Happy November! Looks like those fall temperatures may now be with us to stay – so take advantage of that cool weather and get out to some waterways and catch some tasty dinner!
- Delayed Harvest Opens: Delayed Harvest Trout Streams are now Open and getting stocked up with some beautiful rainbow and brown trout.
- 5 Reasons Why: Do you need a reason to buy a hunting or fishing license? If so, check out these top 5 reasons.
- Trout and Anglers Benefit from Multi-Agency Agreement: This week, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have reached a multi-agency agreement to provide continued funding for three federal fish hatcheries that have stocked waters in Georgia and Tennessee with millions of trout. The partnership, which began in 2013, includes the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Read more HERE.
Ready for your reports? This week, we have reports from Southeast, Central and North Georgia. Enjoy and Go Fish Georgia!
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA
(Fishing report courtesy of Bert Deener, fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)
The bite was good behind the cold front this week. The crappie bite picked up, redbreasts were chowing, and saltwater was good when weather permitted. New Moon is November 7th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website HERE.
ALTAMAHA RIVER
J.J. at Altamaha Park said that bream were caught on crickets and worms. Redbreasts were biting around the sandbars on worms, crickets, beetlespins, and Satilla Spins. Big mullet were caught on green worms. The flathead bite was consistent on live bait, while channel catfish were caught on shrimp and rooster livers. Several big sturgeon were still jumping – one was in the 6-foot range. The river level was 3.7 feet and rising (66 degrees) at the Baxley gage, and 5.3 feet and falling (67 degrees) at the Doctortown gage on October 30th.
SATILLA RIVER
Michael of Winge’s Bait and Tackle in Waycross said that the crappie have started biting for anglers pitching minnows around blowdown trees. Crickets produced some nice warmouth, bream, and redbreasts. Shiners fished under a float accounted for bass this week. Rooster livers fished in the deep holes fooled some nice channel catfish. In the lower river below Atkinson, anglers caught bass on red plastic worms and redbreasts and bream on crickets. The river level on October 30th at the Waycross gage was 4.8 feet and falling (69 degrees), and the Atkinson gage was 3.7 feet and falling.
ST. MARYS RIVER
Reports were that trips produced 25 to 30 keeper fish (all species) this week. Matt Rouse confirmed that report. He threw white-red dot beetlespins and landed some of the biggest redbreasts he has ever caught. He was fishing in the upper river. Catfish reports were excellent again, with anglers catching them at will by dropping shrimp or worms to the bottom in deep holes and at the mouths of creeks. The river level at the MacClenny gage on October 30th was 2.6 feet and falling.
OGEECHEE RIVER
Danny Brown and Randy Rigdon had another great trip this weekend. The crappie bite picked up for them. They had a bucket full of redbreasts, bream, warmouth, crappie, and bass. Plastic worms and crawfish Satilla Spins have been their best lures.
OKEFENOKEE SWAMP
The east side is still higher than ideal for good fishing (120.41 feet), but it is coming down. With the cooler weather and the falling water, it’s just a matter of time before the flier bite fires off. The water has been up in the prairies for many months, and it will be awesome when the water pulls back into the canals. Matt Rouse of Okefenokee Adventures reported that very few people have been fishing at the Folkston entrance. On the west side, some catfish were caught, but it has been slow. Shrimp and worms were the best bait for catfish.
LOCAL PONDS
Chad Lee fished Tuesday evening and caught 2 nice bass by punching vegetation and landed 5 others 1 to 2-pounders by flinging senko worms. Michael Winge said that in Waycross area ponds, bream ate crickets and catfish were fooled with worms fished on the bottom. The crappie bite picked up significantly for those using minnows. Crappie bit both minnows and jigs in Lake Ware.
SALTWATER (GA COAST)
The big bull redfish were caught in good numbers in the surf and from piers this week. Cut baitfish was the top bait. In the Brunswick area, trout, flounder, and redfish were caught in inshore rivers and creeks. Sheepshead have started to bite from the piers and docks along the St. Simons Causeway. Mike and Trish Wooten of St. Simons Bait & Tackle said that whiting are thick under the pier. Dead shrimp was the best bait. Trout and flounder were caught on mudminnows. Bull redfish 36 inches and larger were caught on cut bait this week. Tom Zmarzly caught and released 2 giant bull reds this week. Bait was plentiful under the pier. You can monitor the marine forecast HERE.
BEST BET
The cooler weather has the crappie bite fired up. Thursday’s forecasted cold front should be out of the way by the weekend, and the fish should be chowing. Mornings will be cold, so concentrate your effort in the afternoons for the most active fish. I love trolling 2-inch Assassin Curly Shads on 1/32 or 1/16-oz. jigheads. I typically troll 4 rods and start at 0.9mph and adjust based on how the fish bite. Seatrout fishing is a great option if the winds allow you to get out into the Intracoastal Waterway. Fish creek mouths and shell mounds for trout and reds. You may even be pleasantly surprised by a flounder inhaling your offering. Bull redfish should be caught from the piers, the beach, and in the sounds, and cut bait will probably be the bait of choice.
CENTRAL GEORGIA
(Fishing report courtesy of Steve Schleiger, fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)
Reservoir Fishing Reports Courtesy of Southern Fishing with Ken Sturdivant.
LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN .42 FEET, CLEAR, 60S
Bass fishing is good. The shad are on the surface at the mouths of most creeks and the main lake and the bass are busting them off the top. Some schools are more finicky than others and the shad are small. Use the Pointer 78 in American Shad color and if that doesn’t get them excited throw a small white Rooster Tail on any surfacing fish. As a last resort throw a drop shot rig tipped with a 3.5 inch Yamamoto Cattail worm in blue pearl color with a 3-foot tag line into the area where you see the most action on the surface. The fish are suspending heavily under these schools of shad and they are not on the bottom so keep that in mind in figuring them out. Use the Lowrance Structure Scan technology and you can spot the bait balls up to 200 feet away. The bass will be close by. All these are smaller fish.
CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 3.6 FEET, CLEAR, 60S
Bass fishing is fair. Mid-lake has been best using crank baits and jigs. Fish in the backs of the major creeks and the bass are after small jerk baits like the small Rapala’s. Try the Lucky Craft Square Bill Live Threadfin Shad, Blue Gill, 5/8 ounce lure on the shallow points. Cast baits to the mud banks and simply twitch the bait. Texas rigged ribbon-tailed worms in gourd green or red and black shad colors can draw a strike. Be sure to add some extra scent to attract the fish. Cast the worms to the same area several times and work the baits all the back of the boat. There are a few fish roaming the shallows but these fish are moving all day and hard to pattern. Cast an all-black or watermelon green Zoom trick worm with a tiny 1/6 ounce weight and dead stick the bait. Jigs are worth casting to these same areas. Add a Zoom or pork trailer and pumpkinseed with green in the bait. Be sure to add some scent. Medium spoons are fair and any time you get into the bay of any creek, try the bait especially when there is any bait in the area. Watch for any warming waters and the bass can move to deeper docks. The upriver bass have been fair with bright Bombers in the 7A Fire Tiger patterns.
LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 70s
(Report by Captain Mark Smith, Reel Time Guide Service, 404-803-0741, reeltime@bellsouth.net) — The lake is full and clear over most of the lake, light stain up the rivers. The temperature is 65 to 71.
Bass: Bass fishing is slow but improving. A buzz bait at first light will still produce for the first hour of daylight. Soft plastics fished under docks and around wood structure in the mouth of the coves mid-lake will produce during daylight hrs. Crank baits fished around bridge rip rap will also produce when Georgia Power is pulling water in the afternoons. Texas rigged worms fished around wood in the rivers above I-20 have been producing on windblown banks.
Striper: Striper fishing is good. The stripers are starting to show up around the river bend area of the lake. The live bait bite has started. Down lines as well as flat lines will produce. Fish are also showing up in the mouths of the coves. Use your Lowrance to locate the schools of bait and the stripers will be close by. Now is the time to go bait hunting. Find large schools of bait and the fish will be close by. The sea gulls have not shown up as of today.
Crappie: Crappie fishing is fair to good. This is the best fishing on Oconee right now. Long lining (trolling) will produce some nice catches. You will need to run your jigs about 10 to 12 feet deep. Down lining crappie minnows into tree tops and on ledges on the main lake at 10 feet deep will also produce a lot of fish. Use your Lowrance to locate the fish in the tree tops and then drop your bait down to the fish.
WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 1.23 FEET, CLEAR, 60S
Bass fishing is good. With the water level dropping the fish have started moving deeper. Right now focus on channel drops and points with rock and brush piles. Good baits are a Lucky Craft Stance in the Aurora Black color and also a Carolina Rigged Trick worm. Try the Bandit Chrome Pearl White, Blue Shad, 300 deep diver crank baits to get to the deeper fish. Up-lake the water is a little stained. Down lake is clear and fish are around the sharp drop offs and shoals. Top-water fishing is still fair in the late morning and even around blow downs.
LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.26 FEET, STAINED, 70S
Bass fishing is good. This lake warms fast once the sun comes out and this is a good time to use a Lucky Craft spinner bait. Try a Weedless Wonder head and a Zoom trick worm in red glitter or June bug. Shad Raps will work as the bass are feeding on shad in the pockets. Use the Lowrance Structure Scan technology and you can spot the bait balls up to 200 feet away. The bass will be close by. Try a Spook or Sammy in the mornings on seawalls and grass beds near the mouths of the pockets. Also, run a 3/4 ounce Rat L Trap down the center of the pockets for fish that are schooling on the baitfish near the creek ditches. Flip docks in the Little River area with a Texas rigged Zoom Trick Worm in June bug or black/red for fish in the main/sunny part of the day.
LAKE JACKSON IS DOWN 4.92 FEET, CLEAR, 60’S
Bass fishing is fair. There is a fair bite at daylight but no top-water. Run main lake humps and points with small finesse green worms on a Texas rig and small Bitsy Bug jigs in browns and greens. Most of the bass will be spots so downsizing is critical. Fish these baits on rocks and sea walls near the dam. Faster moving baits will be slow until the sun pops out. Then go to the Rapala DT 6 in shad and greens. Fish in and over brush and rocky ledges, points and humps. Watch the Lowrance for any fish on the bottom so zoom in and if you see them get a small spoon or a drop shot and finesse worm on them.
MARBEN PFA (More Info HERE)
- Water temps: 67
- Fishing Guide for Marben PFA
Bass: November brings cooler temperatures and shorter days. Often-times these two factors will cause all fishing to slow. Despite being less active, anglers must be creative if they want to increase their chances of catching a bass. This is the time of year where bass will move freely between shallow and deep-water habitats making it difficult to pattern movement. Many anglers will switch to live bait to target bass. In addition, anglers will change techniques. Typically, aggressive fast fishing works in the warmer months but a slower approach is more popular as winter approaches. Look for bass to be in the 8 – 10ft. even in early morning and moving deeper as mid-day approaches. Patience is the best bait this time of year when targeting Marben PFA bass.
Crappie: Avid crappie anglers get excited this time of year. Crappie are probably the most aggressive fish anglers will find at Marben. However, do not expect to hook one with every cast. Finding them may require a little effort. Remember though, the crappie bite can turn on at any moment in these small lakes. Flooded timber is the preferred habitat and the most popular bait is live minnows and yellow jigs. Try fishing cover approximately 10-12 feet throughout the day. Expect crappie to move into shallower water on warmer days in November.
Bream: Bream fishing will slow down significantly at Marben. Cooler water temperatures and shorter days all play a factor with the decrease in activity. Anglers should expect bream fishing to be best with mid-day temperatures. This allows the shallow water to warm up a few degrees which the make the bream more active than in early morning.
Catfish: Look for catfish to pick up slightly but still be slower than other species targeted at Marben. Anglers should target catfish mid-day letting the water to warm up a touch. Stink baits, liver and worms are the most popular used at Marben.
NORTH GEORGIA
(Fishing report courtesy of Jeff Durniak, fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)
It’s November and you know what that means! Yes, it’s Decision Time. Commercials, commercials. Decisions, decisions…. Don’t fret, for we are here with a sample ballot and supplemental information to help you with your votes. What? No, we’re not talking amendments and offices. This is a fishing blog, by golly, so we’re talking about FISHING. The fishing is heating up with the cooler weather and you have lots of choices for your fall free time. We’re here to help you make your best decision. Here’s your sample ballot:
- Loading up on fresh Delayed Harvest stockers.
- Casting last chance dries at high elevation natives before stream temps dive.
- Hunting big fall browns in the stained Hooch tailwater.
- Loading up on Fling Bling and meeting new friends at Saturday’s NGTO Fall Fling.
- Pursuing reservoir bass as they ascend to the shallows.
- Filling a cooler full of crappie.
- Deep prospecting for GA Power lake walleye.
- Chasing the breaks as lake stripers and hybrids push shad to the surface.
- Watching football on TV and missing some fine fall fishing.
The best part of this ballot is that you can vote more than once, and the Federal Election Commission won’t come knocking at your door. Here’s the intel to help you with your lever pressing:
TROUT
Stocking Amicalola Delayed Harvest Stream Thanks to Help from TU!
Delayed Harvest Starting Gun: On your mark, get set, go! Fishing. Aim for the structure.
The fish are now in the water: They’re HERE and the prime trouting tips were in last week’s WRD fishing report. The rest is up to you. Remember the regulations, too.
Smith Creek: Smith Creek fans may notice that some repairs to last May’s flood damage are not completed yet. Specifically, the upper bridge is still out while the contractor awaits bridge supplies. Please avoid any unsafe areas or any safety zones marked off by Unicoi Lodge staff. The whole creek is stocked, thanks to our 4WD truck, the park’s utility vehicle with a big cooler, and an energetic troop of GA Foothills TU bucket toters, so spread out along the creek and have fun, safely.
Smith DH: Members from Foothills TU, Gold Rush TU, Savannah River TU, and Project Healing Waters Oakwood VA got together this morning to help stock Lower Smith Creek Delayed Harvest section. Approx. 2000 Trout were stocked including a few that are Trophy sized. Let the games begin!! Thanks to everyone who turned out to help this morning. -GA Foothills TU Prez Bruce Johnson
Toccoa DH: Here’s a report from our fine federal partners.
Hooch DH: (From Pat Markey, Buford Trout Hatchery Manager)– “Rainbow Trout ranging in size from 10 to 15 inches were distributed along the Delayed Harvest section of the Chattahoochee River this week. Travis Taylor shows off a sampling of nice fish before loading a stocking truck at Buford Hatchery Thursday morning, November 1st. Approximately 4,000 Rainbow Trout were stocked this day, which added to a previous stocking of 6,000 Brown Trout, making this a “can’t miss” weekend for trout fishing along this stretch of the Chattahoochee River (Cochran Shoals downstream to Pace’s Mill).”
Grounded Bird: Bad weather has grounded the mighty Chattooga bird until next week. When the sun shines again, the copter will load its firefighting bucket with finned goodies from SCDNR and GADNR and sprinkle them thru the DH section and the next ten upstream miles of the wild and scenic river. Thanks to all Tom fans who still contribute to this co-op cause. Tooga DH fans should hit high and low or migrate up to Burrells Ford this weekend. Strike indicator = tire tracks.
Trout Stocking Video: Enjoy dropping a line into your crystal-clear national forest waters this fall:
Great News on TVA’s Continuing Trout Partnership !!! TVA, Fish & Wildlife Service to Continue Popular Trout Stocking Program
Wild Trout Intel: Scroll down and read at least the last three of Ian’s posts. Make sure you click on the photo of the GSMNP newsletter!
Wild Troutbusters: Our guys sampling Georgia’s headwater speck streams. Thanks for the TU-brookie car tag money that helps purchase our expensive speck zappers (>$5K each)!
Hooch Tailwater: Grip-n-grin; Good Day; Trick or Treat; Season’s Greetings; NPS Hooch Maps
New Guys in Town: Good luck Andy!
CRAPPIE
Big Crappie: (From Anthony Rabern, Fisheries Biologist) – With the cool breezes of fall blowing, fish are feeding more aggressively. As proof, Jeff Payne of Lakemont, Georgia caught this 1.93 lb crappie on Lake Rabun among others in his long stringer of fish. Jeff plans to enjoy a good fish dinner tonight and then be back on the water soon. Fishing is getting good, so wet a line and find out for yourself.
Rocky PFA: (From Jim Hakala, Fisheries Biologist) — Fall sampling is underway at Rocky PFA. Parks Facility Maintenance Worker Reece Bryant with a 2 pound black crappie and a 3 pound walleye collected from Antioch East. Crappie size quality was very good, with a number of 1.5 to 2 pound fish being captured during the survey. All three lakes at the PFA are in the midst of fall turnover. This will likely make fishing tough for the next week or so.
Lanier Crappie: (This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, member of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club) — The water temperature is 67 degrees. Fishing has been great, and our club members that are taking advantage of this have been sending us excellent reports and pictures of their catches. At every meeting, we share information and tips, and our newer members are capitalizing on that and seeing results. It’s all about time on the water, and networking will help you improve your catches. Our current catches are mainly coming from stand alone brush piles, both deep and shallow, from the middle of the creeks all the way to the backs of the creeks. The creeks are moderately stained. If you prefer the challenge of shooting docks, that is always going to produce fish. A helpful tip: when you are looking at your electronics, pay attention to the concentration of bait in these pockets. The bait will lead you to the fish. On a calm day, use the lightest jig you can, as low as one thirty second ounce jig heads. When the wind starts to pick up, use a heavier jig head, up to one sixteenth ounce. If you know that there are fish on the brush piles and you feel that they are not cooperating, ease up directly above the brush pile with your electric motor on the lowest speed setting, and practice vertical jigging. Let your jig fall into the brush pile and start reeling very slowly. Yes, you will lose a few jigs, but it can be very rewarding. This time of year, use the jig color you have the most confidence in, as color does not seem to matter, rather the presentation of the jig. The leaves are changing, so take advantage of the beauty of our lake. Have fun, and stay safe on the water: wear your life jacket!
STRIPERS AND WALLEYE
Lanier Stripers on Top: Henry C sez the fall run has started-News HERE and HERE
Fall Walleye: The WRD-Burton fish sampling team collected this 8 lb walleye from the
mountain lakes. These lakes are stocked annually to help control the numbers blueback herring. During the fall months walleye will be feeding aggressively on herring, perch and small bream in about 30 feet of water.
LAKE REPORTS
Ken’s Reservoir Reports: Check out Ken’s Reports at The Southern Fishing Report
LAKE LANIER IS DOWN 1.65 FEET, THE CREEKS ARE STAINED AND THE MAIN LAKE IS CLEAR THE RIVERS AND UP LAKE COVES ARE STAINED. 60 S DEGREES.
NOTICE: The East Bank Ramp will be closed for the annual deer hunt November 11, 12 and 13, 2018.
(This report brought to you by: Jimbo Mathley Jimbo on Lanier) –The lake is clear on the lower end, and showing some signs of turnover at and above Brown’s Bridge. Overall, the lake is in good shape and starting to cool. We have dropped 3 degrees in surface temperature since last week. The fishing has really been good the past few weeks. We have continued working shallower rocky points with spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs, and worms for the majority of our fish. We have enjoyed some swimbait activity at times over brush, but the aforementioned baits have been our main pattern. When the fish are active, the spinnerbait and crankbaits are hard to beat. You can cover water quickly and find the aggressive fish. When the bite slows, switch to a worm and jig presentation in those same areas and back out from the shallows. The chasing fish have been in 10 feet or less, and the worm and jig fish have been more in the 12-20 ft. range. Focus on the shallower rock points in both the mouths of creeks as well as the main lake. Also the mouths of creek pockets in the first half of the major creeks have been productive as well. It is really fun out there right now gang! November and December are some of my favorite months on the lake – I hope you will make plans to come join me!
(This Lake Lanier Striper report is from Big Fish on Guide Service) —
Striper: Striper fishing is fair. The Striper bite has slowed this week. The fish are scattered and finding them can be a challenge. We have been focused on the south end of the lake this week where the bait is both deep and shallow. There are long strings of blueback herring deep at 60 feet and shallow bait like threadfin shad from the surface to 10 feet deep. This bait pattern provides for multiple patterns. A deep water summer time pattern with down rods has been the most productive pattern. Look for one or two fish in pockets off the river and creek channels and deploy your down rods at 45 to 60 feet depending on where you mark the fish. There is also a shallow water bite off main lake and creek points and humps. Use both down rods and free lines to target these fish and focus on a depth of 20 to 40 feet. The Umbrella rig is also an option to fish these points and humps. Set your rigs at 100 feet back and troll at 3 MPH. You will also pick up a spotted bass or two as they are mixed in with the Stripers. Keep your eyes on the water looking for surface activity? You should carry several spinning rods with the basic top water baits tied on, including Chug Bugs, Red Fins and Spooks and a 1/2 ounce buck tail jig with a small fluke. The top water bite should pick up this week. Focus on reef markers and long sloping points with your top water baits. Use the Lowrance Structure Scan technology and you can spot the bait balls up to 200 feet away. The fish will be close by. The water temperature is in the high to mid 60’s. The water is lightly stained in the creeks and clear on the main lake. The lake is 1.6 feet below full pool. To book your guide trip call us at 404 561 2564 or contact us on our website.
LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 6.39 FEET, 60S, CLEAR
Bass: (This Bass Fishing report is from Captain Todd Wynn) — Bass fishing is good. The cooler weather and wind had the bass fired up this week. The best congregation of fish was on the wind blown points. The wind congregated the bait which intern stacked up the bass. The windier the better. We found them from 15 to 25 feet of water hanging on points with brush or large rock. The majority of the fish where on a drop shot. We did catch some on crank baits, jerk baits and jigs as well.
Striper: (The following Lake Allatoona Fishing Guides Report is from Robert Eidson of First Bite Guide Service) –– Line sides fishing is very good. The fall bite is here and it looks like it’s going to be a good one. The north end of the lake is still producing some nice stripers along with good numbers of White bass. The bigger stripers are eating Gizzard shad fished on planer boards and free lines both right at sun up and again at sun down. Look for these fish from Little River up to Fields Landing and as far south as Kellogg Creek. The hybrids and white bass are really starting to school and are blowing up in the mouth of the creeks on the south end. Some good starting points are Clark Creek to Stamp Creek. There are also some good schooling activity in the main channel from the Dam to the S turns. Se the Lowrance Structure Scan technology and you can spot the bait balls up to 200 feet away. The fish will be close by. These busting fish will eat almost anything you throw at them. When these fish go down they will still bite thread fins and small gizzards fish on down lines as well as spoons. Bigger bait is the key to catch these bigger fish. Striper Soup has plenty of fresh shad of all sizes in stock. The sea gulls are starting to show up and will make finding the fish a little easier in the upcoming months. Trollers are pulling the umbrella rigs 60 to 120 feet behind the boat at speeds between 2.4 to 3.1 miles an hour.
LAKE HARTWELL IS DOWN 2.3 FEET, CLEAR, 60S
Bass fishing is good. Fish spinnerbaits on the windy points all over the mid lake area. Pick the points wind blowing directly on them, and keep a full cast distance off them, and chunk heavy spinnerbaits. Use the War Eagle spinnerbait in any shad or white color with painted blades. Use a trailer hook on these baits. Work the jig head worm on a Spotsticker Crawler on the long points as well as the rocky banks from 5 to 25 feet deep. This is a great alternative pattern when the wind dies. Just use a finesse rod with 8 Sunline fluorocarbon line and work the baits slowly down the bluffs. Let the bait rest dead on the bottom. This tactic works better later each day. Spoons have been fair and with a few days of warm weather can get deeper fish active. Use the Lowrance Structure Scan technology and you can spot the bait balls up to 200 feet away. The bass will be close by. Sit over the road beds in the backs of the lower lake creeks on the north side of the lake for this action at depths of 20 to 35 feet.
WEISS LAKE IS AT 2 FEET 11 INCHES BELOW FULL POOL AND CLEAR AND 60 62 DEGREE’S
(Report By Mark Collins Service mark@markcollins service.com) — Now available for sale 50 of my proven GPS waypoints for off shore structure for Bass and Crappie fishing on Weiss Lake, Alabama. For more info contact Ken Sturdivant.
Bass: Bass fishing is good and a lot of bass are starting to move shallow on a fall pattern. Use the Rat L Traps and shallow running crank baits are catching fish. Rip Rap rocks are also holding fish.
Striper: Striper fishing is poor and few small fish are being caught out on the river ledges.
Crappie: Crappie fishing is good. Most fish are on the creek and river channels ledges, tight on the cover. Spider rigging with live minnows is the way to catch these fall fish. Most fish are on the Coosa river channel ledges 12 to 16 feet deep some fish are showing up in Little River on the ledges.
MORE NEWS TO USE
Fish Photo Tips: Fall might produce some great catches for you. Read up and practice with your Iphone or camera now, so you’ll get great shots when that lunker fills your net on Saturday. Thanks to midcurrent.com for this story.
Reminder- Saturday Fling at Buford Hatchery (11/3): The 2018 NGTO Fall Fling gives you the chance to talk trout, contest yourselves in casting, have an instream fishing lesson, and meet your two new north Georgia fisheries biologists, Zach and Hunter. You can also talk to the Main Man of Buford Dam. Come hear US Army COE’s Lake Lanier manager Tim Rainey explain the operations on his reservoir and tailwater. And if you still need a reason to come, check out the Fling Bling.
Free Fishing Classes: Ken Sturdivant will be hosting FREE Fishing classes at 4 Forsyth County Library Branches. These seminars will cover Bass Fishing, Striper Fishing, Crappie Fishing, Fly Fishing and Sonar. These are the dates and times. Anglers DO NOT need to pre-register. Please come to the event 30 minutes prior to start time. All events are subjects to change without notice.
- Sunday, November 4, 2018 Post Road: FLY FISHING 2 to 4 pm Meet Rene Hess, FFI Certified Casting Instructor at this class.
- Sunday, November 11, 2018 Cumming Library: SONAR 2 to 4 pm Ken Sturdivant will teach the Basics of SONAR at this class.
- Wednesday, November 14, 2018 Cumming Library: CRAPPIE 7 pm Ken Sturdivant will teach the basis of Crappie fishing.
- Sunday, November 18, 2018 Sharon Forks: FLY FISHING 2 to 4 pm Rene Hess will teach this class on Basics of FLY FISHING.
- Sunday, December 9, 2018 Hampton Park: FLY FISHING 2 to 4 p.m. Rene Hess, FFI Certified Casting Instructor will teach this class.
Good luck this week on making informed decisions and “casting” your votes in productive directions, hopefully toward water. We report, you decide!
Sincerely, Tired Trout Tosser
tom shufelt
I live is southwest Ga, why is there no report on any lakes here? Lake Blackshear, lake Seminole, Reed Bingham, the Flint river?