Saltwater fishing has been very good this week. Ponds and lakes have also produced some good catches, but the river fishing has been slow and will probably remain so after this weekend’s cooldown.

River gages on November 4th were:

• Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 3.8 feet and falling
• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 7.8 feet and falling.
• Waycross on the Satilla – 11.6 feet and steady (62 degrees)
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 10.0 feet and falling
• Macclenny on the St Marys – 4.1 feet and falling

First quarter moon is November 11th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website HERE. For the latest marine forecast, click HERE.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

The water is still high, and the fish are spread out in the prairies. The swamp is absolutely gorgeous in the fall with all the wildflowers blooming. Plan your trip for the scenery, not necessarily the catching….. The latest water level (Folkston side) was 121.30 feet.

LOCAL PONDS

I heard of a few catfish being caught, but crappie were tops this week. A couple anglers fishing a Baxley area pond had trolling motor troubles, so they had to tie up to tree tops and vertically jig for their fish. They ended up doing well considering how they had to fish and landed 8 crappie up to 13 inches and 2 small largemouth bass. They fooled all their fish with 1/32-oz. Specktacular Jigs (Tennessee shad color) tipped with live minnows. Another angler fishing the same pond lost a 5-pound class bass on a spinnerbait and caught a few smaller bass on jerkbaits and walking topwaters (shad and bluegill hues). Tyler Finch hit a local Savannah area pond this week since the Savannah River was higher than he liked. He and a friend caught a couple limits of crappie using minnows.

PARADISE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Tifton, more info HERE)

The crappie bite has picked up this week, and the biggest fish have come from Lake Patrick. Most of the fish were caught with live minnows, but a few were fooled with jigs. The hybrid bass bite was decent again this week with Lake Bobben producing the most. Lake Russell is also worth trying for hybrids.

SALTWATER (GA COAST)

Bert Deener caught this gator trout this week while fishing the Brunswick area. It ate a clown-colored Bite-A-Bait Fighter jerkbait.

An angler fishing from the bank in the Savannah area found a good hole for trout. He had a half-dozen fish (all keepers) by bouncing Keitech swimbaits along bottom. Shad hues have worked well for him. The sheepshead bite has been good from Brunswick area piers this week. One group on Wednesday caught a handful of fish up to 7 pounds on fiddler crabs. On Thursday, a different crew caught a few fish in a short time by dabbling fiddler crabs around the pilings. On Thursday, a couple of Waycross anglers fished the Brunswick area and did well for trout and redfish, especially considering the big tides and high winds. They said that the water was surprisingly clear for the 8-plus feet tides. They ended up with 16 trout up to 19 inches. Most ate a Keitech saltwater swimbaits suspended under an Equalizer Float. But a few bit Keitech swimbaits on Flashy Swimbait Heads (gold blade). Their best colors were rootbeer-chartreuse back, chartreuse back pearl, and figichix. One even ate a dead shrimp on a Redfish Wrecker Jighead. They had 5 reds up to 28 1/2 inches and released them all (including 4 slot fish). They fooled a nice black drum with dead shrimp on a Redfish Wrecker Jighead, also. Water temperatures were 63 to 67 this week, but look for them to drop with the cold this weekend. The trout should be schooled up well this next week. For guide trip information, call Capt. Greg Hildreth at (912) 617-1980 or check out his website. Check with the Jekyll Island Fishing Center (912-635-3556) for the latest on the Jekyll Island Pier or St. Simons Bait & Tackle (912-634-1888) for the latest on the St. Simons Pier.

NORTH GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of John Damer, Fisheries Biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from WRD Staff and Local Experts) 

RESERVOIR REPORT 

Gillnet sampling on Blue Ridge Lake

Walleye and Spotted Bass from Blue Ridge Lake

Blue Ridge Lake Sampling Report: (From Fisheries Biologist John Damer) —Our DNR sampling crew was hard at work this week setting and pulling gillnets on Blue Ridge Lake, and we were very pleased with what we found.  We captured a new record high number of walleye, which indicates our walleye stocking efforts are working!  The Blue Ridge walleye fishery used to be self-sustained through natural reproduction, but the illegal introduction of blueback herring by anglers severely impacted the walleye population’s ability to spawn naturally, and walleye numbers were steadily declining.  We began stocking walleye in 2017 in order to combat the effects of the herring, and numbers have been on the rise ever since.  We captured good numbers of walleye in each of the ten nets we set this week but numbers were highest in Star Creek, mid-lake near the islands, and all the way up river near Persimmon Creek.  The vast majority of the fish were in the 2-4 pound range, but we also saw a few smaller fish which is good news for the future.  We also saw lots of spotted bass up to 3 pounds and record numbers of channel cats up to 6 pounds.  Generally, all the fish caught looked to be in great condition and appeared to have been eating well, probably on bluebacks.  We saw a few bait balls on the depthfinder during sampling that looked massive.  Herring-imitating baits or live bluebacks are surely the way to go if you are looking to target any of these larger predatory game species.

Blue Ridge Lake Walleye/Perch Report: (This report courtesy of Eric Crowley, Lake and Stream Guide Service via GON Fishing Reports) — November fishing on Blue Ridge Lake for me is all about two fish: yellow perch and walleye. With the lake temps dropping, both species will be much shallower than the last couple of months. Look for the majority of fish in 20 to 40 feet of water. The walleye will be on the points, and the perch will be in the pockets. This is the time of year we switch to a vertical presentation versus trolling. For the walleye, I like 2- to 3-inch spoons, crawler harnesses or a jig-and-minnow combo. For the perch, the same lures apply, just go smaller. The walleye bite can be better at night, depending on the moon, but the perch are strictly daytime feeders. Focus on the dawn and dusk hours for the bigger fish. Walleye up to 26 inches and yellow perch up to 15 inches have been coming in the boat. As far as locating them goes, a good sonar unit is a must. You’re looking for rock to mud transition, or grass edges with structure. Even creek channels will hold fish as long as there is bait around there. Some areas to focus on are the areas around Points 5 and 6, as well as around all the islands. If you’re catching smaller fish, try upsizing the baits a little in the same area or working them a little higher off the bottom. The lake is at winter pool, and there are no available public docks, but the ramps remain open.

Blue Ridge Lake Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Eric Welch, Welch’s Guide Service via GON Fishing Reports) — The bite is starting to get good. The lake is starting to get close to winter pool, and the water temp is dropping since we’ve been having cooler weather. There has been some topwater action once the sun gets up, and you will see some fish breaking throughout the day. I always try keeping a couple of different topwater baits on the deck of the boat. This time of year I like using a chrome Whopper Plopper and a Zara Spook Jr. The baitfish that the bass have been chasing looks like this year’s herring and 3 inches long. We’ve been catching fish on the main body of the lake on deep, rocky banks and on long points using a drop shot, Ned rig and a 3.5-inch tube. Around noon, I will start making my way up the river targeting the deep, rocky banks and laydowns with the same baits. The bite is only going to get better as the lake temp continues to drop. Good luck.

Carters Lake Multi-species Report: (This report courtesy of Eric Crowley, Lake and Stream Guide Service via GON Fishing Reports) — Fall fishing on Carters brings a few different bites into play. As I’m not a species-specific guy and typically chase the best bite, here’s what I look for this time of year. I really like the topwater bite on Carters for spots early in the month. Virtually anything topwater thrown at busting fish early will get attention. Look for the fish to get active right at dawn. I like to target the fish more offshore, as they tend to stay up versus going back into cover. Long casts on light braid are key. If they won’t hit a lure, try throwing a 1/2- or 3/4-oz. Crocodile spoon in chrome. Another key bite in the fall is the planer-board striper bite. The backs of the creeks and the upper reaches of the river will both be holding quality fish looking for a quality meal. Big baits will get the attention of these fish. Big gizzard shad or big alewives will both work, and as usual, the fresher, the better. Big baits, big hooks and light drag allows the fish to eat before coming tight on the circle hook. Fish the shorelines early and the open water as the sun rises. You want to be fishing in the early hours of the morning. The walleye have spread out and are holding suspended in the lower end of the lake. Look around points in the 30- to 50-foot range with the fish typically holding around 25 feet. We are fishing live threadfins, as well as crankbaits to catch the elusive walleye. Just before dawn and later in the day are always better for walleye, and that stays true this month. Anywhere from the marina to the dam can be holding fish, as the upper end of the lake experiences turnover. Look for bait balls from the surface to 30 feet deep around these areas, and you will find the walleye.

Lake Chatuge yielding young walleye – which is great news for future anglers!

Northeast Georgia Lakes Sampling Report: (From Fisheries Region Supervisor Anthony Rabern) — Our sampling crews from the Gainesville and Burton offices have been busy with our annual fall netting on the lakes of Northeast Georgia.  These include Nottely, Chatuge, Burton, Rabun, Seed, Tugalo, and Hartwell.  We are seeing lots of small walleyes in the nets on many of these lakes.  This is great news for the future of these walleye fisheries, as it indicates that our recent stocking efforts have been successful and these small survivors will soon grow and recruit to the fisheries.

Lake Chatuge Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Eric Welch, Welch’s Guide Service via GON Fishing Reports) — Fishing is getting better every day. TVA has been dropping the lake pretty fast for winter pool. Once the sun starts breaking through the clouds, you will start seeing fish breaking all over the lake. The only major problem with that is being in the right place at the right time. Some of the pockets have been having multiple schools of baitfish, so once they start busting the schools up, you have fish breaking all around you. Now if your luck is like mine, they are always just out of casting distance. You just have to have patience and try positioning yourself in the direction it looks like they are moving the herring. If you have the Garmin LiveScope, you can watch and follow the bait. I like throwing a Berkely Cane Walker, a Lucky Craft Gunfish, and I will also mix in a Sebile Magic Swimmer and a 3.25-inch Strike King Sexy Swimmer. I have also been marking a lot of fish deep in 12 to 35 feet. These fish are in areas where there is a ditch, drop-off or a long point. I target these fish with a Texas rig, shaky head, Ned rig and a drop shot. I’ve not been marking a lot of fish in the offshore structure due to them chasing a lot of bait right now. I’ve also been catching fish with a drop shot and a Ned rig around rocky banks, laydowns and docks. When the water temps drop on down and the baitfish are not as active, you will see the fish go back to the structure. The next couple weeks should be some awesome fishing. Good luck.

Lake Burton Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Wes Carlton, Georgia Lake Fishing via GON Fishing Reports) — The bass bite has been good the last few days. The fish are up shallow and hitting topwater really good mid-morning. Spooks, Sammys and Heddon Torpedoes have been working great. We have been targeting main-lake points and bank lines in the 6- to 10-foot depths. Sebille swimbaits have also produced a few larger fish. This bite should continue for the next few weeks and get even better. 

Lake Burton Trout Report: (This report courtesy of Wes Carlton, Georgia Lake Fishing via GON Fishing Reports) — The brown trout bite has been a little slow the last week or so. The fish we have caught have been surfacing near floating debris on the main lake channel. Casting small spoons like a Kastmaster has been effective. Work these spoons vigorously back to the boat. The annual brown trout spawn is upon us. Most of the bigger females will travel up the creeks and the river to spawn in a week or so. Look for this bite to pick up after the spawn and the topwater brown trout bite to pick up.

Lake Hartwell Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Matt Justice, via GON Fishing Reports) — Baitfish are congregating in their respected winter/fall haunts. Blueback herring are migrating into deep-water drains and ditches, and the bass are following. Look for these fish to take swimbaits, underspins and jerkbaits. Fish during the day can be caught on a football jig in 10 to 50 feet of water. The threadfin shad have already made their way into the backs of creeks in the search of oxygen. Once you find an area with baitfish, throw buzzbaits, frogs, crankbaits and jigs. Cover water and change lures often. Bass are active this time of year, so look for visual clues when fishing shallow.

Lake Hartwell Bass Report: (This report Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com ) — Lake Hartwell is 1 foot over full, 60s. Bass fishing is fair. The water is cooling. Fish in the Tugaloo river area both north and south of the 85 bridge. In the first part of the mornings working the back part of the creek arms and main lake pockets shallow with a buzz bait. This bite has been the strongest for the first couple of hours. This pattern isn’t catching a lot of numbers but the quality of the fish are good. Some of the very backs of the creek arms are stained and not that productive. Most of the river arm areas a still really clear and have a lot of bait in them. This has continued to be key as it always is during the fall so take the time to find the bait and fish these areas thoroughly. Use the buzz bait, a Pop R style or bait square bill crank bait jig and a shaky head. As the sun gets up and slow down that is where the jig and shaky head worm work the best. Anything in a green pumpkin color is good this time of year. In the Tugaloo river area as the shallow water bite continues to get stronger with the cooler weather.

Lake Hartwell Lineside Report: (This report courtesy of Preston Harden, Bucktail Guide Service via GON Fishing Reports) — November can be a tough month to fish. Understanding the fall turnover will help you find active fish. Fish migrate looking for better water quality. When the lake turns over, the surface water sinks and the deep water rises. It is easy to tell when the water is turning. It gets a dark color. It may get foamy and smell like rotting leaves. Fish don’t like turning water as the oxygen is depleted. They are looking for green water that has already turned or has not turned yet. The turnover starts up lake and in the creeks. These same shallow areas complete turnover first. This is where the fish migrate to. Turnover gets worse after a cold snap and subsides after a few stable weather days. Look for green water and try to not fish after a cold snap. By late November, the turnover is usually complete. The water turns a pretty green. The seagulls arrive and lead you to the fish. The game fish then go on a feed getting ready for winter.

Lake Lanier Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Phil Johnson, 770-366-8845 via www.southernfishing.com ) — Lake Lanier is full, clear, 60s. Bass fishing is good. To say that the fishing is up and down is an understatement. The fish will kill a bait on one day and ignore it the next. The full moon and turnover are two of the big effects on the bite currently. The good news is when they bite they are chewing. Days with clouds and wind have been the best producers and the afternoon bite has generally been the best time. One tournament on Saturday took twenty plus pounds to win and another on Sunday only took thirteen pounds. The most popular bait for the week has been the swimbait. The Sebile’s and custom swimbaits have been the most productive. The Sammy, Fluke and Spook have also been working. The fish are beginning to be scatter everywhere on the lake. There are still fish in the twenty five to thirty foot brush but many fish are moving to shallower brush and points. There is still a lot of schooling activity with the bass chasing four to five inch blueback’s. The Spot Choker underspin with a Fluke junior has worked well with these schooling fish. When the lake is calm the drop shot has been producing fish from the brush and ledges. The Blue lily, Prism Shad and Morning Dawn colors have been the colors of choice this week. Be sure to check the brush with top water before pulling over it to Dropshot. Secondary points, blow downs and docks are beginning to produce fish with a worm or jig. Look for the docks in the ten to fifteen foot range. Any shade of Green pumpkin worm has drawn strikes along with a root beer three eights jig. As the water cools more the top water action should only increase and the fish activity pick up? They’re biting so Go Catch ‘Em! 

Lake Lanier Lineside Report: (This report courtesy of Buck Tails Service, 404-510-1778 via www.southernfishing.com ) — Stripers are still moving north so you must hunt and fish this time of the year. Locate bait using your electronics and drop down lines with blue backs over 60 to 80 feet deep and fish 30 to 40 feet deep. The bait is living down at that level so you don’t have to put new bait as often. When you mark a couple of fish drop bait and be patient and drum up the fish. Areas up both rivers hold fish near the channels and near reef markers. Once you get a couple move to another area and come back later for round two. Always have a top water plug ready for a sudden explosion, it hasn’t lasted long but be ready.

Lake Lanier Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Jimbo Mathley, Jimbo’s Spotted Bass Guide Service via GON Fishing Reports) — Extensive bass report with great tips can be found in GON’s November Fishing Report.  Check it out HERE.

Lake Lanier Crappie Report: (This report courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton, 770-530-6493 via www.southernfishing.com ) — The water temperatures finally broke the 60’s Minnows are still working great. This week’s catch was mostly jigs tipped with minnows. The jigs we had success with this week were dark blue over silver or milk white with a chartreuse tail. We are setting the minnows 8 to 10 feet over shallow brush. Look for covered docks that have brush under or near by a good depth range would be 20 to 30 feet of water and near a main channel. Use your electronics locate structure or bush piles. Crappie love the shade so cast into the shadows. When dock shooting the biggest fish are usually the first to bite. Let your jig sink and give it time to get down to the fish and retrieve your jig slowly. I’m using ATX lure companies plastics we use 5 pound test high visibility yellow k9 braid for my line (unless I am using a bobber) and a Piscifun reel on a Acc crappie Stix. We use Garmin Live Scope and the Navionics Boating app. Find me on Facebook and like my pages @crappieonlanier & @fishingwitheverydayheroes

Lake Lanier Lineside Report: (This report courtesy of Ron Mullins, The Striper Experience via GON Fishing Reports) — November fishing will be good on both the north and south end of the lake since the fish have scattered lake wide with the ever increasing good water quality as the lake remixes with more consistent water temperatures and dissolved oxygen contents. Kitchen sink fishing continues this month. The south end (below Highway 369 bridge) will be dominated by topwater activity, mid lake (Highway 369 to the Highway 60 and Highway 136 bridges) will be downlines mostly, and the north end (river areas of the lake) will be flatlines and planer boards. On the south the first couple hours and last couple hours of the day will see more and more topwater activity as the lake cools into the 60s. Be ready to chase schools of fish that will be coming up from Orr Creek all the way to the dam. Keep a good pair of binoculars at the helm so that you can scan the lake looking for big groups of stripers blowing up on shad and herring. The Captain Mack’s Jr. Hawg spoon in nickel or nickel/silver scale when the sun is out, or pearl and pearl/silver scale when it is overcast, will be great lures to throw at these schools. It will cast a mile on an Okuma 7- or 7.5-foot Reflection medium/heavy action rod paired with an Okuma Helios SX 4000 loaded with 30-lb. braid. Use about 3 feet of 17-lb. Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon as a leader. These fish will start to concentrate on smaller shad as the month goes along, so switch over to a Captain Mack’s white/silver scale or white/blue scale Super Spoon in 3/8- or 1/2-oz. size when this occurs. Captain Mack’s Mini Mack will also be a great lure to throw at these schooling fish. Mid lake will continue to be a downline bite in 40 to 60 feet of water halfway back in all the major creeks with small trout and herring being the go-to bait. Shorten up your leaders to 3 to 4 feet of 10-lb. Tatsu and a No. 2 Gamakatsu circle hook. The river systems will produce a few bigger fish this month if you are willing to pull big baits (10- to 15-inch gizzards or trout) and spend some time doing it. This month try to work on these other three things. Be humble, love instead of judge and focus on the kingdom. If we all would do these three things, we would all be better. If you get the opportunity, read James 4.

Lake Allatoona Bass Report: (This report Courtesy of Matt Driver, via www.southernfishing.com and GON Fishing Reports) — Lake Allatoona is down 4.3 feet, 60s. Bass fishing is good. Shad are on the move and there are huge pods of them migrating into the creeks. Use the crankbaits jerk baits and the Alabama rig. Use a smaller Alabama rig with 1/8 ounce Picasso swim heads and 3 inch Keitech paddle tails parallel to bluff walls and wind-blown points. Cast the bait as far as possible and let it sink to a five count before slow rolling it back. The key is to let it load up before setting the hook. Expect to feel several hits before hooking up. And the hybrid and white bass are eating this bait. Use a variety of jerk baits. The Strike King KVD Jackall Squirrel and the Pointer 78 are some favorites. Fish them fast and cover lots of water. Fish the jerk bait shallow as well as over deep water when fish are suspending. Bas will hammer the jerk bait this time of year. Use the jerk bait on 7 or 10 pound Sunline fluorocarbon on a medium spinning rod. As far as the crankbait is concerned use a small square bill and a mid-depth bait like the Spro Little John. Use the Little John on 10 pound test fluorocarbon line and a medium action 7 foot rod. Fish shallow and cover lots of water. Hit every stump rock and blowdown. Allatoona Creek has been great and the mouth of Little River has been on fire.

Lake Allatoona Lineside Report: (This report courtesy of Robert Eidson, Firstbite Guide Service via GON Fishing Reports) – Fishing is great. The fish are really starting to bunch up in the river and creek channels. Mid-lake from Clear Creek to Victory Landing has been producing the best, and the best part of it is these fish are willing to eat. This week we have caught as many as 40 fish on a half-day trip. We have caught fish on all methods this week: downlines, freelines, topwater and trolling. Downlining live bait has probably been our best bite, with trolling umbrella rigs running a close second. This is the time of year that you need to be universal and not one dimensional on techniques. Any of these methods will catch you fish on any given day. If you are willing to try experimenting with all of these techniques throughout the day, you can load the boat. If this week is any indication on what we have in store for us this fall, then fall is going to be great fishing on Lake Allatoona.

West Point Lake Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Keith Hudson, Lake West Point Fishing via GON Fishing Reports) — Shallow water fishing remains good now and should improve even more during November, especially with higher than normal lake levels and falling water temps. Try the cuts and pockets, starting north of the trestle up to around Wolf Creek, especially those with little feeder creeks. Try fairly fast-moving baits like buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, KVD 1.5 crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps or the Flash Mob Jr. rig to cover water. Fish these baits in or around schools of shallow baitfish. Target any cover you run across with a fluke, Senko or jig ’n pig. By the end of the month, especially if the lake level drops and it cools off more, the big schools of spotted bass mixed with hybrids, white bass and stripers and can be caught on jigging spoons and drop-shot rigs on deeper offshore structures. Try humps, roadbeds and long tapered points that drop into deeper water. Find the deep baitfish, and the fish are normally close by. Most of the deep fish are near the mouths of the creeks or in the river itself. For spoon fishing, I love to see the fish in around the 18 to 25 feet range and near the bottom.

West Point Lake Lineside Report: (This report courtesy of Keith Hudson, Lake West Point Fishing via GON Fishing Reports) — The downline bite with shad or bass shiners has improved greatly as the water has cooled off. Most of the fish seem to be holding 20 to 40 feet deep when they are not schooling on the surface, but they are still moving around a good bit. As the water gets colder these deeper fish get easier to catch. They will lock in on a more specific depth range as they slow down with falling water temps. Look for the baitfish on your graph, and suspend your live bait at that depth. Expect the topwater fishing to continue throughout the month of November and to be best very early and very late or on overcast or rainy days. Gulls and loons usually show up in November, which makes it easier to pinpoint schooling stripers, so keep your eyes open for them. A popping cork rig has been working on schooling 1- to 3-lb. fish with an occasional bigger one mixed in. A 3/8- or 1/2-oz. white Rooster Tail, a chrome C.C. Spoon and a number of other small shad imitators have also been producing. The colder it gets, the better the fishing usually is. Trolling with the Flash Mob  Jr. has also been producing some linesides, as well. As the water cools, a bucktail jig becomes very effective, as well. In most years, by the end of November the vertical jigging spoon bite is awesome for a mixed bag of fish. The mouths of most creeks south of the 109 bridge, the edge of flats near the dam, and the mouth of Yellow Jacket Creek will be holding fish.

West Point Lake Bass Report: (This report Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com ) — West Point Lake is down 1 foot, 70s. Bass fishing is good. Up lake the water is stained and the water cooling. Down lake the water clears up down lake. Spinnerbaits are working and use the ½ ounce Master Blaster in a shad color and fishing from the mouths of creeks to the secondary points in the backs of the creeks. Fish have come of shallow grass flats up lake in Yellow Jacket Creek and Jackson Creek area but this pattern will work throughout the lake with areas similar to these. When fishing the spinnerbait look for shad. Make sure to keep a 1/8 ounce Shakey Head tied on with a June bug finesse worm. This bait is great for fishing around bridge columns blow downs and rocky points. Down Lake Zoom super flukes are working great for the schooling fish and the fish holding on the shoal markers. For the deeper fish on points and roadbeds a ¾ ounce Carolina Rig with a trick worm is working great. Good colors to try right now are June bug Marti Gras and any of the pumpkin colors.

Lake Weiss Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Mike Carter, via GON Fishing Reports) — Weiss has started falling to its winter level, and with this the fishing has finally started getting more aggressive. With the water falling, cover as many shallow points that consist of rocks and stumps with some deep water nearby. That will be the ticket for some consistent success. My Top-3 lures for this time of year in these areas are the Echo crankbait, MR6 crankbait and a 1/2-oz. Rat-L-Trap. These baits will allow you to fish shallow on these points out to the deeper drops of the points. There’s just nothing that can compare to the hard hitting and fighting of some massive Coosa River spotted bass, so get out and enjoy some great fall action on Lake Weiss.

Lake Weiss Report: (This report courtesy of Mark Collins Guide Service via GON Fishing Reports and www.southernfishing.com) — Weiss lake is down 2 feet 7 inches, clear, and 64-67 degrees. Bass fishing is fair and a lot of fish have started moving shallow as the water cools. They are showing up on secondary points, humps, road beds and sand bars. Rat L Traps. Use a flat sided crank baits and spinner baits are catching fish. Crappie fishing is fair and they are still on the deeper brush and a lot are showing up on the creek and river channel ledges, 12 to 20 feet deep. Spider rigging with live minnows and jigs over brush and stumps is the way to catch fish in the fall. A few Crappie are still being caught shooting docks with jigs. Striper fishing is poor and no reports of any catches. Catfish are biting in the bays and creeks in 8 to 15 feet of water and use cut bait is working best.

TROUT REPORT

Loading up trout for stocking Georgia streams

DH Stocking Report: (From Trout Stocking Coordinator John Lee Thomson) — Each of the Delayed Harvest (DH) streams have now been stocked with trout with the exception of the Morgan Falls Tailwater area.  These DH areas have special regulations that include “catch and release”, and should produce good catch rates for weeks to come as fish are “recycled” from one angler to the next.  Remember that only artificial lures with single hooks can be used in these DH areas. It’s a great time to enjoy the fall weather, dust off the flyrod, and wet a hook. Good luck and tight lines.

Enjoy a day of trout fishing on a delayed harvest stream

DH Fishing Report: (This report from Robbie Carron, passed along by Fisheries Biologist Hunter Roop) — Robbie took the slow climb from LaGrange this week and found a literal truckload of fish at the Smith Creek DH. An indicator over eggs and prince nymphs brought 60 fresh stockers to hand, and with a hookup ratio of 1:3, the numbers suggest Smith is absolutely loaded for this first week of DH. Several of the fish he caught were approaching the 15” mark as well! This weekend would be a great time to take advantage of excellent DH fishing throughout North Georgia.

Brad Bell had some Delayed Harvest trout stream success

DH Fishing Tips and Notes: (From Fisheries Biologist Sarah Baker) — November is my favorite month of the year in north Georgia. The leaves are absolutely brilliant in color, the mountain air is crisp and cool, and the once bustling trout streams are now calm and serene. There are plenty of hiking opportunities alongside tumbling creeks where anglers can sneak up on some wild fish. A lot of rivers that were stocked earlier in the year, still have some holdovers that can be caught. Plus, if you’re a new or intermediate angler, the delayed harvest streams that were stocked last week (Toccoa River, Amicalola Creek, Smith Creek, & Chattooga River) provide an excellent chance to practice your casting, and to improve your water reading skills. Brad Bell caught several beautiful Rainbow Trout on the Tallulah River using an egg pattern. Way to go Brad!

Trout Streams Report: (This report courtesy of “The Dredger”, at Unicoi Outfitters) — Find Unicoi Outfitters full weekly report along with other great nuggets on their Facebook page HERE .