October 17, 2025 – Georgia Wildlife Blog

Trout fishing in Georgia offers anglers year-round opportunities to experience some of the state’s most scenic waters. From wild brook trout high in the North Georgia mountains to stocked rainbow and brown trout in accessible streams and rivers, Georgia provides diverse options for every level of angler. Popular destinations such as the Chattahoochee River, Toccoa River, and Noontootla Creek watershed are managed to support both quality fisheries and memorable experiences. Whether you’re wading a small mountain stream or casting from the banks of a larger river, trout fishing in Georgia combines exceptional angling with the beauty of the state’s natural landscapes.

NEWS TO KNOW:

• Go Fish Education Center – Fall Harvest: Every Weekend in October! Celebrate the season with family fun all month long. The Fall Harvest event features activities for all ages, making it a perfect weekend outing. Join in the autumn excitement while exploring everything the Go Fish Education Center has to offer! More info at Facebook.com/GoFishEducationCenter. 
• Lake Burton Hatchery will begin a paving and construction project on October 20, 2025—enhancing the production area and adding protective raceway coverings, while temporarily adjusting visitation hours and suspending trout viewing. For updated hours: GeorgiaWildlife.com/burton-trout-hatchery. 
• Delayed Harvest trout season begins November 1 on five designated Georgia streams—Chattahoochee River, Toccoa River, Amicalola Creek, Smith Creek, and the Chattooga River. From November 1 to May 14, these waters are catch-and-release only with single-hook, artificial lures, and are stocked monthly by WRD and partners to provide anglers with outstanding trout fishing opportunities.

This week, we have fishing reports from Southeast, North, and Central Georgia. Southwest Georgia will be back next week. Cooler fall weather means great trout fishing across Georgia’s streams and rivers, making now the perfect time to cast a line so Go Fish Georgia!

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

The fall bite is in full swing in most places. Saltwater tides have been very good this week but are building again into next week.

River gages on October 16th were:

• Clyo on the Savannah River – 4.0 feet and rising
• Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 1.2 feet and rising
• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 3.9 feet and rising
• Waycross on the Satilla – 4.7 feet and falling
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 3.7 feet and falling
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 2.6 feet and rising
• Macclenny on the St Marys – 2.1 feet and falling
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 2.1 feet and falling

New Moon is October 21st. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

Curtis and Jenny Hazel fished the east side of the swamp on Sunday afternoon and caught 17 fish (16 bowfin and a pickerel) by trolling Dura-Spins. They caught some really nice fish, and Curtis caught his biggest so far – a 6-pounder. Fire tiger-chartreuse blade and crawfish-brass blades were their top colors. John and Isaiah Bittle came down from West Virginia and fished with me on the west side of the Okefenokee out of SC Foster State Park on Thursday. We fished from 11am until 5pm and caught and released 106 fish. Most were bowfin, but we did catch a couple of fliers on pink Okefenokee Swamp Sallies. Trolling Dura-Spins was the ticket for everything else. Our biggest bowfin was 4-lb., 12-oz., and we also had 21, 22, and 23-inch pickerel and a 9-inch warmouth on the spinners. The best colors were crawfish-brass blade, lemon-lime, fire tiger-chartreuse blade, and crawfish-orange blade. For the latest information about open areas, call Okefenokee Adventures or SC Foster State Park. The most recent water level on the Folkston side was 120.50 feet. On the west side, the level on Thursday was 3.98 feet.

LOCAL PONDS

Tommy Davis fished a pond Monday and spider-rigged a limit of crappie. He used 1/16-oz. Tennessee Shad Specktacular Jigs tipped with a minnow for most of his fish. He also dragged a chartreuse-pearl 2-inch Keitech swimbait underneath a float behind his spread and picked up a few extra fish. Ellie Deener fished with me on Monday at a pond, and we long-line trolled up 59 fish total (1 largemouth bass, 4 bluegills, and 54 crappie). We kept about 40 of the crappie. Our biggest was 13 inches, and most were 9 to 10 inches – not slabs, but fun to catch and good to eat. Our best presentation was a pearl-red eye 1/16-oz. Zombie Eye Jighead rigged with a 2-inch Keitech Swing Impact Swimbait (best colors were sexy shad, shad, electric shad, and bluegill flash). John and Isaiah Bittle fished with me on Wednesday afternoon in a Brunswick area pond after redfishing that morning. The bite started off slowly with the bright sun, but as it dropped closer to the trees, the bass started chewing. Our first fish was on a Texas-rigged junebug stick worm, but as the afternoon progressed, we caught them on several other colors of stick worms, Wobble Blades (copperfield color), and whitetreuse River Rat Spinnerbaits (made with Indiana/Colorado double blades). We ended up catching 11 bass up to 4 pounds. We also fooled 32 channel catfish by pitching dead shrimp rigged on 3/16-oz. Redfish Wrecker Jigheads (the same ones we spanked the redfish with earlier in the day). On Wednesday, Joshua Barber fished a Waycross area pond and caught a half-dozen bass. He fooled them with soft plastics.

HUGH M. GILLIS PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR DUBLIN)

DODGE COUNTY PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Eastman)

OCMULGEE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR HAWKINSVILLE)

Ken Burke fished the area on Monday for almost 5 hours and had 5 bites. He caught and released 5 bass for 16.3 pounds. His biggest fish was 4.25 pounds, and he had 3 others over 3 pounds. A shaky head worm fooled one of his fish, while the others ate a sexy shad-colored flat-sided crankbait that runs about 5 feet deep. He got bites throughout the morning.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Scott Smith and a friend fished the Brunswick area on Tuesday and brought home 9 black drum and a flounder. They fooled them with shrimp. John and Isaiah Bittle fished with me in the Brunswick area on Tuesday and Wednesday. We fished the small creeks with live shrimp around low tide and caught a bunch of redfish with tail-hooked shrimp on a 1/8-oz. Shrimp Hook and 3/16-oz. – 3/0 hook Redfish Wrecker Jigheads. We released all of our fish and had 33 redfish, 2 sheepshead (to 3-lbs.), 2 black drum (to 3-lbs.), and a trout on Tuesday. On Wedneday morning, we released them all again and had 32 fish total (3 flounder to 14 inches, 4 black drum to 17 inches, 3 trout to 14 inches, and 22 redfish to 23 inches). That day we caught them all on live shrimp and 3/16-oz. 3/0 hook and 3/8-oz. 5/0 Redfish Wrecker Jigheads. Strong north winds were aggravating on Wednesday by late morning. We tried artificials, but the fish wanted live and dead shrimp (we had some frozen shrimp that we used both days after we finished a quart of live shrimp). 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 Contributor 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).

The Southwest Georgia report will be back next week with fresh fishing info. Until then, check out the Fishing Forecasts reports for major reservoirs and rivers to get great intel to make your day on the water successful! GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts

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

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE ALLATOONA

Allatoona Bass (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com): LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 6.2 FEET, AND THE WATER TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 70S. Bass fishing is fair. Fishing has been hit or miss over the last month or so. There have been some reports of good limits, and others say not even a bite. With the lack of rain and altering temperatures, some areas of lake have had trouble with water quality and low dissolved oxygen levels. As we get into the month of October I hope to see some rain and cooling temperatures, and the bite should begin to get much better. For the month of October and even into November shallow is key. Some of my favorite baits for the month of October are shallow crankbaits like a Strike King 1.5 or Spro Little John, and ChatterBaits and buzz baits. Cover a lot of water and locate scattered fish. When the water starts dropping, it becomes harder and harder to find wood and blowdowns in the water but when you do they tend to hold fish. We will start to see bass migrating into the creeks, and the jerk bait bite will begin to pick up. Also, this time of the year, larger swimbaits tend to have great success. Your baitfish are larger and the swimbait allows long casts and the ability to cover water. Look for fishing to get really good toward the end of the month. In November we should see a significant change as the winter feed up begins.

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 BLUE RIDGE

Bass: Eric Welch, of www.northgafishingguide.com, reports, “Fishing is good. Days are getting shorter and nights are getting cooler. This means fall is just around the corner, and TVA is still dropping the water level for the winter pool. With the water temperatures dropping, the fish are starting to get more active. There has been some topwater action happening; the baits I’ve been throwing have been a Pop-R, Chug Bug, Ima Stix and a Zoom Fluke. I’m throwing these baits on the main body, flats, over ditches and on long points. I will also be watching my LiveScope to see if I see a wolf pack of fish in these areas or see any bait pods with fish mixed in them. I then will cast on them with a drop shot, 3.5-inch tube and a jig-head minnow, not to mention this is a good time of year to bring out your spy baits. I will also target rocky points and deep banks with a drop shot, shaky head and a 3.5-inch tube. I will also start working my way up the river, fishing the deep, rocky banks with the same kind of lures. I will pitch a jig around brush and laydowns. Fishing is only going to get better. Good luck. ”

Striper and Hybrids: Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the end of September and beginning of October is always a transition period when fish are on the move, but in October schooling activity should increase and some days fish will school for hours. It was already getting started in late September. Fish will also make a move into the creeks, and in general they will be related to bait wherever it is. Free-lines and down-lines can both work at times, and if fish are schooling topwater lures and flukes will work.

Walleye & Yellow Perch: Guide Eric Crowley, of www.ellijayfishing.com, reports, “October marks the start of fall fishing on Blue Ridge. As temps go down and the bait comes up, look for the fish to get shallower. We have been catching some really nice fish in the last few weeks all over the lake. The walleye have been cruising the humps and points where the bait is congregated. Nighttime is the right time, at least go for cloudy and overcast for your best odds of finding feeding fish during the day. Twenty to 40 feet is the zone, but don’t hesitate to go as shallow as 12 feet this month if there’s bait that shallow. There’s no real area to focus on right now, as the fish are on the move, but mid-lake seems to be holding the most life. Keep checking areas for walleye marks on the bottom, and target them with all of your favorite vertical presentations. Spoons, jigs and blade baits on light leaders are the way to go right now. Vary the speed and colors until you find what’s working each day. Look for grass edges and submerged brush that holds smaller fish and target them thoroughly. The perch bite will fire off this month, as well. Jigs, minnows, spoons and worm rigs will all put fish in the boat, especially toward the end of the month. This is a daytime bite. Typically bright and sunny is the preferred weather, so it’s a great option after the sun gets up high or after you’re done walleye fishing. Most perch are running in the 10-inch range with some nicer fish up to 15 inches being common.”

LAKE BURTON

Bass: “Lake Burton is in full turnover. It will finish up when the air temperature drops a little in the next few weeks. The bass bite has been great the last few weeks. Most of the fish we have caught have been 15 to 25 feet deep. The best spots seem to be midway in the backs of the creeks near the grass flats. Most of the bigger bass are hanging around these areas close to the yellow perch schools and herring schools. We have caught fish on underspins with white flukes and drop-shot rigs tipped with a morning-dawn Roboworm. Keep a Sebille Magic Swimmer or similar bait for topwater midday when the bass are pushing the herring up top. Don’t be surprised if you catch a 5-plus-lb. fish. This bite should continue to get better as the water temps fall into the upper 60s.”

Yellow Perch: “The bite has been really good the last couple of days. We have caught most of our fish trolling small Shad Raps (crawfish color) in the backs of the creeks in 10 to 15 feet of water. Troll as slow as the boat will allow. Several of the fish have been in the 14- to 16-inch range. These are great tasting fish BTW. Pay close attention to the electronics to keep your baits just above brush and grass. These areas are full of yellow perch and chain pickerel. This pattern and bite should continue for the next month or so.”

LAKE HARTWELL

Lake Hartwell Bass Report (This report courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports):

Bass: Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that when water temperatures drop into the lower 70s there should be widespread schooling activity across the lake, and in October fish should also be more willing to eat a variety of topwater baits as they get onto larger bait. While there will still be an offshore bite also look for more fish to move into the creeks where they can be caught on buzzbaits or crankbaits.

Striper and Hybrids: Guide Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the end of September and beginning of October is always a transition period when fish are on the move, but in October schooling activity should increase and some days fish will school for hours. It was already getting started in late September. Fish will also make a move into the creeks, and in general they will be related to bait wherever it is. Free-lines and down-lines can both work at times, and if fish are schooling topwater lures and flukes will work.

Crappie: Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that in October fish will still be found over brush in 15-25 plus feet of water in the creek runs, and there will also be more shallower fish as temperatures cool. Both minnows and jigs will work.

Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that the quality of the October catfish bite depends on the weather, but if it cools then bigger fish will come shallower out of the timber where they can be caught with cut bait in the creek runs. If water temperatures stay high then smaller channels as well as flatheads will be the main catch.

LAKE LANIER

Lake Lanier Bass and Stripers (This report courtesy of Jeff Durniak with www.unicoioutfitters.com): UO guide Joseph: “Fishing on Lanier over the last week has still been good. With high winds and cold fronts, the stripers have been hard to find near the surface consistently. On the other hand, bass fishing has been phenomenal between high winds and cooler water temps. Most of the stripers we’re seeing have been in open water and surfacing sporadically. For the bass they have been on brush in creeks or near the mouth of creeks. Both bass and stripers are still moving fast, so conventional tackle is going to put more fish in the boat than fly rigs. We’ve mostly been utilizing topwater walking baits, serpentine swimbaits, and flukes. If you want to give the fly a try, then clousers, game changers and Henry Cowen’s something else would be great options.

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

Lake Weiss Bass (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com): WEISS LAKE IS DOWN 2.5 FEET AND WATER TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 70’S. Bass fishing is good. Some largemouth have moved shallow in the coves and bays. Look for any brush or stumps in 4 feet of water or less. Shallow running crankbaits spinnerbaits and Rat L Traps in shad patterns are working great the spotted Bass are on main lake points and humps roadbeds and shallow river channel ledges. Have a Shopper Plopper ready all day. Soft plastics like a Senko in green pumpkin with a chartreuse tail are catching a lot of good spots.

WEST POINT LAKE

West Point Bass Report (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com):  WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 5.4 FEET AND WATER TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 70S. Bass fishing is good. Fishing has continued to pick up with the recent cooler temperatures. Cooler temperatures and low water conditions have concentrated fish on just about any shoreline cover available. Fish can be caught on many different patterns right now dependent on current weather conditions. On windy days use a 3/8 ounce. Spinnerbait in a chartreuse/white color with double willow leaf blades gold and silver combination. On days when there is less wind use shallow diving crankbaits and top water poppers in shad patterns. With these baits plan to cover a lot of water so be prepared to stay on the trolling motor. Wedhakee Creek area fishing is good. Some good fish have been caught on buzz baits and other top water lures early in the morning. Later in the day deep diving crankbaits are working well on the humps and roadbeds. Some largemouth are chasing shad up shallow mid day. Spotted bass are holding on the humps and roadbeds. We have also been catching big spots on shad.

West Point Lake Water Level Information can be found at West Point Lake Levels Information .

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.

TROUT REPORT

Our October fishing-fest is here in earnest as dry, cool fall weather continues.  Headwaters are very thin but cold, with trout-friendly temps throughout the day. Private water fishing is on fire, too. The federal shutdown may have closed some developed facilities like campgrounds, but most of the national forest appears open to visitors (both Anna Ruby and Raven Cliffs were accessible today).

WES’ HOT FLY LIST: 

• Dries:  purple haze, tan elk hair caddis, parachute ant, yellow or orange stimmy, foam ant, micro chubby Chernobyl, royal humpy, Dry emerger.
• Stockers: red squirmy worm, slush egg, girdle bug, black woolly bugger, tan and olive mops, Duracell, psycho prince.
• Mountain streams: hares ear, drowned ant, pheasant tail nymph and soft hackle, prince nymph, crazy leg stone.
• Streamers: small black and olive buggers, bank robber sculpin, micro dungeon.

HEADWATERS: They’ll still real low and clear, but they are nice and cold!  Leaf fall isn’t bad yet, so bluelines are a best bet for quiet stalkers with long, thin leaders and smaller bugs. UO buddy Mo: “Kurt and I fished Dukes at Smithgall Saturday morning and had about 10 fish to hand each. Nothing bigger than snits tho and lots of fingerlings. The water was super low and clear and it was very challenging to sneak up on holes without spooking any fish that might be in there. We fished dull, smaller and lighter flies to help with drifts and avoid getting hung up on the bottom. It was more like fishing a blue line for specks than a stream known for big trout. Speaking of which, we didn’t even see any. The fish we saw were podded up in ‘deeper’ holes and were not interested in eating our offerings. And forget about slower pools, any fish we caught came from spots with faster flow. We fished from 8-12 and decided to call it a day. After stopping by Unicoi Outfitters fly shop for some gear and fishing wisdom from Dredger and Wes, we joined the Octoberfest crowds in town for bratwurst and refreshments. “

PRIVATE WATERS:

UO-Helen manager Wes: “Our fall private water season kicked off this week. I ran a half-day trip at Nacoochee Bend with Tim and his friend. We caught plenty of fish on Duracells, eggs, and buggers. The flows are currently very low, so a dry/dropper or poly yarn are gonna be your best options for a lightly landing strike indicator that won’t spook the fish.”

UO company manager and long-time guide Jake: “Nacoochee Bend fished excellent this week. Flows are still low, so dry/droppers and streamers were the best producers for us. We landed fish on #16 Girdle Bugs and Duracell nymphs that were dropped below a Chubby Chernobyl, with numerous fish coming on stripped sparkle minnows as well. “

Chattahoochee Tailwater (Courtesy of Tad Murdock, www.georgiawildtrout.com):  The water below the lake is still turning over. October tends to be one of the rougher months for the pea soup water. With the extra rains we’ve seen in North Georgia, the small mountain streams are certainly worth the drive.

Toccoa Tailwater (Courtesy of www.tva.com): The generators at Blue Ridge Dam are currently in an outage for maintenance and repair. Due to the outage, TVA is releasing water through a lower-level outlet of the dam, known as sluicing, to maintain flows and keep the reservoir level at its target elevation. Water temperatures and oxygen levels are being closely monitored to minimize impacts on the fish habitat. Blue Ridge will be sluicing 350 cfs until further notice. Please refer to their website for any updates.

Georgia Trout Slam  (Courtesy of James Miles, GAWRD Fisheries Biologist): With fall time trout fishing finally here and delayed harvest season around the corner, there’s no better time to complete your Georgia trout slam!  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.

Where to Go for Trout Info: To learn about Georgia’s diverse trout fishing opportunities including the latest stocking information, check out the Georgia DNR Trout Fishing page. Georgia DNR Trout Fishing page.

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.

(Fishing report courtesy of Hunter Roop- Region Supervisor, Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report, and Fisheries Biologist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN 1 FOOT, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant at www.southernfishing.com): Bass fishing is fair. There is no shortage of spotted bass. Just keep in mind these are smaller bass so gear down. When they are moving water bass set up on main lake structure. Anglers have found schools and are cranking Shad Raps in both the #5 and #7 on 10 pound test Sufix clear line. Mid day the Texas Carolina rig or vertical the shaky head or drop shot are working. Rocky points with brush piles and the reef markers around the dam are good areas. Try picking off a few fish with OG8 Rapala crank bait. Then slow down and pick apart the structure with Zoom green pumpkin finesse worms on a Weedless Wonder head. Watermelon is good second backup color and redbug will also produce. Cast the Livingston SgredderS3 Sxee Shad Jerkmaster 1 AYU.

Bass 2 (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that in October bass will normally be caught on the bottom in deep water in both the main lake and creeks. In addition to live bait they typically take drop-“shot rigs and jigging spoons.

Striped Bass (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that in early October fish are traditionally very scattered, but this month they should start to leave the ends of the lake and move back towards the middle. Both free-lines and down-lines should catch fish if striper can be located.

Crappie (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson reports that October is often one of the very best months for Lake Russell crappie. Fish can be caught in the creeks around brush, and both jigs and minnows should catch fish. Sometimes they will also be stacked up on the bottom in open water around bait schools.

Catfish (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal reports that this is not generally a month when he targets catfish very much, but he does pick some up on jigging spoons while fishing for bass. Catfish can be targeted with cut herring fished on the bottom around schools of bait.

Stocking: Lake Russell recently received a heavy dose of 10,572 intermediate (~6 inches) largemouth bass with high Florida genetics that were stocked into quality habitat throughout the reservoir. These stockings are a part of a larger evaluation to measure the effectiveness of largemouth stockings to increase bass abundance, shift genetics, and promote an even better-quality largemouth fishery.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. Fish deep around brush and timber using drop shots with a Zoom 4 inch mini lizard in green with red flake. Hit all the docks in Richland Creek. Anglers are also catching some bigger fish on humps and points near deeper water with a shaky head rigged with a Zoom trick worms and a Swamp Crawler. There has been a little schooling activity starting to fire up and this should only get better with the water temperatures starting to cool down. For schooling fish always keep a Zoom Super Fluke in pearl and add a little red dye to the side of the bait. The baitfish and bass move around a lot this time of year. Use the electronics to hit different areas until the fish show up on the equipment. Use the smaller Lucky Craft Square Bill Live Threadfin Shad Blue Gill 5/8 ounce. Look on the main lake points for brush with the Lowrance Structure Scan technology. Scanning five times the depth is a good rule for this technology. Check those feeding tables before heading out.

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 2.8 FEET, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. Don’t rely on one pattern to hold up all day long or for two days in a row. Versatility will be a must this week. Switching up baits and patterns will be the key for winning teams or individuals at the scales. On the windy days a Rapala X Rap in Olive Green, Silver, Hot Steel and Glass Ghost will be necessary along with a variety of crank baits. Wind blown points are still good producers, especially on the Fort Gordon side of the lake. Ditches that run on the outer edges of the submerged grass are still holding good fish as well. This is where the practice comes in. Jigs, worms and lizards along with Rattle Tubes on Carolina Rigs or Texas Rigs will work while picking apart the wood cover up in the rivers and even out on the main lake. On the cloudy days the Bass will become more active then when the sun is shining. Fish the wind blown banks and points with Rapala Glass Shad Raps, DT6’s and Rattlin’ Raps. Find the rock and the Bass will be close by. Crawfish are in good numbers now, so fish accordingly.

Bass 2 (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) and tournament angler Tyler Matthews report that in October schooling action should be widespread on Thurmond (better known in Georgia as Clarks Hill), and there should also be a lot of fish moving back into the creeks. Topwater lures that imitate shad and herring will work well until it gets really cool, and then a square-bill crankbait will be hard to beat. You can usually still catch fish on a buzzbait in the first part of the month but by the end of October that can get less effective.

Striped Bass & Hybrids (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474)  reports that this month fish typically start to head towards the mouths of creeks and usually back into them as they are able to spread out more in cooler temperatures. There should be good schooling activity and fish should generally be in the top of the water column, although down-line fishing should still be effective.

Crappie (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service reports that in October fish will likely gang up around mid-depth brush piles and submerged timber. Generally creeks in the middle and upper part of the lake will fish best, and crappie will eat minnows or jigs. Late September was already good for crappie.

Crappie 2 (courtesy of DJ Hadden with Hadden Outdoors):  The crappie bite is strong in brush piles from 15-25 feet of water. Early morning and late evening feeding periods have been consistent bites lately, especially on either minnows or small 2” jigs.

For largemouth and spotted bass, schooling activity has been strong, especially if you can locate main-lake or main-river channel humps in 15-25 feet of water. Fish are often elevated in the water column around these, and chrome topwaters, white or silver flukes, and chrome Krej jerkbaits have been the ticket lately as bass key in on shad. For striper, the evening bite near the oxygen line has still been the most productive. Keep an eye out for schooling activity and fish accordingly.

Catfish (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that the last three months of the year are the most consistent time to catch a big catfish on Lake Thurmond, with the big fish bite kicking off in earnest in October. Anchoring on deep structure is about the most consistent way to catch large blue catfish or flatheads this month. The creeks can be good depending on whether bait has moved into them, and gizzard shad and white perch are hard to beat for the bigger fish.

Mixed Bag (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologist Aaron Gray): Young Clarks Hill angler Cooper Franklin was all smiles after a productive day of fishing for stripers and catfish on Clarks Hill with his dad last week. With so much water and so many species to target, Clarks Hill can be a great place for young anglers to get the feet wet fishing for a variety of different niche species.

Tournament Update (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologist Aaron Gray): The Clark Hill Committee recently hosted two of the reservoir’s most highly anticipated annual tournaments. 20-year-old Emery Burnett walked away with the win, lifetime bragging rights, and $5,000 after besting the 146-boat field in the Mr. Clarks Hill tournament. Emery is the youngest champion in the event’s 52-year history after bringing 35.29 lbs to the Wildwood stage! On the junior tournament side, Tripp Brantley was crowned Mr. Clarks Hill Jr after bringing in a 15.76 lb bag. Evan Beard followed him up with a 15.67 lb catch of his own, securing his second-place finish for the second consecutive year. CHC President Robin Whisenant reported that the top-three finishers in the Mr. Clarks Hill Jr tournament received a total of $6,000 in scholarships, while participants also received approximately $3,000 in sponsor gift cards. Congratulations to CHC and all of the anglers for another great year!

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.5 FEET, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. There is still a decent morning bite but it just varies where it is. One day there is a good frog bite in the grass above Crooked Creek. The next day if they disappear go down the lake and run seawalls near deep water with a buzz bait or other top water and get three to five bites in the first hour or two of daylight. After 9 a.m. the bite gets tough and the few fish that are biting are small. After the water temperatures start to drop look for the fish to move toward the pockets. Start at the mouths and work back into the coves. Top water in the morning will still be the best bet for bigger fish. Also focus early in the morning near docks that have had a light on overnight to concentrate the bait and bass. After the sun is stronger fish brush docks and laydowns. Pay attention to the depth and watch the depth finder all day. Look for the depth the bait is holding. Once that depth is established work the baits at that depth. If it is 6 feet look for docks at that depth or fish the points with a crankbait that dives 8 to 10 feet to cover that depth. Pull off far enough so and drag the Carolina rig through the water column that is 4 to 10 feet deep.

LAKE JACKSON IS FULL, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. Fish are holding on main lake structure some quality fish have turned up way back in the pockets holding on wood cover as shallow as 4 feet. As the weather gets cooler and there is an overcast day keep an open mind and probe around docks blow downs and brush piles back in the coves. Near wood or rock structure for instance. Fish should strike on or after a pause. Some morning’s fish prefer the slower baits. Focus on main lake rock riprap and sea wall features. Focus on deep main lake seawalls. Spinner baits Chatterbaits and shallow running crank baits can work on shallow AM fish when they shy away from top water presentations. If the shallow fishing is not producing head on out to the points or work into pockets probing for fish that may have moved up on docks and wood. When the sun gets up spots and some LM can be taken deeper on points bluffs blow downs and humps. As the morning begins to warm up late mornings bass will move from 8 to 12 feet on out to 14 or more. All depending of course on the conditions location and species. The drop shot rig is a good way to vertically fool suspended fish and fish relating to bottom structure. Rig the drop shot with 3 to 4 plastics. Many use plastic minnow shad imitations and small Senko’s. Use the sonar to locate specific pieces of structure or suspended fish and drop strait down to the target.

RIVER REPORT

Savannah River (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologist Aaron Gray): Region 3 staff recently completed fall electrofishing surveys on the Savannah River near Augusta., encountering some impressive fish! While Clarks Hill receives plenty of bass fishing pressure, anglers shouldn’t forget that the Savannah River itself is still home to some lunkers! Chunky largemouth can be found close to fallen trees and other debris along the banks. Focus especially on locations that serve as current breaks. Don’t be afraid to test out your casting and flipping skills – fish can often be found in and around the heaviest cover. Off the bank, remember to check out sandbars – especially ones with extra woody debris, rocks, or vegetation on them! Creature baits, topwater frogs, buzzbaits, and the old tried-and-true jig are good options now. The Savannah River is an excellent fishery for bream enthusiasts as well. Chunky bluegill and redear are numerous on the river, often sticking close to shoreline trees and vegetation lines. Toss in a cricket, red worm, nightcrawler – or catalpa worm, if you can find them, for some quick bites. Small jigs with chartreuse or orange colors also do the trick in the fall. Near the Augusta Shoals, the Savannah River is also home to the Bartram’s Bass – one of Georgia’s most unique bass species! Anglers pursuing the Georgia Bass Slam (Georgia Bass Slam | Department Of Natural Resources Division) can check the Bartram’s off their list without having to travel far from Augusta!

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

McDUFFIE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of Fisheries Technician Nick Brewer and PFA Manager Chalisa Fabillar) —

With the drop in temperatures, especially in the mornings and evenings, anglers are having more successful trips on our PFA.  Anglers are catching bass, catfish and sunfish frequently, and as the weather continues to cool, this trend should continue.  On September 30th, 1,800 catchable catfish averaging at 10 inches in length were added to Jones lake and 800 catchable catfish were stocked into Beaverlodge.

Bass: Early morning bass fishing has been lit the last few days. Anglers are reporting increasing activity, especially in Jones Lake. This morning, McDuffie angler Mike caught this 2-pounder from Willow Lake along with a 4-pounder from Jones Lake.

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Dropping temperatures should make hybrid and striped bass more active.  Anglers should fish with chicken livers in deeper water when targeting stripers.  Areas with lots of bird activity can indicate good areas to target.  While the bite is still slow, Clubhouse should begin picking up in the coming weeks.

Channel Catfish: The catfish bite has picked up quickly after last week’s dosing of Jones and Beaver Lodge. Nightcrawlers and chicken livers patiently fished on the bottom will bring in a limit in short time.

Bream: Bream on the PFA are being caught frequently with worms and crickets. Anglers report the most success when fishing near structure in all of our lakes.

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

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

Bass:   Anglers are continuing to report that Powerbait Swim Shad are producing the most catches, but shallow-running, jointed square-bill crankbait lures are landing fish as well. 

Bream: Red wigglers continue to produce Bream.  

Crappie: Cooler weather is promising extended catch times for crappie. Use live minnows and jigs. 

Catfish: Catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers. Remember the PFA lake record for catfish is still open and the minimum requirement to qualify is 12lbs or 32in long. You must have the catch weighed on a certified scale and properly documented.  Should you land a catfish that you believe to be at least 12 pounds (about 30 inches long), please notify DNR staff.

MARBEN PFA FISHING REPORT (courtesy of PFA Manager Amory Cook) —

• 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” – 40”
• Surface temperature: Low-to-mid 70’s.
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Bass will be moving shallower. Anglers should try either spinner baits or cranks baits. Shad style lures have a good chance of catching largemouth and hybrid bass.

Crappie: Crappie remain in deep water at this time. Try fishing over suspended brush or structures in deeper waiter using jigs tipped with minnows.

Bream: Bluegill and some shellcracker are being caught on or near the bottom. Red wigglers and wax worms are a good choice for bait.

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