As the weather starts to cool down (a little) and the days get shorter, September is a great time to grab your gear and get out to your favorite fishing spot.

NEWS TO KNOW

• September 26th is National Hunting and Fishing Day: NHF Day events provide an opportunity for everyone to learn more about outdoor skills and activities. Visit georgiawildlife.com/get-involved/nhfday to find events in your area.
• Fish Art Contest Opens Monday: Open to ages 5-18, the Fish Art Contest provides a fun opportunity to learn about Georgia Fisheries through art. Visit Fishart.com for more information and entry forms!
• Find Fishing Information: Visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/angler-resources to find tons of fishing information for you to use: fishing forecasts, fish ID, links to angler reward programs and so much more!

Find a fishing event you want to get involved with this week to Go Fish Georgia!

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

SILVER LAKE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• Silver Lake PFA Information: GeorgiaWildlife.com/silver-lake-pfa

Fishing has been good this month. The dock lights are holding big bluegill and crappie.   Much of the southern end has topped out vegetation and bass are using open pockets as ambush sites.  A wacky rigged 4 inch Senko or finesse worm on a 1/4OZ dropshot has been producing consistent late summer bites.  Early top water action along weedlines is also effective.  Tossing frogs into pads and buzz baits along veg lines are a favorite.

Frog Pond

The catfish bite has been consistent throughout the summer and continues to attract anglers.  Most channel catfish are 1-3 lbs with the occasional 10+ pounder being hauled in.  Chicken livers and stink bait/dough have the most luck but hotdog chunks are also getting some action from these hard fighters.

Cutoff Pond

Closed for fishing.  This pond is currently being renovated and will be managed as an all female trophy bass pond.  Opening date is TBD

House Pond

Bluegills have been on fire with the cooler weather and decreasing water temps.  Large 9 inch+ fish are being caught holding on deep stumps.  Hybrids striped bass are always cruising around the feeders and some of these fish are pushing 4 pounds.  House Pond is great fun for light tackle and perfect for getting kids excited about fishing!

BIG LAZER PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• Big Lazer PFA Information:  GeorgiaWildlife.com/big-lazer-creek-pfa
• Surface water temperature: 82°F
• Water visibility: Visibility is about 20”
• Water level: Water level is down 9” from full pool

The bass fishing has been slow because of the very hot temperatures.  However, fall weather is getting closer. When the cooler fall weather finally arrives, bass feeding will increase before they head into the winter.  Anglers should try shad look alike baits at several depths.  Also, plastic-worms and crankbaits fished just off the channels in the upper end have always produced good bites.   While the LMB fishing may be slow, the bream fishing is good and will continue improving as cooler water temperatures arrive. Target shallower areas with woody brush associated with it.  Crickets and worms are excellent live bait for bream.  In general, the hot summer weather will eventually be replaced by cooler nights during September and October.  The cooling water temperatures cause the fish to increase their feeding before the winter months.

CHATTACHOOCHEE AND FLINT RIVER

Water temperatures in the river remain high and bass fishing is difficult. Efforts would be better spent on catfish and brim. Try fishing for catfish in the deep outer curves of the river using smelly bait like hot dogs or chicken soaked in strawberry Jell-O. You can also target catfish at the mouth of creeks where higher oxygen levels attract more fish.

Try fishing for brim around the full moon using crickets and worms or match your lures to what is around you. If there is a mayfly hatch, try using lures that mimic mayflies. Large largemouth bass, shoal bass, and stripers will be lethargic as water temperatures are still high. They will be in deep water and have slow metabolisms. Fishing for these targets will heat up as temps come down. The fall is a great time to fish for shoal on the Flint River. When targeting bads use the water as a map. These fish are visual predators and preferred to target prey as it floats downstream in seams of the water. Look for where fast water meets slow water and drop your lure there.  It is always a good idea to match your lures to the environment. If there has been persistent rain and waters are muddy try using brown or red colored shad lures to mimic how  that bait fish would present in the environment and conditions. If you are fishing in waters that are low and clear, traditional, more silver style baits and lures will work well.  Make sure you have a leader on your line so that these visual predators are not put off by the site of your fishing line.
Water levels remain low after drought conditions this summer so remain vigilant. Obstacles and structure that are usually well submersed may be just below the surface or exposed and cause hazardous conditions.

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE

According to Ken Sturdivant at Southern Fishing, Bass fishing is fair. As the water temperature has risen bass have continued to move slightly deeper in their summertime locations. Fish during the week if possible as there is a lot less pleasure boat activity and the Corps of Engineers has settled into a predictable generation schedule. This makes fishing much better and more predictable on weekdays. Concentrate now in the 15-to-20-foot range and look for main lake bottom irregularities that cause current breaks such as humps, points and indentions. Stumps or brush are real fish magnets on these type places, especially if shad are present. Find an area with the right ingredients start out with a crank bait. Use the Spro Little John DD when the fish are deep like they are now. With the current water clarity use either the citrus shad or spooky shad color. Once a school stops biting the crank bait add a few more with the Carolina rig or Texas rig. On the Carolina rig use a Big Bite 6-inch finesse worm in green pumpkin. On the Texas rig try a Big Bite Kreit tail worm in green pumpkin using a 3/8-ounce weight. With both of these rigs fish them fairly rapidly and get into the heavy cover. Now, really work them slowly and thoroughly to coax those last few bites.

Jigs are giving up some good catches of crappie recently. Bright colored 1/8 oz jigs are getting more hits than plain or natural colors. Look for schools of fish in 10 to 15 feet of water containing structure such as brush piles or timber.

Bream, channel and blue cats are biting well on the flats adjacent to the river and creek channels. Popular bait for the cats is both worms and cut bait.

Ready to cast a line and have some fun? Join the staff at Lakepoint State Park for a Fishing Workshop on Saturday, September 26 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm where Park Naturalist Jennings will guide you through simple techniques, share tips, and cheer you on as you cast your line. This workshop is just one of the many exciting things happening throughout Alligator Awareness Weekend, and it’s perfect for beginners, families, and anyone who wants to enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the water. Visit AlligatorAwarenessSaturday.com to join in on the fun!

LAKE BLACKSHEAR

 

This spring GA DNR tagged over 900 Crappie to understand angler catch and harvest rates. If you catch a fish with one of these yellow tags, on it you will find the phone number to call (229.430.4256) and the four digit ID unique to that fish. Signs are also posted at boat ramps around the lake with this phone number and the information to report. When you report a tagged fish, you will receive a keychain and be entered into a drawing for a special prize. Your participation in this study will provide valuable information to the management of this species! Thank you to those who have already reported tags!

Interesting in fishing for crappie? Flint River Outdoors, reports that BoaterFlip Baits Adrenaline Junkies 1.75 Pintail Minnows are the hottest crappie jig on the lake right now.

Guide James Fisher can put you on some catfish. He recommends a red worm from Flint River Outdoors and has been having great success in 10-15ft of water. Stop by Flint River Outdoors to get your tackle before you head out on your next trip!

The mayfly hatch has been going on strong. This means good fishing for bream!

LAKE SEMINOLE

According to Ken Sturdivant, at Southern Fishing, bass fishing is fair. The early morning top water bite is still fairly good along grass lines close to the river channel. The grass up from Jack’s at the lower end of the Flint River is good all day. Fish a 3.5-inch Bite Baits Top Toad over any cover. Rig the Top Toad on a 5/0 Gamakatsu Superline Hook. The frog bite is good during the early morning hours and can sometimes be good all day. Once the sun comes up over the horizon there are a couple of options including flipping cover in Spring Creek. The lower end of the creek is about the only place where the bite is steady. Flip a 4-inch Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in Vegas Sunset on a 1-ounce Tungsten weight. Also add a small crankbait like the Spro Little John MD in the Chrome Olive color. This bait is awesome because it is weighted perfectly and can cast long distances even on windy days. Use fiberglass cranking rod and Sunline 12-pound test FC Sniper fluorocarbon.

Florida Bass Nation Kayak Series held their 2026 Championship on Lake Seminole out of At Ease Campground and Marina in August. State champion Matt Vogt won the tournament with 185.25 inches. He writes that Lake Seminole is a special place; it’s where he learned to catch bass. Now it is where he claims his second title of state champion.

 

Guide Bryan Alday will put you on catfish at Lake Seminole. Night fishing has been a great way to stay on these fish lately. For success try a mix of dragging baits and anchoring up.

Interested in crappie fishing? Anglers have reported that the bite is on fire early in the day but can be tough later on. Screamer jigs in the colors monkey milk fire and blue monkey were putting them in the boat.