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Georgia Fishing Report: February 13, 2026

Georgia DNR, Wildlife Resources Division

Do you LOVE to fish? Be sure to pass that LOVE for fishing to the next generation (and the next, and so on) by inviting someone to go fishing with you. 

NEWS TO KNOW:

This week, we have fishing reports from Southwest, North, Central and Southeast Georgia. Share the love and Go Fish Georgia!

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

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

LAKE BLACKSHEAR

Lake Blackshear Crappie Catch (Photo Credit: C&S Guide Service).

Lake Blackshear Bass Catch (Photo Credit: Stephen Birchfield)

Crappie: Large crappie over 2lbs have been biting this past week, likely getting plumped up ready for spawning soon. Folks are finding them around 14ft of water still, so they haven’t moved into the shallows yet. Reports are they have been biting with 1.5” shad lures on 1/64th hooks. Stop by Flint River Outdoors if you are in need of fishing supplies.

Bass: The bass spawning will also likely be starting in a few weeks as the water warms. Typical spawning starts as water temperature moves above 60F, so be on the watch for that temperature and the fish moving into the shallows.

LAKE WALTER F GEORGE 

According to Ken Sturdivant at Southern Fishing, Bass fishing is fair. Bass are tight on creek bends and main lake points down lake. The fish are biting mid-day; use a Zoom natural blue u tail worm on a Texas rig. Up the creeks use a dark jig and pig combination and fish tight in any cover from the bank as far out as 15 feet. The Bass Pro Shops Enticer jig in the 1/2-ounce size in green, reds, and blacks with a matching #11 Uncle Josh trailer are fair. Add Real Craw scent and use it often casting to the same location. Spoons in the 1/2-ounce sizes are the better winter time lures in and over old trees and natural structure. 

LAKE SEMINOLE 

Lake Seminole bass catch (Photo Credit: Ryan Higgins).

Bass: According to Ken Sturdivant at Southern Fishing, bass fishing is fair. The temperature on the main lake varies due to rain and water released from the lakes upstream. Saunders Slough, Fish Pond Drain, Spooner Fields and Cypress Pond Drain areas are clear to slightly stained. These clearer areas have better grass, and most of them have areas that are spring fed. On colder day’s metal baits like a Little George, Silver Buddy, Heddon Sonar, Johnson Spoon and a No. 4 Colorado blade spinnerbait will work. On stained water fish a black and blue or green pumpkin ChatterBait and a Texas red Rat L Trap. With cold fronts the bass will move back to the nearest break line. When this occurs, a Carolina rigged lizard in green pumpkin or June bug, a jerk bait, or a light 1/32 to a 1/4-ounce speed worm in Zoom June bug will be the best lures to throw. Mid lake, use the crankbaits and jig and pig fishing for bass as soon as water temperatures break. Bass will begin transitioning into a pre-spawn phase as water temperatures range from the low 50s to low 60s°F.

Crappie: Crappie fishing is excellent in 20 ft of water using minnows.

Big Lazer PFA

Bass: The largemouth bass fishing is fair right now but should get better in the coming weeks. For now, while the water is cooler, continue to fish plastic lures and crankbaits slowly in about 10 feet of water. 

Crappie: Crappie fisherman are reporting great hybrid fishing right now and they are readily hitting top water baits.

NORTH GEORGIA

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

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE ALLATOONA 

Lake Allatoona (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing Report) – LAKE ALLATOONA IS DOWN 14.7 FEET, 40’S – Bass fishing is getting a little easier and the water is stained in the upper and lower lake but fairly clear around the dam due to the recent rains. With the recent cold trend the fish are moving back towards their deep water haunts that many have been catching them on for the past month or so. Continue fishing with the Staysee 90 making long casts on points working the bait very slowly. Pull the bait down and jerking down to the maximum depth and then reeling it very slowly with some pauses mixed in. This is a good time to have a flashabou trailer or a feather trailer to add some action during those pauses on the retrieve. Dropshotting bite is coming back on strong. Once the sun comes up the switch over to the drop shot. Anglers do have to work a little to find the right fish. Once they show up anglers can catch a limit of good fish. Concentrate on both deep structure as well as Lowrance sonar to locate bait and feeding fish and also on bluff walls fishing in the 40-to-50-foot range. Find bait balls with the sonar use a drop shot or spoon to catch them. Use the 4.5-inch Yamamoto Flat Tail worm due to water clarity on the business end of the drop shot with a 3/8th or ½ ounce quick drop sinker. Fish any structure in the 15-to-20-foot range and pay attention to the sonar for bait and fish at the depth level that anglers are seeing the bait at. On the drop shot use a Yamamoto Flat Tail Flat Tail on a #4 Gamakatsu drop shot hook with a 3/8- or 1/2-ounce quick drop shot weight and 8-pound test Sufix Advantage line.

LAKE BLUE RIDGE

Lake Blue Ridge (Courtesy of Georgia Outdoor News) —

Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “Walleye fishing in this cold, clear water can be tricky this time of year, but if you stay after them, the payoff can be great. Vertical jigging until your arm hurts might not sound like fun, but filling the cooler with walleye sure is. Cold-water fish are not going to chase your bait very far, so ‘hitting them in the face’ is extra important this month. Grab your favorite vertical baits and put them on their nose. Bladebaits. spoons, jigs, plastics or whatever it may be will get bites if it’s in the right place. Look for fish in the ditches and on the humps along the river channel. The active fish will be right under the balls of herring, looking up. Switch colors and cadence often, as these picky fish can be very selective in the clear water.” 

Yellow Perch: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “The perch bite has still been hit or miss this year. We’ve got on them a few times really well, but the next day, they are on the move again. Fishing 4-lb. leaders and live minnows attached to jigs or just hooks is the sauce for the yellow fish. Look for schools of perch during the day at depths of 30 to 40 feet.”

CARTER’S LAKE

Carter’s Lake (Courtesy of Georgia Outdoor News) — 

Bass: Guide Louie Bartenfield, with Carters Lake Guide Service, reports, “February fishing is always interesting. There will still be plenty of fish out deep on bait, but if/when we get a few warmer days, some of the biggest spotted bass and striper move up very shallow, or high in the water column. Follow the winter bite around bait most days—swimbaits, drop shots, spoons and jigs, in 25 to 45 feet ditches, channels and bluff-style banks. Keep your eyes on the forecast and watch for warm trends; sunny February days can move fish much higher in the water column. February is one of the best months of the year to catch a fish of a lifetime” 

Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “Some wild January weather has kept the walleye on the move. We had a great month putting some quality fish in the box. There are many 20- to 24-inch fish packing on prespawn pounds right now. The best bite is still from vertical jigging. Hitting them in the face with an assortment of up/down presentations from spoons to live minnows on a very light leader is the way to go. Look for walleye on the bottom around the bait balls, and target them one at a time. Don’t spend all day on one fish. Hit ‘em a few times. If they don’t bite, keep moving. As for locations, just find the bait. Some days it’s on the main lake, some days it’s in the creeks. Regardless, the technique is the same. Look for the daytime bite to slow down as we get closer to March, and the nighttime spring bite to pick up as the fish start to move a bit shallower.” 

Stripers: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “The striper bite has been consistent for the live bait guys. Pulling boards with gizzards or alewives early, then switching to Captain Mack’s Mini Macks after the sun gets up will put fish in the boat. Lots of mid-teen to 20-lb. striped bass have been caught and released this month. Cloudy days seem more productive, as the bait stays a bit shallower. Creek arms are the places to be early in the day, then follow the bait out as the day moves on. We have been catching quite a few fish out in open water, pulling u-rigs and lures.”

LAKE HARTWELL

Black Bass (Courtesy of Angler’s Headquarters) — Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that in February the best bet is to target points, brush or rocks in deep water with drop shot rigs, underspins, or football jigs, particularly early in the day. As temperatures warm this month, especially in the afternoons, fish can also be found sliding up shallower. 

Striper and hybrids (Courtesy of Angler’s Headquarters) — Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that the February bite will start off similar to January with fish part-way up the rivers in 35-50 feet on the bottom and feeding pretty slowly in the cold conditions. However, later in the month if the water temperatures reach the low to mid-50s then on warm afternoons some fish will move out of that zone and up onto wind-blown red clay points and banks to feed. Artificial lures like small swimbaits and flukes on a Scrounger head will often out-fish herring, and if there is a weak morning down-rod bite it’s often a sign of a strong afternoon bite. 

Crappie (Courtesy of Angler’s Headquarters) — Captain Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that at the beginning of February fish are most likely to be found around deeper docks or standing timber on jigs and minnows, but if temperatures warm then later in the month they should be caught shallower in open water as well as on brush as they start to move up. 

Catfish (Courtesy of Angler’s Headquarters) — Captain Bill Plumley reports that February patterns are almost entirely dependent on the weather, and if it gets warm later in the month fish should move shallower into the creek channels. If it stays cold then they will stay deeper in the river channels. A variety of cut baits can work. January mostly saw a slow bite for big blue cats after the lake got extremely cold.

LAKE LANIER

Lake Lanier (Courtesy of Georgia Outdoor News) —

Bass– Guide Jimbo Mathley, with Jimbo’s Lake Lanier Spotted Bass Guide Service, reports, “The early prespawn on Lake Lanier can be a fantastic time to catch a huge spotted or largemouth bass. The fish have been lethargic due to the colder water, and biologically, they are triggered to begin feeding in preparation for the arduous spawning process that will soon follow. Typically, the female largemouth begins the process first. What triggers these fish to move into prespawn? Where will these big fish emerge? How do you catch them? These are all excellent questions, and we will explore their answers in detail in this month’s report. The biggest factor in the bass beginning their trek shallower is the steady lengthening of daylight we experience as the calendar progresses forward. The longer days are nature’s signal to the bass that it is time to start focusing on the reproduction cycle. This integral need will also trigger a feeding urge. Ideally, from a weather standpoint, look for a three- or four-day period of stable weather accompanied by a warming trend. The trend upward in temperature does not have to be huge; just a degree or two in surface temperature can make the difference and trigger the fish to move shallower.Once the warming trend begins, the fish will move shallower to feed in waves. Fish travel much like we do—on ‘highways’. Fish highways include the main river channel, creek channels and ditches/drains within or near those channels. The bait and fish move methodically along these paths and look for cover to which they can relate for food, protection, and often, in the case of the bass, an ambush opportunity. Understand that fish are not going to randomly appear. They travel these highways and seek stopping points along the way. As we pursue the ditches and channels within the creek near areas where I have been catching fish, I look for likely stopping points. A secondary point, such as deep water nearby, is an example. Other viable locations include deep pockets with a small flat or ledge near the point of entry, small bays or ‘guts’ that receive all-day sun and are located right next to the creek or river channel. Boat docks located over or near a channel bend or a creek channel ditch in deeper water can be excellent choices, particularly if the area where the dock is located receives all-day sun. Also, focus on pockets that are protected from a northern wind. One of my favorite early spring lures is a jerkbait. These lures mimic expiring baitfish and represent an easy meal for lethargic bass. I prefer a deeper-diving model, such as the Berkley Stunna, in early spring. Work these lures in the areas mentioned above with a very slow cadence. Offer small twitches or short pulls of the jerkbait followed by long pauses.

Vary your cadence until you find the right combination; let the fish tell you how they want it and stick with that retrieve. Choose colors based on the condition. Low light dictates a solid, less reflective color like pearl white. When sunny, reflective colors usually work best. A Georgia Blade Shad Spin can be a very productive lure in the early prespawn period, as well as throughout the spawn and into postspawn. Work the lure by slow-rolling it in likely areas. In most cases, maintaining contact with the bottom is important. I prefer a boot-tail trailer this time of year. It imparts more vibration in the lure and allows you to work the lure more slowly. A Lanier Baits Swimmer is a good choice and is durable. I like white-bladed underspins for low-light conditions and silver blades for sunny conditions. A crankbait like the Rapala Shad Rap is a great choice in the early spring. If the fish are not shallow on the flats and I am unable to get bites with shallow-running models, I will switch to a medium-depth crankbait, such as a Berkley Flicker Shad medium diver. If this fails, I will probe the deeper depths on the ends of flats, points and humps with a deep runner, such as a Berkley Dredger or Berkley Money Badger. Work these baits slowly and try to deflect them off cover or the bottom as much as possible. Crayfish-type patterns often work better in the spring. When all else fails and when the fish are bottom-locked, do not ignore the Georgia Blade jig-head/worm combo, as well as the Georgia Jig. Drag these baits in likely areas very slowly, imparting periods of motionlessness on the bait. Often, bites occur this time of year when you simply allow the bait to remain still after a slow drag or a slight hop. Natural colors, like browns and greens, often work best in both categories.” 

Stripers: Capt. Clay Cunningham, of Catching Not Fishing Lake Lanier Fishing Guides, reports, “Lake Lanier is mostly clear except for some stain on the north end of the lake. Water temperature is in the low 50s. The stripers have been deep all winter and will remain there until the weather finally turns toward spring. We need some sun to warm the water for the bait to make a shift shallow. Most of the bait has been at depths of 50 to 80 feet. There have been a few fish shallow that are easy to catch, but not in big numbers. Most of these shallow fish are being caught on Mini Macks. Rig up your Mini Macks with the 2.8-inch Berkley Power Swimmers, as these baits are very durable, with best colors being sight flash and electric shad. Live bait has continued to be the best pattern over the deep bait. As the bait continues to condense in the creeks, this pattern will not change much, except that they will progressively move shallower as spring approaches. Trout have been the best bait all winter. Herring have been working, as well. Keep as many Shakespeare Striper Rods rigged as possible with Penn Warfare II  Linecounter reels spooled with 15-lb. Trilene Big Game. Rig several of these striper rods with downlines. The downline is essentially a Carolina rig for live bait. Tie on a 2-oz. Captain Mack’s Swivel Sinker, a 4-foot leader of Trilene 100% 12-lb. fluorocarbon, and a Gamakatsu 3/0 Octopus hook for the trout and a No. 1 Gamakatsu Octopus hook for the herring. Great electronics like the Humminbird Solix are essential to finding the deep bait. Some big fish will show up this February, especially if the weather cooperates. Be prepared and don’t say the big one got away.” 

Crappie: Capt. Josh Thornton reports, “Lake Lanier crappie fishing is good. The water temperatures are in the upper 40s, and the lake is still down. The crappie are suspended in open water at 5 to 8 feet deep in the main creek channels and on deep water docks. Minnows are working well, and the jig color of choice is D2D by ATX Lures, 1.25-inch flat-tail green color. For your best fishing experience, consider using the following equipment: a one-piece ACC Crappie Stix rod and reel paired with 4- or 6-lb. test K9 line with an ATX Lure Company jig. Further optimizing your efforts with a Garmin LiveScope.

WEISS LAKE

Bass and Crappie (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing Report) — WEISS LAKE DOWN 3.2 FEET, CLEAR, 50’S –Bass fishing is slow. They are in their wintertime mode of not moving much. It will take patience to have to put the bait right in front of the fish. Some added scent can help especially mid-day. Crappie fishing is fair. Drop small spoons on the bottom in the creek mouths close to the river and pick them up and drop them about 5 inches at a time.

LAKE YONAH

Wesley Turpen with his Angler Award yellow perch from Lake Yonah.

Wesley Turpen’s yellow perch catch is weighed for Angler Award verification.

Angler Award Catch on Yonah! Congrats to Wesley Turpen for a nice Yellow Perch caught on Yonah Lake this week! Wesley’s Yellow Perch qualified for a Georgia Angler Award and will be receiving a certificate of his catch along with some other goodies. If you are interested in learning more about Georgia’s Angler Award Program, please check out the following link:  GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/anglerawards

WEST POINT LAKE

Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, Southern Fishing Report) — WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN 4.7 FEET, CLEAR, 50’S — Bass fishing has been fair. Predicting the fishing has been really tough so far this winter. Up and down water temperatures lake levels, clear to muddy water, wind or no wind, generating and not generating all of these varying conditions affect the bite. With the cold weather predicted for late January and early February do not expect a big much action. Baits such as Rat L Traps, square bill crankbaits and Chatterbaits are catching s few fish mid day. Try red or crawfish patterns in the stained water. Try to fish these baits in coves and pockets with small feeder creeks or around schools of shallow baitfish. Fish the open water in the pockets with an Alabama Rig or Flash Mob Jr. to tempt bites from suspended fish. Keep a jig or shaky head handy to pitch around any wood cover. Fishing rip rap can also produce results this time of year especially after a warm up. As it turns cold expect schools of spots mixed with hybrids, white bass and stripers to be caught on jigging spoons and drop shot rigs and on shaky head rigs on humps and drop offs. Target deeper offshore structures like brush piles and old roadbeds in 20 to 30 feet of water near the mouths of most major creeks for the best results.

TROUT REPORT 

Wild and Stocked Trout (Courtesy of Jeff Durniak, Unicoi Outfitters) —

Wes’ Hot Fly List:  The same midwinter patterns continue to be our favorites.

Headwaters: They’re low and clear and should slowly warm up over the week ahead.  They were still real chilly yesterday (6th) at noon (Smith DH 42F, Dukes at Smithgall 42). Many forest roads may still be closed due to downed trees, so check the closure list on the Chattahoochee Forest page before aiming for interior roads. Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest | Alerts | Forest Service. Most state and county roads are now in good shape with the thaw, but Russell Highway was still gated yesterday.

Unicoi Outfitters guide Sydney with one of her catches.

Delayed Harvest: Both GA and SC wildlife agencies restocked their DH streams over the last week. Fresh stockers and warming water will spell success for DH trouters. Just be ready for tougher hikes around or over downed trees on angler trails due to the ice storm. UO guide Sydney was lighting up the fresh Smith stockers on her off-day yesterday.  A good mix of chunky bows and browns came to hand via some stripped streamers and drifted egg patterns. The DH streams will be your trouting best bet this week. Try movement (stripped buggers), or deep-drifted bright (eggs, worms) and buggy (girdle bugs) bugs for fresh stockers, while small and dark bugs  (pheasant tail and hares ear variants) will tempt older stocked fish. On warm afternoons, carry a few dark dries and be on the lookout for a few risers to little black stones, midges, and BWO’s.

Stockers: Stockers remain slim.  Your best bets are the two tailwaters for summer/fall holdovers and  just outside the DH stream boundaries to find the wash-downs.  Fishing public waters above or below private trophy waters might fetch you a straying brute or two. It’s Rainbow Romance season and some bows may swim upstream in search of clean gravel.

Chattahoochee Tailwater (Courtesy of Tad Murdock, Georgia Wild Trout) — The spawn has just about wrapped up but many of the fish should hang around the areas above highway 20 and recoup some energy for another couple weeks into February, before retreating back to their winter haunts. Some of these trout have been more optimistic about what’s on the menu following the spawn in an attempt to recover. These are the ideal conditions to see trophy size trout expose themselves and succumb to a well-presented fly. Our latest article on fly fishing streamers goes into more detail on the subject.

Small is still the ticket for numbers and both species throughout the river. Midge imitations in the size 20 range are your best chance to get bit. The dry fly and emergers bite has become a bit more temperamental. Either less bugs are hatching due to the colder temps, or the amount of generation is throwing off their groove. I still see the occasional trout rising but the consistency is lacking compared to what will come in the weeks ahead where consistent mid-morning hatches should become the norm. 

Toccoa Tailwater (Courtesy of Cohutta Fishing Company) —

Nice Toccoa River brown trout catch!

Best Flies Right Now on the Toccoa River: We’re still seeing consistent success with egg patterns, flashback Hare’s Ears, and flashback Pheasant Tails in a range of sizes. These remain solid producers, particularly during colder stretches. At the same time, anglers are starting to see better results with larger patterns, including Pat’s Rubber Legs and a variety of streamers, especially as flows stay elevated. 

Winter Bug Activity and Feeding Behavior: There isn’t a heavy bug hatch happening this time of year on the Toccoa River, so fish are feeding higher up the food chain. With fewer insects available, trout are more willing to chase bigger meals, which makes this a great time to shift away from strictly nymph-based approaches. 

Seasonal Strategy: Think Streamers: Fish tend to feed aggressively in between cold snaps, making timing important. When conditions line up, they’re gorging rather than picking selectively. In a nutshell: this is a great time of year to have a streamer mindset. Bigger flies, slower presentations, and deliberate pauses are paying off right now.

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.

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 bite has been on again off again in between feeding periods. Water temperatures are hanging right around the 50-degree mark with lightly stained water. Rains this week might dirty up the water somewhat towards the weekend. Bass, both spots and largemouth are being caught with the biggest being in the three-plus range. Work main lake points and also the islands whether large or small with the fire tiger suspending jointed Rapala Shad Rap. Any remaining mud lines from the rains needs a good working over as well. Try to throw in shallow and let the bait dig in the bottom as much as possible. Digging up the bottom will trigger a lot of bites in the fall as well as the spring. Stay out of the backs of the smaller creeks. The bass aren’t here and this can save the time for more productive fishing. Carolina rigged finesse worms are also working on or near any sharp bends of the rivers channels. Use a Zoom finesse worm in red shad. This plastic has been producing good fish here for over the last year and doesn’t show any sign of stopping any time soon. Downsize to 10-pound test Sufix Advantage clear line on a spinning reel and use a ¼ ounce brass weight with a small glass bead for best results. Working the bait slow is the key and letting it hang up in the numerous brush piles that are present will draw a good bite. By letting it hang up and anglers feel the brush pile, stop the bait and just lift the rod tip slowly and let the bait fall right back into the structure. Many bass are holding very tight to heavy structure and by using this method chances of hooking the bigger fish increase.

Black bass 2 (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports):  Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that early in February bass should still be caught deeper in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks around the bait schools where other species including perch are feeding. They will be caught on jigging spoons, drop shots, and jigs. However, later this month anglers will notice bass start to move shallower and take a wide variety of baits regardless of weather conditions are they prepare to stage for the spawn.

Striped bass (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports it was a decent January for stripers, but they are hopeful for a better February. This month some striped bass will be caught around the same deep bait schools where other species are feeding, but other striper will be roaming. Following the birds and covering water with free-lines or planer boards is usually the best pattern.

Crappie and perch (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in late January a few crappie started to show up again around deep bait schools, and this month they will get more and more common as yellow perch get more scarce. Early in the month they will take minnows fished around deeper schools of bait, while later in the month they will be caught trolling in the creeks as they begin to stage for the spawn.

Catfish (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Jerry Kotal reports that February is still not a month when very many people will be targeting catfish, but if you concentrate on deep water you can pick up a few channel catfish on cut herring.

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 6.7 FEET, 50’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is good this week but not too many anglers are traveling to the regions to fish here during December. With limited coming from the few anglers that have ventured here this past week, now is a good time to go and catch a good limit of bass. The larger bass are still biting and the pattern seems to be cranking and doing so on the channel ledges. Four- and five-pound bass have been taken this way all over the lake. Tie on a Rapala DT10 or 14 and tart off by fishing the upper most part of the ledges and work out to the deeper water. A number of casts are required before catching these quality bass but the rewards are worth the effort. The #9 Rapala Shad Rap is another good choice while fishing the deep-water ledges. Shallow water crank baits are still catching the majority of the bass but they aren’t as big and are mixed with a variety of other fish like Jack fish. Some anglers are reporting a slow rolling spinnerbait in at least a ½ ounce size is working but not as good as the cranks. Carolina rigs are also producing so rig up a Rattle Finesse Worm in smoke, green pumpkin or motor oil colors. Start off in the five-to-seven-foot depth and work it to the twenty-to-twenty-five-foot range. The bites will be light in nature so set the hook when anything different is felt.

Black bass 2 (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Guide Josh Rockefeller (706-513-6152) reports that in early February fish will still be related to brush or rock in the creeks and ditches, although very early in the morning they will often be found shallow – and even schooling – in the very backs of ditches. Fishing underspins and jigs will be effective all month, and of course many anglers will be throwing a minnow-type swimbait on a jighead. As temperatures warm this month then fish will start to move towards their pre-spawn and then spawning locations and stay shallower more of the time.

Striper and hybrids (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports): Little River Guide Service (706-210-3474) reports that during February fish will move around a lot, and one day you could find a big school in one area but then overnight it could be 5 or even 10 miles away. Continue to look for the birds and bait to locate fish. Free-lines, planer boards, and down-lines could all work depending on where and how deep the fish set up.

Crappie (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports):  Little River Guide Service reports that February is one of the best months of the year for catching big fish. As the weather warms, they will begin to stage for the spawn and can be caught trolling jigs in the backs of creeks.

Catfish (courtesy of SC Fishing Reports):  Captain Chris Simpson (864-992-2352) reports that February should again be a very good month for catfish on Lake Thurmond. Anchoring on channel ledges and fan-casting cut gizzard shad, white perch, and herring will be the best way to target big blue catfish. So far this season the creeks have out-fished the main lake.

26-pound Savannah River striper for Kyler Murray.

36-pound Savannah River striper for Tanner Hadden.

Linesides (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologist Aaron Gray): Tanner Hadden and Kyler Murray had a productive trip for striped bass on the Savannah River this week, reeling in 36 and 26 pound stripers!

Anglers should remember that trophy catches can be found on the river right near downtown Augusta – don’t pass by a great opportunity to land a lunker close to home! Both live bait and big artificial swimbaits can be productive right now. Go cast a line, check your drag, and hang on!

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 50’S 

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is slow. Most of the lake is clear but anglers need to find some stained to muddy water up the Oconee River. Bass fishing is slow due to the cold water. Look for schools of shad in the mouth of the coves and fish a Flex It Spoon on 10 pound test line. There have been, some good fish caught working around the bridges and rocks. Wait till the sun warms up the rocks so this water will warm up a degree or two. In these areas, fish a ¼ ounce Rat L Trap in silver and black. Fish the bait using a slow retrieve and let it fall as anglers move it away from the bank. The bites are light, so watch the line. Give it a few days of warmer weather and it should improve.

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.3 FEET, STAINED, 50’S

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. The bite has been on again off again in between feeding periods. Water temperatures are hanging right around the 50-degree mark with lightly stained water. Rains this week might dirty up the water somewhat towards the weekend. Work main lake points and also the islands whether large or small with the fire tiger suspending jointed Rapala Shad Rap. Any remaining mud lines from the rains needs a good working over as well. Try to throw in shallow and let the bait dig in the bottom as much as possible. Digging up the bottom will trigger a lot of bites in the fall as well as the spring. Stay out of the backs of the smaller creeks. The bass aren’t here and this can save the time for more productive fishing. Carolina rigged finesse worms are also working on or near any sharp bends of the rivers channels. Use a Zoom finesse worm in red shad. This plastic has been producing good fish here for over the last year and doesn’t show any sign of stopping any time soon. Downsize to 10-pound test Sufix Advantage clear line on a spinning reel and use a ¼ ounce brass weight with a small glass bead for best results. Working the bait slow is the key and letting it hang up in the numerous brush piles that are present will draw a good bite. By letting it hang up and anglers feel the brush pile, stop the bait and just lift the rod tip slowly and let the bait fall right back into the structure. Remember, some of these bass are holding very tight to heavy structure and by using this method chances of hooking the bigger fish increase.

LAKE JACKSON IS DOWN Full, CLEAR, 50’S 

Bass (courtesy of Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report): Bass fishing is fair. Small shallow pockets are luring in the bigger bass on days that the sun breaks out and warms up the water. With the water temperatures hanging right around the 50 degrees mar, this pattern should hold for another week or so. Small jerk baits and split shot rigged worms are doing the most damage here. From mid lake down south start the morning after the sun comes up working the rip rap with a Rapala #5 or #7 Shad Rap in the perch or natural shad color. These bass are following the herring up to the rocks and are feeding on them like crazy. Look for any tale signs of herring or shad on the surface near rip rap or any rocky point. The warmer water during the day after 1:00pm is holding the bait fish close to the bank until around 4:30. Don’t be afraid to throw in water that might be only 1 1/2 feet deep. If numerous herring are present in the shallow water use a good soft plastic bait like the Keitech swim baits. These baits can be worked like a plastic worm off the bottom or can be cranked to imitate a wounded baitfish.

PUBLIC FISHING AREAS IN CENTRAL GA

McDuffie Public Fishing Area

Flat Creek Public Fishing Area

Marben Public Fishing Area

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

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

The fish are about to start munching with this warm trend approaching. They should start thinking about shifting into their springtime ritual soon. Hopefully we will get some rain before long (we really need it) as most lakes and rivers are very low.

River Gages as of February 12th:

New Moon is on February 17th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

SATILLA RIVER

Craig James and Jacob Crews fished the upper section of the river on Wednesday morning and slaughtered them! They caught around 60 fish total (around 50 crappie and a dozen bass). The biggest crappie weighed 2-lbs. and the biggest bass went 3 ½-lbs. They used live minnows and a monkey milk colored jig to fool the crappie and a wacky rigged worm for the bass. Most of the fish were caught around 16-18 feet deep and were in mouths of oxbows and creeks. Ed Holloway launched his boat at Burnt Fort Saturday evening and he managed to catch 18 nice crappie while using live minnows under a float. 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.

ST MARYS RIVER

A Waycross area angler reported that he kayaked on the river on Tuesday and caught a half a dozen bass up to 4.47-lbs. A black colored Magnum Zoom Worm was the ticket.

WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER

Jim O’Conner had a great time on the river last Sunday. He landed 6 largemouth bass (biggest 18 ½ inches long), 5 Suwannee bass (biggest 14 ½ inches long) and around 20 bream on a Neko rigged 4-inch worm and a finesse jig. He hung a giant Suwannee bass that came off right at his kayak.

LAKES AND PONDS

Jimmy Zinker caught this giant pickerel on a Bang-O-Lure last Saturday out of a Turner County pond.

Jimmy Zinker and a friend fished at a pond Tuesday evening and caught 8 fish total (half were bass and other half jackfish) while using jerkbaits. The bite was tough though and they had to really work for them. I received reports this week from two Valdosta area anglers. One of them fished a local pond last Saturday and caught 12 bass up to 4.25-lbs. The other angler fished a Wayne County pond recently and landed around a dozen bass while using soft plastic worms. I also heard of a couple good crappie reports from Crescent Lake (near Palatka, Fl) but I don’t have any details from those trips. King of the Kayak Series held a tournament last weekend at Paradise Public Fishing Area near Tifton and the bite was tough. Only 8 bass were caught out of the 16 anglers that participated. One of the 8 bass was a 22-inch giant that weighed an estimated 8 pounds. A Waycross area angler fished at a pond yesterday afternoon and caught a couple nice bass on crankbaits.

PARADISE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

HUGH M. GILLIS PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR DUBLIN)

DODGE COUNTY PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR EASTMAN)

OCMULGEE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR HAWKINSVILLE)

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

The boat ramp on the west side (Stephen C. Foster State Park) is currently closed due to some renovations that are taking place around the boat basin. They estimate that it will probably be at least early May before it is reopened. Anglers can still launch kayaks and canoes though. Captain Bert Deener offers guided fishing trips in the Okefenokee. To book a trip with him, visit his website bertsjigsandthings.com. Recent Swamp level on the east side was 120.23 feet.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Dr. Warren Morgan caught this nice flounder today while fishing with Captain Tim Cutting.

Captain Tim Cutting caught this bull redfish in the Darien Area on a swimbait.

Chris caught this nice trout in the Brunswick area this week on a live shrimp.

Dr. Robert Bringolf fished the Brunswick last Friday and caught around a dozen trout while using live shrimp on an 1/8 oz. weighted hook. Most of the fish were caught on outgoing tide. Josh and Chris came down from Nashville, Tennessee this week to fish with Captain Bert Deener. They hit the Brunswick area on Monday and landed 18 fish (7 redfish, 10 trout, and a black drum). They got back in some small creeks and fished around shell mounds and creek mouths for their fish. Josh caught 3 on an electric chicken colored Satilla Spin Magnum Spinnerbait, but the rest ate live shrimp rigged on Captain Bert’s 1/8-oz. Shrimp Hook and on a 3/16-oz. Catfish Wrecker hook. They went back on Tuesday morning and boated 34 fish (23 redfish and 11 trout) all on live shrimp. Chris caught a unique redfish that had 7 spots on it. Captain Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) fished the saltwater part of the Altamaha River today and caught 9 trout, 3 redfish, and 3 flounder on Fourseven Lures swimbaits.

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.

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