April 25, 2025 – Georgia Wildlife Blog

Georgia has a New State Record freshwater fish tie! Mr. Wesley Daniels caught this 12 ounce spotted sunfish on April 15 while fishing for catfish on the Suwannee River. Is there another state record fish out there just waiting on you to get on the water? Only one way to find out! Check out state record information and photos at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/recordprogram/rules. 

This week, we have fishing reports from Southeast, Southwest, North and Central Georgia. Whether you have a state record fish in mind, or just looking to catch some dinner, let’s Go Fish Georgia!

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

Get ready for some great fishing over the next month as the water warms and rivers drop out to perfect levels. The Okefenokee, ponds, and St Marys River are great locations for this weekend, but different sections of some other rivers are getting right. Saltwater tides will be reasonable late this week, but they are increasing as we approach New Moon.

River gages on April 24th were:

• Clyo on the Savannah River – 6.4 feet and falling
• Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 5.0 feet and falling
• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 10.0 feet and falling
• Waycross on the Satilla – 7.9 feet and falling
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 8.6 feet and falling
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 7.8 feet and falling
• Macclenny on the St Marys – 2.9 feet and falling
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 4.6 feet and falling

New Moon is April 27th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

SATILLA RIVER

The first angler award-sized redbreast was caught this weekend on the Satilla. It was 1.08 pounds. He caught it on a crankbait. Scott, Raigan, and Amiee fished the upper Satilla on Sunday and caught a 5-gallon bucket of nice catfish by fishing shrimp on the bottom. Their biggest was 2 1/2 pounds. They also had some nice redbreasts on Satilla Spins. The water is still high, but lots of quality fish are going to be caught this week. The key on the Satilla is to fish it when it’s just barely high enough to get your boat around the numerous sandbars (it’s even better fishing if you have to drag over and around a few…). That will probably happen during the next couple of weeks for most boats.

ST MARYS RIVER

Dale and Emma Anderson fished the river on Thursday and caught a giant bluegill by flinging a chartreuse back pearl 2-inch Keitech on a Zombie Eye Jighead. Their biggest was 1-lb., 6-oz. and they had 2 that were exactly 1-lb., 0-oz. They ended up keeping 43 fish, including bluegills, redbreasts, and 6 crappie (they also threw back a half-dozen). Dale threw a 1/32-oz. Zombie Eye Jighead and chartreuse back pearl, sight flash, and bluegill flash 2-inch Keitech. Emma threw an underspin and Junebug plastic.

SUWANNEE RIVER

Bill Stewart and Ronnie Music fished the river on Thursday morning and caught a good mess of catfish by fishing shrimp on the bottom. They had 34 bullheads and 2 channel cats.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

I fished the east side Friday for just a few hours and had a productive trip. I started by pitching Mirage Jigs to shoreline cover to see if warmouth were biting, and they were. I caught 3 nice warmouth and a good spotted sunfish (stumpknocker) in a short time then went for the big fish. Both casting and trolling produced bowfin and pickerel, and I ended up catching and releasing a total of 22 fish. The best Dura-Spin colors that day were crawfish-brass blade, lemon-lime, and jackfish. Three of the pickerel were pushing 20 inches, with the biggest right around 21 inches. Chuck Dean fished the east side Sunday for a short time and caught and released a MONSTER bowfin by trolling a fire tiger-chartreuse blade Dura-Spin. It was 30 inches (he didn’t have a scale), which would generally be a little over 10 pounds. The bad news is that during the scuffle landing it (he didn’t have his net with him) he (or the bowfin) broke the tip of his pole, so it was a one and done trip. He and his daughter had a great rest of the trip looking around at the gators, flowers, and other animals after that one catch.  Billy Bice and William Royster fished with me on Monday and caught a total of 42 fish during their half-day trip. Trolling produced about 2/3 of the fish, but casting was also effective. We even had a couple of double hook-ups. Their biggest bowfin was 7-lb., 10-oz., and biggest pickerel was 20 inches. The same 3 colors of Dura-Spins worked best, although we tried others. An angler fishing the east side on Thursday fooled about 20 warmouth with a white jig. The most recent water level on the Folkston side was 120.70 feet.

LOCAL PONDS

Chip Lafferty had the best bass report I heard of this week, and it was from a Brunswick area pond. He had 5 fish that weighed 22-lb., 3-oz. One of them was on a blue glimmer shad Wobble Blade, one on a Chatterbait, and the rest were on a Texas-rigged blue worm. Buck Johnson fished a Waycross area pond and had a blast on Tuesday morning. He fished a short time after the sun came up and caught 15 bluegills and a small bass by pitching a white Mr. Jet fly. Shane and Joshua Barber fished a couple ponds over the weekend and worked for their bass. They caught their biggest (a 3-pounder) on a Satilla Spin Magnum Spinnerbait.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Tom and Rick fished the Brunswick area on Friday and worked for their fish. They ended up catching 5 redfish, 2 trout, 2 flounder, and a black drum. One of the redfish was a perfect 22 1/2 inches and got an invitation to supper. Don Harrison fished with a friend out of Crooked River State Park on Saturday. They had fun, but the bite was slow. Their first 3 trout were 16, 17, and 19 inches, but they were almost an hour apart. They added another 3 throwbacks to the tally before calling it. The keepers ate nuclear chicken Keitech swimbaits fished underneath Equalizer Floats, while the throwbacks ate electric chicken Keitechs. Kris Irwin came down from Athens to fish with a friend in the middle Georgia coast. They worked for their trout but caught some. Their biggest (about 18 inches based on the photo) ate an electric chicken Keitech rigged on a Zombie Eye Jighead. Capt. Billy Bice (billybeecharters.com) and William Royster fished Tuesday in the Brunswick area and kept a couple dozen really nice whiting (several over 13 inches). They had a bunch of shorter fish also. The whiting bite has been really consistent on the southern Georgia coast this week. Capt. Chris Ruff (rccaga.com) did well for flounder at the creek mouths with live shrimp, jigs, and mudminnows late last week. Trout and reds were around shell beds. He said that live bait and jigs worked equally well late last week in the Darien area. On Friday they got on some big black drum along with reds and trout. Crab on the bottom is what they bit. On Tuesday and Wednesday in the Brunswick area they had trout, reds, and flounder on live shrimp suspended under Harper Super Striker Floats. The water temperature where they were catching them was 72 to 74 degrees. On Thursday in the Brunswick area, they used live shrimp under Harper Super Striker Floats again and caught a big trout on their first cast then nothing. They moved and started catching a few oversized reds, some slot reds, and 2 nice flounder mostly around shell mounds. The sharks have started, as they caught some on Thursday. Capt. Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) got on a great bite with artificials on Friday. They hammered 26 good trout (only kept 12). On Monday trout and reds were on fire. They had a limit of trout, 6 overslot reds that they released, and 4 flounder. Tuesday was about the same bite, but it included a 6-pound flounder! Wednesday was a little slower with only a dozen trout, but they had some oversized reds and some slot reds, as well. On Thursday the bluefish invaded the inshore areas they were fishing and tore up bait and plastics and anything else in their way. They also had a jack crevalle try to eat their float. They did manage to boat a half-dozen oversized reds, 3 slot fish, 6 trout, and 6 whiting. 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 SEMINOLE

According to Ken Sturdivant at SouthernFishing.com, bass fishing is good on Lake Seminole this week! Use Zara Spook Jr. Shad top-water lures and Storm jerk-baits lake-wide. Bomber crank-baits in Baby Bass, Shad and Fire Tiger colors cast to the banks will get lots of action. Use the stop and go technique and try running these crank-baits in the blow downs. A slow retrieve in the lay downs, letting the bait float up once it hits the limbs, will draw a strike. A Stanley spinner-bait in the 3/8-ounce size with white or chartreuse skirts cast to the points and shallow back cover will get the fish to attack this lure. Never overlook the rivers on this lake; large jigs and huge grubs are deadly.

The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to visit Bainbridge, Georgia, April 24-26, for the third and final regular-season event of the Southern Division. Anglers will begin each day at 7 a.m. ET, launching from the Earle May Boat Basin at 100 Boat Basin Circle in Bainbridge. Weigh-ins will take place at the same location, starting at 3 p.m. daily. Fans are invited to attend in person and can also stay connected by following the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily updates on MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Local expert, Matt Baty, shares some safety tips for navigating Lake Seminole. These include staying in the river channel, exercising caution on curves and turns, controlling your speed, and watching for stumps. In Spring Creek, the channel is narrow and well-marked. Stay in the center of the channel to avoid dangerous stumps. If you approach another boat, do not run out of the channel. Both boats should slow down and pass each other within the channel markers. Stay safe out there and good luck! 

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER

Striped bass are ending their runs in the tail races as water temperatures rise. You may be lucky and catch a straggler. To do this try some shade-colored lures or live bait for the best outcome.

Crappie are biting below the Columbia Dam/Lake Andrews. Live minnows or jigs are a solid choice for targeting crappie. There is a mayfly hatch happening in this area so try mayfly style lures to match the natural environment.

Hybrid striped bass are looking like monsters in the Chattahoochee! They are fun to catch on a shad or minnow lure. They put up a good fight and provide a good time for the whole family!

FLINT RIVER 

Shoal bass, largemouth bass, and striped bass are stacking up below the dams on the Flint River. Shell crackers are on gravel beds to spawn. There are some real hogs out there waiting to be caught. Be sure to check river conditions before heading out below a dam and wear a life jacket!  

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE

According to Ken Sturdivant at Southernfishing.com, bass fishing is good and there are lots of shallow fish. Fish up in Cowikee Creek where you can find lots of small keeper fish on any cover. Anglers are using several patterns including a mixture of sight fishing and shallow water brush with plastics. The full moon is approaching and there are lots of fish in shallow water lake-wide. Some are bedding and others are getting ready to bed. There are pre spawners toward the southern end of the lake. This is a great time to try Zoom Trick worms on and around anything on the banks. Use the Ott’s Garage 8 flat sided crank baits and the Bomber Flat A or a Thundershad coffin bill. The fish will be on bed in the backs of coves and pockets. The water is a little warmer in these areas.

The bream fish is heating up and bedded fish are being caught in good numbers. Look for bedded bream in the coves in two to five feet of water. Red wigglers seem to be the current bait of choice and be prepared to hook into a good size channel cat while bream fishing as well. 

LAKE BLACKSHEAR 

We have had a break from the rain letting the water clear up a little bit but now comes the heat! Warmer temperatures are leading to the fish moving more, you can still catch some shallow but others and larger fish will be in deeper water during the heat of the day. Crappie are hanging around 14 feet and have been caught well using minnows. Largemouth are still occasionally in the shallows but now that the water is pushing up towards 80F they aren’t spawning any more. Bream bites are pretty good now as they are in the middle of their spawning, so if you want to do some bank fishing they will be around.

BIG LAZER PUBLIC FISHING AREA

Bass fishing is pretty good right now. Try locating feeding shad near the banks and throw a crankbait or spinner in the area. Catfish fishing is improving as of late and should continue to do so. Woody structure as well as the rip-rap near the dam may be your best bet at a good cat. We have had some good reports of bream catches lately as well. Heading into May is traditionally a great time to fish for bream on bed.

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

TROUT REPORT 

Trout Info and Trout Stockings: To learn about Georgia’s trout fishing opportunities including the latest stocking information, check out the Georgia DNR Trout Fishing page at GeorgiaWildlife.com/Fishing/Trout. 

RESERVOIR REPORT 

LAKE ALLATOONA is down 1 foot, and the water temperatures are in the upper 60s. 

Allatoona Bass: (Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant www.southernfishing.com) — Spotted bass fishing is good. Conventional crank baits are working and it’s spawning time. Best bet is a green pumpkin Zoom Finesse worm on a Spot Sticker, Weedless Wonders are hot. Also try a Bandit 200 series or Norman Baby N in Citrus Shad or Pearl. If the fish are finicky, try just “dead sticking” a jerk worm and cast it out and just let it sink to the bottom. Zoom Super Flukes are also catching a few and some hybrids are mixed in so be ready. Try the pearl colors. A Mini Me with tandem willow leaf blades in the bream color would be good. Otherwise, mid-depth crank baits up in the coves and pockets are a good bet. Try a shad or fire tiger #5 Rapala Shad Rap. Throw them right to the bank and crank them back. Bandit 200 series are also a good choice right now. Be sure it has a little chartreuse in it. Finally, keep throwing Spanky’s 3/8 oz. Green Pumpkin jig with a Zoom Super Chunk trailer in Root beer green pepper. Concentrate on whatever brush AA can find from 2 to 10 feet. The hot colors have been the watermelon, watermelon old and of course green pumpkin. Early and late bass will likely fall for top water as well. Try a Sammy 100 or ½ ounce Enticer buzz bait. 

LAKE HARTWELL: is full and water temperatures are in the 60s.  

Hartwell Mixed Bag: (Report courtesy of Captain Cefus McRae 404-402-8329: email Cefus@NutsAndBoltsFishing.com) —

Bass: Bass are on beds and catchable if you are stealthy and patient. Spring is on here, and it’s one of the best times of year on the lake. 

Crappie: crappie anglers, it’s game on right now. Crappie are still on structure, whether it’s brush piles, docks or bridges. And they are good fish. I’ve had more luck with live minnows versus jigs. But jigs will still get a bite. 

Stripers: Lots of stripers over 30 inches, and the hybrids have also been respectable…in the 4-to-6-pound class. And they appear quite healthy. They are eating both blue backs and gizzards, and even crappie minnows. Once the water warms to the high 60’s and stays there for a while, the bite should become more consistent, and we should begin to see larger schools that stay together for a while. I’m really hoping for a good top water bite this spring. Right now, the key for me is run and gun. Go to your favorite spots, and don’t drop baits until you see fish. A single arch on the Simrad is difficult to get to bite. I’m typically waiting until I see spaghetti on the scope and then put out my spread. Trolling umbrellas, mini-Mack’s and X-Rigs will get a reaction strike and you can cover more water while you’re searching for the schools. Planer boards have been effective, and I’ve been catching lots of spots on the planers closest to the shoreline. Also, a medium gizzard or trout about 40 feet behind a balloon, straight off the back of the boat and between the planers will draw some good fish. I want it far enough behind the planer spread that it serves as a last chance meal for a fish that has been slow to eat a bait behind the planer.

LAKE LANIER is full and water temperatures are in the 60s. 

Lanier Bass (This Lake Lanier Bass fishing report is by Phil Johnson Pjohnson15@hotmail.com 770-366-8845) — Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is very good. The lake is currently one foot above full pool and the water temperature is running from fifty-nine to sixty-three degrees’ Over all the lake is clear. The bass are up shallow now with some being on beds and others feeding heavily. The wind has been the biggest advantage this week blowing on main lake points, humps and reef poles. Several moving baits have been very effective this week for catching these shallow bass. A white spinnerbait with silver willow leaf blades worked with a moderate retrieve or a white chatter bait worked slower closer to the bottom have caught bass over four pounds this week. Scanning around these areas will often show bass in the fifteen-to-twenty-foot range close to the bottom and they are good targets for the new Hot Spot Choker with a three Keitech worked slowly by them. A jerkbait is also a good option in these areas when you work it with a slow steady retrieve. There is some schooling showing up and it mainly seems to be in the very shallow water areas so have something handy like a chrome IMA Skimmer or a Gunfish on the deck. The shakey head with a green pumpkin green Trixster Tamale worm will also catch fish around the shallower docks and on the rocky points but for the week it has just been more fun to throw the moving baits. The fishing should only improve over the next several weeks so pick your favorite baits and keep moving in the prime areas. It’s warm and fun so Go Catch ‘Me! 

Lanier Stripers (report is by Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service 404-510-1778) — Lake Lanier stripers are in the spring run and the bite is on. The weather is changing and the warmer it gets the better, windy conditions will be a challenge, but the fishing will continue to improve. Planer boards, flat lines and down lines are all producing good quality fish. Blue backs, gizzard shad and shiners and the larger river herring are bait of choice. Points and coves are holding fish and many fish are in the shallow waters so the planer boards will get close to the banks. Lots of boats on the lake so be careful and wear your life jackets and be courteous. 

Lanier Crappie: (report crappie report by Captain Josh Thornton at 770-530-6493) — Lake Lanier crappie fishing is good. The water temperatures are in the low 60s, the fish are shallow on structure in large groups under docks and starting to show up on open water brush. Small groups can be found roaming in open shallow try casting a 1/32 jig and letting it fall right in front of them try not to go below the target. Crappie have been at depths of 5 to 10 feet above a 20-to-40-foot bottom. Minnows have been slow good 4 foot under a bobber. 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 with an Atx lure company jig. Further optimizing your efforts, a Garmin LiveScope, protected by a sonar shield cover, and a Power Pole are highly recommended.

WEST POINT LAKE is down 2.8 feet and water temperatures are in the 70s. 

West Point Bass (Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant www.southernfishing.com) — Bass fishing is good. There are tons of bass shallow both spots and largemouth. There is a lot of bait out there also. Almost anything shallow can work all day. Whopper Poppers both the large and small need to ready all day. Bass are on roadbeds and shallow structure in 8-12 feet of water. Some are still holding in deep blow downs in the upper part of the lake from the 109 bridge and up. Use a Texas rigged worm or Pig N Jig in the blow downs. Daiwa has the petite SC Shad and shad style crank bait with a great wobble and looks like a Shad Rap body. It is 2 inches long and 1/8 ounce and mimics the shad. Comes with VMC super sharp hooks so beware. Several great colors too. The big news is top water action is good all over the lake early in the mornings and late in the evenings. The best fishing is on the points using Carolina rigged worms in most any color pumpkinseed, green, and purple and crank baits. 

West Point Lake Stocking Update (Report and picture courtesy of Fisheries Biologist Brent Hess): This week, the largemouth bass stocking program at West Point Lake continued with the addition of 100,000 Florida x Northern largemouth bass on Thursday, the 24th. Most of these fish were released directly into cover from boats. With this latest stocking, the total number of fish stocked this year has surpassed 613,000. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the West Point Lake largemouth bass stocking program. The newly stocked fish have the potential to increase the average size of largemouth bass in West Point Lake.

Lake Level Information: Find West Point Lake Water Level Information at westpointlake.info/Level.

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.

WEISS LAKE is full and water temperatures are in the 70’s 

Weiss Bass (Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant www.southernfishing.com) — Bass fishing is good. The bass are up early morning, and the grass bite is strong. Be sure bait fish and deep-water access are close by for the better fish. Use top water baits and Zoom lizards around the grass in several of the creeks on the upper end of the lake. After lunch, use Carolina rigs and slow rolling spinnerbaits around the secondary points. The fish are moving out to brush piles in 8 to 12 feet where crank baits and Texas rigs were working well. Daiwa has the petite SC Shad and shad style crank bait with a great wobble and looks like a Shad Rap body. It is 2 inches long and 1/8 ounce and mimics the shad. Comes with VMC super sharp hooks so beware. Several great colors too. The shallow bank cover in the shade early may be the best place to get a big fish and a bright Sekno, buzz bait and trick worms will work. A few fish are still bedding in some of the creeks, but mostly buck bass are left guarding the nest. Finding the grass with shad and deep water around will really improve the odds for bigger fish. 

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT 

Rocky Mountain Public Fish Area (report courtesy of Area Manger Dennis Shiley) –

It’s a bit rocky at Rocky. The bass spawn is behind us, the brim and shell crackers are coming on and the Crappies are about halfway through. Fertilizer has kicked in so it’s green. I would focus on bluegill beds for bass and throw big baits. Reports of a 10 that was caught off the bank and released.

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

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.

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Black bass fishing is good and the fish are shallow lake wide. Go up the Savannah River and fish the larger points and pockets just off these points for the numbers. Cranks and spinnerbaits will hold true for several weeks to come in these areas. Spawning has about over but there are still fish on the banks. Use a shad Wiggle Wart and finish up with the shallow shad rap and sub warts in the back. Buzz baits with the double blades are starting to turn on while making very long casts to the one ft. or less of water in the back of coves. Yo Zuri Hard Core lures has a Crank SR 65F round bodied crank bait with the bait bounces off structure. They have great colors in translucent, painted and metallic colors for any water application. Some of the larger bass are killing these baits early in the mornings. The jig bite is just starting to happen while pitching or flipping into real heavy cover. Find the biggest group of small trees and bushes that come together near a point or small bowl area. Put the jig right in the middle and work it slowly until all the cover is worked well. We have Bass fishing waypoints for $99.00 for this lake. Ask for a sample kensturdivant@att.net

Striped Bass (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that the inability to get large herring has made it tough to attract bites from striper. All that is probably about to change when the herring spawn gets underway, but they are not seeing any signs of it yet. For now the best bet for striper is, if you can get some bigger bait, to pull free-lines and planer boards in the front of creeks or around shallow main lake points close to deep water.

Crappie (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson caught fish 4-6 feet down pulling jigs in 12-18 feet of water, and he rates this one of the best crappie seasons in the last 4-5 years.

Catfish (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that catfish will start to bite better again, and they can be caught on shallow points with cut herring.

CLARKS HILL IS FULL, 60’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is great. Grass and grass is the key to fishing for the bass this week. Husky Jerks are still hard to beat along the edges of the heavy mats. The buck bass along with some females are shallow lake wide. Docket Lures has the 110B Super Sound waking top water bait with super side to side action. Want metal balls, it’s got them. In 4 colors and ¾ ounce it has all the action top water baits need. The grass will hold the bass from now till the end of fall. Crank baits like the Rapala Shad Raps and the Rapala DT6 and DT10 along with spinnerbaits will work all during the spring. Look at the secondary points and back to the shallow water for the bigger bass. Top water baits like the Storm Thunderdog are excellent baits to use back in the shallows. Early in the morning seems to be the best time to use these baits. Fish a cove then move to another. The bass are still moving in and out with some holding tight to cover. Work jigs and worms during the middle of the day or when the bite slows down. We have Bass fishing waypoints for $99.00 for this lake. Ask for a sample kensturdivant@att.net

Striper and Hybrids (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that significant numbers of fish are up the rivers and in the very backs of creeks feeding on bait. Particularly early you can throw out baits near the banks and on shallow flats off the channel and find fish shallow, but as the sun gets up they pull out a little deeper into 20-40 feet of water. At the same time there is also a decent population of fish down the lake related to the channel, but these fish are more likely to be in 30-50 feet of water.

Crappie (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Even though they are still catching 40-80 fish per day long-line trolling, Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that they are already seeing signs that the hottest crappie bite is winding down and that the spawn is nearly over in certain places. Up the lake it is the furthest along, while there may be spots further down the lake where it lasts longer. They are still catching fish with eggs in them everywhere, and so for at least a bit more time anglers should be able to fish around the banks for spawning fish (particularly males guarding beds) and then troll for suspended fish in 8-15/20 feet of water.

Slab-worthy shoutout: Several anglers have been reeling in Angler Award-worthy slabs from Clarks Hill during the month of April. Mr. Herman Hill submitted this 2 lb, 1 oz black crappie caught during the Peach State Crappie Club’s 6th Annual Veterans Appreciation Tournament on Clarks Hill on April 5th. Mr. Andrew Whidby has caught three black crappie exceeding 2 lbs during the month of April, with his largest weighing in at 2 lb, 8 oz!

Catfish (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that it can still be a good catfish but, if anything, fish are even more spread out now. Yesterday he caught them from 3 feet to 50 feet, and you really just have to be willing to move around a lot to follow the fish. Dragging baits in and out of big creeks is one strong pattern, and the alternative is anchoring in highly traveled areas and waiting on them to move through. As usual gizzard shad, white perch, and herring are all working.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is very good. The shad have started their spawn and the early morning bite is super but anglers need to be on the water at daylight. Look for the hard shoreline, like a riprap or a seawall made for rock, stone, or rock in front of a wooden seawall. Look for the shad flipping on the rock and fish right along on top of them with a buzz bait or a Rat L Trap. Once the bites have slowed, just back off a little and use a small crank bait or a Carolina rigged worm in the watermelon seed or watermelon candy colors with a 24-inch leader in a little water. Also fish the same baits around docks as the sun gets up. Megabass Vision 110+1 jerk bait is tuned to match that of a real bait fish. Its sister bait, the Megabass Vision 110 jerk bait, is already a legend, and this bait will ride its coattails. We have Bass fishing waypoints for $99.00 for this lake. Ask for a sample kensturdivant@att.net

Tournament Summary (courtesy of ABA news):  Tony Couch of Buckhead, GA took home the win at the American Fishing Tour Division 72 tournament, held April 19, 2025, on Lake Oconee. Couch brought a five-bass limit to the scales weighing 17.70 pounds, securing the first-place trophy and a cash payout of $830. His bag was anchored by a 5.07-pound largemouth that helped seal the victory. The next tournament for Division 72 is the 2-Day Championship, set for June 7 on Lake Sinclair and June 8 on Lake Oconee. For more information, contact Director Benny Howell at 770-365-4795.

Linesides (courtesy of Doug Nelms with Big Fish Heads Guide Service): Doug mentioned that this week some of the big stripers have finally showed up. There has been some knocking on the 20-lb door in the Richland Creek area. One angler caught a 19 lb behemoth on artificials. But, if you’re going for quantity over quality, just downline shad over the schools and you’ll stay busy with 2-3 pounders.

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.5 FEET, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. Now bass are biting on a variety of baits. Most are still shallow at 2 to 8 feet deep in coves and along main river and creek banks. Although many of the larger fish have finished spawning, others are doing so now. The best bet for daylight fishing is to find spawning shad that have bass chasing them. The shad dance is occurring on most areas of the lake right now. Shad are spawning around seawalls, blow downs, grass, rip rap, or most anything that contacts the surface. On most mornings, this action lasts for only an hour or so. Many types of bait can produce including Tiny Torpedo’s, Chug Bug, original Rapala, spinner baits, Flukes, buzz baits, and crank baits. When finding an area where bass are chasing the shad, experiment to find the best bait for that morning. Carolina rigs are catching fish along cove banks and on a few points. Try a 5-inch Zoom lizard in green pumpkin on an 18-inch leader with a half-ounce weight. A Trick worm is working rigged weightless with a swivel about 8” above the worm. White and Methiolate have both worked the last couple days. Fish this rig around docks and other shallow cover. Small crank baits like a Shad Rap RS are catching fish till midday. We have Bass fishing waypoints for $99.00 for this lake. Ask for a sample kensturdivant@att.net.

LAKE JACKSON IS FULL, 60’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. Bass are feeding on the secondary points in the creeks. Fat Free Shads picked up some good fish this week. Bass are holding around brush. Use a mixture of crank baits and Texas rigs worked along creeks ledges in 6 8 feet. Visibility has dropped to a bit on the north end some. The upper end will be better after mid-day as the water temperatures needs to rise up there. Riot Reactor 1.5 is a popular crank bait that has a wire through construction for added strength. And eliminates lost fish. Super wide wobble attracts fish, and it also has a loud rattling system built in. Add Mustad 2X strong short shank hooks and 3D eyes for a great all day. Bass are making their way to any shallow cover they can find. Crank baits and Texas rigs are picking these fish up but it seems the early mornings are the prime time. Mid-day use the Whopper Poppers and use both sizes. The standard all white buzz baits will be coming on strong very soon. We have Bass fishing waypoints for $99.00 for this lake. Ask for a sample kensturdivant@att.net

RIVER REPORT

Savannah River (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologist Aaron Gray): Will Clements of Aiken sent in this Bartram’s bass caught in the Savannah River near Augusta. CSRA anglers shouldn’t overlook the chance to pursue this lesser-known bass species in the Savannah and Broad Rivers. Bartram’s bass are most often found in flowing water with rocky habitat. Fly anglers can give poppers, streamers, or crawfish imitators a try, while conventional anglers might want to try a variety of finesse worms, small jigs, or small spinnerbaits in & around rocky river stretches. Anglers who successfully land a Bartram’s may want to test their skills further by attempting the Georgia Bass Slam (BassSlam.com)!

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

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

Water temperatures on McDuffie’s PFA lakes are reaching the mid-70’s, with a slight drop following the cold snap.  Bass are spawning and anglers are having successful fishing trips!  Public fishing ponds were fertilized at the beginning of April and follow-up fertilization will continue to promote high productivity in the lakes.  Anglers should notice a greener color to the water with reduced water clarity, which means using an aggressive, less-natural color pattern will be more effective during the growing season. 

Bass: Topwater lures are hot right now! Anglers should consider using frogs, poppers, or chatterbaits in and around vegetation. 

Linesides: Anglers should use chicken livers in areas with lots of bird activity for the best chance of producing success.  Many small hybrids and striped bass are being caught in Clubhouse and Bridge Lakes.  

Channel Catfish: Anglers on the PFA are still catching catfish.  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 near the bottom of the lake. 

Bream:  Bream on the PFA are not being caught frequently, anglers targeting bream should use live worms in and around structures in the lakes during peak hours of sunlight.

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

FLAT CREEK PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of Area Manager Amory Cook and Fisheries Technician Deven Thompson) —

Bass: The largemouth bite has been phenomenal this past week! Soft plastic creature lures have been the stand out lure of choice with almost all bass fishermen reporting multiple catches each! Craws, lizards and brush hogs being the best choices, followed by soft plastic jerk baits and Texas rigged trick worms being good secondary lure choices. Anglers should target the central and northern sections of the lake on deeper banks and points when fishing the bottom, and northern offshore trees and aerators when fishing off bottom. McDuffie angler Cody caught these nice buckmouths fishing a U-tail purple plastic worm.

Bream: The bream bite has started to pick up again with both bluegill and redear catches being reported by anglers. Worms fished on or just off the bottom should produce some good fish. Try to target water 3-8 feet deep in the backs of coves and flats if you’re on a boat or beating the bank, and the western side of pier.

Crappie: The crappie have officially moved offshore and are now schooling around offshore structures and are primarily feeding on the schooling shad. When targeting these fish, anglers should focus on hitting the lake during low light hours for the best luck. Jigs or grubs in silver-blue, white or semi-translucent colors have been working great! A slow retrieve with occasional pops and pauses will get you bites! No minnow catches have been reported but they should work well when fishing off the deeper side of the pier.

Catfish: The catfish bite has continued to pick up! Most catfish catches are still on the smaller size, but some have been of a decent “keeper” size. Try keeping your baits on or just off the bottom in 5-10 feet of water just off the banks or the mouth of coves. Both chicken and beef liver have been working great as well as night crawlers and cut bait.

MARBEN PFA FISHING REPORT (Courtesy of Fisheries Technician Jacob Landry) —

• Marben Public Fishing Area
• Water level: All ponds are full.
• Pond Closures: Margery, Hillside, and Clubhouse ponds remain closed while under renovation.
• Water clarity: All ponds are very clear with some ponds reaching over 46 inches in visibility.
• Surface temperature: Water temperatures are in the 60s.
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Bass have moved up shallow and most bass have completed spawning. Females will be moving back to deeper water with the males staying in shallow water. Creature baits and top waters should be good at this time of year, running them along banks and casting at brush piles. 

Crappie: By early April, the crappie will have finished most of their spawns.  Minnows and jigs are your best bet.  Concentrate on brush piles.  Keep moving till you find them.

Bream: The bluegill will move into shallow water towards the end of April preparing to spawn.  Red wigglers and wax worms should produce a bite especially as weather gets warmer.

Hybrid Bass: With water temperature maintaining in the 60s, you can expect hybrid feeding activity to increase. Plan your fishing trip during low-light periods, use crankbaits, and target suspended timber.

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