June 6, 2025 – Georgia Wildlife Blog

Free Fishing Day Tomorrow on Saturday, June 7 as part of our celebration of National Fishing and Boating Week (NFBW). On Free Fishing days, Georgia residents do not need a fishing license, trout license or Lands Pass to fish on public waters.

NEWS TO KNOW

• Attend a Fun Fishing Event: Multiple Family Fishing Events are scheduled throughout the state during NFBW. Visit the Events calendar to find one near you at  License.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com/Event/Calendar.aspx.
• Taking your Kid Fishing – Tips for Success: Be sure to give our “Fishing with Kids” tips a quick review if you are taking your kid fishing for the first time or if they are still a beginner. Find them at GeorgiaWildlife.com/KidsFishing.
• Go to Go Fish: Plan a visit to the Go Fish Education Center this summer. Their summer hours have started: Wed-Sat (9am – 5pm) and Sun (1-5pm). See you there! And be sure to follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/GoFishEducationCenter.

This week, we have fishing reports from North, Central, Southeast and Southwest Georgia. Take a kid, bring a friend, load up and let’s Go Fish Georgia!

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

RESERVOIR REPORT

Allatoona Bass: (This report courtesy of angler Matt Driver via www.southernfishing.com): Bass fishing is fair. The best bet is the first light top water bite. Start with top water a white ½ ounce white buzz bait. Throw them right to the bank and hang on. The fish generally nail it as soon as it hits the water, or they won’t bite at all. Keep moving and fish on the main lake points and steep banks. Pay particular attention to the mouths of creeks and pockets. As the top water slows switch to a white pearl Zoom Super Fluke or Trick Worm and throw to shady areas and around boat docks. If boat traffic allows, a green pumpkin Zoom finesse worm on a light Texas rig on long points will also work. Use the 3/8-ounce green pumpkin jig with a Zoom Super Chunk trailer in Root beer green pepper. After dark use the big-bladed spinnerbait along steep banks and long points. Crank baits are beginning to catch a few as well. The bigger fish are deeper and ride the ledges with the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology to find the fish. The Lowrance Fish Reveal on the Down Scan all but eliminates the need for Sonar. Remember as the day heats up slow the bait down.

Allatoona Crappie, Bluegill & Shellcrackers (This report courtesy of Red Rooster Custom Baits):

• Current Water Level
• Water Temp: 73 – 76
• Water Clarity: Clear Green!
• Area Fished: Victoria Area, Kellogg/Owl Creek, Galt’s Ferry area, Illinois Creek & Little River
• Jigs Used: Motor Oil Red – Dagger, Splatter Back – Dagger, Watermelon Ghost – Dagger and UV Smoke – Dagger
• Technique: Casting & Spider Rigging

The last full week of May 2025 was a wash for the most part as it rained in the morning, the afternoon and evening for several days! We were only able to get out a couple days this past week due to the unpredictable rains and thunderstorms. Hopefully this rainy pattern will not be as prevalent the month of June, so we get more time on the water for better reports!

Crappie: As mentioned in previous reports the summer Crappie pattern is upon us and will be the norm until the September/October time frame. We are seeing crappie on structure ranging from 16′ to 22′ deep. This past Friday a cool front moved in with high winds and lower temps which had crappie glued to the bottom at 18′ – 20′! They were not suspended at all, so keep that in mind when a front moves in the crappie may go to the bottom and are not in the mood to bite. We were able to pick up a couple with the Red Rooster Dagger, but it was tough once the front came through. Our buddy Hunter Moore with Moore Outdoorz Guide Service had a couple of good days in between the rains. Hunter had some happy clients one day as they netted a 1.8lb and a 1.6lb black crappie pitching a Red Rooster Dagger around docks and nearby brush. Normally, with no fronts, the crappie should be suspended anywhere from 10′ to 14′ above structure or possible buried in the limbs. Two proven methods of netting some crappie through the summer is casting jigs and spider rigging minnows. We throw natural color jigs at brush and structure using Red Rooster Daggers on a 1/16th or 3/32nd oz. jig head to get the jigs down to the strike zone in a hurry. The colors that we used this week were UV Shad, Splatter Back, Watermelon Ghost and UV Smoke. You can’t go wrong this time of year with a Spider Rig and a minnow. If you have some good brush piles marked set your minnow anywhere from 10′ to 14′ and you should find some nice slabs.

Bluegill: The bluegill are still hanging around shallow structure in the backs of creeks and cuts. We expect this pattern to hold for the next few weeks. Crickets are the number one bait of choice, but they will hit worms as well. You will want to use a #4 – #6 gold Aberdeen hook with 4 – 6 lb. test fishing line and a bobber set about 8″ – 12″ above your cricket or worm. You can always adjust your cork depth as needed if you find something different.

Shellcracker (Redear sunfish): We spent some time looking for Shellcracker, but not as much as we have past weeks due to time on the water. We did manage to catch a couple in 8′ – 10′ of water around points and rocky humps. The rig we use for shellcracker is a #2 hook on 4 – 6 lb. test fishing line and a #5 clam shell split shot pinched on the line about 12″ – 18″ above the hook. The bait of choice is either a red wiggler or nightcrawler…they will eat either one!

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.

Lake Burton Bass (This report courtesy of Lake Burton Hatchery Manager Colt Martin): Clarkesville teen Zach Dover made a splash this weekend with an impressive catch at Lake Burton. Fishing from the shore near the Lake Burton Fish Hatchery, the 14-year-old reeled in a massive 8 lb. 1 oz. largemouth bass using a small swimbait on a baitcasting setup.

The fish measured in at 24 inches in length, making it a notable trophy catch, especially for a shoreline angler. Lake Burton is known for its healthy bass population, but fish of this size are certainly not commonplace. Zach’s catch also qualified for Georgia’s Youth Angler Award Program. He’ll be receiving his official certificate and angler award hat once the year wraps up — a well-earned recognition for a memorable day on the water.  Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting out, stories like Zach’s are a reminder that great fishing moments can happen right from the bank.  Want to show off your big catch?  Check out the Georgia Angler Awards Program to get recognized for your fishing achievements! Whether it’s your first fish, a trophy catch, or a new state record, Georgia DNR has awards waiting for you.

Lake Hartwell Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com): Bass fishing is fair. It will take several different patterns this week to catch a limit. Early in the morning, before the sun comes over the treetops, isolated schools or small shad are breaking the surface. With the warm water and the small size of the shad, now is a good time to downsize the baits. Small Chug Bugs thrown directly at these rising shad will get a bite. The drop shot on braid will work at 20 to 30 feet deep. Keep the El Choppo ready and cast this bait right down the center of the deeper coves. Try the silver Rapala #5 Shad Raps or the jointed Shad Raps as well. Work these baits along rocky, main lake points and the rocky banks between points. Stay on the top water and crank bait pattern until around 10:30 a.m. As long as the fish are biting, don’t change a thing. Colors may vary from day to day, but make sure to have shad and fire tiger colors ready. Changing the baits from time to time might be necessary. Rain is expected at any time during the day, but if the sun comes out, the bass are moving out to deeper water in the 10-to-20-foot range. It will be necessary to have a Carolina Rig and Deep Diving Crank baits like the Rapalla DT10, DT14 and the Number 7 Shad Raps. Switch from shallow water cranking to deep water cranking lake points and channel ledges at this time. Get the bait down with a few quick turns of the handle and then use a very slow retrieve to entice the bite. Use the Carolina Rigs on main lake points and around the deeper boat docks.

Lake Lanier Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Phil Johnson, 770-366-8845 via www.southernfishing.com): Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. The lake is currently one foot over full pool and rising with the recent rain while the water temperature is running around seventy-two degrees, The main lake is clear with some staining in the backs of the creeks and up the rivers. The good news is the Corp has decided to open a lot of the closed ramps so that access to the lake is available again. The bass have picked up their activity over the last week with the main action being over brush in the twenty to thirty-foot range and off long points. The key baits for the week have been the Fluke, Slick Stick and Spot Choker. For the fluke we have been using a Joe’s seven-foot medium action spinning rod with fifteen-pound braid backing and a ten-pound fluorocarbon leader. The best retrieve has been to let the bait sink a little and then just a steady retrieve with an occasional pause. Either a FZNH20 or a white Zoom fluke have been the best options. For the Slick Stick, a steady retrieve using either a white when cloudy or chrome in the sun has drawn plenty of fish. If the fish don’t want to come up out of the brush a good choice is to run a three eights Hot Spot Choker with a two eight Keitech by over or by the brush. Look for these patterns to only improve if we get rid of the rain and get some hot sunny days. If the worm is your choice work the rocky point’s shallower brush or fifteen-foot docks with a three sixteenths shakey head and a green pumpkin senko for the most strikes. The bass are getting active again so it’s a great time to Go Catch ‘Em!

Lanier Stripers (This report courtesy of Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service 404 510 1778): Lake Lanier stripers have staged up in coves that have a depth between 30 to 70 feet of water, temperature in the mid 70’s. Downlines, flat lines and planer boards are the most popular methods using blue backs. Double check your tackle because you may hookup to a fish of a lifetime. The top water has been hit or miss but be ready with your favorite lure. Make sure you check to see what boat ramps are available. Remember to wear your life jackets.

Lanier (and elsewhere) Stripers on the Fly (This report courtesy of georgiawildtrout.com): Striper fishing on Lanier is waning fast in terms of finding fish on the fly. The spring bite will continue for another couple weeks as the fish target the shad spawn and roaming blueback along main lake points and humps. The best way to find striper at the moment is on the tailwaters. The striper migrations up the Chattahoochee to Morgan Falls Dam is in full swing. The Etowah River tailwater below Lake Allatoona is also seeing large numbers of striper moving up from Lake Weiss. Wading opportunities are limited here, but drift boats and kayaks will put you over the fish. Target shallower shoals to find the most aggressive fish in the area. The upper sections of rivers will produce some fish over the next month as well. Striper can still be found in the Chestatee river , Etowah River, and Upper Chattahoochee River, though in fewer numbers than during the month of May. Runs of fish from the highland lakes in North Georgia should begin any week now. Check out Henry Cowen’s book on Fly Fishing Striped Bass to get a better idea on how to target these fish in Georgia Rivers.

Lanier Crappie (This report courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton 770 530 6493): Lake Lanier crappie fishing is good the water temperature is 72. The fish are in large groups under docks on open water. Crappie have been at depths of 6 to 18 feet above a 15 to 40-foot bottom. The jig color combo that worked the best for me this week was the green and chartreuse single tail 1.5-inch jig minnows have been working well over brush. 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 a Atx lure company jig. Further optimizing your efforts, a Garmin LiveScope, protected by a sonar shield cover, and a Power Pole are highly recommended.

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

Lake Weiss Bass: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com): Bass fishing is fair. The shallow morning bite is fair despite the passage of a front the fish were still pretty active early off. Buzz baits along the shallow river grass has been a very reliable pattern, with some nice results. Start with spinnerbaits and top water and work docks and grass around bushes. Shad raps are still netting a few good bass off the rip rap and anglers are throwing more of the fire tiger colors due to the stained water. Down the lake near the deeper water, the plastic worm bite is very active. Carolina rigged finesse worms in the dark green colors seem to be working the best. Look for wood and rock near points for the best results.

West Point Bass Report (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com):  Bass fishing is slow. Go early or at dusk to avoid the heat. Fish depths of 18 to 20 feet on roadbeds, humps, main lake structure, and the mouths of creeks. Use the Carolina rigged finesse worm or deep diving crank bait. The fish are deeper, so ride the ledges and old deeper roadbeds with the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology to find fish. The Lowrance Fish Reveal on the Down Scan all but eliminates the need for Sonar. The smaller bass are schooling all over the lake and best baits are small rooster tails and Rat-L-Traps. The shallow morning bite with buzz baits along the shallow riverbanks is worth a shot. Use the Strike King spinnerbaits and any top water lures on any structure or rip rap. Never overlook the bridges on this lake. Rapala Shad Raps are still getting a few good bass off rip-rap. Down the lake near deeper water, the plastic worm bite is fair. Just be patient and let the worm hug the bottom. Carolina rigged finesse worms in the dark green colors seem to be working the best. Look for wood and rock near points for the best results.

West Point Largemouth Bass Stocking (This report courtesy of fisheries biologist Brent Hess):  More than 650,000 largemouth bass fingerlings were stocked at West Point this spring.  2025 marks the 10^th consecutive year of WRD’s largemouth bass stocking program at West Point.  Over that period, more than 4-million largemouth bass fingerlings have been stocked in the reservoir.

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 LAKE REPORT 

Kids Fishing Events:  Numerous kids and family fishing events will be held throughout the state this weekend (and next weekend) .  In north Georgia, great youth fishing opportunities will be available at the following events: Polk County Kids Fishing Rodeo, Rossville Mayor’s Kids Fishing Rodeo Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery Kids Fishing Rodeo,  Jones Bridge Park Kids Fishing Event, and Spalding Co. (Tyus Park) Family Summer Fishing Derby. 

Arrowhead WMA Lake Report: (Report courtesy of Fisheries Biologist John Damer): Did you know there are two lakes open to public fishing right here behind the Region 1 WRD office in Armuchee?  These lakes offer great family fishing opportunities for bream, catfish, and bass, with easy access.  We even feed the fish and fertilize to maximize the size and numbers of fish available to anglers.  My two daughters were looking for something to do during their first week of summer break last week, so they hit the “big lake” at the fishing bridge.  Rainy weather may have kept things soggy, but the fish didn’t mind, and the girls enjoyed consistent bites for a couple hours before lunch.  They reeled in some very respectable fish including bluegill over a pound and catfish up to 5 pounds.  My younger one even broke off one of the big grass carp (~15 pounds), which was exciting for about 5 seconds.  Smaller red worms were preferred over bigger nightcrawlers.  If you would like to fish the lakes at Arrowhead WMA, keep in mind that they are managed for “family fishing” which means you must have at least 1 child for every 2 adults fishing.  TIP: it does not have to be your kid.  Borrow one from someone else if you need to!  Come find us at 2650 Floyd Springs Road in Armuchee, GA. 

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

TROUT REPORT

Stocked Trout: Over 40,000 trout were stocked this week!  Find out which trout streams received trout by clicking on the “Weekly Stocking Report” located at GeorgiaWildlife.com/Fishing/Trout.

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

Chattahoochee River Tailwater (This report courtesy of georgiawildtrout.com): The Chattahoochee will fish well throughout June. Expect more traffic from floaters and boaters trying to beat the heat on the river. The midge hatches have moved to very early or late in the day, so if you’re looking to do some dry fly fishing on the Chattahoochee, you’ll want to target these times. Another fun bite during the summer can be found throwing a streamer. The smaller fish found in the tributary creeks will move closer to the mouths during the summer. The more periodic releases from the dam place these fish in much closer proximity to predatory trout close by. These areas will be best for streamer fishing. Everything from 2-3” sculpin patterns to 6-8” stocked trout imitations can get looks from aggressive trout. Learn more about fly fishing streamer patterns in this article.

North Georgia Trout Streams (This report courtesy of georgiawildtrout.com): June and early summer are the best time of year to begin exploring new trout streams in Georgia. Searching for trout should be easier as you won’t have to worry about high flows that can make wading and fishing difficult. Finding Georgia’s best trout streams can take some trial and error, but with enough looking you can find a new honey hole that might produce for years to come. Dry flies should command the attention of the trout giving you a good idea of what is in the area. If you do happen across a slow day, the pink squirmy worm or oversized pheasant tail nymph should also draw some attention.

Georgia Trout Slam:  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 Smith Creek, Panther Creek, Sarah’s Creek, Warwoman Creek, Holcomb Creek, Middle Broad River, Tallulah River, and The Toccoa River Tailwater.

Trout Fishing Opportunities for Those With Disabilities: Check out these sites that are open to the public and offer specific amenities for anglers with disabilities. Find the list 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. See more info at GeorgiaWildlife.com/licenseplates.  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 both benefit from the trout tag.

(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) 

Region 3 will be hosting and supporting Community Fishing Events (CFEs) this Saturday, June 7. Check out our calendar of events to find a free event near you, and plan to bring a crowd as these events align with free fishing days in Georgia! Marben PFA, McDuffie PFA, Flat Creek PFA, and other central Georgia locations will be expecting high attendance at these events.

The fishing reports this week suggest that as water temperatures have crept up into summer territory, fish have moved deeper or found cool, flowing water, and are setting into an early summer pattern. Early mornings this month will be the best timeframe to take advantage of shallow, topwater action, but lines and leaders should dive deeper as the sun gets higher in the sky.

This Central Georgia fishing report is brought to you by Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report and 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): Bass fishing is fair. By late afternoon it is not unusual to find 87-degree water in the back of the coves. The summertime pattern has now been established for this lake. Even though fishing is fair, it can be good one day and not so good the next day. Have the Rapala #5 Glass Shad Raps on 10-pound test Suffix Elite line. The top water bite is fair but with the warming water temperature, don’t expect to catch one every day when using top water baits. Three- and four-inch Rattle Tubes rigged either Texas or Carolina style around the deeper water wood will work fished slowly. Bass are holding extremely tight to cover while the smaller spots are roaming the banks all during the day. Deep water cranking is still active when using Rapallo OG8, the DT10, Deep Warts and Slow Cranking Deep Down Husky Jerks. For a fast shallow bite try the Terminator stainless 3/8-ounce super spinner bait and Titanium T1 spinner bait ½ ounce.

Bass 2 (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that bass were already getting deeper by the last week of May, and in June they will go even deeper. Fishing with deep running crankbaits or plastics worms around deep structure out to 40 or more feet down will be the best pattern for anglers who don’t want to use live bait.

Striped Bass (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that in June fish should be on both ends of the lake, with herring on free-lines working in the shallower upper lake and down-lines working in the deeper lower lake. Fish will also be holding around deep timber wherever it is found.

Crappie (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson reports that fish will move onto deeper brush or natural timber this month where they can be caught on jigs and minnows. Night-fishing around bridges will also be productive.

Catfish (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal reports that fish will move deeper this month into 15-25 feet where they can be caught on cut herring. May was an excellent month for catfish and expect more of the same at least to start June.

CLARKS HILL IS FULL, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of  Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is slow. The surface temperature is well into the upper 80’s and this is slowing the bass fishing down a bit. Try running from point to point looking for any signs of blue backs breaking or skimming the surface. If this occurs have the #10 Husky Jerk in either the Glass Minnow or Shad color. Work the bait with a medium to fast retrieve. Try the stop and go retrieve with the Storm Thunder Dog especially on main lake rocky points. They key this week will be to stay in the main portion of the lake or rivers and out of the pockets. Carolina rigged Zoom finesse work in red shad and green pumpkin can work during the hot periods of the day off main lake points and stump rows in depths from 7 to 15 feet of water. The bigger fish are deeper and ride the ledges with the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology to find the fish. The Lowrance Fish Reveal on the Down Scan all but eliminates the need for Sonar. Remember as the day heats up slow the bait down. Try the Ned rig with the Power Baits Meaty Chunk Green pumpkin 3 inch.

Bass 2 (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) and tournament angler Tyler Matthews of Evans, Georgia report that once again high water levels to start the month may have more fish shallow around flooded cover, but by the end of May the herring spawn bite was already mostly passing and so at least one group of fish was moving deeper. Still, for a while longer fish should be caught off points first thing and then a little deeper in the same areas before the sun really gets up. Later in the day, and then all day later in the month, fish will be caught deeper over humps and around brush on worms or jigs. Anglers who prefer to fish shallower can look up the rivers or for bass feeding around bream beds – or continue to target the flooded cover if water levels stay high.

Striper and Hybrids (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that to start off the month fish were still fairly shallow early, or at least high in the water column, but this month they should move down the lake and deeper – and then continue to go deeper from there. Down-rods with herring will be the main technique for most anglers this month.

Crappie (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service reports that this month fish should be found around brush in 20-25 feet of water. Anchoring and then fishing vertically with minnows is usually the best pattern although at times the fish will show a preference for jigs.

Catfish (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the best fishing in June will be in the early morning or late evening. Anchoring on humps and points and fishing with cut bait at a variety of depths is the best bet.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of  Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. Using a Carolina rigged Zoom finesse or u tail worm, fish the long points and underwater islands around Reynolds Plantation and the Great Water areas of the lake. When Georgia Power is generating fish in 5 to 10 foot of water and if they are not generating back off and fish in 10 to 20 foot of water. Fish as slowly. A big crankbait fished in the same areas will also bring a few bites. Slow down mid-day and use the Net Bait Paca Chunk and Paca Bug 3/8 ounce Alabama craw Black neon and Okeechobee 3 inch and Sapphire craw.

Tournament Alert (courtesy of ABA News): 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.

LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of  Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report):  Bass fishing is fair. The presence of brush under or near a dock also increases the chances of success. Zoom Trick worms and Yamamoto Senko’s have both been good choices recently. Green pumpkin and June bug are reliable colors for each. Use the lightest weight possible on either worm rigged Texas style. A lot of bass are now located around open water structure such as points, humps, flats, and ledges. Depths are varying from 8 to over 20 feet deep. Most of the fish are hitting Carolina rigs. A 3-foot leader of 12-pound line matches well with 14-to-17-pound main line and a half ounce weight. Several different worms have produced well, including Zoom baits Trick, finesse, and U Tale. Red bug, June bug, green pumpkin, and watermelon are a few good color choices. A few of these open water fish especially larger bass, may also hit larger worm’s rigged Texas or Carolina style. Crank baits can also be the best, especially during power generation. Some good choices are Norman DD14 and DD22, Fat Free Shad in ½ and ¾ ounce sizes, and Rapallo DT10 and DT14. Varying chartreuse and shad patterns have worked well. The fish are deeper so ride the ledges and old deeper road beds with the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology to find the fish. The Lowrance Fish Reveal on the Down Scan all but eliminates the need for Sonar. A jig head and Finesse worm should also produce and extra fish or two after the bite has slowed.

Bass 2 (courtesy of Lake Country Fishing reports): Though the water temps have breached 80 F and may still have a slight stain, early June reports maintain that the topwater bite is still hot in Sinclair. Frog, Ploppers, poppers, and Chug bugs in colors like Bone and shad patterns are very effective in the early morning before the fish push deeper. On the north side, look for shaded seawalls while submerged vegetation is producing on the south end.

Tournament Alert (courtesy of ABA News): 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.

Catfish: Reports show that the catfish bite is really heating up now that we have entered “summer mode” on Sinclair. Blues and channels in the 4-8 lb. range are common and will readily find still-fished baits like nightcrawlers or chicken livers fished off docks or fanned out from a boat on features like river and creek channels, ledges, and along transitions like flats and points. The bite will be steady during the day and will pick up significantly at night as well.

LAKE JACKSON IS UP 1.2 FEET, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of  Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. The bass are scattered all over the lake. The best bet will be a Texas rigged June bug finesse worm on a light Texas rig or a shot Carolina rig for spots and an occasional largemouth bass. Work as many docks as possible but try to concentrate on the docks that sit in the deeper water. A very slow presentation will be necessary for the best results. Crank baits have been slow all week but try a Rapala DT10 in hot mustard on every location. Just make ten casts and then move on. Go to top water early and a Fluke thrown right to the bank on mid lake points and pockets. Mid-day go a little deeper with Zoom Finesse worms on a jig head around brush piles. Green pumpkin will work but try some of the many similar colors available. Find docks with brush try Strike King ¼ ounce jig and add the small matching Zoom Trailer in green pumpkin. Long points as well, back off a bit and throw a Carolina rigged mini lizard in green pumpkin. Night fishing is more productive and more comfortable. Try slow rolling a big Colorado blade spinner bait after dark across those long points. Also, the deeper diving Bill Norman crank baits are beginning to catch quite a few. The key is bouncing them off deep rocks. Slow down mid-day and use the Net Bait Paca Chunk and Paca Bug 3 8-ounce Alabama craw Black neon and Okeechobee 3 inch and Sapphire craw.

RIVER REPORT

Savannah River Striped Bass: The Thomson Fisheries crew wrapped up their annual surveys for American shad below New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam this week. While shad were the target species, a few nice striped bass were also encountered, including this one weighing in around 25 pounds, according to Fisheries Biologist Aaron Gray. The Savannah River is currently running between 15,000 cfs and 5,000 cfs, so check the flow before you go! Striper in this section can be targeted with a variety of options including drifting live bait in the flow, or casting artificials like bucktails, flukes, swimbaits, or large jerkbaits.

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

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

Temperatures on our Public Fishing lakes are in the mid-to-high 70’s and likely will continue to rise with the continuing heat. Bass spawning has come to a close and fish are likely moving into slightly deeper waters at this time. Lake chub suckers were removed from Rodbender Lake and added to Willow Lake to increase forage fish for bass in the future.  McDuffie PFA will be hosting a Community Fishing Event on Saturday June 7 from 8:00 am to 12:00pm, so bring the kids and catch some nice catfish!

Bass: Anglers are still having success with topwater lures, but with rising temperatures they may have better luck with deep-diving lures.  Try fishing shallow areas in the morning but be prepared to hit deeper water as the sun gets high! Plastic worms and creature baits may produce good results at these lower depths.

Striped and Hybrid Bass:  Anglers should use 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.  A large hybrid bass was caught while electrofishing on Clubhouse in mid-May!

Channel Catfish:  Catfish are still being caught regularly. Worms or chicken livers on the bottom of the lakes seem to produce good results for anglers, but anglers may also want to use lures that mimic small bait fish near the bottoms of lakes as well.

Bream:  Bream on the PFA are being caught frequently, anglers targeting bream should use live worms or crickets in and around structures in the lakes during peak hours of sunlight.  Caption: Kariis Lowery caught her family’s first fish of the day on a red wiggler in Clubhouse.

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

FLAT CREEK PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of Area Manager Amory Cook) —

Bass:  The Bass bite has picked up significantly with anglers reporting catches of 3-5 lb. fish. Try using Yum Dinger rubber worms in green pumpkin chartreuse wacky rigged.

Bream:  Red Wigglers fished deeper and around structure.

Crappie: Experienced Crappie anglers will find success by locating deeper, cooler waters. Deeper water can be found around the aerators and the water control structure near the dam.

Catfish:  Anglers are having continued success catching catfish from the dam and some anglers are reporting catches from the fishing pier. Cut baitfish and chicken livers continue to produce catches. Also, if you are lucky enough to land a catfish that you believe to be over 10 pounds (about 30 inches long), please notify DNR staff, we are looking to fill the PFA catfish record, which currently is wide open.

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

• Marben Public Fishing Area
• Water level: All ponds are full or nearly full.
• Pond Closures: Margery, Hillside, and Clubhouse ponds remain closed while under renovation.
• Water clarity: All the lakes have visibilities ranging from 16” to 48” depending on rainfall amounts and frequency.
• Surface temperature: 75-83 F
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Cooler than usual temperatures have the bass working shallows at daylight.  However, fish the deeper water when the sun is high.  June temperatures will surely push them deeper.   Shad are still gathering on the surface late in the evenings.  As temperatures increase through the month, the bite is expected to slow.  Most any bait choice will work when fished in the right situation – depth, temperature, visibility, and presence of bait. Go-to’s this time of year are crankbaits, spinners, top water, ned rigs, and drop shot.   

Crappie: Relatively few crappie are being caught at this time, although several have been caught off suspended brush using jigs and minnows.

Bream: Crickets and waxworms fished on the bottom continue to produce well, particularly in the smaller ponds.  Fox Lake has produced some nice catches of bluegill and shellcracker.

Catfish: Nice channel catfish have been harvested at Fox and Bennett using night crawlers and live bait.  Remember cast nets are not allowed on a Public Fishing Area.

Hybrid Bass:  Hybrid bass continue to be harvested at Bennett Lake.  Find schooling shad late in the day and cast into the school with a lure or spinner than would trigger a reaction strike.

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

The fish bit well this week in most places. Most rivers are still swollen, except the St. Marys and Alapaha. Winds were terrible much of the week in saltwater, but the fish cooperated when you could get out to them. The Okefenokee Swamp level is great, and the fish are chewing.

River gages on June 5th were:

• Clyo on the Savannah River – 10.2 feet and falling
• Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 10.0 feet and rising
• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 9.5 feet and rising
• Waycross on the Satilla – 6.0 feet and falling
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 5.6 feet and rising
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 3.0 feet and falling
• Macclenny on the St Marys – 2.5 feet and falling
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 5.5 feet and steady

Full Moon is June 11th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

ALAPAHA RIVER

Jonathon Pritchard fished the middle river this week and had a good trip. He fooled a bunch of redbreasts and bass on Satilla Spins (the black hues worked best for him).

SATILLA RIVER

Jamie Storey and Ward Highsmith fished the middle river this week, and they said the water was ripping. They found some slack areas and were able to catch a good number of bluegills, warmouth, pickerel, and a few bass up to 3 pounds. They caught a total of about 25 fish and fooled them with bumblebee and bruiser Satilla Spins. Seth Carter and a friend fished the lower river Wednesday and caught bass and panfish. They fooled several bass up to about 4 pounds with topwaters and shaky head worms. Seth kept getting panfish bites on the worm, so he switched to a Satilla Spin on his BFS outfit and wore out the bluegills, redbreasts, and warmouth. Two colors that worked best were catalpa gold and rooster bug.

ST. MARYS RIVER

Curtis and Jenny Hazel fished the middle river Saturday and fooled a pair of stumpknockers and 3 redbreasts on Satilla Spins. The organizers are figuring out details for the next Bream Reapers Bream Tournament. Check the Bream Reapers Bream Tournament Trail out on Facebook for more information.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

Jim Spencer fished the west side from Thursday through the weekend with mostly a fly rod. He caught some giant warmouth up to 1-lb., 5-oz. on crawfish flies. He also had some big jackfish up to 20 inches on white spinners. Bowfin also ate his flies, but all were on the small side. Seth Carter and Van Palmer fished the east side with me on Monday, and they had a stellar day! They pitched Warmouth Whacker Jigs early and caught about a dozen warmouth and a few pickerel and bowfin. The best colors were popsicle and a prototype red/black/white. After a couple hours chasing warmouth, they switched to casting for big fish. The flung Bull Shads ($150 bass baits) and high-dollar Pompadour topwaters. A half-dozen bowfin is all it took to tear the tail off the Bull Shad, but it fell in the boat, so Seth could reattach it later. They both switched to Dura-Spins and roped the pickerel and bowfin and even a gar. Jackfish was by far the best color, but Seth caught a few on fire tiger-chartreuse blade. During the trip, they ended up catching 144 fish total, and Van caught a 10-lb., 4-oz. bowfin that he later got certified as the Okefenokee bowfin record at just shy of 10 pounds on certified scales. They also had an 8-lb., 7-oz. and 7-lb., 15-oz. bowfin in the mix. Their biggest pickerel was 20 inches. Curtis and Jenny Hazel fished the east side canals Sunday morning and caught 9 warmouth and 4 bowfin. It was Jenny’s first time fishing the Okefenokee, and she had a blast. They caught their fish on Warmouth Whacker Jigs, topwater bugs, and tuxedo Satilla Spins. I fished the west side on Tuesday in the extreme winds. Buck Johnson also braved the winds with me in his own boat and caught 3 big warmouth and a pickerel. His biggest warmouth was just under a pound. All 4 of his fish ate a red/black/white Warmouth Whacker Jig under a float. I had one big warmouth on the same jig (without the float) and a few bowfin and pickerel before I switched to casting Dura-Spins. I’m glad I did, as the bowfin/pickerel bite was excellent. I caught and released a total of 52 fish by myself casting jackfish Dura-Spins. I tried other colors and got very few bites. When I went back to the jackfish color I started catching them again. My biggest bowfin was 5-lb., 2-oz., and I had 2 pickerel that were 22 inches. The most recent water level on the Folkston side was 120.56 feet. The water level on the west side at SC Foster State Park on Tuesday was 4.62 feet.

LOCAL PONDS

Joshua Barber fished a local pond on Thursday afternoon. He caught one bass and had a big bass break his braided line. He was throwing topwater frogs. I heard a couple decent bream reports, but nothing spectacular.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Capt. Greg Hildreth (georgiacharterfishing.com) did well for trout inshore this week. His charters fooled them with live shrimp under Harper Super Striker Floats. The shark bite behind the shrimp boats has really picked up, he said. Capt. Chris Ruff of Ruff’s Coastal Adventures (rccaga.com) said that it was very windy for him on Saturday, but he was able to put his charter on several flounder and a few trout with live shrimp under Harper Super Striker Floats. He found his fish in the big water near the sounds. Sunday was a beautiful day, and his charter caught several redfish, black drum, sheepshead, and lots of sharks. They fished live shrimp on the bottom and under floats.

Capt. Duane Harris took friends Saturday and Sunday in the Brunswick area. They fought the winds Saturday and still managed to catch 3 redfish, a trout, and a flounder. They followed it up Sunday with 7 nice trout and a red. All their fish were on live shrimp. Scott Smith fished the Brunswick area on Saturday and brought home a great catch of 8 flounder and 3 big trout. They also had a bunch of sharks and ladyfish, and his sister broke off a big redfish. They fished live shrimp until they ran out, then they caught a few more on jigs and plastics. Flounder fishing has been good on the Jekyll Island Pier. Steve and Brenda Hampton went on Saturday. Brenda had a 15-inch flattie within minutes of casting out. Mudminnows were their bait of choice, as they could not get them to eat artificials. On another recent trip they caught a dozen flounder. Brenda has had the hot hand, catching most of their fish. Another day they had 5 flounder in 20 minutes and then the bite shut down. They’re fickle fish, but it’s awesome if you’re there when they are biting. 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 BLACKSHEAR

Overall, this week the water has been fairly muddy from rainfall and will likely continue as the weather continues to show more rain in the forecast. Be mindful of this as they are letting water out of the lake to account for the extra water coming in and may be down lower than normal at certain times or certain days.

Fish wise the catches seem to be good on all accounts of species and they are widespread so you can find them about anywhere on the lake. Best locations being around structure of some sort: docks, timber or brush piles.

This weekend DNR is celebrating National Fishing and Boating Week by a having free fishing day on June 7^th.  You do not need a fishing license or trout license to fish on public water on this one day. DNR will be co-hosting many free fishing events at stocked ponds on June 7^th around the state, so check out the Go Outdoors Georgia Event Calendar to find your closest event!

LAKE SEMINOLE

 

Ken Sturdivant at Southernfishing.com reports that bass fishing is fair and offers the following suggestions for anglers out on the water this week. “Swimming a 3.5-inch Bite Baits Top Toad in green pumpkin pearl over the tops of matted grass works well when fish are chasing minnows, bream and shad up in the grass. When this type of action is present, use the swimming technique with the top toad. Another set-up that has been working well is a 20-pound test Sunline Super Fluorocarbon with a frog rigged on a 5/0 Mustad EWG hook. Color depends on how bright the sky is. On bright, sunny days use a natural green, green tree or toad on dark, cloudy days use a darker color such as natural red or rainforest black. Look for holes in the grass and work the frog over the holes with a fast steady retrieve. When you fish are not active just slow down. Cast the Rapallo Rip Stop albino shiner. For a fast shallow bite try the Strike King Rattling 1.5 and square bill sexy shad.” 

Last Event of the Season: Saturday, June 21^st is the last event of the season for the Florida BASS Nation Kayak Series. No better place to wrap up the year than the legendary Lake Seminole! (Launch 5:00 am, Lines in 5:30 am, Lines out 2:00 pm, Last photo 3:00 pm, Awards 3:30 pm – At Ease Campground and Marina). Last chance to qualify for the State Championship just need to make a top 5 finish. Hope to see you there!

Fish With a Purpose: THIS SATURDAY June 7 at Lake Seminole– It’s going to be more than just a day to fish — it’s a chance to fish with purpose! Join Dothan Marine and the Georgia Bass Trail for an unforgettable Fundraiser Bass Tournament at Lake Seminole out of Big Jim’s, supporting our American Legion Post 12 Dothan, Al Veterans! All for a Great Cause! Registration and raffle tickets will be purchased the morning of at the ramp. It will be $160.00 per team, and this includes the big fish pot. Registration starts at the ramp at 5:00 AM. Weigh-in will be by flights. The first flight will be boats 1 through 25 at 3:00pm and boats 26 on will weigh in at 3:15pm. Raffle tickets will be sold all day long up until the weigh-in is complete to get as many sold as possible. Looking forward to Raffle Prizes + Fierce Competition!

FLINT AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERS

Water levels are very high this week and it may not be the best time to get on the water to fish. Waters are muddy and visibility is low. If you are going to try and fish, be sure to wear a life jacket for safety and adjust your lure color to darker redder colors to match the environment.

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE

Ken Sturdivant at Southernfishing.com says bass fishing is fair. It is a deep-water bite with the larger baits this week. The early mornings seem to have the best bite and the cool mornings early on are more suitable for the shallows. Get the crank baits out and hit any of the 10-foot ledges, as the bass school up here with or without any current. Have the spinnerbaits, buzz baits and crank baits ready. Use the Mann’s 15+ and Rapallo DT10 Series in Fire Tiger. There have been continued good catches of both bluegill and channel catfish. Almost any natural bait seems to be doing the trick.

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