Okay anglers, we are a few weeks into 2026. Have you made your fishing resolutions yet? How about visiting one (or more) of Georgia’s Public Fishing Areas (PFA)? There are 11 amazing PFAs in the state that are managed for fishing. 

Waters on PFAs vary from lakes several hundred acres in size to ponds less than one acre with some designated as kids-only fishing ponds. Anglers can fish from a boat, along the shoreline, or from piers or docks at most locations.

All PFAs have concrete boat ramps, picnic tables, various nature and wildlife observation trails, fish cleaning stations and restroom facilities. Some PFAs offer camping opportunities (from primitive camping to RV) for those wishing to stay overnight on the area. All PFAs are open seven days a week, and except for Rocky Mountain PFA, also allow night fishing year-round. Find out more at GeorgiaWildlife.com/allpfas.

NEWS TO KNOW

• Still Time to Enter The Fish Art Contest! The deadline to submit entries, in print or digitally, is Feb. 28. Educators interested in resources to incorporate fish and fishing into the curriculum can view Wildlife Forever’s free Fish Art Contest Lesson Plan and Digital Classroom at  theartofconservation.org. Rules, regulations and entry forms can be found at the same website.
• Follow Us! Check out our Facebook (Facebook.com/WildlifeResourcesDivisionGADNR) and Instagram (Instagram.com/georgiawildlife) pages, and sign up for the Georgia WILD e-newsletter (GeorgiaWildlife.com/GaWild), a great way to stay in the know about protected and endangered wildlife and plants.
• Go Fish Education Center – Improvements: The work on the outdoor aquariums at the Go Fish Education Center have hit a few construction delays due to weather, so the re-opening date is to be determined. But, don’t worry, the rest of the Center and casting pond will remain open on weekends, with education programs continuing during the week. 

This week, we have fishing reports from Southeast, North and Central Georgia (no Southwest GA report today). Let’s make those resolutions a reality and Go Fish Georgia!

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Joshua Barber, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

Cold and windy – that pretty much sums up this week. The current forecast shows that we may even get some snow on Sunday. Some anglers were still able to catch fish in the cold conditions. Saltwater, ponds, and the Okefenokee are probably your best bets this weekend.

River Gages as of January 15th:

• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 5.4 feet and rising
• Lumber City on the Ocmulgee – 2.3 feet and rising
• Clyo on the Savannah – 4.5 feet and rising
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 1.9 feet and steady
• Waycross on the Satilla – 5.3 feet and falling
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 3.6 feet and falling
• Quitman on the Withlacoochee – 1.7 feet and steady
• Macclenny on the Saint Marys – 2.0 feet and steady
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 1.9 feet and falling

New Moon is on January 18^th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

ALTAMAHA RIVER

Jack Harrison caught the new river record crappie this week! He caught a 2-lb. 4.3-oz. slab on Tuesday while using a jig. I also heard of a few good bass reports on the river recently.

SATILLA RIVER

Alvin Thrift and a friend had a great trip on the lower river this week! They caught 22 bass total by dragging Texas-rigged soft plastics on the bottom.  Before your next trip to the river, stop by Satilla Feed and Outdoors located at 2270 US-84 in Blackshear. They have a variety of rods, reels, and fishing tackle. For hours, call 912-449-3001.

LAKES AND PONDS

Mike Binion, director of Tired Creek Lake (near Cairo), reported that the lake has been drained three and a half feet in hopes that the cold weather will kill some of the vegetation. The lake should start filling back up in the next week or two. Two anglers went bass fishing on the weekend but did not catch a single fish. They said that they believe the drawdown has shut the fish down and may be a while before they start biting again. Jimmy Zinker and I fished a Worth County pond last Saturday. We had to work for our fish but managed to catch 16 bass, with our top 5 weighing around 20 lbs. Jerkbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits and buzzbaits fooled them. Jimmy hung a bass around 5 or 6 pounds on a Bang-O-Lure that broke his line. It jumped in the air a few times to try and throw the hook out. I heard of good bream and crappie reports from some local ponds this week. Most of them were caught on live minnows.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

Captain Bert Deener went fly fishing to the east side on Friday from 9:30 until 3 pm. He was able to fool 33 bowfin (two biggest weighed 5 1/2 lbs.) and 4 nice pickerel. He released them all. They were all caught on Capt. Bert’s Bladed Flies (electric chicken worked best but several ate a gold version). Captain Bert took Jerry Holland on a guided fishing trip on the east side yesterday in the rainy conditions and they had success. Jerry caught 31 fish total, including 25 bowfin, 3 pickerel up to 19 inches, two fliers, and a big bluegill. The panfish were caught by pitching pink Okefenokee Swamp Sallies, while the bowfin and pickerel ate Dura-Spins. Captain Bert Deener offers guided fishing trips in the Okefenokee. To book a trip with him, visit his website bertsjigsandthings.com. Recent Swamp level was 120.21 feet.

DODGE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• Dodge County PFA Information  
• Dodge County Fishing Guide

HUGH M. GILLIS PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR DUBLIN)

• • Hugh Gillis PFA Information
  • Hugh Gillis PFA Fishing Guide

PARADISE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR TIFTON)

• Paradise PFA Info
• Paradise PFA Fishing Guide

Jesse Boles, assistant manager at Paradise PFA, reported that the bite has slowed down some this week due to the cold front. Even so, anglers have been catching good messes of crappie mainly at Lakes Patrick, Russel, Bobben, and Horseshoe 4. One angler fished Lake Patrick on Tuesday and managed to catch 22 crappie on jigs.

OCMULGEE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• Ocmulgee PFA Info
• Ocmulgee PFA Fishing Guide

Ken Burke fished on Tuesday morning for 5 1/2 hours and caught 12 bass up to 4.3 lbs. while using shakey heads and crankbaits (shakey heads worked best). He went back yesterday and fished around 4 hours and caught 4 bass with the biggest weighing just over 6 pounds. All the bass were caught in the first hour and a half of fishing.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Brandon and Christie Nix fished the saltwater side of the Saint Marys River last Saturday and caught 13 redfish, 5 trout, and 4 small black drum. They fooled them on live shrimp on bottom rigs and popping corks. Scott Smith and Derrick DeLoach fished the Brunswick area on Sunday and had to battle the 30 mph wind. They managed to catch a half dozen redfish, 4 trout and 3 flounder on jigs and shrimp. Three anglers fished the Saint Marys area this week and caught 15 redfish, a black drum and a sheepshead on live shrimp. Captain Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) had four great trips recently in the Saint Simons and Brunswick area. He took Randy Dorris on a guided trip Saturday and caught his limit of trout, a few reds and a flounder on artificial lures. On Monday, Captain Tim went on a solo trip and caught numerous slot sized redfish and a few big ones on artificials. Adam Cooperman fished with him Tuesday and they landed many redfish (slots and over slots) on artificial lures and live shrimp. He took Lawton Howard on a guided trip yesterday and he caught his limit of trout, a redfish and a flounder. The artificial lures they have been using are Z-Man Trout Trick, Berkley 3.3 inch swimbaits, Fourseven Lures 3.5 inch swimbaits and Thumper Shrimp. An angler fished around Cumberland Island on Tuesday and landed 15 trout up to 17 inches while using live shrimp.

Before your next fishing trip, stop by Winge’s Bait and Tackle located at 440 Memorial Drive in Waycross. They have all the tackle you need for a successful trip! For their hours, call 912-283-9400.

If you have any fishing reports or fish pictures that you would like to be included in this report, email them to me joshuabfishhunter@gmail.com.

CENTRAL GEORGIA

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

This week’s Central Georgia fishing report is brought to you by Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report, and contributions from Region 3 WRD Fisheries staff, local guides, and anglers.

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN 2 FEET, 50’S 

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. The lake is loaded with spotted bass and they love the cooler water. Expect these fish to be roaming in and out along the shallow rocky areas and a variety of baits will catch these fall bass. Good largemouth are also found here and they prefer the wood cover over the rock. Since this lake is nothing more than a flooded gorge, there is plenty of wood in various forms scattered all over the lake. Find the fish on the Lowrance DOWN SCAN technology and if have Fish Reveal use it on the Down Scan so the fish appear like on regular Sonar. Use the vertical jig in a 1/2 to 3/4 ounce spoon. Then add the jigs, Shad Raps and Husky Jerks or Ito Vision 110 and use them all. Use the deep diving crank baits around rocks and wood. Smaller bass are still being caught up shallow but this will change with the cold weather. The warm days will get schools of bait fish up to the rocks and rip rap where anglers easily caught on Rapala Shad Raps and Rapala DT6. As colder weather returns, change to the Rapala DT10 and DT14 along the same areas and use a slower retrieve. As long as the water stays clear, stay with the Shad colors in these baits. Hot Mustard and Brown Bone are excellent when visibility gets to three feet of less. With temperatures fluctuating between upper 70’s to below freezing in the new year fishing will be variable. Chase areas of full sun to find bass seeking warmer waters.

Black Bass 2 (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports):  Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that in January bass should still be caught deeper in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks. They will be caught on jigging spoons, drop shots, and jigs. Often they will be grouped up with other species and especially on live bait you can catch a mixed bag.

Striped Bass (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that in January the bite should be even better than in December as fish should get into tighter groups in the cold. Whether you opt to search for feeding fish by throwing artificials or covering water by pulling herring on free-lines and planer boards, following the birds is key.

Crappie and Perch (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in January he will not target crappie, but white and yellow perch should be caught in excellent numbers and they will pick up a few crappie. The fish will take minnows or spoons fished around deeper schools of bait.

Catfish (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal reports that January is not a month when very many people will be targeting catfish on Russell, but if you concentrate on deep water you can pick up a few channel catfish around bait schools. Most anglers will catch catfish as a by-catch this month.

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 7 FEET, 50’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. Expect the bass to move back a little to deeper water this week. The bass are suspended out in 10 to 15 feet of water. This will enable angler to pin point them on the Lowrance graph and use those Down Deep Husky Jerk Baits to catch them. Expect the bites to be slow and far and few between. Cold, windy days make fishing a little tougher for sure. For the serious angler, the bass are still biting it just takes some work. Find the fish on the Lowrance DOWN SCAN technology and if have Fish Reveal use it on the DOWN Scan so the fish appear like on regular Sonar. Use the vertical jig in a 1/2 to 3/4 ounce spoon. Fish are holding near rocky structure where the water stays warmer. Lipless crank baits work as the morning moves on. Finish up with a jig or a Texas rigged worm. Carolina rigs are great fall and winter favorites during the fall transition. Try the north Little River or Savannah River area. Fish the rivers by picking apart the cover with Chatterbaits and jigs. On the windy days, fish the deeper points with a Rapala DT10 and a DT14 and use shad and hot mustard colors.

Black Bass 2 (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that in January patterns will depend on weather conditions, but there should be a big group of fish in the creek ditches that can be caught on blade baits. Sometimes they will go shallow. There should also be a group of deeper fish out on the main lake that can be caught on underspins, jigs, or swimbaits fished over humps and around bait.

Striper and Hybrids (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that during January fish could get harder to catch in cold conditions, but usually they will continue to feed as they fatten up in preparation for their attempt to spawn. Continue to look for the birds and bait to locate fish in the deep channels. Although free-lines and planer boards will be popular ways to catch fish, down-rods should also be reliable.

Crappie (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service reports that in January some fish should still be on mid-depth brush piles and submerged timber, but others will be suspended in the creek channels. Crappie will eat minnows or jigs tipped with minnows this month. It can be one of the more difficult months to catch crappie on Lake Thurmond.

Catfish (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that January can sometimes be a good month for catching big catfish on Lake Thurmond, but the drastic cold snaps and general swings in temperature can also make fishing inconsistent. Some days they may feed heavily, and then they may not feed for the next couple of days. In general anchoring on deep structure is the most consistent way to catch large blue and flathead catfish this month. Gizzard shad and white perch are hard to beat for the bigger fish.

Angler Success: (Biologist updates courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologist Aaron Gray): Despite some recent cold snaps, plenty of local anglers have still reported success! Sean Fletcher shows off a nice largemouth caught in early January from a local pond, while several anglers have found consistent striper & hybrid action on Clarks Hill. As expected, tuning in to baitfish locations and behaviors will help anglers key in on the action. Live and cut herring around channels has worked well for many anglers all around the lake, especially around Keg Creek, Big Creek, and Fishing Creek.

Crappie and catfish action has been more inconsistent lately, due to the unpredictable temperature swings and cold snaps the area has experienced this month. Brush piles have produced some crappie action of late, but look for the bite to improve as the temperatures level out.

Finally, congratulations are in order for the Clarks Hill Youth Fishing Team, as five of their members recently signed letters of intent to join the fishing teams of Lander University, Carson Newman University, and Erskine College! Youth, high school, and college fishing has grown to a significant presence nationwide, and Clarks Hill has certainly produced some serious tournament talent!

Parents! Don’t forget about Georgia’s Angler Award Youth Program for anglers 15 and under! Visit the link for the application and submission rules for all species (and ages): GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/anglerawards.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 50’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is slow. Be sure to match the color of the bait to the water color. The best fishing is in Richland Creek. Spoons are the hot ticket. South end of the lake in the light stained water around humps and just off the river channel in about 30ft of water. Find the fish on the Lowrance DOWN SCAN technology and if have Fish Reveal use it on the DOWN Scan so the fish appear like on regular Sonar. Use the vertical jig in a 1/2 to 3/4 ounce spoon. Small crank baits fished around docks and sea walls from the middle of the creeks to the back of the creeks. Look at 8 feet of water depth at the end of the docks seems to be the best producer. A spinner bait fished around wood in Richland Creek has been producing a few fish.

Tournament Update (courtesy of ABA News):  The American Fishing Tour Division 72 event on Lake Oconee was held January 10, 2026, and drew 37 anglers. Jonathan Chavis of Locust Grove won the tournament with a five-bass limit weighing 17.63 pounds, anchored by a 5.53-pound largemouth. Travis Clay of Jackson finished second with 16.64 pounds, while Hunter Clay, also of Jackson, placed third with a 15.50-pound limit and caught the tournament’s largest bass at 5.86 pounds. Overall results showed multiple bass over five pounds being weighed, indicating strong largemouth bass condition and productive winter fishing on Lake Oconee.

Striper (from Doug Nelms with Big Fish Heads Guide Service):  The striper bite is really heating up on Lake Oconee and the fish are starting to put on some winter weight thanks to a combination of cold temperatures and heavy feeding activity. Striper are finally grouping up in deeper water and along main-lake river channels, following schools of bait. Look for fish suspended over 20–40 feet near channel bends, creek mouths, and the dam. Live shad or large bucktails and umbrella rigs worked slowly through the marks are producing best, with the most consistent action coming during the warmer part of the day.

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 2.0 FEET, STAINED, 50’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. Spinner baits and crank baits are working as the as the water temperature cools down. Quality bass are started to show up using the spinner bait. Blow downs, shallow brush, stumps, and grass have been the cover holding these fish. Try a 3/8 ounce model in chartreuse white with double Colorado blades, one nickel and the other gold. Try to bump the cover with each retrieve and use multiple casts from various angles. Also try a ½ to ¾ ounce bait with a large #7 Colorado rear blade. This bait should be bulged just below the surface and retrieved over or very near likely looking cover. Jigs and soft plastics continue to draw a few bites around docks and shallow brush. The jig bite has been the most consistent bait on the humps, points and flats. Carolina rigs and crank baits are the primary baits here.

LAKE JACKSON IS DOWN 2.0 FEET, CLEAR, 50’S 

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. There are hardly any anglers on the lake with hunting season now. Some fish are shallow and can be caught on 3/8 ounce. Net Boy Baits jigs around shallow rocks and docks. Good colors are all black or all brown. More numbers are found deeper in 15 to 20 feet and are being caught on Carolina rigged watermelon colored worms, 3/4 ounce. Net Boy Baits football jigs or jerk baits. Look for rock with any brush on it for the deep bite. Find the fish on the Lowrance DOWN SCAN technology and if have Fish Reveal use it on the DOWN Scan so the fish appear like on regular Sonar. Use the vertical jig in a 1/2 to 3/4 ounce spoon. If all else fails get three rods all rigged with various sizes and colors of the jig and fish them on the rocks and sea walls.

LAKE JULIETTE

Fish Habitat Enhancement: DNR fishery technicians conducted a “chop and drop” by cutting down trees along the bank of Lake Juliette to promote diverse fish habitat. These trees will give anglers a focal point to target fish in the spring once the fish move into shallower water. Some of the trees are on dry banks but will be ideal spawning cover once lake levels rise. If the downed trees prove to be effective, more “chop and drops” may be conducted in the future. Striper activity is picking up with 10+ pound fish being reported!

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

MCDUFFIE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of Fisheries Technician Chalisa Fabillar) —

• McDuffie PFA Information
• Water Level: Water Levels are fluctuating with rainfall, currently all fishing lakes water levels are down.
• Water Clarity: 24 “ in Rodbender, 36+” in other lakes
• McDuffie PFA Fishing Guide

Waters are cool and mostly clear, with lower lake levels. However, the unseasonable warm days have brought on blooms in Bridge and Bream Buster Lakes.

Bass: Bass bite has been challenging lately with bass moving slowly in deeper waters. Anglers should use slow forage lookalikes and deepwater worms. The key this time of year is low and slow with lures to entice a bite.

Striped and Hybrid Bass: Anglers are seeing the increased cooler weather feeding activity for striped bass and hybrids. Striped bass are in Bridge and Clubhouse Lakes, while hybrids are in Bream Buster and Bridge Lakes.  Anglers should use chicken livers, worms, and shiner-like lures in white, gold, and silvers in deep water for stripers.  Fishing in Clubhouse from the dock, near all the outflow siphons, and in the deeper waters of Bridge lake this time of year consistently yields good stripers.

Channel Catfish: Catfish bite is consistently good right now. Anglers are catching creel limits using chicken liver and worms off the bottom of the lakes.  Other good options are artificial baits and stink baits also fished off the bottom of the lakes.   Reminder: Jones, Rodbender, Clubhouse, Bridge, and Beaver Lodge Lakes all got healthy stockings of catchable catfish in November and December.

Bream:  Bream on the PFA has picked up a bit with anglers using crickets near stumps, docks, and other structures. Nice sunfish are being caught around stumps in Willow lake and near the dock of Bream Buster lake.

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

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

• Flat Creek PFA Information
• Water Level 54.5’ below full pool
• Water Temperature: low 50’s
• Water Clarity 24” and green
• Flat Creek PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Anglers are reporting a decrease in bass activity and expect the trend to continue until water temperature begins to rise.

Bream: Red Wigglers continue to produce Bream. Target areas that warm quickly from the sun.

Crappie: Anglers are reporting half pound and better catches from the fishing pier. Minnows continue to be the choice bait.

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

MARBEN PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of PFA Manager Jamie Dowd) —

• Marben Public Fishing Area
• Water level: Most ponds water levels are low, Shepherd and Bennett are near full
• Water clarity: Clear
• Surface temperature: 52 degrees 
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Bass fishing will be slow. Try using Plastic worms or jigs in deeper water. Some might have success using a bait mimicking a lethargic shad or other baitfish in the afternoon. Anglers have also had success in the early morning.

Crappie: Good.  Fox, Margery, Bennett, and Dairy Lakes have been the most consistent for crappie, with most being caught while trolling jigs at 6-10 feet deep or by casting jigs with a float and retrieving slowly.

Bream: Shell Cracker and bluebill can be caught at or near the bottom, red wigglers are a safe choice for this.

NORTH GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of John Damer, Fisheries Biologist , with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

RESERVOIR REPORT

Carters Lake Walleye Report: (This report courtesy of Eric Crowley, Lake and Stream Guide Service) — The winter walleye bite has been fantastic. The fish are packing on the pounds by feeding heavily on alewives in most creeks. Plenty of limits have been caught in recent weeks, with the average fish in the 19- to 22-inch range. The fish are still deep and pinned to the bottom, which makes them opportunistic and sets up a strong reaction bite. Spoons, jigs, blades or live bait fished right on their nose are effective ways to put fish in the cooler. Don’t spend too much time on each fish, they are either going to bite or deny your offering quickly. This bite can last for hours or be a stop-and-go situation. Keep fishing and changing baits, and it will pay off.

Carters Lake Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Louie Bartenfield from Carters Lake Guide Service via GON Fishing Reports) — Fishing has been improving a lot since the last report. Threadfin shad have been transitioning into their wintering creek channels and schools of bass have been getting bigger and bigger. January may be the best winter month of the season. Focus on steep banks with shoreline cover, ditches and creek channels. Vertical fishing will take off in January, so keep the spoon and drop shot equipment handy. Football jigs and shaky heads in the ditches and steep banks will also catch them. You can catch fish from 6 to 10 feet or 40 to 60 feet in January, just jump around until you find ´em and then slow down and catch’ em!

Carters Lake Striper Report: (This report courtesy of Eric Crowley, Lake and Stream Guide Service) — Striped bass are doing what they typically do this time of year, chasing bait under loons and feeding heavily on alewives. To get better acquainted with them, pull large, fresh baits on planer boards early. Watch the sonar and always keep some baits ready to drop to deeper fish. Some nice-size fish have been caught in the 35- to 50-foot range after the sun gets up and the surface bite slows. The u-rig bite has gained traction this week. Mini sizes are the go-to for stripers and hybrids right now, pulling them at 2 to 3 mph anywhere you see concentrations of bait.

Blue Ridge Lake Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Eric Welch, Welch’s Guide Service via GON Fishing Reports) — Fishing has been good. I start my mornings fishing the main lake. I’m targeting long, rocky points that have a deep-water drop-off. I’m also looking for rocky banklines and any kind of brush. The rock is going to warm up the fastest during the day and also holds the crawfish that will come out and feed when it gets warmer. I use multiple baits in these areas: a drop shot, a Ned rig and a 3.5-inch tube bait. I will also use a crankbait, like a 200 Series, a Deep Wee R, a Shad Rap and a jerkbait. If you find any baitfish with fish around them on your graph, try a Flex-it spoon or a jig-head minnow. It is also a good time of year to start throwing the A-rig. I like using 2.5- and 3.25-inch swimbaits on a 1/8-oz. head. Sometimes I will dip the middle one’s tail in some chartreuse dye. Always keep a topwater lure tied on. These mountain lakes have herring baitfish, and the bass can start chasing them anytime. Midday, I will start working my way up the river, fishing the deep, rocky banks, and I will use the same type of lures. I will look for brush and throw a 3/8-oz. jig. Now it is the time of year to throw the Float-n-Fly. Start with a 15-foot leader and look for any rocky areas, deep rocky banks and the mouths of pockets. On sunny days, you can use brighter flies, and on overcast days, you want to use a more natural shad pattern. Wintertime is a great time to throw a jerkbait. Good luck.

Blue Ridge Lake Walleye and Perch Report: (This report courtesy of Eric Crowley, Lake and Stream Guide Service) — Winter walleyes are packing on the pounds, and it’s a good time to get some. Cold-water fishing on this lake can be some of the best fishing for great eater fish. Spoons, blades and a simple jig-and-minnow are the three tools you’ll need. Find fish holding in the 50- to 65-foot range and use my favorite technique: ‘hit ’em in the face.’ Don’t spend too much time trying to get them to bite. Keep moving and even come back to them. Low-light hours are your friend this time of year. The yellow perch bite has been on and off this year, with some days wide open and the next being slim pickings. Live minnows on 4-lb. leaders remain the go-to rig and can be fished with a small jig head or simply a hook and split-shot. Find channel edges heading upriver after sunrise and fish them all the way up.

Lake Allatoona Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — Lake Allatoona is down 15 feet, and in the 50s. Bass fishing is good. The bite has been very active in the lower part of the lake. Small jigs like a Picasso Tungsten Little Spotty finesse jig, as well as their Rhino shaky head, have all been catching lots of spotted bass. The most productive depth range falls between 15 to 30 feet. In January, many of the spotted bass are out deeper and continue to key on baitfish and move as they move. We expect the spoon bite to be pretty good in the creeks and out on the ends of deeper points. For January expect the jig bite to continue to be good. There is a good bite on rocky areas and big boulders located offshore are a favorite target. If anglers don’t know where these type places are located, use the side and down imaging. Key on the 15-to-30-foot depths especially around break lines and drop offs. If the fish are reluctant to bite the jig, switch up with a shaky head or a Ned rig. There may not catch as many but the better size will be shallow. And one of the keys to this bite is finding stained water, and normally January brings more rain, and the lake get stained and shallow fishing gets interesting. Moving baits like a small crankbait like the Rapala DT6 and DT 10 and a Rapala Shad Rap is a good choice also. Don’t forget about rattle baits like the Rat L Trap and even a spinnerbait or Chatterbait during mild days. Key on the 4-to-10-foot areas that have rocks or stumps and scattered brush. Many times just find this cover on long flat points or edges right before the bottom drops off.

Lake Allatoona Crappie Report: (This report courtesy of Red Rooster Custom Baits) —

• Air Temp: High: 68 – Low: 25
• Wind: 5-15 mph(Up to 25 mph Gusts!)
• Lake Level: January 9th – 824.5 by January 16th – 831′ – A RAPID 6.5′ level change!
• Water Surface Temp: 48 – 52
• Water Clarity: Heavy Stained to Muddy depending on area of the lake
• Area Fished: Kellog Creek, Blockhouse & Little River
• Jigs Used: Cajun Chicken – Small Fry, Bluegrass – Small Fry, Sour Grape – Kic’n Chic’n
• Technique: Trolling

We all knew that it was going to happen at some point and this past week we got a triple whammy! Heavy Rains, High Winds & Frigid Temps. Up to this point we had a mild winter in terms of temps, wind and rain but that all changed last Friday. Over the weekend we got 2-3 days of steady rains and down pours amounting to 4″ – 5″ rain depending on where you pull the measurements from. You may not know this but the general rule for Lake Allatoona is that 1″ of rain can raise the lake level a foot. So 1″ of rain = approx. 1′ of lake level. With that being said, we got 4+ inches of rain and Lake Allatoona rose approx. 6.5′! With that amount of water rushing into the lake the water does 2 things: 1) Water clarity becomes heavy stained to muddy and 2) Silt, Trash and debris come flooding into the lake. This changes the crappie game rapidly and adversely and to be honest there is not a lot that you can do about it other than sit at home and wait for the lake to settle down!

This report will serve primarily as a history lesson as the rain, wind and cold temps pretty much shut us down this past week. We did get out on the lake one day where the temps and wind were behaving…briefly. We only managed 4 fish in four hours so we packed up and went home. The weather damage had been done from 4+ inches of rain, rapidly rising water levels, stained to muddy water clarity and frigid temps. It was not a good week for Lake Allatoona Crappie Fishing. We will hope for better weather next week and give it another shot and report the good, bad or the ugly. Better crappie weather will be coming soon and during these times we spend our down time organizing our tackle, re-lining our reels with NEW line, organizing the boat and such. If you can’t get on the water, there is always something fishing related to occupy your time to ensure that when the weather is better and the crappie are biting that we are ready to go!! January can be frustrating and discouraging but when the weather stabilizes it can be a BIG SLAB month! Red Rooster Custom Baits is your “Long Line Trolling Authority” for all things long line trolling for crappie. If you have questions about when, what and where give us a call or shoot us an email. We make custom jig heads, under spins and we can color match any jig color that you want or need. We love talking about crappie fishing so we are here to help. We also do a Facebook Live most Friday nights unless something comes up.

Lake Lanier Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Phil Johnson, 770-366-8845 via www.southernfishing.com) — Lake Lanier is down 6.7 feet, and in the 50s. Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. The lake is currently seven feet below full pool and the water temperature is running in the low fifties. Overall, the lake is clear. The bass are scattered from five feet to sixty feet across the lake tight now so anglers can pick the bait and depth many like to work. We have been starting the day shallow around the rocks and docks in the pockets. The key docks seem to be in the ten-to-fifteen-foot range, with the fish often being all the way back on the walkways. A quarter ounce shakey head with either a Zoom Trick Worm or Fork Tail worm in any of the green pumpkin colors has been a good producer for some really nice bass. If the wind is blowing the RKCrawler, a Rapala DT10 or a white spinnerbait have been catching fish on the rocky windblown areas. There are bass located all the way down to the sixty-foot range as the shad are often balled up in any of the deep structure scattered along the ditches. If anglers can locate the shad balls a vertical approach with a half or three-quarter ounce Georgia Blade spoon will draw strikes from the bass around the bait. Use the FFS to watch for bass cruising in the top of any structure you find and drop then drop spoon to the correct depth to trigger these fish. For the ditches a three eights Spot Choker with a two eight Keitech in Electric Shad has caught some very nice fish. This bait can also be used for the cruising bass at the top of the structure. Cast the Spot Choker past the bass and let it drop to the as the bass and reel it steadily. Once the bass reacts to the bait, speed up the retrieve to imitate a fleeing shad to trigger the bite. When working the ditches make sure to bait maintains contact with the bottom since the usual problem is people reel it too fast. Many can work shallow or deep right now and catch some very big Lanier Spots as they are feeding heavy for the winter, It may take a little searching but the results make it well worth it so Go Catch ‘Em!

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 scattered lakewide. Early morning can be so foggy it’s hard to know where your boat is. Most mornings it moves out around 10am. The fish are in the middle of the lake and north of Brown Bridge. The Mini Mac pulled behind the planer boards at 1 1.5 mph around 30 feet behind the boards. Once you locate the schools use down lines, flatlines, and typical planers. Bluebacks and trout seem to be the baits of choice and always have a topwater bait ready to throw. Remember to wear the life jackets.

Lake Weiss Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — Weiss Lake is down 3.5 feet, clear, and in the 50s. Bass fishing is barely fair. These winter cold fronts and barometric swings have the fish totally confused, and considering the last great shad hatch, their bellies are full, too. It’s been taking a slow and patient presentation to aggravate a bite right now. Texas rigged worms in green pumpkin and red shad colors worked near wood and rocks are catching some of the shallow fish. Blade baits in the grassy areas after the sun gets up are still getting hits from bass and jacks. The deeper fish are hitting jigging spoons. Spoons can be held in the school and bounced to finesse a strike. The weather patterns will settle down in a few weeks as winter sets in, and the fishing patterns will become a little more stable.

West Point Lake Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — West Point Lake is down 10 feet, clear, and in the 50s. Bass fishing is fair. Several patterns are working right now for largemouth and spots. One is crankbaits on main lake points hitting numerous points and fishing a large area. The best depth is 12 to 15 feet. Vertical jigging at 23 to 25 feet deep with a 1/2 ounce to 3/4-ounce spoon can be good if anglers can find some clear water. Try the mouth of Yellow Jacket Creek for a mile upstream also Wehadkee Creek, Veasey Creek, Stroud is worth a stop too. Try slow rolling a white and chartreuse half ounce spinner bait around rip rap at the bridges. Another good tip this time of year is to look for rock it tends to attract bait fish which attract bigger fish during the colder months.

Lake Hartwell Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com) — Lake Hartwell is down 7 feet, and in the 50s. Bass fishing is fair. Bass seem to be scattered throughout the lake. Towards the dam, clearer water will prevail, bringing the larger bass and more frequent bite. Points that run sharp and drop off into deep water fast are producing nice bass in the 2 to 4-pound range but these fish aren’t just jumping in the boat. Deep water cranking with the Rapala DT10 in the fire tiger or natural shad color is the best bait to throw on these points. Long casts in three to four feet of water and using a slow retrieve will work but anglers are reporting several casts in the same area are needed to get a hook up. Work the bait slow and even dig into the bottom in the shallow water will aid while cranking in the winter. Another good choice of baits is the no.7 black and silver suspending Rapala Shad Rap. Crank the bait down to about seven to ten feet on eight- or ten-pound test line then just stop the bait and let it sit for three to four seconds. With the rod tip facing down, light movement or jerks on the rod tip moving the bait just inches at a time will trigger a few extra bites. Most bites will occur on the dead stop so be ready at all times.

TROUT REPORT

North Georgia Trout Streams Report: (This report courtesy of Tad Murdock from Georgia Wild Trout) — The bite throughout North Georgia should progressively get more and more tough in the coming weeks. The wild trout bite is slowing quickly as they congregate in their winter haunts. The trout on Georgia’s Delayed Harvest streams have been pounded into submission over the holidays, but some trout are still around. This is likely the most productive bite around for anglers looking to put a bend in their rod. So, when the junk fly patterns lose productivity and if you can stomach it, drop down to smaller size 18, 20, or even smaller fly patterns along with light tippet and you can still net the all the trout you manage to not spook. It won’t be long before we begin seeing the Blue Wing Olive hatches. Have your emergers and small profile dry fly patterns ready when you begin seeing the BWOs and midges appear. Fly patterns between size 16-22 will work best. Be prepared to cycle through sizes until you can find what the trout are looking for. This is also a good time to explore some new streams as the undergrowth is a bit more dialed back than normal. If you do manage to find some trout, remember that you can have 2-3x as much success in these places during the warmer months.

Chattahoochee River Tailwater Fishing Report: (This report courtesy of Tad Murdock from Georgia Wild Trout) — If light tippet and small flies is your thing, the fly fishing on Chattahoochee tailwaters is also back. The water on the Hooch cleared earlier this year from the fall turnover and the fish are feeding well. Warm/mild afternoons have been leading to increased midge hatches and the trout fishing improves along with the afternoon temperatures. The activity level of the wild brown trout should continue to pick up in the coming weeks for anglers who know where to look for the transitioning trout. We are still a week or two away from their spawn.

The Dredger’s Weekly Report: (This report courtesy Jeff “Dredger” Durniak at Unicoi Outfitters) — Unicoi Outfitters puts out a full fishing report every Friday.  Although this week’s report was not yet posted as of this writing, you should be able to find it at blog.angler.management later today.

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

Supporting Trout Fishing: Want to do more to support trout fishing in Georgia?  Consider upgrading to a Trout Unlimited license plate this year. See more info at GeorgiaWildlife.com/licenseplates. 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 which can be found at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/trout. Hatcheries and wild trout efforts both benefit from the trout tag.