May 23, 2025 – Georgia Wildlife Blog

Not this time Invasives! Staff at Singleton Marine Yacht Center deserve major thanks for keeping Lake Lanier safe from an invasive species. Upon delivery of a vessel from Michigan, staff at the marina spotted destructive zebra mussels and immediately called in a report to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) before the boat could enter the water. Way to GO! 

Zebra mussels are an Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) and pose a significant ecological and economic risk to our state, so we encourage ALL boaters to follow this lead and thoroughly inspect your boat, trailer, and gear for any unwanted ‘hitchhikers’ prior to use in any Georgia waters and always contact your local WRD office if you have questions. Remember to use the “Clean, Drain, Dry” method each time you leave a water body before launching it elsewhere.

NEWS TO KNOW

• Holiday Weekend: We’re proud to serve Georgians this Memorial Day weekend! No matter how you choose to celebrate, please enjoy the holiday safely and responsibly.  If you’re looking for a place to boat in Georgia, please use the interactive boating access map to find nearby boat ramps and water access points. For the latest closure updates on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites, please visit sam.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/.
• Shocking News: Spring electrofishing is underway at Georgia’s Public Fishing Areas. These surveys allow our biologists and technicians to safely collect samples, check the health and length of various fish species, and see how different fish populations are doing. Check out more on the WRD Facebook page.  
• Trout Slam: Are you getting a Georgia Trout Slam in 2025! Catch all three trout species found in Georgia — rainbow, brook, and brown — within the calendar year to earn your slam bragging rights! Find out more at GeorgiaWildlife.com/trout-slam. 

This week, we have fishing reports from Southeast, Southwest, North and Central Georgia. The waters we love to fish deserve our protection, let’s keep invasives out of our waters and let’s Go Fish Georgia!

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

It got hot in the afternoons this past week, but the water temperature most places in freshwater is upper 70’s to around 80. That’s in the range where the fish usually put on the feed bag. There were lots of good reports this week, and you have lots of options for the holiday weekend. Be safe on this busy weekend!

River gages on May 22nd were:

• Clyo on the Savannah River – 12.6 feet and falling
• Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 8.7 feet and falling
• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 10.0 feet and falling
• Waycross on the Satilla – 10.9 feet and falling
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 11.3 feet and cresting
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 3.5 feet and rising
• Macclenny on the St Marys – 2.8 feet and falling
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 5.0 feet and falling

New Moon is May 26th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

ALAPAHA RIVER

Hunner Taylor and a friend fished the river and caught well over 100 fish. They kept 56 of them – mostly redbreasts and bluegills. They caught them on Satilla Spins and Betts Spins.

ST. MARYS RIVER

Chuck Dean fished the middle river on Saturday. He didn’t catch many but he made up for it with quality. He had a 1-lb., 0-oz. bluegill that smacked a Whopper Plopper he was flinging for bass. The fat, purple-cheeked beast measured almost 11 inches. Curtis Hazel took his new jonboat out to the middle river this week. He caught a few redbreasts, crappie, and bluegills on Satilla Spins (darker colors were best). The second Bream Reapers Bream Tournament of the year will be held this Saturday out of Temple Landing. Check them out on Facebook for more information.

SATILLA RIVER

Dale Anderson and Daniel Gullion fished a bush hook tournament last Saturday on the lower river and won with just over 275 pounds of flatheads (10 fish limit). They also won big fish with a 37-pounder. That was the duo’s best 10-fish limit ever. They also caught a tagged catfish during the night. The river is currently high. You may catch some catfish on some backwaters, but it’s better to find other water this weekend.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

The warmouth, pickerel, and bowfin bites are still strong on the east side. I had Jamie Pearson on the boat Saturday. He was the high bidder for the trip I donated for the Satilla Riverkeeper fundraiser this spring. He enjoyed fishing the east side. He had been there several times on tours, but had not fished it. He pitched popsicle Warmouth Whacker Jigs and white-pink Super Sallies and caught warmouth, pickerel, and bowfin. He even had a big gar that pulled off right at the side of the boat. After a couple hours of pitching jigs, we trolled and cast Dura-Spins for pickerel and bowfin and caught them on lemon-lime and fire tiger – chartreuse blade best. He had a total of 32 fish during the morning trip. On Monday, Greg and Rose from Houston, Texas fished with me in the middle of the day. They caught several warmouth by pitching popsicle Warmouth Whacker Jigs and white-pink Super Sallies first thing. Rose caught her first bowfin and warmouth ever. We trolled and cast Dura-Spins for bowfin and pickerel and caught a bunch of smaller bowfin trolling, but Rose slammed a 7-lb., 1-oz. monster while casting and retrieving a fire tiger-chartreuse blade model. We caught a couple on crawfish-brass blade, but the fire tiger color was by far the best that day! They caught a total of 29 fish during their half-day trip. Buck Johnson fished the east side on Tuesday and caught a bunch of smaller warmouth and 8 keepers in the first few hours by pitching a pink-chartreuse tail curly-tailed grub rigged on a Zombie Eye Jighead. He fished another area and started catching bigger fish. By 11am he counted and had 24 keepers. He dropped a jig under a limb and a pickerel cut him off, so he grabbed his other pole and pitched under another limb with the same results. He decided to cut his losses and get in before the extreme heat, so he ended the day with 24 warmouth. Curtis Hazel fished the east side on Tuesday and caught 2 bowfin and a 15-inch chain pickerel on Satilla Spins. On Wednesday an angler caught a big pickerel in the canal on a Rat-L-trap. Matthew Gobbi caught his first bowfin ever on Wednesday while fishing out of the east side. The most recent water level on the Folkston side was 120.64 feet.

LOCAL PONDS

Joshua Barber fished a local pond on Wednesday and caught a half-dozen bass up to 4 pounds. He fooled them with speed worms and swimbaits. He got the bite from a monster that he was trying for, but it wrapped him around lily pads and pulled off. He duped it into biting with a topwater frog. Buck Johnson fished a Waycross area pond for a little over an hour Wednesday afternoon and started by pitching a fly with a bream buster. The bream would swat at it but would not take it. He switched to the same pink/chartreuse curly-tail and Zombie Eye Jighead he used in the swamp earlier in the week and they started eating it. He ended up catching a couple bream and 4 bass up to 18 inches on the small rig.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Seth Carter and friends fished the St Marys Jetties on Sunday and caught some doormat flounder. Capt. Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) said that they looked for redfish on Monday and found 2 schools. They caught 3 fish out of one school and blew out the second school after breaking off a fish. They scraped up a half-dozen trout with live shrimp under Super Striker Floats before ending the day. On Tuesday he moved to another area, but it didn’t pan out as calculated. They only had a half-dozen trout and a couple flounder. Wednesday was a good bite with 15 good trout, 10 flounder, and a couple reds coming over the side of the boat. Thursday was tougher with the water warming up and tides getting bigger around the New Moon. They had 10 trout and a few sheepshead. After your next trip to the Georgia coast, drop off your fish carcasses in the freezer at the GA Wildlife Resources Division Waycross Fisheries Office at 108 Darling Avenue. The Coastal Resources Division collects most inshore saltwater species so that they can determine age and growth for each species. All the supplies and information cards are in the freezer. Filet your fish then drop off the carcasses in the freezer. Wat-a-melon Bait and Tackle in Brunswick is open Friday through Tuesday each week (closed Wednesday and Thursday). They have plenty of lively shrimp and also have live worms and crickets for freshwater. For the latest information and their hours, contact them at 912-223-1379.

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

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

LAKE SEMINOLE

Ken Sturdivant with Southern Fishing Reports says that bass fishing is fair. The shad spawn on the lake is making the fishing a little better. When looking for active bait schools look for topped out vegetation or fish breaking the surface. Use a Chatterbait in a 3/8 ounce size, a 3/8 ounce swim jig in shad, or a 3/8 ounce white buzz bait. For each of these baits, try a 4.25-inch white Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper as a trailer. After the shad spawn the Rat L Trap will work and then burn it across the grass beds in the clear backwater areas. Shallow bass like any bream-colored bait and a Luck Craft swim bait is a great choice. Cast the Profound Outdoors crank bait in The Matt Reed signature series that runs 2 to 5 feet deep in bream and baby bass. Also try the Big Bite Baits warmouth bait will work. A white Spro popping frog around shallow grass and pads will only get better as the weather continues to warm. Look for the fish to start moving out on ledges and grass edges.

WALTER F GEORGE

According to Ken Sturdivant with Southern Fishing Reports, Bass are up early morning. The grass bite is strong. Be sure bait fish and deep-water access are close by for the better fish. Use top water baits and Zoom lizards around the grass in several of the creeks on the upper end of the lake. After lunch, use Carolina rigs and slow rolling spinnerbaits around the secondary points. The fish are moving out to brush piles in 8 to 12 feet where crank baits and Texas rigs were working well. The grass beds mid lake in the creeks have lots of bass and bright Skene’s and trick worms will work. A few fish are still bedding in some of the creeks, but mostly buck bass are left guarding the nest. Finding the grass with shad and deep water around will really improve the odds for bigger fish. 

FLINT AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERS

Shoal bass are one of Georgia’s unique species and the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers in Southwest Georgia are a hot spot for this cool fish. They inhabit the swift currents and pocket water near rocky shoals of the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers. They are strong and acrobatic fish when hooked and are so much fun to catch on a fly rod or a regular set up. They are active spring through fall, but the spring is a great time to catch them as they congregate below dams and on shoals for spawning. Shoal bass feed on a variety of prey including crayfish, insects, and other fish, and are reported to feed actively during sunny, midday periods. Popular lures include popping and swimming plugs, plastic baits such as minnows and worms, and flies. Shad like lures are also a good choice. Try out spinner baits, crankbaits and top-water lures for a good time as well. You basically can’t go wrong if you have a line in the water!  Shoal bass are endemic (native only) to the Flint, Chattahoochee, and Apalachicola rivers systems, so be sure to check this unique species of your Georgia bucket list! 

BIG LAZER PUBLIC FISHING AREA

Water level is up and will be stained due to recent storms. The bass fishing is decent right now. Bass can be found in the upper 3 to 4 feet of the water column.  Due to the incoming hot temperatures, bass fishing will be at its best early in the morning and late in the day just before sundown. Top-water and shallow presentation of bait is your best bet this time of year.  

SILVER LAKE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

Silver Lake: The water temperature has continued to climb into the low to mid 80s, and largemouth are in their typical summer pattern.  Anglers will find bass schooling around threadfin shad – particularly on the north end of the lake. These fish can be tricky to catch due to the abundance of bait, but if you are observant, you can take advantage of surface feeding activity to get some quick action. The bass have been most active early in the morning, and again later in the evening (6:30p.m.). Anglers have reported success using walking topwater baits, small swimbaits, and Alabama rigs. Additionally, a topwater frog thrown in the open pockets around shoreline vegetation has been effective.

House Pond: Large bluegills and shellcrackers have been caught around the feeders in the mornings and evenings. Crickets and worms fished 2 feet under a bobber have been the most productive live-bait presentations. Hybrids have also been biting well, with most being taken on Satilla Spins, jerkbaits, and small swimbaits around the deeper stumps.

Frog Pond: Frog Pond was stocked with channel catfish earlier this week, so the new fish should be actively feeding by the weekend. Numerous fish in the 6- to 10-pound range are expected to be feeding and readily catchable from shore. The best way to catch these new Frog Pond residents will be chicken liver or stink bait on the bottom or suspended under a bobber. Anglers also reported catching grass carp with a simple worm and bobber setup near the feeder.

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

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE ALLATOONA

Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing) — Bass fishing is good. Fish are roaming around looking for food. They are on the docks, wood and points in the creeks. Fish the wood cover and fish very tight with spinner baits with bright blades and floating lizards. Crank baits have been fair on the banks and Rebel Deep Wee R’s and #7 Shad Raps can find the fish and keep moving. Up the lake even in the off colored use the fire tiger and crawfish 7A Bomber and strikes will be very tight on any cover. Main lake points right next to the river points with a lot of rocks are the better areas. Expect the boat docks to start paying off soon. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 80 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. Expect the boat docks to start paying off soon. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 80 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. Try the Ned rig with the Power Baits Meaty Chunk Green pumpkin 3 inch. This works best on a spinning outfit.

CARTERS LAKE

Check out this photo of a nice Carters Lake Striped Bass

LAKE HARTWELL

Hartwell Bass: (Report Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant at Southern Fishing) — Bass fishing is good. Rapala Shad Raps and Rapala DT6 crank baits are excellent baits to use during the times that water is being pulled. Also use the Berkley Square Bill 7.5 and 8.5 Special Craw 2 Brown Craw. Fish the back side of main lake points and the corners of the rip rap with these baits during these times. The small cuts and bowls and small secondary points have been paying off better than the docks. Expect the boat docks to start paying off soon. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 80 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. Use the Strike King KVD Splash Bone Sexy Shad and Chrome Blue and the Bomber Model A shallow and Deep Model A. Top water bites on the Smithwick Devils Horse Rattlin Rouge gold rogue Clown are good choices as the bass do not usually see these lures.

LAKE LANIER 

Bass (courtesy of Phil Johnson (pjohnson15@hotmail.com or 770-366-8845; report via Southern Fishing) — Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is fair. The lake is currently one and a half feet above full pool and overall, the lake is clear. The water temperature has been running in the low to mid-seventies throughout the lake. Fishing has been tougher than it should be over the last week as the bass just can’t seem to get out their post spawn funk. Finding bass has not been the problem but getting them to bite has. There has been some schooling activity but you need to be able to reach them while they are up. Once they go down they are moving fast to another area. The Herring colored or chrome Slickstick or a bone or chrome Skimmer have been the best producers for the week when worked over structure in the twenty-five-to-thirty-five-foot range. This structure can be on humps, long points and reef poles throughout the creeks and main lake. The drop shot has produced some fish around the same structure with a Sweet Rosy or Morning Dawn drop shot worm. There are bass to be caught around the docks with a green pumpkin worm, but they tend to be the smaller ones. Many of the bass caught are still showing the signs of spawning so it seems they are just a little slower to get going with top water. Make sure to plan ahead for which ramp you might be able to use and if you get a chance contact your representative or senator to let them know what is happening. Go Catch ‘Em!

Crappie (courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton (770-530-6493), Crappie on Lanier; report via Southern Fishing) — Lake Lanier crappie fishing is good the water temperatures are in the mid-70s. The fish are in large groups under docks on open water Crappie have been at depths of 8 to 18 feet above a 15-to-40-foot bottom. The jig color combo that worked the best for me this week was the white and chartreuse single tail 1.5-inch jig minnows are 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 an Atx lure company jig. Further optimizing your efforts, a Garmin LiveScope, protected by a sonar shield cover, and a Power Pole are highly recommended. To schedule your guided Lake Lanier crappie fishing trip, please contact Captain Josh Thornton at 770-530-6493. Additional information and helpful fishing tips can be found on our websites. 

Striped Bass (courtesy of Buck Cannon, Buck Tales Guide Service (404-510-1778); report via Southern Fishing) — Stripers on Lanier are confused about what to do next because of the crazy weather.  Water temp in lower 70s again and the rain showers have caused it to stay lower than normal. Once you get on the water the bite is still very strong for stripers, bass and catfish. Planer boards, flat lines and down lines are the methods using blue backs and gizzard shad. It seems that 30 feet behind the boards seems to be the ticket and space your boards 40 to 60 feet from the boat. Flat lines 80 feet on one side and 100 feet on another. Trolling between .5 and 1 mph. Make sure you change your bait often and the more lively the better.  

Striped Bass Fishing Report from Jack Becker (aka Georgia Waterdog. Aquadog45@gmail.com) — I offered to take a friend & his young boy out to try to get their first Stripers on Lake Lanier. At 6 years old he was the youngest person I have ever had with me. We met at the boat ramp at 6:30 in the morning and he was already wearing his life jacket and said he was ready to go. We only had a 5-minute boat ride before we stopped in an area where a creek channel comes up along a clay and rocky bank. I marked some bait and a few fish in 20 to 25 feet along the shore. I asked Brooks, my young fisherman, to stay in the front of the boat with his dad while I got lines ready to put out the back. I planned on using 2 down lines, 2 planner boards on both sides of the boat and two free lines, but it was one of those rare mornings when I never got more than two or three lines in the water before we had a fish on one of them.  We were using Blueback Herring on circle hooks and the fish were really aggressive, hooking themselves. Brooks did a great job reeling in spotted bass and two small Schoolie size stripers by himself, with a little coaching from his dad and at times his dad would hold onto the butt of the rod while he reeled in the fish. Then it happened.  A reel started screaming as a planner board took off, skimming across the top of the water and suddenly stopped.  When I got the rod out of the rod holder I felt it was hung up and then it suddenly unwrapped and headed for deeper water. It was just meant to be… It was incredible. I gave the Rod to his father to reel the fish in. As he got it closer to the boat I looked around and my landing net was gone. It was one of those mornings of nonstop action and I still don’t know what happened to the net.  I used a Boga Grip and was able to lip the fish and get it in in the boat. The look on Brooks face when his dad helped him hold it up to get a picture was priceless.  He will be talking about this fishing trip for a long time. He was so well behaved it was a pleasure to have him on the boat.  I’m looking forward to doing it again.  Jack Becker, Gainesville aka Georgia Waterdog.

LAKE NOTTELY

Check out this nice striped bass catch from Lake Nottely!

LAKE WEISS

Bass: (Report Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant at Southern Fishing  — Bass fishing is fair and the fish are on the beds. The Spotted Bass are doing well. The boat docks are paying off now. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 60 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. The Stanley 3/8th ounce spinner bait will catch these fish and they are averaging one and a half pounds. Main lake points right next to the river points with a lot of rocks are the better areas. These are good fish and cast these spinner baits on the points and bring them back to the boat keeping the lure just below the surface. Early and late try the Bass Pro Series sand worms 6 inch on a Weedless Wonder lead head and use a spinning outfit with Sufix Advantage clear 10-pound test line.

LAKE YONAH

Check out this nice largemouth bass catch from Lake Yonah.

WEST POINT LAKE

Bass: (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing) — Bass fishing is fair. For a fast bite use the Berkley Square Bill 7.5 and 8.5 Special Craw 2 Brown Craw. Up lake the fish are hold in blow downs and brush piles. Good baits to use are ¼ ounce black and blue jig or a Senko is the watermelon color. For a fast bite use the Bomber Model A shallow and Deep Model A. Make sure to fish the deep end of the trees b/c the bigger fish have been holding there. Also look for 8-to-10-foot drop offs and throw a Carolina Rigged Zoom Baby Brush Go in green pumpkin hog. Watch the Lowrance for the drop offs in the creeks. Look for the bait and start there. Down lake fish have been biting on long points and shoals markers. Expect the boat docks to start paying off soon. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 80 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. The top water bite still is very good so keep a Lucky Craft Sammy tied on at all times. There has also been a good bite on suspending jerk baits worked over a shallow flat. Yamamoto 4-inch Swim Senko Green Pumpkin and 6-inch Pro Senko and Yamasaki.

RIVER REPORT

Trout (courtesy of Jeff Durniak, Angler Management; report via Unicoi Outfitters) — We are finally drying out and heating up after last week’s cool weather and repeated storm fronts that dropped a total of four inches of rain on the region.  Headwater trout streams have cleared and dropped significantly, while bigger streams are still pushing a lot of water. All trout streams should be fishable by the weekend. Just be careful wading in the high water. Stocked streams should fish well, while Delayed Harvest streams are now open to harvest and their trout populations are dwindling. Headwater streams really raged after last week’s rains but have slowly dropped back into their banks and down to fishable levels. Bluelines are in great shape for your weekend trips.  Just find the slower pockets and edges that are flood refuges. And if the topwater bite is a bit off due to high water, add that dropper! The key is covering ground, reading water, and hi-sticking bugs thru softer flows behind obstructions, on inside bends, and against the bank. Georgia’s DH season ended on the 15th, so harvesters are now working the DH streams hard. You can still find some leftovers in them during the next week or two. Avoid midday fishing, especially if the forecasted hot week ahead boosts water temps into the high 60’s. Most trout will sulk on the bottom until the sun sets and bugs dance. Try going at 7PM and look for bugs and rising fish just before dark. Yellow sallies should still be strong, and some leftover cahills and tiny tan caddis may add to the evening surface action. Prospect the shady banks before dark with an Adams lead fly and griffiths gnat or black ant dropper. Add a few early, bonus risers to your head count before the evening hatch commences. The GA stocking program is still going strong. Hit a heavily stocked stream with your kids and a bucket of red wigglers. Or introduce a new flyfisher to the sport by teaching them how to drift a squirmy worm or strip a small black woolly bugger. Soon they’ll graduate to wild fish on dries.

Chattahoochee River Tailwater Pointers (courtesy of Chris Scalley, River Through Atlanta) — Did you know it takes 2.5 years for a drop of water to cycle through Lake Sidney Lanier? “Winter-Stored-Water” in the thermocline is key for cool summer trout fishing on the Chattahoochee Tailwater below Buford Dam all summer long. If you’re fly fishing, try some dry flies with some terrestrial patterns that float in the film and drop some small bead head nymphs behind for some subsurface action.

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

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

Region 3 will be hosting and supporting Community Fishing Events (CFEs) at multiple fisheries on May 31 and June 7. Check out our calendar of events to find a CFE near you, and plan to bring a crowd as these events align with free fishing days in Georgia! Beaverdam Creek, Marben PFA, McDuffie PFA, Flat Creek PFA, and other Central Georgia locations will be expecting high attendance at these events. Be safe while out on the water this Memorial Day weekend, and please—wear your lifejackets! 

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. Crank baits like the Rapala DT 16 and Rapala DT 10 in bream and baby bass and the Spro McStick jerk baits are the two baits of choice. Head up the Savannah River near the Richard B. Russell Park or up into Beaver Dam Creek and work any banks cover and the secondary points and the coves close by. These aren’t the only two places as Rocky River is also paying off. The Rapala X Raps will work on the smaller flats and on the edges of the sharp points. Both the largemouth and spots are attacking this bait. Also use a Rapala DT6 and Rapala DT10 under the bridges and along the rip rap points. Top water baits are catching some fish and never go to the lake without a Zara Spook Jr in bone. This action will improve during the next week or so. Always have a pearl Zoom super Fluke ready.

Bass 2 (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that into May bass should be up shallow feeding on spawning blueback herring off shallow points, although at the end of April the herring spawn seemed to be slowing a bit. The fish will take topwater lures and flukes, but live herring are often impossible to beat. Once the herring spawn wraps up fish will move deeper again.

Striped Bass (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that in May some striper should be found off the sides of the same points where the herring are spawning, but by the end of May when herring move out to deeper water the striper will get around deep trees in 40-50 feet.

Crappie (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson reports that the crappie spawn essentially wrapped up in April, but in May the fish will stay fairly shallow around brush. They can be caught within a few feet of the surface on minnows or even trolling jigs.

Catfish (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal reports that by the end of April the channel catfish bite was really good, and in May it should get even better. Channel cats will be caught pretty much everywhere including points, pockets, coves and more on cut herring.

CLARKS HILL IS FULL, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. Fish are schooling first thing in the morning and again right before dark. Soft plastic jerk baits like the Fish Tec swim minnow and the Rapala X Raps are good baits on these schooling fish. Try a spool of braid and tie all knows with a double Palomar knot to prevent slipping. Now almost double the casting distance. Also hook ups will improve with the no stretch in the braid. Top water bites on the Smithwick Devils Horse Rattlin Rouge gold rogue Clown. The finesse worms or Carolina rigs and jigs are also working on the non-schooling fish. Expect the boat docks to start paying off soon. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 80 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. Find the schooling activity in the mouths of the major creeks. This is a lake wide pattern. Early and late try the Bass Pro Series sand worms 6 inch. Culprit Green shad Mock son Ambrosia worms 6 inch and fire and ice.

Striper and Hybrids (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that early in May there should continue to be a good bite off shallow points early, but once it gets hot then fish will be in mid-depths in the morning. As the water gets hotter fish will move deeper and eventually the pattern will switch over to more of a down-rod bite.

Crappie (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service reports that in May the spawn is behind us but the fish are back feeding again, and about all you need to catch them is minnows and the location of some mid-depth brush in the creeks. Once again it seems that the post-spawn bite has been better than the pre-spawn bite this year. By the end of May fish may go deeper if the water gets very hot. 

Crappie 2 (courtesy of McDuffie Hatchery Manager Chalisa Fabillar): Clarks Hill angler “Salty” Lane B hit the Hill with a buddy this week and caught a 2-man limit fishing hair jigs in the timber and brush. They caught enough to cull and hone in on the big post-spawn crappie that are feeding heavily in relatively shallow water before they head back to deep brush later this summer.

Catfish (courtesy of SC DNR Fishing Reports): Captain Chris Simpson reports that in May he likes to anchor on humps, points and saddles and put out live and cut herring. This is a good technique for catching a mixed bag of catfish and striper. You can also start to fish shrimp or dip baits for eating-sized channel catfish.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good. The lake is clear, up the rivers is stained. At first light the buzz bait bite is very strong. The middle of the coves is a good starting place. Small crank baits are drawing some strikes around docks. Now look for fish in the back of the coves and creeks. Sugar Creek is a great creek to fish now. Cast the 6th Sense poppers in pearl and shad. The shad spawn is wide open on rip rap around the bridges and on sea walls. Expect the boat docks to start paying off soon. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 80 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. This is a great opportunity to fish a spinner bait on the sea walls and rip rap at first light. Soft plastics fished under the docks in the back of the major creeks will also put fish in the live well.

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

Crappie (courtesy of Doug Nelms with Big Fish Heads Guide Service): Doug sent me a video of his livewell with about 30 lively slabs and a clicker boasting 43 released with hopes they’ll put on a few more inches before the next hookup. He caught them fishing jigs over brush in 15 – 20 feet of water.

LAKE JULIETTE IS FULL, 70’s

Linesides (courtesy of Jeff Mooney with All Seasons Guide Service): Jeff reports that the lineside bite is making the tough transition from spring to summer on Lake Juliette. This means the feeding activity typically increases on cool mornings and evenings, the mid-day bite can be tough to pattern as fish scatter and find cooler, deeper water, and locating features that overlap with thermocline depths becomes critical to finding schooling striper and hybrids. Downlining or freelining herring or large gizzard shad can bring in some of the bigger striped bass that will start to show up in May. The hybrid numbers are excellent and put up a heck of a fight, with 4 – 6 lb. hybrids being common in Juliette this year. Trolling umbrella rigs is a great method for covering a lot of water to locate schools of linesides if they are scattered.

LAKE SINCLAIR DOWN 1.3 FEET, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report):  Bass fishing is good. The best activity occurring between sunrise and 10 a.m. Top water fishing is at or near its peak. All white buzz baits, Zoom flukes, trick worms, Zara Spooks and the Rebel Pop R’s are all catching fish. Bass can be found on rocky secondary points, grass beds, shallow creek flats and even main lake points. Expect the boat docks to start paying off soon. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 80 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. Later in the day fish a Bill Lewis rattle trap in chrome and black or a Bomber 4A in a shad pattern around stumps and natural rock. A Net Baits Packa Craw or Zoom speed craw in green pumpkin fished with a 1/8 ounce weight Texas rigged pitched around docks in one to six feet of water will catch PPP numbers of fish. Try the Suspending Rogue 18. Cast the Berkley Cutter 110 Skinny Cutter 110 colors AYU Table Rock. Try the Profound Outdoors crank bait in the Brian Snowden signature series that runs 6 to 10 feet deep in shad and bream.

Crappie (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologist Brandon Baker): In May, target deeper submerged treetops and areas around docks with brush or try fishing with lights at night under bridges or lighted deep-water docks, deep brush in coves or around deep-water structure. Both natural and artificial baits are effective. Small minnows hooked through the back or lips using long-shanked small hooks are good live bait.

LAKE JACKSON IS DOWN 1 FOOT, 70’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing fair. The boat docks are paying off. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 80 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. Try a spool of braid and tie all knows with a double Palomar knot to prevent slipping. Now PPP can almost double the casting distance. Also hook ups will improve with the no stretch in the braid. First thing in the morning there are shad spawning and the top water bite is good. Use a Spro Dawg and a Zara Spook. Keep these bait small. Try the Bass Patrol 3/8-ounce jigs with Mustad Hooks. Look for fish activity and schooling around rock and hard bank. Some shad will even spawn on floating docks. Once the sun gets up look for brush or blowdowns.

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

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

Water temperatures in our public fishing lakes have maintained a range of high 60’s to low 70’s.  Anglers are reporting most catches either early in the morning or into the evening.  Many first-time anglers are reporting successful fishing trips at McDuffie PFA!

Bass: Many anglers are reporting success with plastics on a Texas or Carolina rig.  Watermelon red worms work well on sunny days, while a purple plastic worm is effective on cloudier days.  Fish in and along woody structure, docks, or vegetation lines for the best chance of success.

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

Channel Catfish: The catfish bite is consistent.  Some anglers are reporting catfish caught in the 4-9 pound range.  Fishing either chicken livers or stink baits on the bottom is the go-to for most catfish anglers.

Bream: Bream on the PFA have not been caught frequently in recent weeks, though anglers targeting bream should use live worms in and around structure in the lakes during peak hours of sunlight. Deeper drop-offs on points and jetties will also hold larger bluegill and shellcracker when they aren’t actively nesting.

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

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

Bass: The bass bite has been on this past week with lots of catches being reported! Soft plastics, specifically craws and trick worms, have produced some great catches! Target steeper banks and flats for your best chances.

Bream: The bream bite has slowed down, with only small to medium-sized fish being reported this past week. Despite the tougher conditions, the chance for bigger panfish is still there. Red wigglers, fished on the bottom, should definitely get you some bites! Target flats near the bank for bedding fish and then brush piles and over hanging trees for the actively feeding fish.

Crappie: The crappie bite has picked up with most of the crappie holding off shore while chasing schools of shad. During lighter hours, when they are not actively feeding, crappie seem to hold to offshore structures and ditches. While live minnows always seem to produce some good fish, jigs are outperforming minnows lately. Jigs that imitate small ‘young of the year’ shad are working the best – BG jigs in Monkey Milk and Baby Shad patterns should do well during the shad spawn. Try a slow cast and retrieve method, reeling through schools of shad and around structures. Low light hours are producing most of the bites.

Catfish: The catfish bite has seemingly slowed again, most likely due to their spawning season approaching. Catches are still possible with the right bait choices and cut bait or liver will always get bit. Late afternoon into the early parts of the night should be the best bite times for the coming weeks. Also, if you are lucky enough to land a catfish that you believe to be over 10 pounds (~30 inches long), please notify PFA staff–we are looking to establish the PFA’s channel 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.
• Pond Closures: Margery, Hillside, and Clubhouse ponds remain closed while under renovation.
• Water clarity: All the lakes have visibilities ranging from 24” to 48” depending on rainfall amounts and frequency.
• Surface temperature: Water temperatures are in the low 70s to low 80s and increasing with warmer weather.
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: The females have spawned and pulled off the bank in 5-7’ of water.  Jigs have proven successful for the females and creature baits attract the attention of the males as they are actively guarding fry. Top water baits are also useful right now.  Warmer temps will push the fish deeper in late May.

Crappie: Crappie have finished their spawn.  However, they are still gathered in small pockets in 3-6’ of water.  Jigs and jigs tipped with minnows work well.  Remember to present your bait above or the same depth as the crappie.  Adjust the depth you are fishing until you find the fish.  Brush piles in 3-5’ of water is a good start.  Crappie will move deeper as the water temps rise.

Bream: The bream are preparing to spawn.  Use crickets and red wigglers in 2-4’ of water off of points and the back of coves.

Hybrid Bass: A few hybrids are being caught at Bennett.  Bass minnows and larger jerk baits work well.

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