The Southern Fishing report by Ken Sturdivant 2-9

By Ken Sturdivant

106 Hickory Ridge

770 889 2654

Cumming, Georgia 30040

www.havefunfishing.com

February 9, 2012

LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 8.05 FEET, THE CREEKS ARE SLIGHTLY STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR & 54 DEGREES.

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

Bass fishing is very good. The action on Lanier over the past week has been outstanding. The upper end of the lake is now 54 degrees and climbing and that is where we have continued to focus our efforts this week. We have still been working the ditches and pockets in creek arms and we have also focused on main river points and secondary points with rock and 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. When we are out in deeper water, 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 fish 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 three to five second pauses between your twitches. When searching for the deeper fish in the creek channels/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 depths.

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. The projected cold fronts should lower the lake temperature by a few degrees and continue to drive the bait further back into the creeks and onto flats. We continue to have better luck on smaller baits but we have gotten a few reports of medium gizzards working. The key is to cover as much water as possible with a variety of baits from the middle of the creeks to all the way in the back. Start early with no weight on the free lines on four planner boards (two on each side) and two or three free lines behind the boat. Once the suns gets up, add some weight your lines. 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. On the south end try the back of Six Mile Creek and Four Mile Creek. Depending on the water temperature Flat Creek could fire up. There are some fish in Flat Creek now but if the water starts to cool into the mid 40’s they will show up in force. Ada Creek and Gainesville Creek are good places to start on the north end. We teach ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.

February 9, 2012

WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 5.48 FEET, DIRTY & 53 DEGREES BY CHRIS BELL

Bass fishing has been good. Fish have bit a little better this week. With recent warmer temperatures fish pulled up a little following bait seeking warmer temperatures. Cover as much water as possible throwing small shallow running crank baits in a shad pattern. With the clearing water fish have preferred tighter wobbling crank baits like a Rapala glass Shad Rap in the shad pattern. Using long cast as close to rocky banks make about five turns with the reel and pause. Repeat this cadence all the way back to the boat. Fish the northern end of the lake because of the stained water is warming faster. Focus on rocky points closest to the main river channel.

Hybrid and striper fishing is slow. Some fish have pulled up following shad, but the majority of the fish are still deep. Drop live shad on humps and roadbeds for fish relating to bait. Fish are not relating as deep to structure as they were a couple of weeks ago so look for depths in 18 to 20 feet.

Crappie fishing has been good. Fish have pulled shallow this week in major creeks and pockets. Troll minnow tipped Jiffy Jigs in pink/white or black/chartreuse combinations. Focus on depths in ten feet of water and trolling your baits in six to eight feet of water. The best creeks have been Whitewater Creek and Yellow Jacket Creek. Learn how to use the new Lowrance GEN2 Structure Map technology with our exclusive On the Water schools. www.havefunfishing.com

February 9, 2012

LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 8.46 FEET, STAINED AND 51 DEGREES

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

Bass fishing is fair. Due to the unseasonably warm winter, fishing patterns are not typical. You can leave the float-n-fly and drop-shot rigs at the house unless there’s a major cold spell. It doesn’t appear there will be a shad kill. Even if we have some cold weather, there’s not going to be a big change in fishing pattern. Basically, we’re on pre spawn type stuff. We’re moving a lot and using crank baits. A Spro McStick 95 jerk bait and lipless crank baits are working the best. Fish are all over the water column right now. By around February 5, we’re going to see a drop in temperature, and fishing will get a little tougher, but we don’t think we’ll see a mass migration to deeper water. Right now 15 feet is the average depth. Typically, February and March are your best months for big fish on Allatoona.

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 very 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 and there are huge schools of fish and tons of boats in the 1/2 mile stretch at Bartow Carver. The last two weeks has almost been like a late summer bite and the down lines are the deal. The fish are anywhere from 25 to 50 feet deep. We recommend starting 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 1/2 ounce Flex It spoon 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 an umbrella rig. Our success with the umbrella rig has also been mid lake. We teach ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.

February 9, 2012

LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 7.36 FEET, CLEAR & 51 DEGREES

Bass fishing is good and the water temperatures should not get any colder this month unless winter comes back for a week. Bass are staging now and secondary points near deeper water seem to be the favorite this week among anglers. A few early morning bass are being caught on spinnerbaits around brush piles and wood and one or two around the bigger docks. Throw shallow and work it slow all the way back to the deeper water. Most of the fish being taken are biting slow moving crank baits while fishing small cuts and the sides of smaller secondary points. Good baits for this are the Storm deep wart and of course the RS Shad raps. The key here is not to over work the bait. A slow retrieve with an occasional pause is what is getting the most bites. Try several colors and baits before leaving an area. Good baits for locating and catching the shallow water bass are the Rattle Hot Craw Tube and the Zoom Magnum trick worm Rig both of these baits on a Texas rig with heavy line and flip right into heavy cover and let it sit. Several casts might be necessary to get a bite. Work your way from the mouth to the back of the smaller creeks and then back out again. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.

February 9, 2012

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 7.89 FEET, 52 DEGREES & STAINED

Bass fishing is fair. Start the day with the shakey head and a green pumpkin Zoom trick worm and use a very light head. Also cranking the number five and seven Shad Raps along with the DT10 in hot mustard will work. Stay in the channel and crank the ledges and you go along. The bass will be holding to the cover as expected with the low water. A limit of bass should be easy enough to get. Worm fishing is the best bet. Shallow crank bait fishing is good early and late in the day or any time the light is low. Increased water clarity will move fish deeper or under docks on a clear day. Deep Net Boy football jigs and shakey head finesse worms will produce on deeper fish. Jerk baits also come into play with increased water clarity and a little wind. The crank bait bite is in 3 to 6 foot of water, and can be found shallow on flat clay bottom with chunk rock and other hard bottom. South to West points, cuts, and flats should be targeted. Flat sided baits like a Little John or lipless baits can be good choices. A No. 7 Shad Rap will work well. The water color is right for natural shad, craw, and pearl colored baits. The bass have moved into shallow water to start their bedding ritual for the year. February is the month that most of the largest bass are caught.

See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.

February 9, 2012

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR & 53 DEGREES

Bass fishing is good. With the water temperatures on the rise now is a good time to head to Elberton. The surface temperatures will vary depending on the amount of sun and cloud daily but it won’t bother the bass. This bass are starting to stage up for the pre spawn move and some of them are being caught in very shallow water along the banks. Slow rolling spinnerbaits along with a good slow moving crank bait will get the job done. The areas between points and secondary point is a good place to start but don’t overlook the rocky and wood cover found up in the rivers. Throw small Bandits and the Husky Jerks and as well as the Shad Rap. Take along some Zoom green lizards with a Texas rig, and throw directly in the heavy cover. Work lay down trees all the way out to the deeper water with this bait. The lizard bite is working as these early moving bass are clearing out a path and getting ready to make their move. Also use the Shad Raps on the rip rap at the 72 bridge and around the islands. See our web site for Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.

February 9, 2012

LAKE SEMINOLE IS FULL, STAINED AND 63 DEGREES BY MATT BATY

Bass fishing is good and the bass are starting to move up on the beds now. Sight fishing is really a good way to catch bass right now, as long as you are in clear water near a good bedding area. Use a good pair of polarized glasses to find the beds and the bass. Once you find a bass on bed, you need to determine whether or not the fish is worth your time. Some of the bass will be locked on and will stay on the bed when you pitch your bait in. These are the ones that will usually bite. If the bass swims off when you pitch in your bait, than they usually are the ones that are difficult to catch. Each bedding bass is different, so you just have to experiment to learn a little about each fish. There are many different bait’s that will catch bass like the Big Bite Baits. Look for the Big Bite sight fishing bait called the Warmouth. It really resembles a bream feeding on the eggs of a bass when Texas rigged. Also use the jerk bait near spawning areas. Go with the Spro McStick 95, as it is a little smaller than its original 110. The bait works real well on 10 pound Sunline FC Sniper, so you may have to use a spinning outfit. Fast erratic actions with 4 to 5 second pauses seem to work best this time of year. This technique really works well, so go out and give it a shot. The best color we use is the clear chartreuse. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing On the Water fishing schools.

February 9, 2012

LAKE GEORGE IS FULL, 55 DEGREES, STAINED

Bass fishing is good. Bass are hitting jigs and Texas rigs and the greens are a good choice. Lipless and lipped cranks are doing the trick. Working these baits deep on top of ledge drops is producing. Use the 3/8 ounce Stanley spinner bait in white or chartreuse and the Shad Raps right on the banks. Shad Raps in the #7 shad/black back on 10 pound test Sufix Siege line are good choices. Work the lower lake creeks and ledges with a Zoom green pumpkin chartreuse tail or sour grape lizard or worm either on a Texas or Carolina rig. Use the longer leader on the Carolina rig and a full one ounce weight. Bass are on the creek points, ledges and wood as well as shallow pond dams in the lower lake creeks. A chrome 1/2 ounce Rat L Trap on points can draw bass and cast the baits right on the bank. The river fish are biting bright Stanley spinner bait mid day and work the wood. Black and blue jigs will work on the wood. We teach ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for SONAR and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for details. Call for details.

February 9, 2012

LAKE WEISS IS DOWN 3.76 FEET STAINED AND 49 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 crappie are being caught while 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. Use the 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 9, 2012

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.74 FEET, 56 DEGREES, MOSTLY STAINED.

Bass fishing is good and there are a lot of fish in the 3 to 10 foot range lake wide. The primary key right now for catching shallow fish seems to be rocky bottoms or clay and rock mixed, especially near the mouth of coves. Some of these areas tend to be a couple degrees warmer which means more aggressive fish. Concrete seawalls are also holding fish for the same reason. Crank baits are a good first choice and some proven winners are: Shad Rap, Shad Rap RS, Bomber Flat A, and Bandit Flat Maxx. With real choppy water, a wider wobbling bait could be better. If so, try a Bomber 6A or Bandit 200. Shad and chartreuse patterns have produced equally well. Crawfish patterns should also be tried. Slow roll a spinner bait will work also. Retrieve the blade bait just fast enough to keep it from turning sideways on the bottom. Jigs, Texas rigs and Carolina rigs are good baits to use on the docks, boat houses and rip rap. Deeper fish can be found on points along the main river and creek runs. Depths are varying from 8 to over 20 feet deep. Carolina rigs are probably the number one choice. We teach On the Water Schools for Sonar and Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for Ken details.

February 9, 2012

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 55 DEGREES.

Bass fishing is fair and the main lake is clear, stained to muddy up the rivers. Small crank baits are still the way to go. The fish are tight to cover. Wood cover is the best. Some fish are showing up on rock but wood is a better alliterative. There are some fish starting to stage outside of the creeks and coves. With the water temperatures in the high 50’s some fish are acting like it is time to spawn. So do not over look the points going into creeks and coves. These fish will move up on the points to feed and then retreat back into the deeper water if it cools. If the water 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.

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. Over the next two 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 9, 2012

JACKSON LAKE IS DOWN 4.57 FEET, CLEAR & 53 DEGREES

Bass fishing is good and it a full moon this week. Up in the rivers, the stained water is reaching 55 to 56 degrees. White spinnerbaits are the favorite this week and cast them to any structure. Docks and stumps as well as the docks with the heavy cover have fish and they will bite the tubes and jigs. Lizards are also productive on the points about midway up in the rivers. Try the six inch Zoom green lizard on a Carolina rig on the smaller rocky points and secondary points. Use the pumpkin fire tail and smoke and chartreuse on pre spawn bass. Stay off the area and make long casts using 12 or 14 pound Sufix Elite line. Slow roll the lizard over the bottom and stop it every three feet or so for 15 to 20 seconds. Most of the bites will come after the bait has stopped or just when it starts to move again. Crank baits are also working but only while using a slow retrieve. Work short stretches of bank that connects a point with a secondary point. Use the Rapala Shad colored DT10 to catch the larger bass that are staged up on the channel ledges near the deeper water and around the dam area. 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.