August 1, 2025 – Georgia Wildlife Blog

As Georgia students head back to school, the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Management Section is here to remind families that learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms, it thrives outdoors too. Just like a school of fish swimming in sync, young learners are heading into new routines, growing their skills, and navigating new environments. Whether your child is a small fish entering the big pond of kindergarten or a seasoned student casting toward graduation, fall is the perfect season to reel in new experiences. Cooler temperatures make it a great time to hit the water, whether you’re introducing a child to fishing for the first time or enjoying a quiet moment on the lake after homework is done.

NEWS TO KNOW

• They Are HERE! The ‘25-’26 hunting and fishing regulations book is here. You can view the guide online on our website or pick up a copy at Wildlife Resources Division offices and license vendors throughout Georgia. Find a copy of the new regulations at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/angler-resources.
• Hunting & Fishing Night + Braves Game! On Saturday, August 23, baseball meets the great outdoors at Hunting & Fishing Night at Truist Park. Join Georgia DNR in The Battery Atlanta for a night with the Braves! Get tickets at gofevo.com/event/Huntingfishing25.

This week, we have fishing reports from Central, Southeast, Southwest, and North Georgia. As the kids head back to school, remember that safety is always in session-pack the snacks, grab the rods, and don’t forget those life jackets. Let’s Go Fish Georgia!

(Fishing report courtesy of Hunter Roop, Fisheries Biologist and Region Supervisor, along with Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report, and contributions from Region 3 WRD Fisheries staff, local guides, and anglers.) 

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE RUSSELL DOWN 1 FOOT, 80’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. When the fish set up in their summer patterns, the big largemouth can be tough to catch. However, there is no shortage of spotted bass and they can be a lot of fun to catch. When they are moving water set up on main lake structure and wear the spots out by cranking down with a deep diving crank bait, dragging a Carolina rig or vertical jigging with a shaky head or drop shot. Rocky points with brush piles, the reef markers around the dam or vertical structure like bridge pilings can all be good. Try picking off a few fish with the crank bait. Then slow down and pick apart the structure with the Zoom finesse worm rigs once the fish are found. Watermelon is always a good color and red bug will also produce. Use the Lowrance Structure Scan down Scan technology to scan an area and find the fish. Find the fish with the Lowrance Side Scan and Down Scan technology. Now use the Active Target to spot the fish out in front of the boat.

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 2.1 FOOT, 80’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. The bass are deep at 18-to-25-foot range. This is when the Lowrance Down Scan technology can cover four times more bottom than regular 20 kHz. Fish it with a green Zoom Magnum Finesse worm and a Texas rigged Ol Monster worm. A 1- or 2-ounce Jig in camo color is also producing around the isolated structure on the main lake points. Color is not really specific any form of green pumpkin is good. Early in the morning and late in the evening throw a buzz bait around stick grass on the bank. Spend some time on the main lake and use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology and search the creek mouths right at the river. This technology can spot individual fish, schools of fish and most importantly, schools of bait fish. The cloudy days make the shallow bite last longer. As the day moves on, change from the top water baits to a submerged or bottom bait. Keep working slow. The ledge bite is good around any type of cover or bend if the water is moving. A good sonar will find some good brush or other cover. Heavy jigs are a good choice. Black, blue or browns are doing well.

Crappie: In August, Clarks Hill crappie remain in their summer haunts, suspending over deep brush piles, standing timber, and creek channel edges in 15–25 feet of water. However, warmer water temperatures and increased fishing pressure can make the bite more finicky. Anglers should concentrate efforts during the coolest parts of the day—early morning, late evening, or during overcast conditions. Live minnows tight-lined near structure often outperform jigs this time of year, though downsized jigs in natural colors can still produce when fished with precision. Look for consistent action in major creek arms like Little River (GA), Cherokee Creek, and Grays Creek. Patience and electronics are key—stay mobile until you find concentrated schools, then fish slowly and deliberately to coax bites from August slabs.

Catfish (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologist Aaron Gray): Josh Rutherford recently caught this 48-lb flathead catfish out of Keg Creek on Clarks Hill. Anglers with a little patience can find channels, blues, and flatheads all over Clarks Hill on a variety of live and cut baits in the summertime.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 80’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. There is a good early bite using top water lures. Fishing around rip rap where there is deep water nearby is a good choice. A good bait to use is a Pop R or a #5 Rapala Shad Rap. After the top water slows fishing a Carolina rigged worm in the watermelon seed or watermelon candy colors with a 24 inch leader will be a good bait to use. Fish this bait on the long point or a sharp drop off. Before fishing use the depth finder to see if there is bait then fish in this area. No bait then bait fish move to another location. A big crank bait fished on these points will also bring a few bites. Another good area to fish are the underwater islands. These areas need to top part of the island is in 10 to 12 foot of water cast your bait to the top part of the island and work baits to deeper water. Flip a bait under docks there are some fish being caught by working the docks near deep water. The main key is when Georgia Power is moving water.

Catfish: Blake and Brant took the kids jugging on Oconee last weekend and caught a good mess of blue catfish jugging a spread of Catawba worms, cut bait, and live minnows. Blake said the Catawba worms generally outperformed other menu options. The catfish bite will remain steady lake wide during the month of August and pick up considerably at night. The bite will also pick up considerably when the water starts flowing north!

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.1 FEET, 80’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report):   Bass fishing is slow. Look for a shallow bite on the shallow points, sea walls, and docks that are adjacent to deep water. River channel swings and creek mouths are best. Some fish can still be caught on a Spro frog around grass beds as well. Texas rigged soft plastics and jigs fished around boat houses and lay down trees have been most productive when looking for the shallow bite. There are still a lot of fish holding on deep offshore structure lake wide. This has been the most consistent pattern this week, especially on the lower portion of the lake. Most of these offshore fish are holding in depths of 18 to 25 feet. Look for points that drop into the river channel, offshore humps, or ledges that contain rocks or some form of wood cover. These places are easy to find with the Lowrance HDS Structure Scan technology. Drop shot rigs, flutter spoons and football jigs will all produce on these offshore structures. The deep bite will be best when Georgia Power is moving water.

Bream: By August, shellcracker fishing on Lake Sinclair slows compared to the spring peak, but persistent anglers can still find success targeting deep, shaded areas with harder bottom, and aligning their fishing effort with full moon windows when shellcracker will bed. Using electronics or scanning shallow water for saucer-shaped depressions will reveal large spawning beds, and opportunity for success. Focus on the edges of creek channels, main-lake flats, or points with sand or gravel substrate in 4 – 8 feet of water. Areas near Twin Bridges, Crooked Creek, and Rooty Creek often hold scattered fish through late summer. Bottom fishing with red wigglers or small pieces of nightcrawler on a Carolina rig is the go-to tactic. Early morning and evening hours offer the best chance for active fish, especially in areas with some current or cooler inflows. Be patient and prepared to move often to locate reliable concentrations of late-summer redear.

LAKE JACKSON IS DOWN 1 FOOT, 80’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. The fish are on their summer holes. The channel swing under the power lines and the hump at the mouth of Tussahaw Creek have both recently been hotspots. Several baits are working for the deeper fish, both spots and largemouth. Big crank baits, like DD22s or Strike King 6 XDs, are working in the 16 to 18 foot range. On some days fish want a slower presentation. Use a 3/4 ounce Net Boy Baits football jig in green or brown colors. Tip the jig with a 4 inch Big Bite Baits Kriet Kreature in craw and orange color. For a more finesse bait, use a 1/4 ounce Net Boy Baits screwball jig head with a Big Bite Baits Squirrel Tail worm in watermelon or green pumpkin color. Dipping either bait in JJ’s Magic will help increase bites and hook up percentages. One other option for largemouth is to run up the Yellow River or South rivers above the bridges and fish a 1/4 ounce buzz bait around blow downs and log jams early or late in the day. Some bites can be explosive, so use heavy line or braid to muscle these fish.

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

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

Overall, fishing activity has slowed with the recent heat wave, but cooler weather is forecast to begin the month of August, which should increase angler traffic and success at McDuffie.  Anglers are reporting less successful trips on the PFA during the days.  Throughout the month of July, McDuffie PFA treated nuisance algae on PFA ponds, so anglers should enjoy catching more fish and less hangups on vegetation in August. Fishing early morning or early evening will be the best bet for avoiding the heat and aligning with the best bite windows for bass, bream, and other species on the PFA. Night fishing is a great option on Jones for catfish anglers during August!

Bass: Bass anglers are successful when targeting deep structures and features.  Use a Wacky or Carolina rig in deep water around logs or stumps.  Swim baits that mimic golden shiners will also be effective when fished deliberately around riprap on dam faces.

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Few striped or hybrid striped bass have been caught on the PFA recently.  Anglers should use chicken livers on Bridge or Clubhouse lake to have a chance at landing a lineside.

Channel Catfish: Catfish are a best bet species option during the month of August.  Anglers seem to have better luck in the mornings while using either chicken livers or an artificial bait.

Bream:  Quality bream catches have challenged some anglers recently, but the numbers are always there. Target bream using traditional summer terrestrials like live worms or even better, crickets, in and around shallow habitat and brush.

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

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

Bass: Anglers are reporting success from a wide variety of lures. Topwater frogs, buzzbaits, and rubber worms in red, green, and blue have been producing catches between 2 and 6 lbs.

Bream: The bream bite has slowed slightly, but fishing during cooler hours should continue to produce catches. Red Wigglers continue to produce.

Crappie: Use live minnows and jigs while targeting deeper, cooler water overnight and early in the morning since Crappie are hugging tight to structure.

Catfish: Anglers fishing at night and early in the morning are reporting 5-6lb catfish while daytime anglers are reporting 1-3lb catfish. Catfish are being caught on chicken livers, live baitfish, and cut baitfish.

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: 16” – 24”
• Surface temperature: mid-to-upper 80s
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Early morning and late afternoon have been the most productive for bass.  Several nice hybrid bass have been caught at Bennett Lake.  There are large schools of small shad on the surface most every afternoon late.  Smaller largemouth have been observed feeding on schooling threadfin on Fox Lake in the open water.

Crappie: A few crappie are being caught this time of year.  If you fish for crappie in August, your best bet is to fish deep (> 10 ft. depths) and cover a lot of water.  Look for suspended fish over large brush piles.

Bream:  Most of the larger bream are being caught on the bottom in deeper water near dams and creek channels, unless they are on the bed around the full moon.  Waxworms, crickets and pink worms continue to be good bait.

Channel Catfish:  Several nice channel catfish have been harvested at Fox Lake.  Anglers are fishing with night crawlers and cut bait on the bottom on flats adjacent to deep water.

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

Very few folks got out and fished in the heat this week, but the ones who reported it did well. The key is to go early and get out around noon before the heat really cranks up. The Okefenokee Swamp bite is on fire. It’s generally one of the best bites in the dogdays of summer, as bowfin love the heat. It’s just humans that don’t care for it. Tarpon fishing has been good, as well – there are lots around right now.

River gages on July 31st were:

• Clyo on the Savannah River – 4.2 feet and rising
• Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 2.8 feet and falling
• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 5.9 feet and falling
• Waycross on the Satilla – 7.2 feet and rising
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 6.1 feet and rising
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 2.2 feet and falling
• Macclenny on the St Marys – 2.6 feet and falling
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 3.8 feet and falling

Full Moon is August 9th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

SATILLA RIVER

Curtis and Jackson Hazel fished the lower river Wednesday morning and fooled 3 bluegills and 5 bowfin on Satilla Spins. The upper river is back up where it’s easy to get a boat around. When it starts falling again, the fishing should improve.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

I had some great trips this week in temperatures pushing 100 degrees during the heat of the day. I believe that Saturday is the hottest day I have ever fished. Richard came up from Jacksonville to fish with me on the east side, and we caught 64 fish total. We had 3 “doubles” of bowfin and a double of pickerel. The pickerel were on the small side, but they bit well in the middle of the day and even into the afternoon. Both trolling and casting worked, and the best colors of Dura-Spins were lemon-lime and jackfish. Richard’s biggest bowfin was 6-lb., 5-oz. My daughter Ellie fished with me a morning this week, and we caught 36 fish (35 bowfin and a pickerel) in 3 hours on the water. We caught about a dozen fish each area we tried and had 5 doubles during the trip. I caught 7 bowfin on an electric chicken bladed fly while using a fly rod, but the rest were on Dura-Spins (both trolling and casting). The best color in-line spinners were lemon-lime and crawfish-brass. The air conditioning in the café while we ate lunch was heavenly! Curtis, Jenny, and Jackson Hazel fished the east side canals Thursday morning for an hour and a half and caught 5 bowfin on Dura-Spins and a couple warmouth, as well. The most recent water level on the Folkston side was 120.46 feet.

LOCAL PONDS

Joshua Barber fished a Waycross area pond on Tuesday afternoon and caught 5 bass up to 5 pounds. He had a great video of him catching the 5-pounder and turning around and flinging it out and hooking up with another nice bass on the very next cast. But, that one hung him up and got off. He got all his bites on topwater frogs and plastics rigged on a Capt. Bert’s Swimbait Hook.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Blake Edwards fished the Brunswick area this week and had a good trip. He was able to fool a half-dozen short trout and a 15-incher. A Brunswick angler and his friend fished the Brunswick area on Wednesday evening for tarpon. They saw a bunch roll and cast Keitech swimbaits to them. They were able to get 3 of them to hit, but they did not hook up. The tarpon bite should stay good for another month, at least. A very skilled Brunswick angler had a great Wednesday morning bite for seatrout. He caught and released 17 nice keepers up to about 3 pounds on topwaters. He also had a few redfish (biggest was right at 10 pounds) eat his topwater. I also had a couple reports of people not doing anything this week in the inshore brine, so saltwater isn’t a sure thing. This is the time of year I prefer to fish the Cumberland Beach or St Marys Jetties for trout and if I fish inshore I try to stay near the sounds. Capt. Greg Hildreth (georgiacharterfishing.com) said that he has been putting his clients on a few tarpon in the sounds and on the sandbar rips. The shark bite behind the shrimp boats is still wide open. He has heard from other captains that the trout bite is still good, but has not targeted them this week. Shane Barber fished the Brunswick area Thursday morning and caught 15 trout (one keeper) and an undersized redfish. 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. 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

Heat advisories have been issued for this week with possible heat indexes up to 115F, so make sure you are well prepared or use caution if being outside for long durations. This week’s levels are dangerous or even deadly for anyone without proper hydration and adequate cooling.

Mayfly hatches appear to be mostly on the north side of the lake, while on the south side it’s mostly dobsonflies. If you are noticing that bream not committing to the surface bites, try running a wet fly 10”-14” behind the mayfly to get the bream to bite. If you are still struggling, try looking for slack water that has a shelly bottom around 2-6 feet deep before casting your line.

LAKE SEMINOLE

According to Ken Sturdivant at southernfishing.com, bass fishing is fair. The fish are really relating to grass

points all over the lake. Target these points early in the morning with a top water lure such as a buzz bait or a Spro Dawg 100 in Old Glory on Sunline FX2 Braid. The grass points that have seemed to be producing better are the ones that are closer to the river channels. If the wind is blowing, fish the windblown points with a Spro Superstar 1/2 ounce spinnerbait in white and chartreuse. If there is no wind, then back off a little and fish a little deeper off of the points with a Texas rigged 7-inch Big Bite Baits Sugar Cane worm in easy money color. Use a 5/16-ounce Tungsten and a 5/0 Gamakatsu offset worm hook on this bait. This bait works well, either bump it off the bottom or swim it through the grass. With the dog days of summer, look for the flipping bite to become a dependable way to catch fish. A Big Bite Fighting Frog is the best flipping bait.

Fishing guide, Ryan Higgins, reports that hybrids are starting to school well and evening bites are on fire!

LAKE WALTER F GEORGE

According to Ken Sturdivant at southernfishing.com. The bass fishing is fair. These fish are still in their summer patterns and they’re sitting in the 15-to-20-foot range around bottom structure like humps, points, ledges and bottom indentations. Look for brush or stumps in these type of areas, find baitfish over them, and try to fish when the water is moving. Once the fish are found on the Lowrance start throwing out a deep diving crank bait like a Spro Little John DD. Sometimes if you can get one to bite the whole school will start biting. Citrus shad is a good color. Follow up with a Carolina or Texas rig for a couple more bites once the feeding frenzy dies down or if they do not hit the crank bait. Concentrate on the cover with the soft plastics. For some top water activity, try fishing a frog or a popping bait around the grass early in the morning. The shallow bite should pick up and there may begin to be some schooling activity. Keep a top water tied on and if there is any schooling fish around points or at the mouths of creeks, throw a popper or rattle bait at them.

CHATTAHOOCHEE AND FLINT RIVER

Summer is in full swing, and it is hot! It’s a great time to try your luck with catfish that hang out in deeper cooler water. Fishing below the tailraces of a dam when power is being generated can be a good option or in the deep outer cut bank of a river bend. These deeper waters tend to hold that trophy sized fish you have been looking for!

The best bait is something nice and smelly. Anglers like hot dogs, chicken livers, and chicken breast soaked in strawberry Jell-O.

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

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE ALLATOONA 

Bass (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — Bass fishing is fair. Go early and late and fish any brush in the 12 to 14 feet range that is isolated and not heavily fished. Right now, sonar/Lowrance side scanning and down scanning technology can make or break a trip. Fishing “blind” is not very productive. The night and evening bite is the best for action to avoid the boat traffic. Deep cranking a Spro Little John DD in cell mate and a big Colorado blade spinner bait around brush and large rocks in the 12 to 18 foot range is producing good fish. Use the Little John DD on 10lb sunline fluorocarbon and a 7’11 cranking rod. For numbers, the shaky head is the best bet. Use a 1/8 Davis Bait Company jig head tipped with a natural-colored squirrel tailed worm made by Big Bite. Fish it slowly around rock and brush in 12 to 16 feet in the Etowah River. Find the fish with the Lowrance Side Scan and Down Scan technology. Now use the Active Target to spot the fish out in front of the boat.

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

Current Water Level:

• Air Temp: High: 95 – Low: 73
• Wind: 5 – 10 mph
• Lake Level: Approx. 840′ (Click Here For Current Water Level Current Water Level)
• Water Surface Temp: 88 – 90
• Water Clarity: Clear Green, Murky Green in places
• Area Fished: Kellogg Creek, Victoria Area, S-Turns & Little River Areas
• Jigs Used: Motor Oil Red – Dagger, UV Shad – Dagger, BlueGrass – Dagger & Chartreuse Pepper – Dagger
• Technique: Casting & Spider Rigging

It’s getting hot out there on Lake Allatoona and we are moving into the dog days of summer. Our advice is to get on the lake as early in the morning as possible and get in on the morning bite. The afternoon/evening bite is really hit or miss right now. We were on the lake early and late and by far the morning bite is where it’s at right now. It’s great to get out on the lake any time you can to enjoy the great outdoors but there is a night and day difference between the morning bite and afternoon bite this time of year.

Crappie: As stated in previous reports, the summer report will be very repetitive between now and September/October…it’s summer and the crappie will be in their deep water hangouts. The morning bite is when you will find active crappie hovering around the structure/brush piles. They tend to be much more prone to bite a jig or minnow between 0600 – 1000. After 1000 they seem to get lockjaw no matter what you throw at ’em whether it be a jig or a minnow. That’s just summertime crappie fishing. You can still catch a few if you hit several locations but you have to keep moving to find a few active crappie. The crappie should be be found on structure anywhere from 16′ to 22′ deep and they are typically suspended above the structure in 10′ – 16′ (Just above the Thermocline). You can also find crappie on deep water docks, when we say deep water docks, we are talking about docks that sit in at least 20′ of water. If you are shooting docks, we recommend a 1/32nd oz. jig head for a slow fall. Let it sink for about 10 – 15 seconds and then slowly start reeling to the boat. If you are casting to structure you want to use a 1/16th or 3/32nd oz. jig head and let them fall down in and around the structure, count down to 10 and slowly reel your jig back to the boat. Counting to 10 using a 1/16th oz. jig head should put your jig in the 10′ – 12′ range. When the bite slows down, switch to spider rigging minnows in and around structure to finish out the trip. If you are throwing jigs make sure to use natural color jigs like a Red Rooster Dagger in UV Shad, Gray Ghost, Watermelon Ghost or Motor Oil Red. These are great colors and sizes to start with first thing in the morning. This time of year we start downsizing our jigs to the 1.5″ Red Rooster Dagger. The crappie start getting real finicky if the jigs are larger. The small profile matches the smaller baitfish perfectly and are our number one jigs of choice for the summer time. If you are Spider Rigging, set the minnow at different depths until they start biting. We usually have 2 rods set at 8′, 2 rods at 10′ and 2 rods at 12′.

Bluegill: The bluegill should be in the shallows in the early morning and then moving a little deeper to 4′ to 8′ in the afternoon/evening. We are catching bluegill using nightcrawlers, red wigglers or crickets. 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 in the morning and then changing the bobber depth as it gets later in the day to pick up some deeper bluegill.

Shellcracker (Redear sunfish): The Shellcracker are getting harder and harder to find. 9 times out of 10, if we drop a nightcrawler down on the bottom we are catching catfish! The shellcracker are in 10′ – 12′ of water around points and rocky humps but so are the catfish so if you like shellcracker and catfishing you will have some great days! 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. We are primarily using either a red wiggler or nightcrawler.

Lord willing we will have a another good report for you 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.

LAKE HARTWELL 

Bass (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — Bass fishing is fair. The most consistent bite going is targeting deep main lake brush piles with a combination of techniques. Pull up to the brush and try a weightless Zoom Super Fluke, a Lucky Craft Sammy 100 or a Lucky Craft Smasher 105. It’s important to work these baits fast across the surface to try and draw the fish up. Cast moving baits over the brush and watch the Lowrance electronics and be ready to drop a drop shot rigged with a Zoom Swamp Crawler or a Wackem Baits Big Sissy worm straight down. These fish will easily show up on the 83 kHz beam and this will give anglers double the cone angle over 200 kHz. Typically expect only to get one to three bites off of each brush pile before the school is pulled away from the brush. Fish lots of brush all day. The other bite that can be a shallow deal in the backs of the major creek arms. Early and late in the day with the Zoom Super fluke in pearl and the buzz bait or a Zoom Horny Toad. Fish around any shallow cover in the very backs of the major creeks. This shallow deal is usually better during low light situations. If the sun is bright go deep.

LAKE LANIER 

Bass (This report courtesy of Phil Johnson, 770-366-8845 via www.southernfishing.com) — Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is fair. The lake is currently slightly under full and the water temperature is running in the upper eighties. Overall, the lake is clear. It seems we have hit the dog days of summer as the bass have become trickier to catch. They are currently in the hot summer areas such as humps and ledges that have structure in the thirty to forty foot water range with some being even deeper. There is some topwater activity scattered across the lake using a Chug Bug, E Pop or Gunfish with the key being able to reach the school quickly. The drop shot has been a good choice both around and in the structure using Blue Lily, Sweet Rosy and Morning Dawn colored worms. With the drop shot be sure not to set the hook to strongly, just reel into the bass so that you don’t jerk the hook out. The bass scattered along the humps and ledges a three eights Spot Choker with a two eight Keitech has produced some fish. The Flutter Spoon is another choice to get bites. The best method has been to drop the spoon all the way to the bottom and then speed reel it back up to get them to chase it. The Shakey Head or Damiki rig has also produced fish in both brush areas and around the deeper docks. It takes more time and work to catch them right now but if you hit the right school, you can catch several quickly. Keep moving and varying your baits and Go Catch ‘Em!

Striped Bass (This report courtesy of Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service 404-510-1778 via www.southernfishing.com) — Lake Lanier stripers have migrated into the lower half of the lake. Best techniques are trolling lead core, umbrella rigs and down rigging. The live bait is still popular, but keeping it fresh may be a challenge. Lead core back eight colors or 240 feet behind the boat at 2.5-3.5 mph. Two once chipmunk tipped with a live herring has been producing or the white trailer from Capt. Mack. Umbrella 130 to 150 feet back at same speed and be conscious of the depth when making your turns. Most creek channels that lead to river should be fished early and you should move out with the fish.  Downlines over river channels in 40-80′ with blue back or jigging spoons. It’s hot, so hydrate often and wear your life jackets.

Crappie (This report courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton, 770-530-6493 via www.southernfishing.com) — Crappie fishing is good. The fish are on standing timber and open water brush also in large groups under docks in the shade. The deep fish are biting better than the shallow fish on docks Crappie have been at depths of 20 to 35 feet above a 25 to 40 foot bottom. The jig color combo that worked the best for me this week was the all white single tail 1.5 inch jig. No m minnows. 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.

Lake 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 lake is in its summer mode and the deeper patterns have turned on. There’s still a shallow bite, however. Covering a lot of seawalls early in the mornings with Whopper Plopper and Pop Sr are the ticket for some solid Coosa River spotted bass to start the day. Later in the day look for ledges in the mid lake and lower end areas. The main channel ledges have been producing very well with Carolina rigs and shaky head worms. Scanning these areas and looking for the more active schools has been the most effective way for finding consistent action. The recent rains have brought the water level back up but this will be only for a short time and things will get back to normal.

WEST POINT LAKE 

Bass (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — Bass fishing is tough. Bass are in the summer slump with the hot water. Presentations must be super slow for any results. Spinnerbaits are too fast. Top water frogs and poppers are the trick very early. Work them as slow as possible all the way from cover to the boat. Medium jigs are doing well with soft plastics worked around the rocks, grass, and cover. Again, the slower the better results. Carolina rigs on deep brush piles and wood have produced well this past week. If they are pulling water, work down the slope. If they stop pulling, work from deep to shallow. Keep it slow. Fish are stacking up on the ledges during the heat of the day. With the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology, anglers and search great amounts of water and not waste time fishing water with no fish close by. The best time to catch bass is during generation hours. Currently, water has been moving in the late afternoons. Look for any irregularity or point along the channel. Stumps and trees are a bonus for holding fish. It’s hard to beat Carolina rigs and deep diving crankbaits in these areas. Early in the morning there are some fish shallow in grass or lily pad fields. The closer to the deeper water the better. Frogs, buzz baits and small, white swim jigs will work.

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

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 summer fishing opportunities close to home.  Here are a few north Georgia State Parks with small lakes you may consider fishing this weekend.

Rocky Mountain PFA (This report courtesy of Fisheries Technician Richard Childers) —

We are in the dog days of summer, but anglers are still catching fish.  Regardless of what you are fishing for, get out on the water early.  Bream are biting worms or crickets fished on the bottom.  Consider using cut bait or chicken livers for catfish.  Bass can be tempted with topwater baits early in the morning.  As the day heats up, switch to rubber worms or bass jigs fished “slow” on or close to the bottom.

TROUT REPORT

Stocked trout: Over 19,000 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): The Unicoi Outfitters duo found a clear river and eager shoalies Wednesday afternoon.  Both fly (wooly bugger) and spin (small swimming plugs) techniques worked well.  Check out Unicoi Outfitter’s regular “Angler Management” fishing reports to get the complete story and more! 

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.

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.

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