Fisheries staff across Georgia remained highly active during the winter months, focusing on fish population monitoring, stocking, and habitat improvements. Crews conducted surveys on reservoirs and public fishing areas to track species health and abundance, while also stocking large numbers of trout, bass, catfish, and other fish to support recreational fishing and conservation goals. Habitat work was a major priority, with projects like installing fish attractors, adding shoreline structure, and improving spawning areas to enhance survival and growth of fish populations. Outreach efforts also played a key role, including youth fishing events, educational programs, and partnerships with agencies and local communities.

In addition to fieldwork, hatchery operations and infrastructure improvements were central to statewide efforts. Staff produced and distributed hundreds of thousands of fish, supported research on genetics and growth, and collaborated with universities and other organizations to refine management strategies. Maintenance and construction projects improved public access areas, hatcheries, and boating facilities, while ongoing education initiatives engaged students and the public in conservation. Together, these efforts demonstrate a coordinated approach to sustaining fisheries resources, improving angling opportunities, and supporting long-term ecosystem health across the state.

NEWS TO KNOW:

• • North Georgia trout stocking is underway for spring 2026, with over 50,000 trout being stocked across more than 80 streams and continued stockings through Labor Day to support strong fishing opportunities. Anglers can find updates, locations, and fishing information at GeorgiaWildlife.com/Fishing/Trout.
  • New Black Bass Conservation License Plate Available: Georgia anglers can now purchase a specialty license plate featuring a largemouth bass, with proceeds supporting fisheries conservation, habitat improvements, research, stocking programs, and education efforts across the state. Learn more: gadnr.org/license-plates
  • Go Fish Harvest Time! We’re excited to announce that Spring Harvest at the Go Fish Education Center in Perry begins Sun., Mar. 1, and runs through Sun., Mar. 29. Join us every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in March for a relaxing time by the water and take some fish home for dinner! Check out our Facebook page for more information at facebook.com/GoFishEducationCenter.
  • CoastFest: CoastFest is an exciting free annual event (scheduled for Mar. 21 at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in Brunswick) hosted by the Coastal Resources Division, dedicated to celebrating and educating the public about Georgia’s coastal heritage and natural resources. Expect hands-on learning, live wildlife, exhibits, and fun for all ages.

This week, we have fishing reports from North, Central, and Southeast Georgia, Southwest will be back next week. It’s finally Spring, so soak up the sun and try your luck on the water this weekend–Go Fish Georgia!

NORTH GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Jim Hakala, Region Fisheries Supervisor with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

RESERVOIR REPORT 

BLUE RIDGE

Blue Ridge Walleye: (This report courtesy of Lake and Stream Guide Service): March is when we start to see this lake wake back up from winter . We start to get some grass coming back, water levels start to come up and temps start to elevate above their bottomed out feb lows . This brings the walleye out of the depths and back into the zone . This zone is 35 ft to the shore depending on where the bait is . Lures that get down in the 18 to 27ft range are perfect for getting in these fishes face .Varying presentations from casting to trolling just to see what the fish want will help you get numbers and switching to a spoon or vertical presentation after you find them will typically yield the bigger fish . Key areas are from point 4 to 6 as the fish get ready to move up river to spawn . Early morning and after dark are going to be the best time to target these big-eyed fish as they prefer little to no light when feeding .

Blue Ridge Bass: (This report courtesy of Lake and Stream Guide Service): The bass bite has been downright ridiculous at times. Jerk baits and red craw cranks are getting absolutely destroyed on rocky points and shorelines. Bump bump pause on the jerk baits or banging boulders with cranks will trigger the bites and bites you will get. Mostly fat spots, but occasionally there’s a smallmouth mixed in as a nice bonus fish . Also keep an eye out for any top water action as it can start any day in March, and you’ll want to be ready when it happens.

CARTERS LAKE

Carters Lake Walleye: (This report courtesy of Eric Crowley, Lake and Stream Guide Service): We had the best February walleye bite we have ever seen . Lots and I mean lots of fish were caught in the last few weeks.  Trolling and jigging were both super productive and should stay steady for the next week or so . Finding fish under bait balls has been the go-to pattern but that’s pretty typical for Carters Lake especially this time of year . We have seen good avg size 20 to 24″ fish and sime bigger fish in the 26 to 28 ” range .Our best bite has been on a jigging spoon working the fish that are just off the bottom in 55 to 60ft of water . Again having bait around really helps as the fish are already ” in the mood ” . Look for the night bite to fire up this Month too. As the bait gets ready to spawn it will start to move up on shallow rocky structures under the cover of darkness.  You can bet the big walleyes will follow them. Casting to the shoreline disruptions made by both bait and feeding fish is a great way to put some bigEyes in the boat . We switch to all night trips when this happens and will target the night time feeding pattern till early April to maximize catch rates . This is a great time of year to book a night trip.

Carters Lake Striped Bass: (This report courtesy of Eric Crowley, Lake and Stream Guide Service): The striper bite has been really solid all winter and has picked up even more in the last week or so as the temps bump the 50 deg mark . We have been trolling Mini Macks and single bucktails from Capt. Mack with great results.  We are seeing fish from 10 to 23lbs recently clobbering the smaller wire frames of the u-rigs. 25 to 30ft has been the targeted depth zone for the past few weeks and I imagine that to be the case for the next few weeks as well.

LAKE ALLATOONA 

Lake Allatoona Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, The Southern Fishing Report) — Bass fishing is good. When targeting bass pulling up to spawn as they are now head to the protected coves with a hard bottom or pea gravel. Work a shaky head tipped with a Big Bite 6-inch Shaky Squirrel, 8-inch finesse worm or jig. Work it slow. For those fish that are pre-spawn the soft plastic jerk bait like the Big Bite Jerk Minnow worked quickly is a great way to catch good numbers. For windy days, run mid lake points with a white spinnerbait with white blades, A rig and a Carolina rigged Fighting Frog. Keep an eye out for schooling fish. A Spro McStick or Spro Dawg are two good baits to have on the deck ready for when the bass come to the surface to feed.

Lake Allatoona Crappie (Courtesy of Red Rooster Custom Baits redroosterbaits.com) — 

• Water Surface Temp: 58 – 62
• Water Clarity: North & South is Heavy Stained, Mid Lake Light Stain to Clear
• Area Fished: Clark, Tanyard, Kellogg/Owl Creek & Little River Area
• Jigs Used: Catawba – Slab Dragon, Tre’s Gold – Slab Dragon, Black & Blue – Slab Dragon, VooDoo Bloo – Kic’n Chic’n and Lemonade – Kic’n Chic’n
• Technique: Trolling

What a difference a week makes in March! This past week was not a great week for crappie on Lake Allatoona. We got hit with heavy rains and a severe cold snap after the rains moved through. We were able to get out for a couple of days but then the cold and wind came blowing in and pretty much shut everything down this week. We will be looking forward to next week in hopes that the weather and water temps cooperate for the final push of long line trolling season before April. As we move into the rest of March into April the crappie will start moving shallow as the water temps rise into the mid to high 60’s. There is still a lot of good crappie fishing on the way you just need to keep your eye on the forecast and watch the day/night temps. The water temps will start to rise quickly once the weather warms and stabilizes.

Even though this past week was not a good weather week we still managed to get on the water a couple of days before the rains, wind and cold snap. We trolled creeks, flats and points looking for schools of pre-spawn crappie. The week before when the water temps were in the mid 60’s we found shallow crappie in depths of 4′ to 6′. This past week the colder temps lowered the water temps back into the high 50’s and the crappie responded by moving out deeper. We found crappie at water depth’s of 8′ to 10′ and suspended in the 6′ to 4′ range. Key thing to remember is barometric pressure. General rule of thumb, at least from what we have learned, is that if the barometric pressure is rising the crappie drop towards the bottom. If the Barometric pressure is dropping, the crappie are suspended and up off of the bottom. This may be common knowledge but from the past few years of chasing crappie and observing electronics this has been the pattern that we have seen. This does make a difference when trolling and matching speeds to where the crappie are situated during Barometric cycles. With that said, we were trolling using a 1/24th oz. jig head at speeds of .7 to .9 mph. The bite was very slow on the cold mornings that we got out as opposed to the fast and furious week prior. Black & Blue, Black & Chartreuse, Sour Grape, Lemonade and Tre’s Gold were the most productive colors this past week. We expect that the water will start clearing up soon if we do not experience any downpours so the color selections will change as we move into late March and April.

Our go to colors for heavy stained to stained water are Lemonade, ‘Lectric Chicken, Black & Blue, Black & Chartreuse, Flo Pink Pepper & Bubble Gum. Now if the sun pops out on that muddy to stained water we switch to reflective colors like Tre’s Gold, Green Glimmer and Mardi Gras. There are other colors that we use during the month of March and you can see our article “The Best Crappie Jig Colors For Lake Allatoona In March” for the complete list. You want to use anything that is bright and will stand out when fishing this type of water during this time of year. We also believe that it helps to use a bright color jig head such as pink, chartreuse, orange and glow white. 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. Red Rooster makes 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 Allatoona Fish Habitat Enhancements: The DNR, Allatoona Corps, bass clubs, and local volunteers have partnered for over 25-years to improve fish habitat at Lake Allatoona.  So far in 2026, several hundred Christmas trees were anchored at the Bethany Bridge Fishing Jetty, dozens of shoreline trees have been cut and anchored, bamboo fish attractors have been sunk at several locations, and over 150 button bush trees were planted in Clear Creek.

Allatoona Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including Allatoona, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

LAKE HARTWELL

Lake Hartwell Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, The Southern Fishing Report ) — Bass fishing is good. If with the cold weather the bass are ready to hit the bank. Right now they are still in pre-spawn mode and moving day to day with this unpredictable weather. Many look around daily to find feeding fish and shad is the key ingredient. Once located, they are fairly easy to catch on a variety of lures and patterns. With some warm days in a row start out fishing shallow using crank baits, spinnerbaits or a Zoom Trick Worm rigged weightless. If it’s a little cool fish the main lake and secondary points with a Carolina rig and a Zoom lizard, especially in the spring. The spawn should begin by the full moon this month if we get some warmer nights. A Zoom Trick Worm is going to be hard to beat along banks leading to sandy areas off the main lake. The water is clear almost everywhere so keep looking shallow.

Lake Hartwell Mixed Bag: (This report courtesy of the guides mentioned below):

Black Bass: Guide Lane Clark (864-254-8614) reports that it is possible that some Lake Hartwell bass could spawn in March depending on water conditions and the moon phase, even as April is usually a much stronger month for spawning fish. This month expect bass to be moving towards the banks as they get into pre-spawn patterns and begin to stage adjacent to spawning areas. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and a variety of soft plastics will all work. By the end of February deep patterns were already getting weaker.

Striper & Hybrids: Captain Chip Hamilton (864-304-9011) reports that March is a transition month on Lake Hartwell. The beginning of March usually looks a lot like February, and fish should start out the mornings deeper off points just like they have been. However, the afternoon swimbait bite which was already coming on late in February should quickly get really good on sun-drenched, wind-blown banks. Then as water temperatures hit about 60 degrees the fish will be shallow all day, and they will mostly be caught from about 3-14 feet of water. For some anglers the preferred pattern is to beach the boat on points and cast out live bait, while others will prefer to fish planer boards. Overall March is usually when stripers turn on for the year after a slower winter.

Crappie: Guide Rodney Donald (864-356-0143) reports that in February he was already catching crappie surprisingly shallow, and in March even more fish will be up there. Significant numbers of fish should spawn in March and continuing into April. While some people will be trolling in the creeks, Rodney will generally be single pole fishing and 90 percent of the time on Hartwell he will be casting a jig with a black head and chartreuse tail. Once conditions are right you can also cast a minnow or jig under a cork at shallow cover this month.

Catfish: Captain Bill Plumley reports that to start out the month fish will still be deep, but by the middle to end of March the better blue catfish should move shallower into the creeks. Cut shad and cut herring will be the best baits.

LAKE LANIER

Lake Lanier Bass: (Via Phil Johnson, Pjohnson15@hotmail.com (770) 366 8845 via The Southern Fishing Report) — Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is very good. The lake is currently about five feet below full pool and the water temperature is running in the upper fifties to low sixties. The main lake is clear with staining in the backs of some creeks and up the rivers. With the warming water the bass are on the move to their bedding areas which will be located in the fifteen foot or less range. The largemouth will be moving to the 5-foot range mostly in the backs of the pockets and the spots will be located deeper on reef poles and sandy areas. For now, they are staging outside and near those areas, so shallow fishing is the ticket. Multiple baits have worked over the last week but three have produced more consistently, a quarter or three eights ounce Spot Choker Finesse with a two eight Keitech in Electric shad or Tennessee shad, a spinner bait and a worm. For the Spot Choker we have been working it from the mouths of the pockets all the way to the back while throwing it sometimes all the way on the bank. Retrieve it with a slow retrieve along the bottom with an occasional hop. A three eights white and chartreuse spinnerbait with willow leaf blades has been effective in the off-color water up the lake targeting to pockets and flats. Again, work it from the bank out with a steady retrieve. Either a quarter ounce Shakey head with a green tamale worm or a Neko rig set up has been working well on the docks in less than ten feet of water in the backs of the pockets. With both setups, watch for your line moving away as many of the strikes are very subtle. Other baits such as a jerk bait, chatter bait and shallow crankbaits will also catch bass right now. Lots of things are working and the bass are biting so pick your favorite and Go Catch ‘Em!

Lake Lanier Striper Report: (This report courtesy of Captain Ron Mullins from The Striper Experience): March is a true transition month on Lake Lanier. Early in the month, much of the bite still looks like winter. As water temperatures rise, fish begin to slide shallower, spreads open up, and the planer board bite takes over—sometimes even leading to early topwater opportunities late in the month.  Read the full report here.

Lanier Crappie (This report courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton, 770-530-6493): crappie fishing is good the water temperatures are in the mid-60s and the water is stained or muddy in the northern part of the lake. The Crappie are moving to the banks and back of creeks. Most of the fish we are catching are in 4 foot or less of water and they want to chase the bait.  Vertical jigging has not been productive. Look for small groups or individual fish for your best chance of landing a trophy fish the large schools have not been paying off and what does bite tend to be smaller fish. The jig color of choice is d2d by ATX lures or a grey and purple hair jig. For the best fishing experience consider using the following equipment: a one-piece ACC Crappie Stix rod and reel paired with 4- or 6-pound test K9 line with a Atx lure company jig. Further optimizing your efforts with a Garmin LiveScope.

Lanier Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including Lanier, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

WEISS LAKE

Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, The Southern Fishing Report) — WEISS LAKE DOWN 3 FEET, CLEAR, 50’S

Bass fishing is good. Most have moved to the spawning bays on secondary points and roadbeds. Spinner baits and crank baits are catching fish. The full moon late month will get lots of fish shallow lake wide and eating. A variety of lures are working. The bass will be heading to their spawning areas. A plastic worm is an excellent choice to catch bass in their spawning flats. A swim jig in 5/16 ounce is a great bait and everyone is using black and blue and green pumpkin colors. Many anglers are using power fishing outfits with high strength rods and braided line.

Crappie (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, The Southern Fishing Report) — Fishing is good. They are showing up in the spawning bays and creeks, and can be caught long line trolling with Jiffy Jigs in colors JJ13, JJ17, JJ20. Shooting docks with jigs is also producing some fish.

WEST POINT LAKE

West Point Hybrid Bass Report: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com): WEST POINT LAKE IS DOWN ~2.5 FEET, CLEAR, 60’S

Bass fishing is good. Weather can change daily so be prepared. Fish are moving up and getting ready to spawn. Fish the dead grass that is in the pockets with a black and blue Secret Lures swim jig and a chartreuse and white spinnerbait. Fish the docks in these pockets with a Big Bite Baits Yomama in hematoma. As the lake begins to clear and the month moves along, look for the fish to be in the backs of the pockets or on any sand patches that are in the pockets. Have the white or green pumpkin Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog ready. With any stained water, fish a dark colored Big Bite Baits lizard in these same areas. Make multiple casts to the same areas watch the sonar for bait schools roaming around.

West Point Linesides: (Report courtesy of angler Dustin Pate via GON Forum): We had another great weekend on the lake. I got out on the river Friday afternoon on a bait run for Saturday with no real intentions of fishing. Bait was stupid easy to get, and I had a couple hours to burn. I was able to put a number of super nice hybrids in the boat up to 8 3/4 pounds, one 15-pound striper, and several nice catfish.  Saturday morning I took some good friends down to the lake looking for a big fish. We hadn’t been there 15 minutes when this 27-pound “tank” of a striper smoked a 14-inch gizzard shad. It was one of the most amazing blowups you’ll ever witness. We had a couple more window shoppers and caught a few smaller fish. Once the sun got up good, we moved over to trolling for quantity. We put a pile of stripers and smaller hybrids in the boat before calling it a day once the boat traffic got crazy a little after lunch.  Sunday we were back after it on the upper Hooche trying to make the artificial bite work for white bass and hybrids. Unfortunately, it just isn’t really happening. We had probably 10 fish by lunch when we called it. I’m not really sure what’s going on with the white bass, but I’m rapidly getting concerned. I’m hoping they’re still held up down lake with the smaller hybrids we were catching Saturday. If they don’t show up soon, this might be a huge bust this year.

West Point Bass Tid-Bit: DNR stocked West Point Reservoir with over 500,000 largemouth bass in 2025.  These fingerling largemouth were largely stocked by boat into prime shoreline habitats.  Stockings of largemouth bass high in Florida alleles have been occurring at West Point since 2016.  Look for more “largies” to be stocked in 2026.

West Point Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including West Point, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

SMALL LAKE REPORT 

State Park Lakes: Want to enjoy some late winter fishing potentially close to home?  If so, Georgia State Parks has got you covered. Small lakes can offer great pre-spring fishing opportunities close to home.  Here are a few north Georgia State Parks with small lakes you may consider fishing this weekend.

• James H. “Sloppy” Floyd(Chattooga Co.).
• Fort Mountain(Murray Co.)
• Unicoi(White Co.)
• Black Rock Mtn.(Rabun Co.)
• Fort Yargo(Barrow Co.)
• Sweetwater Creek(Douglas Co.)

Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area Report:

• Rocky Mountain PFA Information

New fish attractors were recently deployed by DNR Fisheries staff at Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area (PFA) in Floyd County.  Most of these new artificial and natural fish attractors were placed close to the bank for easy access by bank anglers.  Do they work?  A recent DNR survey found numerous bass and bream holding on these new additions to include this healthy 7-pound largemouth that came off a PVC pipe fish attractor.   Find the location of these new structures, as well as the dozens of other fish attractors already found at the PFA here.

SMALL RIVER REPORT 

Chattahoochee Mixed Bag: (From Fisheries Biologist Josh Stafford): We surveyed the Chattahoochee River above Belton earlier this week. Water temp was 47 degrees, slightly stained and still relatively low. We didn’t observe any white bass and very few walleye and striped bass. We did however catch an 8.2-pound female walleye and two 5.5 – 6 pound largemouth bass though.  Hopefully, we will see white and striped bass numbers increase after the warm weather this weekend.

Chattahoochee Stripers:  Local anglers are reporting good numbers of striped bass moving into the shoal complexes of the Chattahoochee in downtown Columbus. While fly angler Jackson Sibley located this healthy fish with a streamer, other anglers are finding success with both live and cut shad. Fish in the 10-lb range seem to be the bulk of the catch, with reports of fish up to 20-lbs reported.

Oostanaula River Stripers: (From Fisheries Biologist John Damer): Our WRD Fisheries staff from Armuchee began scouting the Oostanaula River for striped bass this week, finding a handful of males plus the single 25-pound female pictured.  These scouting trips will continue regularly over the next few weeks as we monitor the striped bass spawning run to determine the optimal time to collect and ship broodfish to our hatcheries for spawning.  Striped bass collected from the rivers of northwest Georgia have shown great consistency in the numbers and quality of their eggs, which is why the Oostanaula River has become one of the primary broodfish sources for statewide hatchery production.

TROUT REPORT 

North Georgia Stocked Trout: (From DNR Trout Stocking Coordinator Chris French) The 2026 trout stocking season has begun! Several locations across North Georgia have been stocked this week and by the end of the month each of the trout stocking program streams will have been stocked at least once with plenty of 10”+ trout (and some 14” fish released in bigger streams). Stay up to date on weekly trout stockings across north Georgia by signing up for the weekly stocking report at GeorgiaWildlife.com/Fishing/Trout.

Summerville Trout Ready for Stocking: (From DNR Summerville Hatchery Manager Josh Tannehill): Summerville Fish Hatchery just completed an inventory of the trout set aside for early season stocking.  We’re happy to report that we have plenty of 10+ inch trout ready to hit the water, just in time for the start of stocking season.

Delayed Harvest Report (courtesy of GA DNR Trout Stocking Coordinator Chris French): The delayed harvest season for trout is in full swing!  Just this week, the Morgan Falls Tailwater (Chattahoochee R.) in Fulton and Cobb Counties was stocked with several thousand trout. All delayed harvest (DH) areas are catch and release, using single hook artificial lures only until May 14th, 2026. Fish will be periodically stocked in these streams throughout the remainder of the DH season.

Trout and More (This report courtesy of Unicoi Outfitters):  Check out Unicoi Outfitter’s regular “Angler Management” fishing reports here to get the complete story and more!

Toccoa Tailwater Trout: (This report courtesy of Cohutta Fishing Company). As a lot of you may know, Black Caddis have been coming off for about 3 weeks now. The cold snap has put the hatch on pause, but the warmer weather should trigger bigger hatches again. The best days to hit the hatch are the warm sunny days with little wind. Since the caddis started popping we’ve only had a few days like this which means the hatch should continue into March as the weather gets better. On those sunny days, be patient. The caddis will usually start popping around noon but the peak has been around 2pm or 3pm. Waiting it out has been the best thing to get on the dry fly action. If the weather is cloudy or a bit cooler, focus on catching fish on nymphs or even streamers. Keep that dry fly rod rigged just in case you find a riser or two. Caddis dries have definitely been the most fun thing to fish, but Caddis emergers behind a Pat’s Rubber Legs has been productive too. Numbers wise, the fishing has varied. With a lot of boats and wade fisherman the fish have been seeing a lot of flies through the day so take your time and fish thoroughly. Since the fishing pressure has been high, some days the fishing has been slower. But catching numbers isn’t why this is our favorite time of year on the Toccoa. Any cast could be your new PB or you could have the chance at spotting one of the big ones rising. Overall lots of nice fish have been getting caught out of the river!

Upper Toccoa Trout: (This report courtesy of Cohutta Fishing Company). The Upper Toccoa has been running between 300-400cfs after the rains we’ve been getting. Most days the upper has stayed wadeable, but make sure to check the gauge if it has rained the past few days. The DH was last stocked mid Feb. Most of the time a Pat’s Rubber legs and a Rainbow Warrior will get the job done. If the water is stained and a bit higher from some rain, try a worm out. Since DNR continually stocks the DH through the winter, attractor flies work really well up there. Right now, I would stick to bobber rigs that way you can easily adjust your depth for each hole.

Small Trout Streams: (This report courtesy of Cohutta Fishing Company).  We’ve spent most of the winter with little rainfall, which led to most of our creeks being pretty low. Now it seems like we’re getting caught up on our water levels and the flow has been really good for the past week. Black Caddis and Stoneflies have been working great in the creeks too. The hatches aren’t as prolific as they are on the tailwater, but there are enough for them to key into. Nymphs and streamers have been working best in these higher flows. But with stoneflies getting ready to hatch in the spring and summer those patterns have been pretty hard to beat. A lot of the wild trout teams throwing a Black Elk Hair Caddis is a fun way to look for those fish that are looking up. As we transition from winter to spring and our flows stay good the creeks should fish great the next few months.

Hot Flies:

• Black Elk Hair Caddis (sz14-18)
• Corn Fed Caddis Peacock (sz14-16)
• Black Foam Caddis (sz14-18)
• Black Holy Grail (sz16-18)
• Olive Holy Grail (sz16-18)
• Flashback Hare’s Ear (sz14-18)
• Krystal Caddis Larva (sz14-16)
• Pat’s Rubber Legs
• Tungsten Pat’s Rubber Legs
• Squirmy Worm
• San Juan Worm
• Sparkle Minnow
• Wooly Bugger

Georgia Trout Slam:  If you have the skill to successfully catch all three species of trout (brook, brown, rainbow) in Georgia within a calendar year, consider giving the Georgia Trout Slam a try in 2026!  All successful submissions will receive the coveted Georgia Trout Slam Sticker and be entered into a drawing for an annual grand prize.  Program details can be found at GeorgiaWildlife.com/trout-slam.  Slammer-intel: Brown trout have previously been stocked in the Morgan Falls (Chattahoochee River) and Smith Creek, Delayed Harvest Areas, as well as Lake Burton and the lower Toccoa River downstream of Lake Blue Ridge.

Trout Fishing Opportunities for Those With Disabilities: Find sites that are open to the public and offer specific amenities for anglers with disabilities at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/trout.

Upcoming Trout Festival: The Blue Ridge Trout Festival is April 26, 2026 in downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia. Meet World Fly Casting champion, Rene Hesse. Details and vendor information can be found at blueridgetroutfest.com.

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.

MISCELLANEOUS

How Healthy is My Fish?  With each fish at the end of their line, avid anglers often ask themselves a simple question: How healthy is this fish? One way that fisheries biologists answer that question is by looking at the relative weight of a fish.  Most fish have a relative weight between 90 and 100. A value below 80 means the fish is very thin, while anything over 100 means its relative weight is above average. Be in the “know” by checking out this handy relative weight calculator for ten common Georgia sportfish here.

Aquatic Nuisance Species Are No Joke!  Remember, moving live fish, aquatic plants, or mussels from one body of water to another can cause irreversible damage to the existing ecological balance of Georgia lakes, rivers, and streams. Releasing unwanted aquarium species or other non-native species into a water body can have severe negative impacts on Georgia’s native fish and fauna.  Learn more about aquatic nuisance species, how to stop their spread, and ways to report them if you observe them here.

CENTRAL GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Matthew Gerber, 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 

CLARKS HILL LAKE

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 7 FEET, 60’S – Bass fishing is fair. Main lake points near the mouth of the creeks and larger coves are a good place to look for bass. Crank baits like the Rapala DT10 and Rapala DT6 along with the RS Shad Raps and Ito Vision 110 jerk baits are catching bass. Some spotted bass are being caught on secondary points on crank baits and Carolina rigs. Lizards are a good choice to rig up here. The Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology will work very well even in 10 feet of water. Anglers can cover 68 feet of bottom at 10 feet deep with the 455 frequency beam. The key will be to throw in shallow and work the cranks and lizards real slow. The bass are hitting the crank baits on the first couple of turns of the reel handle.

LAKE RUSSELL

LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN 1.6 FEET, 60’S – Bass fishing is good. Bass are feeding all during the day and the spots are roaming and hitting the crank baits well. Work Beaverdam Creek using a variety of Shad Raps. Crank baits and finesse worms account for the majority of the bass. A short cold front may slow things a little, but the fishing will rebound after the full moon leaves. Head up the Savannah River early and then after mid-day, go back down lake to the 72 bridge and up in Beaverdam Creek. Stay in the wind and keep cranking the Rapala Shad Raps. Try the crank baits, but do not fish it too fast as it will roll over. Fish no further back in the creeks than the secondary points and remember the larger bass are going to be holding to the cover. Look at the front deck of most bass boats this time of year and there will be a jerk bait rigged. Anglers are now heavily dependent on hard baits like the Berkley Stunna. The Stunna has a baitfish shimmy and action that works in almost all water colors. Make several casts on both sides of any brush piles and wood. On any sunny day, crank the windblown side of the 72 bridge rip rap.

LAKE OCONEE

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 50’S – Bass is good. Fish are shallow in 1 to 3 feet of water, looking to fatten up for the spawn that should materialize in a few days. Work any shallow cover very slow with Texas rigged Zoom lizards, Wackem Crazy Baits, Big Tater Bug, and a Senko. Good colors are June bug, black, or redbug. Fish the cover slowly and pick all the cover apart. Bass can be on every piece of cover so get on the trolling motor and cover water. They are probably there and need some time to bite. Late in the month look for the shad and bass spawn to start on rip rap and seawalls. Fish Buzz baits and spinnerbaits in white or black up tight on the rocks and shad spawn. It can happen fast in the mornings and be over in 30 minutes or less but can be very productive.

Oconee Tournament: A strong field of 29 anglers competed in the American Bass Anglers AFT D72 tournament on Lake Oconee on March 14, 2026, with total payouts reaching $1,421. Brian Garner of Locust Grove took home the win with a five-bass limit weighing 14.94 pounds. Garner also secured Big Bass honors with a 5.56-pound fish, earning both the Big Bass trophy and an additional cash prize. Les Charles of Milledgeville finished second with 12.74 pounds, followed closely by Rob Johnston of Eatonton in third with 12.72 pounds. Additional prizes were awarded following the weigh-in, including cash drawings and a custom item giveaway.

The next tournament is scheduled for April 26 on Lake Oconee at Sugar Creek Marina.

LAKE SINCLAIR

LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 60’S – Bass fishing is good. Carolina rigs and small to medium crank baits have been producing more consistently than other baits. Primary and secondary points and flats are the places to throw the Carolina rig. Depths vary from 3 to more than 10 feet. Try a Zoom Finesse or U tale worm in June bug or green pumpkin on a 1/0 Gamakatsu extra wide gap hook. A 2- or 3-foot leader of 12 pound line is attached to 14 or 17 pound main line with a half-ounce weight. Crank baits have worked on the same points and around rip rap, docks, rocks, blow downs, and in coves and pockets. For depths of 2 to 6 feet, try a ¼ ounce Rat L Trap, #4 and #5 Shad Rap RS, and Bomber Model 6A. Some good baits for 7 to 10 feet are a Fat Free Shad #6, Norman Deep Little N, and Rapala DT10. Most chartreuse patterns along with chrome blue and crawfish patterns should work. Spinner baits may get more consistent very soon with the average temperatures moderating. Try a 3/8-ounce Stanley in chartreuse with a single gold Colorado blade on the points and rip rap. A tandem blade model usually works best around wood and grass. Work the jigs and Texas rigs around docks, brush piles, and blow downs. Staying light has been best, but power fishing these baits should get better.

LAKE JACKSON

LAKE JACKSON IS DOWN 2 FEET, 60’S – Bass fishing is good. Weather fronts are still rolling through, though short lived. Up in the rivers the water is reaching 55 to 56 degrees and the bass are up shallow this week after the full moon. White spinnerbaits are the favorite this week and fish are on structure they can find. Docks and stumps are getting a pounding, and some nice bass are being caught. A small number are being caught on top water with Chug bugs. The top water bite is still a week or so away. For a fast bite, use the Berkley Square Bill 7.5 and 8.5 Special Craw 2 Brown Craw. This lake is known for heavy cover, especially around the numerous boat docks.

PRIVATE POND REPORT

On the private pond side, both Peyton Rogers and Robert Eltzroth IV connected with some lunker largemouth! It’s a great time of year to break your personal best bass mark on baits such as chatterbaits, plastic worms, lizards, and spinnerbaits.

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

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

• Marben PFA Information
• Water Level: Most ponds remain slightly below full pool; recent rains have improved conditions.
• Water Clarity: Clear to lightly stained
• Surface Temperature: Warming into the 60s
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide

Marben PFA is a great place to shake off cabin fever and enjoy spring fishing. As always, anglers are encouraged to adjust tactics based on daily conditions and water temperatures.

Spring conditions are beginning to take hold at Marben PFA, and warming water temperatures have anglers eager to get back on the water. As daylight increases and temperatures rise, fish activity should steadily improve across all ponds. 

Bass: Bass fishing is expected to improve as water temperatures continue to warm. Fish will begin moving shallower during stable, warming trends. Anglers should focus on soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and shallow-running crankbaits around shoreline cover, woody structure, and pond points during the afternoon hours when water temperatures peak. 

Crappie: Crappie will transition from deeper winter holding areas toward shallow structure as spawning approaches. Target brush, submerged timber, and pond edges with minnows or small jigs. Fishing success should improve significantly with consecutive days of warm weather. 

Bream: Spring is an excellent time to target bream at Marben. Recent bluegill stockings will provide additional opportunities for anglers, and fish will become more active as water temperatures rise. Red wigglers and crickets fished near the bottom around shoreline cover and shallow structure should produce steady action. As spawning activity increases later in the season, anglers can expect even better catch rates. 

Channel Catfish: Catfish activity will increase with warming water temperatures. Anglers fishing cut bait, worms, or prepared baits on the bottom should begin to see improving success, particularly during the evening hours.

MCDUFFIE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of Area Manager Chalisa Fabillar)–

• McDuffie PFA Information
• McDuffie PFA Fishing Guide

Fishing has been heating up around here. Folks are pulling smaller bass pretty easily. Though larger bass are moving in the shallows as well, they are pickier about their prey.

Bream biting is heating up, too, with lots of nice shellcracker being caught from Willow Lake, Clubhouse, and Bridge Lakes. Red wigglers and other worms seem to be the ticket there.

We made a supplemental stocking of nearly 500lbs of catfish on Jones Lake this week. Jones is our 24hr pond outside the main gate. So, our night fishermen should be very happy the next few weeks.

Across the broader CSRA, fishing is continuing to heat up! Several consecutive warm days have resulted in consistent action for local anglers. With some upcoming cooler spells in the forecast, anglers should keep in mind that patterns may shift coming up. Slowing down and trying more finesse-style baits that closely mimic natural forage might be the ticket on these colder days coming soon.

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

• Flat Creek PFA Information
• Water Level: 38.5” below full pool

• Water Temperature: Low 70’s
• Water Clarity: 26″
• Flat Creek PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Water temps are same as last week and so is the bass activity. Bass are in shallower waters and exhibiting spawning activities. Anglers are reporting catches using swimbaits and spinnerbaits in white/chartreuse

Bream: Red Wigglers continue to produce Bream. Target the treetops next to the boat ramp.

Crappie: The crappie bite has been steady. The treetops to the right of the boat ramp have been a popular spot for crappie.  Minnows continue to be the choice bait.

Catfish: Catfish activity should be picking up soon. 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.

If you are having difficulty catching fish at FCPFA, try talking to other anglers. Flat Creek PFA receives high pressure, and it can take some time to narrow down techniques and locations where fish are biting.

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

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

The cold front has run some bass off their beds but the upcoming warm weather should get them active again. Rivers and ponds should be good options for this weekend.

 

River Gages as of March 19th:

• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 8.6 feet and steady
• Lumber City on the Ocmulgee – 6.0 feet and rising
• Clyo on the Savannah – 5.5 feet and rising
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 3.3 feet and steady
• Waycross on the Satilla – 6.4 feet and rising
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 4.4 feet and steady
• Quitman on the Withlacoochee – 2.5 feet and steady
• Macclenny on the Saint Marys – 2.1 feet and steady
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 1.7 feet and falling

First Quarter Moon is on March 25th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER

Brandon Baker and a friend fished the Withlacoochee and caught 8 largemouth, 3 Suwannee bass, and 13 panfish. Their biggest Suwannee bass was 1.5-lbs. Jim O’Conner spent a couple hours fishing on the river this week. He caught 7 Suwannee bass and a few decent largemouth on a 3/16 oz. bluegill colored chatterbait and a Neko rig.

LAKES AND PONDS

Timmy Barber and a friend fished at Lake Iamonia (near Tallahassee) and caught 20 nice bass. Timmy said that the water level is pretty low right now. I heard this week that Lake Miccosukee is down 4 or 5 feet. A friend of mine launched at Reeves landing about two weeks ago and drove to the southern part of the lake. It was so low that he couldn’t get back on plane because the motor was hitting bottom. He had to troll a long ways back up the lake before he could take off. Jimmy Zinker fished at a Worth County pond this evening and landed 3 nice bass (weighed around 3-4 lbs.) while using a firetiger colored Dura-Spin. Micheal Wing reported that anglers have been catching bass in local ponds on trick worms and soft plastics this week. A few anglers went down to Crescent Lake (near Palatka, FL) and said that they caught a mess of crappie while using live minnows. A benefit tournament was held at Paradise Public Fishing Area last Saturday and the top three places all had 12 pounds and some change. The big fish of the tournament was right at 5 pounds.

SATILLA RIVER

Kerry Hood and Scott Livingston reported that they wore out the bass on the Satilla this week. They used Silverback buzzbaits to whack them. I spent my birthday on the lower river on Tuesday and, despite the cold front,  I managed to catch 10 bass (had several get off). The fish bit crawdad and chartreuse colored crankbaits. Morris Carter went camping on the lower river last week and caught around a dozen panfish and catfish on worms. He said that the bite was slow though. Brinson Thornton landed a 5.42-lb. bass on the river this week while using a chatterbait. An angler fished at Jamestown recently and said that he caught a nice mess of catfish on worms.

OCMULGEE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Hawkinsville)

• Ocmulgee PFA Info
• Ocmulgee PFA Fishing Guide

HUGH M. GILLIS PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR DUBLIN)

• Hugh Gillis PFA Information
• Hugh Gillis PFA Fishing Guide

DODGE COUNTY PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR EASTMAN)

• Dodge County PFA Information  
• Dodge County Fishing Guide

PARADISE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• Paradise Public Fishing Area Information 
• Paradise PFA Fishing Guide

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

The only report from the Swamp this week is from an angler who caught a cooler full of catfish while using shrimp. 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. Latest Swamp level (before the recent rain) on the east side was 120.09 feet. Be careful driving your boat with the low water conditions.

SALTWATER (GEORGIA COAST)

Brentz McGhin and a friend fished the Brunswick area and kept 70 nice sized whiting. They used shrimp on bottom to fool them. Captain Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) and Doug McNeil fished the southern end of Saint Simons Island last Friday. They landed 24 trout (half were keepers), 6 redfish, and a pair of flounder. They used Down South Lures Southern Shad swimbaits rigged on Tourney Tackle 3/16 oz. jigheads to catch their fish. Thomas Sweeney and his neighbors had two good trips out of Maiden Creek recently. On the first trip they caught 8 redfish (biggest measured 28 inches long) and 4 trout. The next day they caught 11 redfish and 3 trout. Live baitfish under a float fooled them.

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 or send them through Messenger on Southern Waters Fishing Report’s Facebook Page.

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

Sorry y’all, our fisheries folks are out doing fisheries stuff. The Southwest Report will return next week!