With the heat of summer scorching everything in sight, finding cool waters for stocking trout becomes a challenge. Especially when you are trying to meet the targeted weekly trout stocking schedule (find a link to it HERE)! The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division trout team continues to keep tabs on north Georgia streams and stock all waters that meet appropriate conditions. And, even though the 2023 trout stocking season is winding down, never fear – the delayed harvest “season” is just around the corner (starts Nov. 1) and those streams will continue to receive regular stockings!

NEWS TO KNOW

  • State Endangered Robust Redhorse tagged on the Savannah River.

    Hop Nguyen’s Rainbow Trout from the Chestatee River.

    That’s not a Trout, this is a Trout! Angler Hop Nguyen landed this monster of a rainbow trout (8 lb+ and 24 3/4 inches) back in May while fishing on the Chestatee River. This catch earns him a 2023 Georgia Angler Award. 

  • Monitoring Waterway Conditions: Late summer is the time of year when dissolved oxygen reaches a critical threshold in Georgia’s reservoirs. This can cause fish kills for cool-water species like striped bass, blueback herring, and walleye. To monitor these conditions, reservoir crews across the state have been measuring water quality profiles this week and will continue weekly monitoring through September.
  • Robust Redhorse Recapture Study: Staff from the WRD Freshwater Biodiversity Program and the Southeast GA WRD Fisheries Management office assisted Georgia Southern University’s Robust Redhorse mark recapture study on the Savannah River. This study is part of a range-wide collaboration to address data gaps and implement conservation actions across the species range. Six new adult Robust Redhorse were tagged as part of the initial tagging effort. These efforts will provide data to support the Species Status Assessment that is currently underway for the federal protection status for the State Endangered species.
  • Boats to See-Fishing Experts to Hear: The Lake Lanier Boat Show is at Lake Lanier Islands on September 29 -October 1, 2023.  Click HERE to find the seminar schedule, ticket links and more info. Seminars and speakers are subject to change without notice.

This week, we have fishing reports from Central, Southeast and North Georgia. Whether you go fishing for trout or bass or catfish or bream, or whatever species, we are glad that you Go Fish Georgia!

CENTRAL GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Steve Schleiger, Region Supervisor and fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

RESERVOIR FISHING REPORTS BELOW COURTESY OF SOUTHERN FISHING WITH KEN STURDIVANT.

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, 80’S

Bass fishing is fair.  The largemouth and spots are beginning to feed.  Expect the best action on points and off the rip rap early in morning.  The shad have recently spawned and bunches of them can be found up shallow in the rocks and under over hanging trees.  Small bass and bream are chasing these shad with the bigger fish mainly feeding on the bream and crawfish.  Use the Rapala Shad Raps and DT6 early and switch to small jigs and worms on a Carolina rig.  Also try using a double Colorado blade spinner bait on the main lake rocky points.  Watch the Fish and Game Forecaster and fish the major feeding period during the day for better success.  There are plenty of stumps in 25 to 50 feet of water all over this lake.  Use the Lowrance Structure Scan technology and scan the creeks up lake for the stumps holding in the fish.  This is a typical summertime pattern.  A slow presentation along with patience is also needed.  Four-inch worms and small flukes seem to be the favorite baits to use.

CLARKS HILL LAKE IS DOWN 1.9 FEET, 80’S

Bass fishing is slow.  Early in the morning the surface temperature is high but cooler weather is coming.  Up in the Little River the watercolor is slightly stained, and bass are on the thicker grassy bottoms up shallow.  Most of the fishing is with the Carolina rig with a Zoom pumpkin seed lizard.  Watch the Fish and Game Forecaster and fish the major feeding period during the day for better success.  Continue using the Carolina rig and a have the Rapala DT10 or DT14 out in deeper water.  Use the light fresh 8-pound test Sufix clear Elite line to get these baits deeper.  Always have the Zoom Super Fluke in pearl ready and try fishing it fast first, then slow down and keep it just below the surface.  Dip the tail in some Spike It garlic chartreuse color.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 80’S

Bass fishing is fair.  Richland Creek and the main lake are clear, up the river is stained.  On the south end there is a good frog bite in the grass early in the mornings.  Soft plastics fished under docks and on wood structure in the rivers above I-20 will also produce.  There is still a buzz bait bite on the main lake on deep banks with sea walls and deep water nearby.  This is an early morning or late evening bite.  Work the small flats and especially the sandy points in the creek bends.  The green pumpkin 6-inch worm on a Texas Rig is working.  Look for isolated stumps and single lay downs with the Lowrance Structure Scan technology.  When all else fails get out a spinning reel with 8-pound Sufix Siege clear line and carry several colors of #5 and #7 Rapala Shad Raps and change colors often.  At the dam fish the main lake rocky points early and late with white spinnerbaits and pearl Zoom Super Flukes.  The bass are scattered from one end of the lake to the other and are coming in on everything from cranks to top water baits to plastics.

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.5 FEET, 80’S

Bass fishing is slow.  A few fish continue to hit top water baits at first light.  Use a Pop R, Chug Bug, and Tiny Torpedo along main river and creek banks that drop quickly into deep water.  A few more fish are beginning to feed around docks and boat houses especially those with good depth and brush present.  Watch the Fish and Game Forecaster and fish the major feeding period during the day for better success.  Soft plastics continue to be the best chance for success along with an occasional bite using small to medium crank baits and jigs.  If a normal presentation is not producing, try “dead sticking” the bait, allowing it to sit motionless for 10 to 30 seconds before moving slightly.  Open water structure fishing has gotten tougher, but bass can still be caught around some points and ledges, especially up both rivers.  Depths are mostly 6 to 15 feet deep up the lake.  Carolina rigs and crank baits are proven choices, but lightweight Texas rigs and jig head and worm rigs are better on some days.  Watch the Fish and Game Forecaster and fish the major feeding period during the day for better success.  A Zoom u tail worm works great rigged Texas style with a 1/8 to ¼ ounce weight.  Also try a Finesse worm rigged on a 1/16 to 3/16-ounce jig head like a Spotsticker.  For either of these worm rigs, use the lightest weight possible, with wind or current dictating the size.  These same rigs are also producing a few fish along rip rap.

LAKE JACKSON IS FULL, 80’S

Bass fishing is fair.  Try up the Alcovy and Yellow Rivers.  Spinnerbaits along with buzz baits seem to be the baits most anglers are throwing.  Work the small flats and especially the sandy points in the bends up Yellow River.  The black 6-inch worm on a Texas Rig is working as well, especially when the water turns that red clay color.   Look for isolated stumps and single lay downs for best results.  When all else fails get out a spinning reel with 8-pound Sufix Siege clear line and carry several colors of #5 and #7 Shad raps and change colors every 20 minutes.  At the dam fish the first good cove right around the corner from the marina with white spinnerbaits and Super Flukes.  The bass are scattered from one end of the lake to the other and are coming in on everything from cranks to top water baits to plastics.

The Lake Lanier Boat Show is at Lake Lanier Islands on September 29 -October 1, 2023.  Click HERE to find the seminar schedule, ticket links and more info. Seminars and speakers are subject to change without notice.

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Bert Deener, Region Supervisor and fisheries biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

Good reports came from the few people who fished this week. Saltwater has been really good lately. The rivers are getting in decent shape again. Expect the upper reaches to produce some good catches of panfish in several rivers this week.

River gages on August 24th were:

  • Clyo on the Savannah River – 9  feet and rising
  • Abbeville on the Ocmulgee – 1.6 feet and falling
  • Doctortown on the Altamaha – 6.5 feet and falling
  • Waycross on the Satilla – 6.7 feet and falling
  • Atkinson on the Satilla – 8.9 feet and falling
  • Statenville on the Alapaha – 3.2 feet and falling
  • Macclenny on the St Marys – 6.0 feet and falling
  • Fargo on the Suwannee – 3.7 feet and rising

Full Moon is August 31st. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website HERE. For the latest marine forecast, click HERE.

Toni from Warner Robins caught her first keeper flounder, this 18-incher, from the Jekyll Island Pier on Saturday.

SALTWATER (GA COAST)

It is tarpon time on the Georgia coast! Capt. Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) chased tarpon all week and got on them. He saw a bunch of fish on Monday but could not get them to eat. On Tuesday they ate but spit it during the fight. His group did not land one but jumped 6 tarpon. On Wednesday they went 1 for 3, landing a fish just under 100 pounds. He fooled his fish with DOA Bait Buster lures. Capt. Greg Hildreth (georgiacharterfishing.com) was around tarpon all week and fooled them with live bait. He ended up landing 8 this week. The fish are all sizes, and quite a few are double-digit fish. On Friday, Tom and his son Thomas and a friend fished with Capt. Cody Baker out of Fernandina Beach, Florida, but they fished mostly the Georgia portion of the St. Marys Jetties. They ended up going 1 for 4 on tarpon. Three of their fish ate live pogies on the bottom, but the one they landed (a 90-pounder) inhaled a 4.8-inch electric shad Keitech Swimbait rigged on a swimbait head built with a 10/0 Owner Beast hook. They also caught a half-dozen bull redfish up to 40 inches on both live pogies on a jighead and 3/4-oz. electric chicken bucktail jigs. Flounder fishing was good from the Jekyll Island Pier this weekend. Both live bait and artificials produced flat fish. Toni fished with her family on Saturday and caught her first keeper flounder – a fat 18-incher. She fooled it with a mudminnow. Hunter ended up catching 4 flounder of her own with a 16-incher as the biggest. Several other anglers caught flounder from the pier and adjacent rocks, as well.

ALTAMAHA RIVER

Chuck and Hunter Dean fished the tidal Altamaha on Sunday. They boated 6 bass up to 2 pounds. They caught several on a black – gold blade Capt. Bert’s Buzzbait and a few on a fly rod and green frog popper. Chuck also fooled 3 big bluegills on the popper. They cast a chartreuse/white spinnerbait and caught 2 bowfin to 4 pounds on it. They said that the water was muddy, but the fish still bit.

Larry Zinker caught this 6-lb., 14-oz. bass at night this week from a Valdosta area pond while flinging a black Gurgler Buzzbait.

LOCAL PONDS

Jimmy Zinker caught several big bass again this week at night. He had bass weighing 6-11, 6-14, and 7-12. Several of his big fish came on a black Gurgler buzzbait designed by the late big bass guru Pat Cullen. Chad Lee fished a pond for an hour in the middle of the day on Wednesday and caught 3 bass that inhaled a trout-colored hard swimbait. Each one was in the 2-pound range.

SATILLA RIVER

The river is falling, and the upper river should be in good shape for panfish again by the weekend if we don’t get rains. Note: Georgia DNR closed the Hwy 158 Landing on August 15th in order to rebuild the ramp and parking lot. Weather depending, it should reopen toward the end of September.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

I didn’t receive any reports of folks fishing in the heat, but I’m sure bowfin, pickerel (jackfish), and fliers can be caught. The most recent water level (Folkston side) was 120.50 feet.

HUGH M. GILLIS PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Dublin, more info HERE)

Even in the heat the bluegill bite has been good this week. An angler fishing from the pier on Thursday morning caught 5 big bluegills. A few bass were caught, but the big ones are deep and suspended – tough to catch.

NORTH GEORGIA

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

RESERVOIR REPORT

Lake Lanier Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Phil Johnson, 770-366-8845 via www.southernfishing.com) — Lake Lanier is down 2.2 feet, in the 80s. Bass fishing is fair. The water temperature is running in the mid to upper eighties and the water clarity on the main lake is clear with some light stain the farther back in the creeks you go. It is the hot time of the year, and the fish are in their summer mode. Early in the morning before the sun gets on the water there is a top water bite on the Zara Spook, Gunfish or Chugbug. Once the sun gets up its more about structure, ledges and humps in the twenty-five to thirty five-foot range. There is still a decent bite on the Jerkshad worked over these areas. I am using a reel and stop method to let this bait slowly fall then a quick twitch to trigger strikes. When you locate the brush in the right depth a drop shot has been an effective way to put fish into the boat. I’m using ten pond braid backing with an eight-pound fluorocarbon with a quarter ounce weight as my setup. I have this loaded on a seven-foot six medium action rod. This week we have been working the Morning Dawn and Blue Lily colors for out drop shot fishing. Be prepared to move often to find the active fish on the brush because finding them doesn’t always mean they will bite. If you are out in this heat, be sure to have plenty of cold drinks to stay hydrated. There are still fish to be caught so Go Catch ‘Em!

Lake Lanier Oxygen and Temperature Info: (From Fisheries Biologist Hunter Roop) — Vertical temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected on Lake Lanier last week. These profiles aim to quantify coolwater habitat availability for species like blueback herring, striped bass, and walleye, but they can help all anglers identify areas to focus their fishing efforts during the peak heat of summer. The graphs can be located on Lanier’s Fishing Forecast webpage by selecting the most recent pdfs for each temperature icon from Lanier Bridge on the Chattahoochee down to Buford Dam. Now that we are in the “dog days” of summer, the thermocline is setting up at 26 ft and extends down to ~50 ft, although sufficient oxygen concentrations are restricted to the upper 40 ft – 45 ft of the water column from Flowery Branch down to the dam. Focus your efforts in the lower third of the reservoir and use electronics to locate your target. Striped bass are schooled up in various locations and can be caught using a variety of tactics including trolling, downlines, and even freelines.

Lake Lanier Striper Report: (This report courtesy of Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service 404-510-1778 via www.southernfishing.com) — Lake Lanier stripers are popping up everywhere on the south end using their typical summer patterns. The down lines using blue backs in the fishing 35-to-50-foot depths are pretty consistent. Trolling the umbrella rigs and lead core has produced some healthy fish. Just try to get the fish back in the water asap. I started using the Seaqualizer to get to the correct temperature and where the best oxygen levels are. We need to take care of the population. Its hot outside so drinking water can extend your fishing trip. Remember to wear your life jackets.

Liam McGowan caught this crappie on Lanier in mid-July 2023.

Lake Lanier Crappie Report: (This report courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton, 770-530-6493 via www.southernfishing.com) — Crappie fishing has been good with the water temperature still in the mid-80s the crappie are not very active use small bait, and use slow action Target shaded areas, deep brush piles or fallen trees, and areas near the main channel to increase your chances of catching crappie. Use live small minnows straight down with a split shot or small jigs with a slow retrieval for best results. Try fishing during early morning or late evening when the temperature is slightly cooler. Crappie are deep so concentrate on 15 foot deep over a 25 to 40 foot deep bottom but don’t be afraid to look a lot deeper. Look for docks near a channel! The gear I recommend for crappie fishing is the ATX Lure Companies jigs on a Lip Thrashin Lure jig heads. I use 5-pound test high visibility yellow k9 braid for my line unless I am using a bobber then it’s the k9 6-pound high Vis line and an Act crappie Stix. I use Garmin Live Scope and a Power Pole. Check out https://4heroutdoor.com/.

Lake Weiss Multi-Species Report: (This report courtesy of Mark Collins Guide Service 256-996-9035 via www.southernfishing.com) — Weiss Lake is 0 foot 2 inches below full pool, light stained to clear, and 86-88 degrees. Bass fishing is fair. Most of our fish are on offshore structure and the river and creek channel ledges. Most anglers are using spinner baits, Carolina rigs and medium to deep running crank baits are working well, the Spotted Bass are doing well on deeper structure and the creek channel ledges, Carolina rigs and crank baits are working well. Look for the fishing to be slow until the first cooling trend hits. Crappie fishing is fair. Our fish are on deeper cover in the main lake and bays, spider rigging, over brush, with live minnows and jigs is catching a few fish. Look for the fishing to be slow until the first cooling trend hits. Striper fishing is good. The fish are being caught in the upper Chattooga River, the Cave Hole and Little Spring Creek on live shad, down lined about 8 feet deep and on free lines.

West Point Lake Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — West Point Lake is down 1.1 feet, and in the 80s. Bass fishing is fair. The fish continue to hold in their summertime patterns, fishing deep or near deep water is best. These are the three better patterns that are working. First, use a Carolina rigged worm fishing the deeper end of long points or under water islands. Just start at Highland Marina and head south to the dam picking every point as a target for summertime fishing. If the water is moving, watch for the baitfish to be on the move too. Find the baitfish with the Lowrance Structure Scan side technology and the Down Scan with Fish reveal and run the beam out 80 feet each way. Now time fish the area well. If there is no current a good tip is to fish worms and jigs slowly. Watch the Fish and Game Forecaster and fish the major feeding period during the day for better success. On these same points fish a Norman Deep Diver 22 in the glimmer shad. Use 10-pound test Sufix line. Get the bait down to the bottom and bump the bottom all the way back to the boat. The third pattern is flipping under docks that are near deep water with a Zoom u tail in the red shad color. Anglers may have to work several points on the main lake to catch some good fish.

Lake Allatoona Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — Lake Allatoona is full, in the 80s. Bass fishing is fair. Some schooling activity in the main lake areas. Small top water baits and the Mini Mac will work on the schooling fish. If the day is overcast days they are up in the mornings. Most of the schooling fish are in the 1-to-1.5-pound range. The swim bait bite is fair on the major feeding times. Watch the Fish and Game Forecaster and fish the major feeding period during the day for better success. This month is pretty much wide open for tactic so be ready with several baits. Use a drop shot, fish head and small swim baits. Keep a Zoom Super Fluke ready all day just in case fish pop up. Cooler nights are in the forecast.

Lake Hartwell Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — Lake Hartwell is down 2.3 feet, in the 80s. Bass fishing is slow. Many anglers have gone to the Shad Raps and small Zoom flukes. Use the Rapala OG8 in parrot and shad and use a spinning reel and 8 pound Sufix to get this bait to the right depth. Bass are out of the main lake points and along the channel ledges. The better bite is coming during the late afternoon hours. Watch the Fish and Game Forecaster and fish the major feeding period during the day for better success. Carolina Rigs fished slowly over and around the deeper bottom structure is working the best during the day, while the crank baits are doing better in the early morning hours then again later in the day. Finding the right depth will be the key, so take along a variety of baits that break the water column down to about two or four feet increments. Rapala Shad Raps and the DT10 baits are fair. When all else fails get out a spinning reel with 8 pound Sufix Siege clear line and carry several colors of #5 and #7 Shad raps and change colors every 20 minutes.

SMALL LAKE REPORT

Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area Report: (From Fisheries Biologist Jackson Sibley) — Recent reports from the three lakes at Rocky Mountain PFA have been mixed.  A WRD staffer struck out fishing-wise but had a good time with friends when he hit East Antioch Lake last week after work.  GON Forum member csgreen1 found at least one good one recently, as evidenced by his pic HERE.  If you do head to Rocky, note that there are solid thermoclines setup on the Antioch Lakes around 11 feet.  Expect that few if any fish will be caught much below that depth, as there is no oxygen available for them.  As always, Heath Lake will not be open until the first 10 days of the month.

RIVER REPORT

Fishing for “Gold”– Here is a GREAT VIDEO with tips on how to catch common carp (and maybe other species) in the dead of summer when other species like stripers are suffering from lockjaw.  The video is from Virginia, but the tactics should work just as well here in our larger rivers.

Fred Wammock with a beautiful shoalie from the Flint River.

Warmwater Streams Report: (This report courtesy of Matt Morrison from Cohutta Fishing Company) — Topwater for river bass has been hot lately. With a lot of bright sunny days, and creeks and rivers getting low and clear, fish are looking for shade under trees. All sorts of bugs fall out of these trees and the bass know it. Throwing Boogle Bugs, Mr. Wigglys, and Stealth Bombers are great top water flies for bass. Fish these flies on a dead drift with a twitch or a pop every few seconds. Striper fishing is starting to slow down as the fish make their way back to the lake. The river bass should stay consistent through October.

River Bass Report: (This report courtesy Jeff “Dredger” Durniak at Unicoi Outfitters) — The Dredger reports that warmwater streams and rivers are fishing well for hungry smallmouth and shoal bass.  He managed to get a double smallmouth hookup on a 2-fly rig, and guide Jake Darling battled and won against a monster shoalie.  Look for more info with tips on tactics and hot flies to be posted on the Unicoi Outfitters Facebook Page later today.

TROUT REPORT

Garrett Schaefer caught this 20-inch plus rainbow trout on the Tallulah River in June 2023.

Small Streams Report: (This report courtesy of Matt Morrison from Cohutta Fishing Company) — In most small streams, you should be able to find some fishable water temps. A lot of the creeks lower down may have higher temps but keep hiking or driving your way up and you’ll find cooler water and more than likely better fishing. Most wild trout streams, they’re keying into terrestials. Ants are one of my favorites, but beetles and smaller hoppers will bring fish up as well. For some of the stocked streams that are still cool, fishing a dry dropper rig with a hot spot or some flash has been working well.

Dredger Report: (This report courtesy Jeff “Dredger” Durniak at Unicoi Outfitters) — Check out Unicoi Outfitters full fishing report HERE for a ton of trout info delivered every week, typically on Friday afternoons.

Toccoa Tailwater Report: (This report courtesy of Matt Morrison from Cohutta Fishing Company) — As of right now, the temps below the dam are holding in at 60 degrees. There is a slight stain in the water coming from the dam as well, which means turnover is right around the corner. Curtis Switch is still at a fishable temp but try not to fish at Horseshoe Bend. Temps down there on low water have been in the upper 60’s for a while now. The midday generations have been helping keep the whole river cool, but let’s give those fish lower down a break until we start seeing cooler temps. As we creep into the tail end of summer and start transitioning into fall, turnover occurs on the tailwater. Most of y’all know what that is, but for those who don’t. Turnover is when the Upper Toccoa and other tribs start cooling down, it starts cooling the surface of the lake down. This cooling of the upper layer wants to sink and mix with the lower levels of the lake and causes warmer water to come out of the dam. The two ways to tell if the river is in turnover is you will see warmer temps and see a rust-colored stain in the water coming from the dam. Currently the river is still fishing good. The terrestrial bite is on so get out there before turnover comes in fully. Fish have been eager to eat beetles, ants, and hoppers. As far as our float trips, for experienced anglers we recommend a ¾ day float. Fishing terrestrials in the morning and switching over to streamers and bobber rigs when the highwater comes. Half days work as well still, and we recommend those for beginners right now. Still fishing terrestrials in the morning and riding highwater to the takeout.

Upper Toccoa Report: (This report courtesy of Matt Morrison from Cohutta Fishing Company) — For trout, wait until Delayed Harvest season starts Nov 1st. But fishing bass poppers and streamers for some of the bass that make their way into the river can be a good way to change things up.

Parting Trout Note: Want to do more to support trout fishing in Georgia? Consider upgrading to a Trout Unlimited license plate this year. Aside from being a great looking tag, each purchase or renewal of a Trout Unlimited license plate directly supports Georgia’s trout conservation and management programs. Hatcheries and wild trout efforts both benefit from the trout tag.