December 20, 2024 – Georgia Wildlife Blog

Need More Gift Ideas? Get them outside with these gift ideas: hiking boots, waders, binoculars, a turkey call, fishing rod or tackle. Other suggestions include a field guide (for birds, plants, trees or other), sleeping bag, fire starters for making a campfire, a hiking stick, or a book about hiking trails in Georgia. 

This week, we have fresh fishing reports from Central, Southeast, Southwest and North Georgia. It’s time to Ho Ho Ho Go Fish Georgia!

(Fishing report courtesy of Hunter Roop, Fisheries Biologist and Central Georgia Region Supervisor with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts) 

RESERVOIR REPORT

The reservoir reports below are brought to you by Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report, with contributions from Region 3 WRD Fisheries staff, local guides, and anglers.

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, 50’S

Bass: Bass fishing is fair. With the recent rains there has been a good shallow bite especially for largemouth. Catch them on a spinnerbait or crankbait. There has also been an increase in schooling activity in the creeks with the overcast days, and you can catch bass on a variety of top water baits. As the weather cools and the lake begins to clear up, the baitfish should begin to bunch up in the deeper water around creeks and major pockets. Once you locate the baitfish, you can catch the bass on a variety of lures. For the deeper fish use a drop shot and a jigging spoon. For the shallower fish opt for the Carolina rig or a jig. When the water temperature plummets, bass undergo some significant changes in behavior. They’re not unlike us when winter hits they slow down, conserve energy and look for better locations to spend their time.

Bass 2 (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that in December bass will move deeper in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. By the end of November, they had already moved out to 25-35 feet and the bite was very good. They will be caught on jigging spoons, drop shots and jigs. 

Striped Bass (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that December is one of the best months of the year to fish Russell for striper, and fish will group up in the mid-lake. Whether you opt to throw artificial lures at feeding fish or cover water by pulling herring on free-lines and planer boards, following the birds is key. 

Crappie (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in December he will not usually target crappie, although they are sometimes a by-catch, but yellow and white perch will be caught in excellent numbers. They will be caught on minnows fished around deeper schools of bait. 

Catfish (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal reports that December is not a month when very many people will be targeting catfish, but if you concentrate on deep water you can pick up channel catfish or even a big flathead before it gets too cold.

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 4.2 FEET, 60’S

Bass: Bass fishing is fair. As water temperatures start bait will move back in the pockets and creeks. There will be an early morning ditch bite, and surface activity should be seen early in the month. Use the Spot Choker underspin with a 2.8 or 3.3 Keitech early to bait balls and schooling fish. When the water temperature plummets, bass undergo some significant changes in behavior. Bass in winter slow down conserve energy and look for better locations to spend their time. Then start looking for isolated fish in ditches to cast to. Use a jerk bait, underspin or a swimbait on a jig head and cast to fish you see. Rock is always important in the winter. A SproCrawler or Stanley jig in the green pumpkin and all blue colors will get the bigger bites. Up the river arms, fish spinnerbaits, Strike King bladed jigs and flat sided crankbaits around rock or wood cover.

Bass 2 (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that in December there should be two major groups of fish. Once temperatures get below 55 degrees there will be some bass in the creek ditches that can be caught on The Sled and blade baits. At times these fish will get very shallow. There is another group of deeper fish out on the main lake focused on bait schools that can be caught on minnow imitations or underspins fished around bait in open water or over humps and other structure. 

Striped Bass (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that during December many fish should move into the backs of the creeks. As the fish get shallower and scatter out in the backs more anglers will switch over to free-lines and planer boards, but there are also always fish that can be caught on down-rods. 

Crappie (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service reports that in December there should still be some fish ganged up around mid-depth brush piles and submerged timber in creeks. Generally, creeks in the middle and upper part of the lake will fish best, and crappie will eat minnows or jigs. As more fish start to roam, however, the bite usually slows down. 

Catfish (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that December is one of the best months of the year to catch a big catfish on Lake Thurmond, and if anything, fishing is likely to improve from what has already been an excellent fall bite. Anchoring on deep structure is the most consistent way to catch large blue and flathead catfish this month. The creeks can be good depending on whether bait has moved into them, and gizzard shad and white perch are hard to beat for the bigger fish. This year all signs point to a good creek bite. 

Mixed Bag (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Region 3 Thomson/McDuffie staff): The WRD Fisheries staff from Thomson and McDuffie, along with US Army Corps, UGA, and volunteers conducted annual fall gillnet surveys on Clarks Hill this week. These surveys are used to assess the status and health of stocked and wild pelagic sportfish in Clarks Hill including black crappie, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, and forage species like gizzard and threadfin shad. While the numbers haven’t been crunched yet, we can anecdotally say that the numbers and size quality of linesides and black crappie were great in our sample, which translates to excellent fishing opportunities for this particular group this winter. The largest striped bass captured was a 34″ and 18 lbs. The largest blue catfish captured was just under 22 lbs. Now is a great time to hit the mainlake points on Clarks Hill and enjoy some quality fishing for a variety of different species. For more specific information on where and how to fish for any of these species, check out Clark Hills fishing forecast at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 50’S 

Bass: Bass fishing is fair. Think slow and then slow down some more. Start out with a ¼ ounce Strike King jig in a dark color black or blue are working best. Make sure to use a big trailer. As the water warms up during the day look for sea walls with rock on them or rip rap that the sun has warmed up during the day. Start out with a Rapala Shad Rap in the #5 size silver and black or silver and blue. Slow down and keep your bait small. A silver and black Rat L Trap will also work in the same area. When the water temperature plummets, bass undergo some significant changes in behavior. They’re not unlike us when winter hits they slow down, conserve energy and look for better locations to spend their time.

Bass 2 (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Tech Fred Shoenfeld): He didn’t fish the tournament last weekend, but Fred reported that the winning 5-fish bag was 22 lb, and plenty of boats were contending. These results stand in stark contrast the tournament from two weeks ago, suggesting that the winter pattern has truly set in on Oconee. One angler from Berry’s Tournament Trail reported that “bass are hugging the bottom in most cases and plastics seem to be the better alternatives after the morning activity. Spinner baits early, but Texas rigged beavers and creature baits are doing the best at this time due to the temp changes in weather. Check the Rip Rap early with fishing holding to the warmer rocks, then pole fishing on docks. Sugar Creek area produced late in the day, but watch the wind, which picked up afternoon and helped improve the bite.  

Linesides (courtesy of Captain Doug Nelms with Big Fish Heads): Clients are putting a hurt on some nice linesides in the morning window! Just today, we chased birds and landed 37 nice fish in 4 hours. Casting pearl white flukes and Sassy Shads seem to work well, especially in pre-frontal conditions. If we get a good cloudy and drizzly day, be sure to get on the lake and get in on the action!

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 0.8 FEET, 60’S 

Bass: Bass is fishing fair. Have the spinnerbaits ready and head to the back of Rooty Creek. The bass also seem to be in the back thirds of the pockets. A spinnerbait, a Shad Rap and a blue and chrome Rat L Trap and a jerk bait in the clearer water are the moving baits of choice. Finally plastic worms in Zoom June bug red flipping the docks and blowdowns is a pattern that will work. Look for these patterns to continue to produce into January. The jig and pig and a ChatterBait will also be effective baits to try in the same areas. Two keys into January is find the pockets with shad present. Small pockets that have afternoon sun will warm quicker especially. If the sun comes out three days in a row the bass will suspend in the mid water middle water column and now cast the Berkley Stunna jerk bait.

LAKE JACKSON IS 1.5 FEET OVER FULL, 60’S

Bass: Bass fishing is fair. Have the HIGH CHIRP sonar set up to see the fish schooled up in the mid lake coves. Some bass are still roaming around chasing bait. Keep a Zoom Fat Albert silver grub on a 3/8-ounce lead head on a spinning reel and simply cast and reel slowly. The best bite is down the lake toward the dam for spotted bass. A Lucky Craft Pointer 78 in natural colors are catching fish. The bass will be 12 to 20 feet deep. For the deeper fish, use a Fish Head Spin with a white Zoom Super Fluke Jr. paddle tail or a Keitech 2.8. When the water temperature plummets, bass undergo some significant changes in behavior. They’re not unlike us when winter hits they slow down, conserve energy and look for better locations to spend their time.

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

McDUFFIE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of Fisheries Technician Nick Brewer)

Recent downward temperature shifts have generally slowed angler success on the PFA, but patient anglers that seek out fish in their deeper, offshore habitats can still the fish.  

Bass: Fewer bass are being caught compared to the fall.  Consider using a crankbait around deep structure in ponds for the best chance of success.  

Striped and Hybrid Bass:  Anglers should try chicken livers in areas with lots of bird activity for the best chance of success.  Many small hybrids and striped bass are being caught in Clubhouse and Bridge Lakes.  Flyfishers are reporting success with herring-imitating flies (Gamechanger or Somethin’ Else).    

Channel Catfish:  The catfish bite remains active.  Some anglers are reporting catfish caught in the 4–9-pound range.  Anglers are reporting the most success fishing either chicken livers or stink baits on the bottom. 

Bream:  Bream on the PFA are not being caught frequently, anglers targeting bream should use live worms in and around shallow, visible structure during peak sunlight periods for their best chance at catching bluegill and redear sunfish.  

Reminder: Live fish/minnows are not allowed on our PFA!

FLAT CREEK PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of Fisheries Technicians Amory Cook and Deven Thompson)

Bass: The largemouth bite should be good this month. Try to focus on fishing near deeper main lake structures like standing timber, brush piles, main lake points and underwater creeks channels and humps. Baits to utilize this time of the year should consist of jigs, small paddle tail swim baits on jig heads, squarebill crank baits, deep-diving crank baits, Alabama rigs, and probably the most effective of all–jerk baits. Mid-mornings and late afternoon into the evening are the best times to go for them to allow the water temperatures to warm up a few degrees.  

Bream: Despite the cooling temperatures, the bream bite has been exceptional! Over the last two weeks we have had many reports of people filling their 15 fish limit with good sized bluegill with a few monster-sized bluegill and redear mixed in! Most if not all these fish have been caught on red wigglers fished on or very closely to the bottom on the west side of the lake, especially on or around the dock. This time of year, in my experience, crickets will also produce good fish. Afternoon window is the best time to go for them. 

Crappie: So far we have not had many reports on crappie catches this month, but that is most likely due to the times people are usually fishing for them. Night fishing seems to be the trick this time of the year, and the later in the night, the better in my experience. Small jigs will always get bites, but the larger fish seem to be going after live minnows under green lights the best! 

Catfish: To my surprise, we have had many catfish, at times even large ones, being caught during this cold front! Night crawlers and small chunks of chicken liver seems to be producing the catches but don’t be hesitant to utilize small, live bait or cut bait. Deeper parts of the lake should hold them through out the day, and then later into the evening, right before sunset, they seem to come up shallow to feed. 

Hybrids: In past years, Flat Creek has been stocked with hybrid striped bass, although reports of angler catches of hybrids have been far and few between. Larger minnows or shiners will always do the trick when targeting them. Lures such as lipless crankbaits, medium diving crankbaits, and spoon/blade baits can give you a good chance at catching Flat Creek’s linesides as well. Deeper water or main lake points where shad are present will be where you can find them. If you happen to catch any hybrids, please call and report the catch to fisheries staff at the Region 3 office at: (478)-825-6151.

Habitat Improvements: Flat Creek staff worked this week to install new, shallow fish attractors near shore, thanks to the low winter water levels. These large complexes of cedar logs will make excellent cover this spring when the lake refills, so anglers should take note of their locations now (while they’re visible).

ATTENTION ANGLERS: Flat Creek PFA staff are conducting an annual angler (creel) survey on the lake this year. If you are approached by a PFA staff member after your fishing trip, please take a moment to answer their questions and share information about your fishing success (or, lack of success, whichever may be the case). These surveys are a valuable management tool that can improve our understanding of the fishery and ultimately improve fishing quality on the reservoir.

MARBEN PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Technician Jacob Landry)

• Marben PFA Information
• Water Level: All the ponds are full or nearly full with the exception of Otter, Lower Raleigh, Little Raleigh, and Upper Raleigh. Margery is under renovation and closed till further notice.
• Water Clarity: Clarity varies but most water bodies have up to 24-46” visibility.
• Surface Temp: mid-to-low 60s.
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide 

Bass: Bass have moved into their winter habits.  Plastic worms and crankbaits should work well.  Bass will be preying on shad as they school.

Crappie: The crappie are still in deeper water suspended over woody habitat.  Use jigs tipped with minnows or a “search-style” bait such as a curly tail jig.

Bream:  The shellcrackers and bluegill bite has slowed but a few are being caught on the bottom in deep water with worms.

Other: Look for schooling shad and / or gulls feeding on lethargic shad as the temps drop.    Hybrid bass and largemouth will be taking advantage of the struggling shad.

(Fishing report courtesy of Capt. Bert Deener, Retired Georgia WRD Fisheries Supervisor, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

I hope that each of you is having a wonderful Christmas season! It’s been good fishing this week for the few who reported.

River gages on December 19th were:

• Clyo on the Savannah River – 7.9 feet and rising
• Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 11.1 feet and falling
• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 9.1 feet and rising
• Waycross on the Satilla – 9.5 feet and rising
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 6.1 feet and falling
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 4.8 feet and rising
• Macclenny on the St Marys – 2.7 feet and falling
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 3.5 feet and falling

Last quarter moon is December 22nd. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

ALTAMAHA RIVER

The crappie bite was fantastic before the rains from up-country hit this week. Brentz McGhin and I fished together on Saturday in the lower river and caught a bunch of fish. We had about 2 dozen – mostly crappie. Our biggest crappie was 1 1/4 pounds. We caught half of them on a 1/16-oz Mirage Jig tipped with a minnow and half on a 1/32-oz. Tennessee Shad Specktacular Jig worked slowly.  Jamie Hodge fished the lower river on Sunday and caught a couple dozen really nice crappie up to 1-lb., 10-oz. He spider-rigged minnows for his fish. The river rose all week and is at the edge of the floodplain again.

SATILLA RIVER

Blake Edwards fished with me on Thursday in the lower river, and we caught a total of 54 fish of 9 different species. Almost everything bit on a 1/16-oz. Mirage Jig tipped with a minnow, but I caught a couple on a 1/32-oz. Tennessee shad Specktacular Jig. The fish were scattered but active. We didn’t get on any concentrations of fish, but caught one here and one there the whole trip. Our biggest crappie was 1-lb., 3-oz. and our biggest warmouth was 3/4 pound. I heard of a couple good bass catches in the middle river.

SAVANNAH RIVER

Mark Vick and Daniel Rhodes fished the river on Wednesday and Thursday and had some great trips. On Wednesday the crappie, bass, bluegill, and flier were eating the usual Satilla Spin colors and Warmouth Whacker Jigs (bumblebee and crawfish) tipped with Garland tadpoles or minnows. They ended up keeping 19 for a meal. During just a few hours Thursday evening they found a good crappie bite deep in 15 to 18 feet of water and caught 30 crappie and 2 big fliers on Tennessee shad Specktacular Jigs tipped with minnows. They left them biting!

ST MARYS RIVER

The Temple Landing boat ramp is currently closed while the GA Wildlife Resources Division boat ramp crew rebuilds the ramp. It will be a much-improved facility when they finish the project. The projects typically take a few months to complete, but it is always weather and river level dependent.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

Joshua Barber fished some northern tributaries to the Okefenokee this week and caught a half-dozen bowfin on shiners and a warmouth and 3 fliers on worms. The most recent water level (Folkston side) was 120.94 feet.

LOCAL PONDS

Jay and Mason Turner fished a Bulloch County pond and fooled several dozen crappie up to 2 pounds with Keitechs, Sliders, and Rat-L-traps. Mason had one that measured 16 inches. Joshua Barber fished a Manor area pond on Monday evening and fooled 6 crappie, 2 small bass, and a warmouth on a Flashy Jigheads rigged with chartreuse back pearl 2-inch Keitech swimbaits and Gulp minnows and a couple on live minnows.

PARADISE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Tifton)

The one report I got was from an angler who caught a few bass, crappie, and bluegill on artificials and minnows on Saturday. He worked for them but had a decent catch at the end of the trip. Find out more about this area at GeorgiaWildlife.com/paradise-pfa.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Tommy Sweeney and Scotty Steedley fished the Brunswick area on Saturday and caught over 40 trout (kept 16). Most of their fish were in the 12-to-15-foot depth range. Zombie Eye Jigheads rigged with various plastics worked best for them. The smaller Keitechs with silver flake in them seemed to work the best. Tommy fished the Jekyll Island Pier for 2 hours one evening and caught a dozen trout in the 15 to 17-inch range by casting black/chartreuse tail Assassin Sea Shads rigged on Zombie Eye Jigheads around the shallow areas. The water was really dirty, but the fish still ate it well. Capt. Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) only fished Thursday for a few hours. He caught 15 trout with half of them being keepers. A sheepshead latched onto his plastic, also.  After your next trip to the Georgia coast, drop off your fish carcasses in the freezer at the GA Wildlife Resources Division Waycross Fisheries Office at 108 Darling Avenue. The Coastal Resources Division collects most inshore saltwater species so that they can determine age and growth for each species. All the supplies and information cards are in the freezer. Filet your fish then drop off the carcasses in the freezer. Wat-a-melon Bait and Tackle in Brunswick is open Friday through Tuesday each week (closed Wednesday and Thursday) They have plenty of lively shrimp and also have live worms and crickets for freshwater. For the latest information and their hours, contact them at 912-223-1379.

Blog Contributer Capt. Bert Deener guides fishing trips in southeast Georgia and makes a variety of both fresh and saltwater fishing lures. Check his lures out at Bert’s Jigs and Things on Facebook. For a copy of his latest catalog, call or text him at 912-288-3022 or e-mail him (bertdeener@yahoo.com).

(Fishing report courtesy of Caroline Cox, Fisheries Biologist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts) 

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE

Crappie and catfish seem to be what’s happening at Lake Walter F. George. Water temperatures are around the 60-degree range and both the crappie and catfish are very active. The crappie seem to be adjacent to or in the creeks in about 10 to 15 feet of water. Jigs especially pink and purple seem to be most effective. Minnows beneath a slip float are also doing a good job catching fish. The catfish seem to have moved a bit deeper but are feeding aggressively. Cut bait, liver, and shrimp seem to be catching the most fish. Try fishing for both crappie and catfish on your next outing to increase your chances of bringing home some fish for a holiday fish fry. The bass fishing is fair, and they are being caught on lipless crankbaits and slowly retrieved blade baits. As temperatures continue to drop slow your presentation accordingly.

LAKE SEMINOLE

Seminole News: Due to high water levels, the Lower Pool Damsite Fishing area was temporarily closed on December 12 due to high water levels. This area reopened on December 16. For more US Army Corps of Engineers updates, visit Facebook.com/USACELakeSeminole.

Bass Fishing (Report provided by Ken Sturdivant with Southern Fishing Schools Inc.): Ken reports that bass fishing is good. “With the cooler weather and falling water temperatures many species are feeding. The big largemouth have been feeding heavily on bream while the schooling bass are feeding on shad. The Strike King Thunder Cricket swim jig is a good, all day, lure. Bass are starting to gather into tight schools. The crankbait bite can be excellent. Use crankbaits and jerk bait in shad colors, like the Strike King KVD Series 5XD. Great action and the fact that it will dive from 10 to 12 feet which can search the key depths for winter schooling bass. When the water temperature plummets, bass undergo some significant changes in behavior. When winter hits they slow down, conserve energy and look for better locations to spend their time. A suspending jerk bait is another great option for cold weather fishing and the Spring Creek arm is an excellent choice to begin. Use a variety of jerk baits like the Strike King KVD Series 200 suspending jerk bait. Use fluorocarbon line and the Temple Fork Outfitter’s 7-foot Tactical Bass Series rod in medium heavy with a moderate action tip.” 

Bass Tournaments: Membership is open for the 2025 season for the GA Boys Tournament Trail. This club has been around now for 10 years, putting on over 250 tournaments from North FL up to Middle GA. Their mission is to “continue the tradition of having fun while creating a diverse, competitive and friendly fishing venue where anglers of all ages can come aboard and better themselves on the water all while competing and building friendships that will go beyond the water.” Visit Facebook.com/GaBoysTournamentTrail for more information.

Conner Lopez and Justin Barnes got the win on Seminole this weekend fishing the Albany Bassin Buddies Classic. They had 18+ lb with a 6.40 pounder.Georgia College Bass Fishing Team had a great Lake Seminole Qualifier this weekend. Tucker Pearson and Avery Hammock got the win with 27.66lb! Cooper McLemore and Carson Dyer came in second with 21lb even and big fish of 6.60lb. Brett Boswell and Dylan Thayer got third with 15 and change.

Hybrids and Striped Bass: Hybrid and Striper fishing has been excellent! Captain Paul Tyre reports having a fantastic day of fishing; even putting a young man on his personal best hybrid!

LAKE BLACKSHEAR (Photo Credit: ATX Lure Company )

Attention Boaters: Crisp County Power has started to refill the lake; it is expected to be back at full pool December 20.

Crappie: Crappie are still frequently biting, though with the next cold front coming through this week they may get a little picky. Many reports of people having luck using ATX lures. If you need some or want to try it out stop by Flint River Outdoors while they have some stock left!

FLINT RIVER

Flows are up and water temps are still down.  Water clarity is muddy until water from the recent rains pushes through.  When flows drop and clarity is better, white bass fishing is good below the Lake Blackshear Dam.  Fish small topwater lures or small jerk baits.  White bass aren’t large, but the action can be fast and furious, and they pull good on light tackle.  Remember that striped bass season is now open below Albany Dam.  These fish have been surviving in thermal refuges all summer and are now freely roaming the river and ready to put on some weight for winter.  Fish large minnow imitations in topwater or swim baits. Bass fishing will be slowing down with the cold temperatures.  Think about slower baits like jigs or reactive type baits.

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER

The Lower Chattahoochee River flows are up since the recent rains.  Fishing will be off with the cold muddy water coming downstream.  Catfish have been caught in deeper bends recently.  As the water levels drop and clarity improves, striped bass season is open south from Columbia Lock and Dam and should provide some good action.  Fish structure on deep bends for crappie.

SILVER LAKE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

Silver Lake water temps are in the 60s and bass are schooling.  As temps are cooling, schools are staging in deeper water (10+) and suspending jerkbaits are proving effective at coaxing a bite from the lethargic bass.  Crappie are moving to weedlines and holding at 6-10 feet.   A roadrunner with a curly tail or paddle tail grub in black and chartreuse is a good choice to search for schooling crappie.

Hybrid striped bass have recently been stocked into House Pond and will provide steady action throughout the winter.  Trolling small shad pattern swim baits are the best way to find these hard fighting hybrids.  Be sure to follow the posted harvest regulations for House Pond.

BIG LAZER PUBLIC FISHING AREA

With the warmer temperatures the last couple of days we’ve seen a few more anglers than normal and we’ve received reports of people having some luck catching crappie. Trolling the lake with minnows seems to be the go-to strategy right now. Bass fishing is slow but there have been a few caught recently. Fishing deeper water with slow moving baits will provide the best shot of landing a largemouth. In general, the weather is cold, and the bite has become less consistent.  Anglers have to be more patient and persistent to have a good day fishing.  However, winter weather means less anglers are fishing; thus, less fishing pressure for the dedicated angler.

(Fishing report courtesy of Jim Hakala, Fisheries Biologist and Region Supervisor with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts) 

RESERVOIR REPORT

Allatoona Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant via www.southernfishing.com): LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 7 FEET.  This Bass fishing report is by Matt Driver.  Bass fishing is good. December is a great time to be on Lake Allatoona and there are some giant spotted bass being caught. Water temperatures are dropping quickly into the low 50’s and will potentially go lower than that really soon. If the winter weather pattern for the first of the month continues to hold, the jerk bait bite will be in full swing. We are using multiple jerk baits right now. We are mixing it up between three depth ranges 3 to 6 feet deep, 6 to 12 feet deep and 12 plus feet. Depending on weather conditions, cloud cover and high pressure. Let the fish dictate which bait they prefer. We mainly key on the 6-to-12-foot range. Use the translucent shad patterns and an occasional chrome flash. Even though water temperatures are cold, try and fish the bait as fast as possible as long the fish bite. If the bite slows slow down the bait, as well. We are targeting points and pockets that are wind-blown and are full of bait. When the water temperature plummets, bass undergo some significant changes in behavior. They’re not unlike us when winter hits they slow down, conserve energy and look for better locations to spend their time. There has been a mix of hybrids, stripers and spotted bass. A lot of the bigger fish have come when around stripers and hybrids. When things slow down and get a little tough try switching over to the Little Spotty jig and dragging it slowly on main lake rocks and bluffs.

Allatoona Bass Report (This report courtesy of angler Matt Driver): All the rain has created muddy conditions on the north end of the lake.  As such, the clearer water and better bite has been mid-lake, in the vicinity of Red Top Mountain State Park.  Try fishing brown and orange jigs on bluff walls.  If you can locate shad/herring, fish jerk baits or jig minnows right over these bait schools.

Allatoona Crappie (This report courtesy of Red Rooster Custom Baits):

• Current Water Level
• Water Temp: 48 – 51
• Water Clarity: Stained to Muddy (Depending on the area of the lake, North End Muddy, Mid Lake Stain to Heavy Stain)
• Area Fished: Little River, S-Turns, Victoria & Kellogg/Owl Creek
• Jigs Used: June Bug – Kic’n Chic’n, Cajun Chicken – Slab Dragon, and Lemonade – Slab Dragon
• Technique: Trolling

December can be a magical month for Lake Allatoona crappie, but the weather can be frustrating as well. This past week was frustrating and there was nothing that you could do about it but sit at home and wait for sunny days. The heavy rains this week brought the lake up 3 feet which is always a challenge. The lake went from light stain to heavy stain/muddy in a matter of days. With the rain you not only get stain but you get sediment and trash in the water as well which makes it more difficult to troll. The front came in which was warm at the beginning but after the rain came a sudden drop in temperature and wind. Long story short we only managed one day on the water this week which was Friday the 13th! The weather was perfect, light winds and not too cold…but the damage had been done earlier in the week. We trolled for several hours and only managed one small crappie, a spotted bass and a nice hybrid. December is typically a transitional month as the first 2 weeks of December the weather is up and down, then the later part of December (Week of Christmas/Week After) can be on FIRE! It’s like flipping a switch and the crappie! We have some of our best days the week before Christmas and the week after Christmas for size and numbers. This is generally about the time of the year when trolling gets in full swing from now until April. As long as the weather pattern settles down a bit we should be approaching full on trolling season. On a side note, do not let the heavy stained or muddy water conditions deter you from trolling the lake. A couple of tips for trolling muddy water is to focus shallow as the baitfish move shallow and so do the crappie. When we say shallow, this could be 5′ deep over open water anywhere from 12′ to 30′ or they could be in shallow warmer water…we have caught them in as little as 3′ – 5′ deep. You will want to cover some water until you start seeing schools or roaming crappie on your electronics. If they are shallow, you will want to switch to 1/32 or 1/24 oz. jig heads to cover that depth. Second tip would be to use bright solid-colored jigs and jigs with orange…orange is deadly for Lake Allatoona crappie! Solid colors such as black/chartreuse, black/blue, black/orange, June Bug. Bright colors like ‘Lectric Chicken, BlueGrass, Flo Pink Pepper, Bubble Gum. Orange Colors like Cajun Chicken, CopperHead, Carrot Stick, Albright Special, Gold Crush are all great colors for muddy/heavy stained waters. We have also had a lot of good luck using gold in stained/muddy water like Chicken Pox, Tre’s Gold and Gold Digger. When you’re trolling remember not to get stuck on any one color…if the crappie seem to be hitting on a certain color or colors…use more of those colors for the best catch ratio. Lord willing Team Red Rooster will bring you another report next week!

Allatoona Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including Allatoona, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

Allatoona News Nugget –Did you know that largemouth bass are stocked at Lake Allatoona annually?  This year the lake received over 13,000, five to six inch largemouth. Now, you know!

Lake Hartwell Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com): LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 4 FEET, 50’S F.  Bass fishing is fair and the mid lake areas are best and a little warmer. Use the drop shot and the spoons early and then take out the jigs and worms to entice any strike. When the water temperature plummets, bass undergo some significant changes in behavior. They’re not unlike us when winter hits they slow down, conserve energy and look for better locations to spend their time. The lower lake creeks are slow but try the smaller dark Stanley jigs in and silver with a small Uncle Josh trailer is fair, but use them slowly. Depths may be as deep as 25 feet. Fish any bank cover all the way to the boat, working the lure’s slowly in cover. Use the smaller dark ¼ ounce dark Stanley jigs and add a small Uncle Josh trailer and use them slowly. Depths may be as deep as 25 feet. The 1/2-ounce Hopkins spoon on and over the old trees and on road beds in the creeks is a good cold water tactic. Fish deep cover and be patient and use a super sensitive rod.

Lake Lanier Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Phil Johnson, 770-366-8845 via www.southernfishing.com): LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 3.3 FEET, 50’S F. Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. The lake is currently four feet below full pool, and the water temperature is running in the low sixties. Overall, the lake is clear. The bass have moved to their winter locations and the traditional winter bite is here. The ditch bite has been getting stronger over the last couple of weeks with bass being caught down to sixty feet deep. The Spot Choker underspin and Georgia Blade half ounce spoons have been consistently producing fish in the thirty-five-to-sixty-foot range. For the Spot Choker we have been rigging it with a 3-inch swim bait and slowly crawling the bait along the bottom of the ditches. With the spoon you can either drop it vertically on the fish and use a lift and drop presentation or throw it down the ditch and retrieve it with a pump and fall method. You can also use a half ounce Spot Choker setup to target the bass you see suspended in open water or over structure. Cast past the fish you see on FFS and let the bait sink to the depth of the bass and slowly reel it by them for the strike. While there are plenty of deep fish a crankbait or a worm worked in rocky areas will draw some big bites. A DT6 or a Rock Crawler crankbait has worked well when it is bouncing off the rocks. A green pumpkin Senko or a brown and chartreuse jig have also been producing bass on the rocks as well as the boat docks in the fifteen-to-thirty-foot depth especially if there is structure around. One of the keys now is to find the shad and it may take looking around several locations to find the bass, but the reward is worth it. It’s cold but bundle up and Go Catch ‘Em!

Lanier Stripers (This report courtesy of Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service 404 510 1778): Lanier stripers are cold and easy to find but getting them to bite is the challenge. Water is appropriately low, and temperatures are in the mid 50’s. The top water bite has definitely been good, it’s just getting to them before they sound. Blue backs and gizzards are the bait of choice using down lines and flat lines 80 to 100 feet behind the boat. Umbrella rigs is another option 130 feet behind the boat using the outboard running 2.5 to 3 mph. Remember to wear your life jacket the life you save maybe yours.

Lanier Crappie (This report courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton, 770-530-6493): Lake Lanier crappie fishing is currently experiencing increased activity as water temperatures reach the mid to low 50’s. Recent rain and cold front have moved the fish into large groups, with big crappie becoming more active Catches this week have been at depths of 5 to 15 feet above a 20-to-40-foot bottom. Crappie minnows have been 50 percent or more of the bite this week. For your best fishing experience, consider using the following equipment: a one-piece ACC Crappie Stix rod and reel paired with 4- or 6-pound test K9 line. Further optimizing your efforts, a Garmin LiveScope, protected by a sonar shield cover, and a Power Pole are highly recommended.

Lake Lanier Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including Lake Lanier, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

Lake Weiss Bass: (This report courtesy of Mark Collins Guide Service and www.southernfishing.com): WEISS LAKE IS DOWN 3 FEET, 60’S F.  Bass fishing is fair. Fish on main lake points with 1/2-ounce Rat L Traps and Little Earl crankbaits for some solid action for Weiss’s quality Coosa River spots. The warmer sunny days can create some great action in the very backs of creeks with 1/4-ounce Rat L Traps and Fish Head Spin. When the water temperature plummets, bass undergo some significant changes in behavior. They’re not unlike us when winter hits they slow down, conserve energy and look for better locations to spend their time. When looking for fish in these areas always focus on very shallow stump filled bays. The action in these shallow bays may not be as aggressive as main lake points but the quality will definitely be there.

West Point Bass Report (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com): WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 9.9 FEET, 60’s F.  Bass fishing is fair, and the bite is starting to slow down as winter sets in. Look for shad in shallow flats, on secondary points and the mouth of any shallow cove or pocket. In the upper river starting at the 109 Bridge, work the small coves on either side of the bridge. The bass are busting shad on top of the water in the mouth of any cove or pocket and any shallow flat near the main river channel. This works better on sunny afternoons. These active feeding fish can be caught on a variety of shad imitation lure’s, shallow running crank baits, Rat L Traps, spinner baits, smaller 3 to 4-inch swim baits are catching these very aggressive fish. Carolina and Texas rigged plastics are also catching fish.

West Point Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including West Point, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

SMALL LAKES REPORT

State Park Lakes: Want to enjoy some winter fishing potentially close to home?  Georgia State Parks has got you covered. Small lakes can offer great winter fishing opportunities close to home.  Here are a few north Georgia State Parks with small lakes you may consider fishing this weekend.

Winter Fishing Tips:

• Fish deeper than you would in the spring and summer.  As such, lose the bobber and fish your bait near or on the bottom.
• Downsize your bait.  If fishing for bream or crappie, smaller baits can sometimes be the ticket for cold water conditions.
• Slow your reel retrieve.  Cold water can slow fish movements, making them less willing to chase a fast-moving bait. 

TROUT REPORT

Delayed Harvest Stocking (This report courtesy of WRD trout stocking coordinator John Lee Thomson):  The Delayed Harvest (DH) season is in full swing.  The Chattahoochee, Smith, Toccoa, and Amicalola DH streams all received a fresh dose of stockers this week.  Find out more about DH fishing opportunities at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/trout.

Toccoa River DH Report (This report courtesy of Cohutta Fishing Company): The Delayed Harvest (DH) section of the Upper Toccoa is currently flowing just below 400cfs, a great flow for both wading and floating. However, recent rains may cause the river to blow out temporarily, so always check the USGS flow gauge before heading out. Flows above 500cfs are unsafe for wading.

With over a month into DH season, fish are feeling the pressure, so subtle adjustments may be necessary. Junk flies like Eggs and Worms still work, but pairing a Pat’s Rubberlegs with a smaller flashy nymph often produces results for both fresh stockers and more experienced fish. Swinging wooly buggers or soft hackles through runs is also an effective technique. Explore harder-to-reach areas for better chances—those willing to hike may find less-pressured fish waiting.

Trout and More (This report courtesy of Unicoi Outfitters): Check out Unicoi Outfitter’s regular “Angler Management” fishing reports at blog.angler.management.

Toccoa Tailwater (This report courtesy of Cohutta Fishing Company): December through March marks prime trout fishing season on the Toccoa Tailwater. Brown trout are coming out of their spawn, morning generation schedules are ideal for streamers, and fewer anglers brave the cold, leaving the river less pressured. Frequent rains are boosting flows, making fish less spooky and more active. Generation typically occurs early morning to midday, so low-water fishing is best in the afternoons. Productive flies include Rubberlegs, Eggs, Worms, and small BWOs. Don’t shy away from fishing small—some of the biggest fish have been landed on size 18 or smaller patterns.

Depth is key during colder days, so consider bobber rigs for deeper pools or stick to dry dropper setups for versatility. Streamer fishing is picking up as post-spawn browns pack on weight. This is the season for trophy fish, with December through March often producing the largest trout of the year. Warmer days, frequent BWOs hatches, and cloud cover from drizzles create perfect fishing conditions. Whether you’re new to streamers or a seasoned pro, this is the time to target big fish. Stop by the shop or book a guided trip—our big fish season is here!

Small North GA Trout Streams (This report courtesy of Cohutta Fishing Company): Small streams are performing well after rains, making them a top choice when larger systems are too dirty. Higher, slightly stained water prompts trout to key in on stoneflies, minnows, and worms. As flows stabilize, eggs or weighted BWO nymphs work great, and dry dropper rigs with patterns like Pat’s Rubberlegs, Eggs, or Pheasant Tails are consistent producers. Smaller wooly buggers also perform well in higher water. Winter brings fewer anglers to these streams, offering solitude and productive fishing.

Georgia Trout Slam:  There is still time to catch Georgia’s three freshwater trout species.  If you have the skill to successfully catch all three species of trout (brook, brown, rainbow) in Georgia within a calendar year, consider giving the Georgia Trout Slam a try.  All successful submissions will receive the coveted Georgia Trout Slam Sticker and be entered into a drawing for an annual grand prize.  Program details can be found at GeorgiaWildlife.com/trout-slam.  Slammer intel for the week – brown trout were stocked in the following delayed harvest (DH) streams: Morgan Falls Tailwater (Chattahoochee), Smith Creek, and the Toccoa River.  Look for holdover brookies from previous stockings in the Amicalola and Smith Creek’s DH sections.

Trout Fishing Opportunities for Those With Disabilities: Find a list of sites open to the public and that offer specific amenities for anglers with disabilities at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/trout.

Parting Trout Note:  Want to do more to support trout fishing in Georgia?  Consider upgrading to a Trout Unlimited license plate this year. Aside from being a great looking tag, each purchase or renewal of a Trout Unlimited license plate directly supports Georgia’s trout conservation and management programs, hatcheries, and wild trout efforts in the state.

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