is the Zoom trick worm in the green pumpkin or the June bug. Rig them anyway you like just remember to work it slow. 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.

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.