If you’re planning a trip to South Georgia, it’s important to be aware of current wildfire conditions affecting the area. Due to ongoing wildfire activity, visitors are strongly encouraged to use extra caution and stay informed about local conditions. The Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division is working with partner agencies to monitor and respond, and safety remains a top priority for both visitors and wildlife.

Because of the increased fire danger, campfires and grilling are currently prohibited at several Public Fishing Areas (PFAs). This temporary ban is in place to reduce the risk of additional human-caused wildfires and to help protect natural habitats, staff, and the public. The affected PFAs include McDuffie, Big Lazer, Dodge, Evans, Flat Creek, Ocmulgee, Hugh Gillis, Paradise, and Silver Lake.

Before heading out, visitors should check for the latest updates and be sure to follow all posted restrictions while on site. Staying alert and informed can make a big difference in keeping everyone safe during this time. For the most up-to-date information on closures, visit https://georgiawildlife.com/closures. To learn more about the active burn ban and wildfire response efforts across the state, visit https://gatrees.org/current-wildfire-information-and-resources/.

NEWS TO KNOW:

• • 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.
  • 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: GeorgiaWildlife.com/licenseplates.

This week, we have fishing reports from North, Central, and Southeast Georgia, Southwest Report will be back next week! With wildfire risks elevated across South Georgia, anglers are encouraged to stay informed and follow all restrictions while enjoying the outdoors—conditions may be hot, but safety comes first before heading out to Go Fish Georgia!

NORTH GEORGIA

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

RESERVOIR REPORT 

LAKE ALLATOONA 

Bass (courtesy of Southern Fishing) — Bass fishing is great. The lake is full and almost any bait will work. Fish are active and vastly on the move to shallow areas. Fish are being caught several different was. Soft plastic jerk baits Big bite jerk minnow hard Jerk baits Spro Mcstick jigs like the Kustom Kicker freak Carolina rig tipped with lizards and much more. Expect 30 fish a day as common. Use the Rapala Ott’s Garage 8 flat sided crank baits and the Bomber Flat A or a Thundershad coffin bill. The fish will be on bed in the backs of coves and pockets. The water is a little warmer these areas. Megabass Vision 110 jerk bait is tuned to match the of a real bait fish. The Megabass Vision 110 jerk bait is already a legend and this bait will be a fish catching machine. Fish are in 6 to 10 feet and moving shallower quick. Be ready for the top water to break loose for some great action. The spots will start to show up in large schools.

Crappie  (courtesy of Red Rooster Custom Baits)– This week’s Lake Allatoona crappie fishing report is brought to you by Bayne’s Fishing & Outdoors. Bayne’s Fishing & Outdoors is conveniently located in Cartersville, Georgia and has everything you and your family need for a great day on the water! Bayne’s Fishing & Outdoors has a large live bait selection featuring minnows, shad, worms & crickets as well as all the top name in lures and artificial jigs (including Red Rooster). If you are looking for a kayak or kayak related products they have those as well. They also feature custom rod work, rod repair and rod spooling. Stop by and see Bayne’s Fishing & Outdoors and let them know you saw them on Red Rooster’s weekly Lake Allatoona crappie fishing report.

Weekly Crappie Report — We are in mid-April and the crappie are exactly where they should be this time of year and it doesn’t matter if you are on a boat or on the bank you can catch ’em with a bobber and a minnow or bobber and a jig in shallow cuts around docks or any type of structure. This is a great time to get the kids outdoors and off the screens for a few hours! The lake is down 5′ which is low for this time of year, normally we are approaching full pool and water is on the banks covering more structure but there is plenty of shallow structure with crappie on it that is accessible by foot all over the lake. If you see a cut or cove…fish it. Set your jigs or minnows around 12″ to 18″ under the bobber and work it in and around cover or parallel to the bank in about 2′ to 8′ of water. You can reel it slowly back or let it sit around structure and watch the bobber…when that bobber goes under set the hook and you may very well have a nice Allatoona slab crappie on the hook. This pattern should work for the next few weeks until the water temp rises to the mid to high 70’s depending on how hot our weather gets in the next few weeks. The Red Rooster Dagger 1.5″ split tail crappie jig is working well right now under a bobber but there are times when crappie are more resistant to bite and they are looking for that small crappie minnow. During this time the crappie are active so you can also catch plenty slowly reeling a crappie jig parallel to the bank and around structure/cover. Use a 1/32nd oz. jig head, throw it out and let it fall to the bottom and then slowly reel it back to the boat or bank and if there is any active crappie they will come and get it. A bobber and a small subtle jig like the Red Rooster Dagger is our go to set up for this time of year. We use a small weighted bobber for casting distance, with a 1/32nd oz. jig head and a Dagger set about 12″ to 18″ below the bobber. Our favorite colors this time of year are UV Shad, UV Smoke, Watermelon Red, Motor Oil Red, Watermelon Ghost and Mayfly. We like those colors as they are natural, translucent colors in the light stain to clear Allatoona waters. Another sure fire way to catch active crappie is with a paddle tail jig like the Red Rooster Kic’n Chic’n or Kic’n Chic’n XL with a slow to medium retrieve. Target banks, cuts and wood using a 1/32nd oz. or 1/24th oz. jig head and work it back to the boat (or bank) in 2′ to 10′ of water.

Make sure to check out our past April Lake Allatoona Crappie Fishing Reports to see what we were doing this time last year!

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.

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 

Linesides (courtesy of Jack Becker a.k.a. Georgia Waterdog): After having two great trips last week fishing for hybrids on the Tugalo river below Yona Dam I made another trip this week. I learned a valuable lesson. Always check the wind forecast for Toccoa, Georgia before going up there. We only had about two hours of low wind and then the rest of the day we had 7 to 10 mph wind with gusts to 27 mph. I do well pulling blue back herring on free lines and downlines going down stream at a very low speed, .2 to .5 mph but on this day the wind stayed constantly high pushing me 2 to 2.5 mph. Going upstream into the wind I caught 6 Hybrids. The water is still extremely low. You cannot launch a boat at Walkers Creek boat ramp.  I launch at Stephens County Park boat ramp (Highway 123 Bridge). This section of the river is very shallow. Make sure you go very slow and watch your map and stay in the channel. It makes for a long boat ride up to where I start fishing at the old Confederate Bridge pilings that are still standing in the river. From there up river about 500 yards is the area I fish the most. I lose mapping on my Humminbird, Helix Lake Master map when I’m in the river section. I have auto chart live and have made a detailed map of the river. I use a Minithumper, fish attractor and splasher when I’m fishing Stripers, Hybrids or White Bass.  If you want more information please email me at Aquadog45@gmail.com.

Mixed Bag (courtesy of Captain Cefus McRea (Cefus@NutsAndBoltsFishing.com or 404-402-8329); report via Southern Fishing)– Spring is finally here! And it’s starting with a bang. The last week or so has seen rollercoaster temperature swings and lots of wind. But now things seem to be settling into a good spring pattern. Water temperatures have finally hit the 70 degree mark and that’s a good thing. All the species are getting frisky now. So whether you’re partial to green fish or striped fish now is the time to be getting on the water. The top water bite this week has been off the chain. You have to get out early though when there is enough light to safely navigate the water. Look for diving gulls in the mouth or backs of creeks and the major bays on the south end of the lake. This is something you won’t normally hear but if there are loons or cormorants working bait that’s OK. Make a sweep by there anyway. Get out your binoculars and look really hard to see if there are splashes ahead and away from the loon because those will be the mark of stripers and hybrids. That’s been the case for several days in a row. Look for stripers and loons to be pushing bait up on shallow bars and banks and also in open water. It could literally be happening anywhere. So you’ve got to really keep a keen lookout. And the gamefish will be moving fast as they chase bait. Get a sense of the direction they are headed by looking at the birds. Then plot an intercept course so the fish will come to you. If you have to travel a good distance in order to do this be sure to shut down your big motor well before you come to the intercept location. Use your trolling motor sparingly. You have a lot of options for bait choice. And when the stripers are actively feeding you can probably tie on a pine cone and they’ll eat it. The baits that have been effective are MirrorLure Top Dog (silver/blue or white/blue) Storm Chug Bug in 3 inch or 4 inch (blue mullet silver mullet or Tennessee shad) Lucky Craft Sammy (aurora or herring) and Cotton Cordell Redfin 4 inch (silver/black blue/silver). Have all the anglers initially try different lures then let the fish tell you what they want to eat and everyone can change to that lure/color. Be sure to have some blueback herring on downlines as well. As the fish move through they will be throughout the water column and the herring will get you extra bites. You don’t really need to chase the fish that much just let them come to you. Be patient and precise with your casts. Put the lure several feet ahead of where you saw the last splash. Once it hits the water let it sit for at least 5 seconds before you do any retrieving. If a fish hits but doesn’t get hooked continue retrieving at the same speed and add a couple start/stops to look like the bait was injured. On a cloudy day this action can happen all day long. So always have a rod rigged and ready to pitch to surfacing fish. For bass and crappie anglers it’s game on right now. Crappie have moved out to deeper water structure whether its brush piles docks or bridges in 10 to 15 feet of water. And they are good fish. I’ve had more luck with live minnows versus jigs. But jigs will still get a bite. Bass are on beds and catchable if you are stealthy and patient. Spring is on here and it’s one of the best times of year on the lake. If you’d like to spend a fun day on the water give me a call at 404-402-8329 or drop an email to Cefus@NutsAndBoltsFishing.com. Tight Lines and Smooth Seas.

Mixed Bag (courtesy of GADNR Fisheries Biologist Kyle Rempe)- We completed our annual spring sampling of the lake this week and I can share that the site with the biggest trophy bass and crappie was a cove close to the Stephens County Park ramp. Low water levels from the drought meant that the usual habitat wasn’t submerged for fish usage, but we were still able to find them holding along whatever structure was underwater and along the various points around the reservoir. Our 90-horsepower prop motor had the skeg grazing mud quite a few times to squeeze back in spots with the electrofishing boat anodes, but I’m sure anglers will have an easier time casting in from a safer distance.

Be mindful of your water depths when navigating the lake and enjoy the great fishing weather while it’s here!

LAKE LANIER 

Bass: (Via Phil Johnson, Pjohnson15@hotmail.com (770) 366 8845 via The Southern Fishing Report)- Bass fishing is very good. The lake is currently five feet below full pool with the water temperature running in the low sixties. Overall the lake is clear. There are several techniques working well right now in the less than twenty feet of water range including the spinnerbait, Spot Choker underspin, Ima Skimmer, Wacky rig, Fluke, Shakey Head and Neko rig. To start with, the herring spawn is going on with the key shallow areas being hard surfaces such as red clay points, bridge pilings, blow through and marina walls. Often you will smell the area the shad are shallow before you see the surface flickers they make. Early in the morning a top water bait worked slowly around the spawn will draw strikes with the quarter ounce Spot Choker with a Keltic or a white spinnerbait with silver blades working also. Another good bait choice is a chartreuse fluke worked in the same spawn areas. On the marina walls, work them parallel with the spinner bait, Spot Choker and Fluke, This is the area that it will be easier to see the herring moving around, Away from the spawn the long red clay points and flats with rocks and reef poles have been productive areas for spotted bass. The spinnerbait and the SpotChoker have been producing some very quality fish in these areas. The top water bite is just getting started on the humps and ends of long points so keep the Ima Skimmer and Riser handy as these fish get more post spawn and the water temperature continues to rise, Right now is one of the greatest times of the year on Lanier with over twenty bass per day and many three and four pound bass being caught. Get out and enjoy what makes Lake Lanier so special and Go Catch ‘Em!

Crappie (courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton (770-530-6493); report via Southern Fishing): Lake Lanier crappie fishing is good the water temperatures are in the low 70’s and the water is clear in the northern part of the lake. The Crappie are moving off the banks and back to docks. Most of the fish we are catching are still in 10 to 15 feet or less of water and they want to chase the bait vertical jigs has not been productive yet. Large schools are roaming near the creek channel. Look for small groups or individual fish for your best chance of landing a trophy. The jig color of choice is petty pearl white and purple by ATX lures or a blue and chartreuse hair jig. For your 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. To schedule your guided Lake Lanier crappie fishing trip, please contact Captain Josh Thornton at 770-530-6493.

Linesides (courtesy of Buck Cannon, Buck Tales Guide Service (404-510-1778); report via Southern Fishing): Lake Lanier Stripers are in the back of the coves from mid lake to upper lake in both rivers. Watch for any top water activity then put your spread out using blue backs on planer boards and flat lines. Put your baits 40 feet behind the boards and 60 to 80 feet back on the flat lines. Now there are need for weights just use a medium swivel and #4 circle hook with a 12 pound leader 6 feet long. Temperature are rising and lots of pollen and check your bait often to ensure they are lively. Remember to wear your life jacket.

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) — Bass fishing is great and they are being caught shallow in 2 to 5 feet of water on spinner baits Chatter baits and shallow running crank baits. Green pumpkin is the starting color. Do not use a plastic ring when rigging it wacky style this kills it’s deadly action. Pig and jigs under docks is also producing some good bass. Tournament weights have been high all month long. Lots of largemouth are being caught. It’s hard to beat a 7 inch white or yellow weightless Zoom Trick worm.

Crappie (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, The Southern Fishing Report)- Crappie fishing is awesome and they are being caught shallow in 3 to 6 feet of water a few fish are still staged out deep. They are being caught long line trolling with 1/24 ounce Jiffy Jigs in colors JJ01 JJ06 JJ13 JJ17 JJ20 JJ37 and Marks Special Blue. Shooting docks is starting to produce a lot of Crappie also. A lot of fish are also being caught casting jigs and minnows to the banks

WEST POINT LAKE 

Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, The Southern Fishing Report) — Bass fishing is good. The fish are shallow lake wide and the fish have been through the just first shallow period. Use the soft plastics like a Zoom lizard on a light Carolina rig and the trick worms or creature baits. Work the isolated cover and depressions. These fish are most likely relating to small ditches waiting to pull up for the spawn. A light Carolina Rig can also be effective in these same areas. The best areas have been from Wehadkee creek north to the 109 bridge. Anything on the banks can have fish in and around it, trees, rocks and bridge pilings and just fish shallow. Use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology to help find the concentrations of bait and the bass will be there too.

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.

RIVER REPORT

A good read about the Toccoa Tailwater by Jimmy Jacobs, right in time for the Blue Ridge Trout Festival this weekend. Come swing by the GADNR booth and say hello!

Mixed Bag (report courtesy of Cohutta Fishing Company): Water is still low despite some rain here and there. We’ve wrapped up the black caddis from last month and are now starting to see March Browns showing up here and there.

Hot flies on the Toccoa tailwater have been Duracells with a copper bead, along with Pat’s Rubber Legs in coffee color without a bead. Holy Grails and March Brown jigs have also been working.

On our warm water rivers, we’re getting prespawn bass to come off structure using bigger, hovering flies like CJ’s Sluggos or a Drunk and Disorderly.

We’re also starting to find striper in the shoals, with flies that imitate shad—like Spot-On Baitfish—working well!

Mixed Bag (courtesy of Jeff Durniak, Unicoi Outfitters):

It’s the same old song up here: hot and extremely dry with very skinny water, but still with cooperative fish! Stream temps are rising, however, so mornings are better for stockers, while evenings are still very good for dry fly action. Now we just need rain, lots of it!

This is the region’s worst drought in 20 years, so many areas up here and in NC are now under outdoor burning restrictions. Please refrain from your campfires until our tinder-dry woods recover. Grab your dry flies and have some fun in the shade and at dusk. Don’t forget a flashlight.

Pond and lake bassin’ is still good in the shallows and the bass rivers are starting to warm up, too, so it’s a good time to start your summer bass floats.

Wes’ Hot Fly List:

Parachute Adams, para light cahill, emerger caddis, sulfur Drymerger, tan elk hair caddis, yellow stimulator and sally, micro chubby.

Nymphs & Wets: Squirmies, Mops, and buggers for stockers. Frenchie, sexy Walts, hares ear and pheasant tail soft hackles and nymphs.

Mountain streams: Pheasant tail, prince nymph, small Frencie, soft hackle partridge.

Streamers: UV polar jig, sparkle minnow, small buggers and leeches.

Reservoir Bass & Stripers: Cowen’s somethin else, low fat minnow, game changer, Clouser.

River bass: Dead Ned, crittermite, polarchanger, clouser, sparkle yummy.

Headwaters– Low and clear and warming in the afternoons. They’re still fishable, but trout may be more cooperative early, before the sun heats the water.

Delayed Harvest– Low, clear water and a variety of hatching bugs continue providing great conditions for dry/dropper and double dry rigs. Try dry/droppers during the day (in shade and deep pools) and then single or double dries as the sun sets, the bugs buzz the stream surface, and trout rise. Watch for cahills, tan caddis, lingering March browns, and even some early yellow sallies.

Dredger hit Chattooga DH on Monday and said:  “Pulled into lot at 420.  Started casting at 5 into Boomer’s favorite  pool. A few rises, probably to small caddis emergers.

Started with a Small #16 Adams w a smaller caddis emerger off the back. Good luck- a few on the drift, but more on twitches  and skitters. The winning jumper hit the air 7 times.

Moved upstream around 6-630. Slow, no bugs, few rises, and caught just 1 or 2 in next hour.

Moved farther up. Cahills came out to dance round 730-745. Caught a nice handful on top. Last fish at 815. Quit at 830, and got back to truck at 9 via headlamp. All fish but 1-2 were rainbows.  Enjoy your dark30 fishing while it’s here for next 2-4 weeks.”

Trout (courtesy of Tad Murdock, Georgia Wild Trout Fly Fishing Guide Service): Best Fly Patterns for Spring Trout: Check out the latest videos from Fish North Georgia on the fly patterns you will need out on the water for our Spring Fly Hatches and stocked trout season. Mayfly Patterns, Stonefly Patterns, Caddis Patterns, and a handful of other popular fly patterns are all on the table this Spring. We discuss each of these with Danny in the Trout Fishing How-To playlist, as well as some other tips that will land him more trout this year as he begins his journey into fly fishing.

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.

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 7.6 FEET, 70’S – Bass fishing is fair. This is an early bite all week. Up Little River, the water is a little cooler during the heat of the day. Early in the morning the water is 75 degrees. The bass are running into deeper water. Some good bass are still hanging around the deeper water grass mats. The best way to find these areas is either with Deep Diving Crank bait or a Carolina Rig. When the lure comes in contact with the grass, anglers will feel it. Isolate a couple of large mats and anglers will find the bass. Fish three or four grassy areas switching back and forth all day long and make a lot of casts. Up in the rivers, the bass will be holding a little tighter than normal to cover. Several presentations in each area might be necessary to trigger a strike. Use Bandit 200’s, Rapala X Raps DT10’s and Shad Raps and Carolina rigs.

LAKE SINCLAIR

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN .72 FEET STAINED, 80’S – Bass fishing is fair. Use small, all black buzz baits on the sea walls early. Bass then head to the deeper waters off the deep points and it’s best to stay on the lower lake in the creeks. Use the 1/2-ounce Stanley spinner bait with large silver willow leaf blades. Slow roll this lure on the points and use a single Colorado blade and a chartreuse and white skirt. Also, up lake work this same lure on thick bank cover. The Zoom blue pumpkin lizard on a Texas rig has been fair on deep docks and points. Add a glass rattle in the lizard. Afternoons are better as the water warms up. Later each day use a trick worm in greens and cast around docks down lake and let it sink out of sight. Also, a dark Bulldog Rattle Back jig in black or browns and a crawfish Uncle Josh trailer in matching colors can get strikes but fish the baits slowly.

LAKE RUSSELL

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, CLEAR, 70’S – Bass fishing is good. Downsizing all the bait and even the line sizes will be the key during the warmer months. Smaller crank baits like the #5 Shad Raps, small Flukes, and small framed spinner baits will take the fish. As the water temperature gets warmer, the bass will become less active and hold a little tighter to cover. Any form of wood will be a good place to locate bass during the day. During the nighttime the spotted bass will venture out more and will be easier to catch. Rocky points and steep rocky banks are excellent places to catch spotted bass during the dark of the night. All black spinner baits and dark crank baits will be best after the sun sets.

LAKE OCONEE

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 70’S – Bass fishing is good. The shad spawn has continued, and the bass are after them. Fish will be feeding shallow around wood and rocks at first light. Look around any wood structure or boat docks. Better get a Whopper Plopper and hang on. Spinner baits, worked around the wood or docks, has been the best producer over the past few days. White or white and chartreuse have been the best color. The Lowrance Structure Scan Down Scan technology can eliminate a ton of water to find the bait, the structure, and the bass. Small crank baits fished around the docks will draw a strike. A chrome Rat L Trap and small Rapala Shad Rap #5 or #7 in fire tiger or shad color will work depending on water color. A Weedless Wonder head worked under the docks from the middle of the creeks to the back will also draw a few extra strikes.

LAKE JACKSON

JACKSON LAKE IS FULL CLEAR, 70’S – Bass fishing is good. The fish are active early and late. Fish the docks and channel ledges with anything that resembles a crawfish. Start the morning with the crawfish crank bait. The Rapala DT10 or the Fat Rap in the brown crawdad and the smaller number five size for best results. While cranking the channel ledges anglers can move up to the larger sizes but the docks and shallow water will work better with the smaller ones. Perch is another great color and it’s just about time for these fish to be in the shallows getting ready to spawn. Later in the day, if the boat traffic will allow, move out and throw a Carolina rig six inch worm in the green pumpkin or pumpkin seed color. Added scent will help the bass to hold on to the bait a little longer so use it often. Use some JJ’s Magic on the tail of any soft plastic in the chartreuse color.

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 here at Marben PFA, and warming water temperatures have anglers back on the water. As daylight increases and temperatures rise, fish activity should steadily improve across all ponds. 

Largemouth: Most of the females have spawned and moved to deeper water.  The males may be found still guarding fry.  Carolina rigged lizards do well.

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. Crappie were really hitting jigs and jigs tipped with minnows.

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. Bluegill have been biting worms. They should be bedding the first full moon in May.

Channel Catfish: Channel Catfish are moving in and will spawn soon. 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

Anglers at McDuffie are seeing the results of warmer spring weather as well. The bass have moved in the shallows and have completed the spawn. Folks are pulling smaller bass pretty easily. Though larger bass are moving in the shallows as well, they are pickier about their prey. Bream are hitting worms and crickets in 4-8 ft of water, especially shellcrackers.

Flat Creek Public Fishing Area (courtesy of Area Manager Amory Cook) —

• Flat Creek PFA Information
• Water Level: 47” below full pool
• Water Temperature: Low 70’s
• Water Clarity: 37.5″
• Flat Creek PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Anglers are having success using plum colored ‘Ol Monster worms by Zoom, white buzz baits, and minnows. Most bass are being caught from boats.

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

Crappie: Minnows have been the go-to bait, while jigs (John Deere or yellow and white colored Triple Ripple, or June Bug colored Teaser Tail) fished with light tackle to feel the slightest bite and trolled have been working very great! If you are bank fishing, try fishing near the pier. If on a boat, try cover (treetops).

Catfish: Most catfish caught has been bycatch while fishing for Bream or Bass. The last angler interviewed that was catching catfish had great success with worms fished on the bottom.  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)

Keep our firefighters in your prayers as they battle the outbreak of fires in South Georgia. Hopefully we will get some much needed rain soon. The forecast shows that we may get some this weekend (our rivers and lakes need it badly).

River Gages as of April 23rd:

• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 4.0 feet and falling
• Lumber City on the Ocmulgee – 1.5 feet and steady
• Clyo on the Savannah – 3.1 feet and rising
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 1.6 feet and falling
• Alapaha on the Alapaha – 1.4 feet and falling
• Waycross on the Satilla – 4.3 feet and steady
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 3.0 feet and falling
• Quitman on the Withlacoochee – 1.6 feet and falling
• Macclenny on the Saint Marys – 1.7 feet and steady
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 0.8 feet and falling (it’s low!)

Full Moon May 1st. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website (waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/rt). For the latest marine forecast, check out www.weather.gov/jax/.

ALTAMAHA RIVER

I heard of some good bass reports this week. Some big ones were caught. Kevin Mullis fished on the river for a little while today and caught 9 nice sized bass. His biggest pulled the scales down to 8-1/2 pounds. Altamaha River Rats Bass Trail will be hosting a tournament out of Jaycee Landing (Jesup, Ga) this Saturday (April 25^th) from safelight to 3 P.M. Entry fee is $80 dollars. It is open to anyone who wants to come fish.

SATILLA RIVER

Brandon Nix fished the lower river (Burnt Fort) and caught 7 fish (6 warmouth and 1 redbreast). An angler fished the river last weekend and caught around 20 panfish. Most anglers have been using beetle spins and crickets to fool panfish lately. 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

Jimmy Zinker and I fished at Lake Miccosukee last Friday night. Our top 5 bass weighed over 25 pounds. We had two around 5 pounds and our biggest weighed 7-lbs. 9-oz. The fish were not biting well in the evening, but they turned on when it got dark. We were using buzzbaits and wooden Muskie Jitterbugs. Jimmy went back on Tuesday night and caught 6 bass on topwater lures. His two biggest bass pulled the scales down to 9-lbs 8-oz. and 5-lbs 12-oz. He also had a few in the 3-4 pound range. Jimmy said that lately on his night fishing trips that the bass have not been biting well in the evening, but they turn on (like they did on Friday night) after dark. Two anglers caught 3 bass in the 3-5 pound range this week. Billy Lee and I fished at a privately owned lake last weekend for a couple hours and we managed to catch 7 bass (biggest weighed around 3 pounds). The bass bite at Paradise Public Fishing Area (near Tifton) has been strong for the last week or so. Panfish are being caught around structures and sandy areas near the bank. Jim O’Conner fished at some ponds yesterday and caught a few bass while using a 4-inch finesse worm.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

Arthur and Ellen travelled down from Athens last Wednesday and Thursday to fish with Captain Bert Deener on the east side. They caught and released a pile of fish (warmouth, flier, chain pickerel, bowfin, Florida gar, and yellow bullhead)! They caught 50 fish on Wednesday and 61 on Thursday. Most of the fish were caught by casting Dura-Spins, but a few were caught by trolling them. The panfish were caught by using Tenkara poles rigged with crawfish colored Warmouth Whacker jigs suspended under a float. Their biggest bowfin out of the two days weighed 4-lb. 9-oz. 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 119.43 feet. Be careful driving your boat with the very low water conditions.

SALTWATER (Georgia Coast)

An angler reported that he caught a few trout at Crooked River. Captain Greg Hildreth reported that the offshore sheepshead bite has good this week. He caught a dozen whiting this morning (April 23^rd) while using dead shrimp and squid on bottom. Bob and Deb McSherry fished with Captain Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) this week in the Saint Simons area. They landed 15 fish (8 trout, 6 redfish, and a black drum) while floating Tourney Tackle shrimp. Jay and Ann McDaniel fished with Captain Tim this week and they caught 16 fish (9 trout up to 20 inches, 6 flounder, and a redfish). They used Fourseven Lures swimbaits and Gulp grubs. Anglers have been catching whiting, weakfish, and sheepshead on the Saint Simons Island Pier this week.

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

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 Georgia Report will return next week