Georgia Fishing Report: September 20, 2024

Fall officially begins Sun. Sept. 22. Is it time to season all my lures with pumpkin spice now? Just kidding. But, what if it worked? The fall does bring in some great cool morning temps to tempt you out to the water, and we bet waking the kids up early to go fishing is a whole lot easier than waking them up for school.

NEWS TO KNOW

• Fishing Rewards:The Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division offers multiple angler recognition programs, including the Angler Award program, Bass Slam, Trout Slam and State Record Program for freshwater fish. The Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division has a State Record Program for saltwater fish. And don't miss out on the River and Lake Record program managed by Georgia Outdoor News (GON.com). Be sure to review ALL rules for each program. Details like photos, measuring devices and certified scales can make or break your submission - so be thorough and prepared.
• Boat Ramps:Looking for a boat ramp? You can find boat ramp information at GeorgiaWildlife.com/boating/boater-resources (look under "Places to Boat").

This week, we have fishing reports from Southeast, Southwest, North and Central Georgia. Read up, gear up and grab whatever flavor coffee (or other drink of choice) you need and let's Go Fish Georgia!

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Capt. Bert Deener, Retired Georgia WRD Fisheries Supervisor, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

Some of the better reports I had this week include Jamie Hodge had a phenomenal catch of crappie from the Altamaha River, including some fish over a pound apiece. A few other anglers had great bass catches from the river this week, as well. Trout fishing was excellent in Brunswick for an angler flinging plugs this past weekend. He had multiple trout over 3 pounds and one over 4 pounds. He usually releases them all, but I didn't specifically ask him about that catch.

Last quarter moon is September 24th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website. For the latest marine forecast, check out weather.gov/jax/.

Blog Contributer Capt. Bert Deener guides fishing trips in southeast Georgia and makes a variety of both fresh and saltwater fishing lures. Check his lures out at Bert's Jigs and Things on Facebook. For a copy of his latest catalog, call or text him at 912-288-3022 or e-mail him ([email protected]).

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

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

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER

Fishing has been slow on the Chattahoochee River as the increase in flow has made fishing tough. A few catches of catfish are still being reported in deeper bends.

LAKE WALTER F. GEORGE

Water temperatures are still in the 80s but are heading downward. The shallow bass bite has really turned on recently and the bait of choice seems to be four-inch worms in a variety of darker colors. The best action has been along grass edges closer to deeper water. Not a lot of big fish are being caught this way, but the number of hook ups has been good. Bass in deeper water along the river and creek channels are being caught with deep diving crank baits. The fish tend to be stacking up on the inside bends. Carolina rigged worms have also been pretty effective getting the deeper fish to bite.

FLINT RIVER

River flows have been up and the fishing has been off. Try for bass in deeper bends or slack water areas. The river is muddy, so fish spinnerbaits or other lures that create vibration. Fish for catfish in deeper slower water. As a reminder, striped bass season is still closed.

LAKE BLACKSHEAR

Water temperatures are down in the high 70s. The fall bite has begun for crappie! Angler and guide Maurice Van Hall reported good catches of black crappie with a few white crappie mixed in. Most were in small schools 18 to 22 feet deep. The whites hit some bigger jigs, all in monkey milk and pink heads. The black crappie wanted you to downsize, and color did not seem to matter much.

Tournament angler Chris Gray shared that his favorite patterns in September include a white-and-chartreuse spinnerbait with one silver or gold blade or ChatterBait fished around grass and blowdowns. Topwater will improve as we get closer to October, for now he recommends a buzzbait in the morning. Schooling activity should begin to pick up near the mouths of Boy Scout Slough, Cedar Creek and Spring Creek. Once you start seeing schooling fish, cast a chrome lipless crankbait near the action and wait for the tug.

Large mayfly hatches continue to occur around the lake and continuing up the river above Blackshear. Great time to break out your Bream Busters!

LAKE SEMINOLE

Lake Seminole Fishing Report (Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing) - Bass fishing has been barely fair. The bass have been slow on the lake except for early in the morning and late in the evening. There are numerous grass beds that are topped out on the lower end of the lake on the Hooch. Any of these grass beds can be good early in the morning for top water and plastic jerk baits. Fish a Spro Dawg 100 in old glory, followed up with a 6″ Big Bite Baits Jerk Minnow in white. When fish hit and miss the top water, the Jerk Minnow is hard to beat as a follow up lure. When the sun comes up, the bite gets extremely tough.

SILVER LAKE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

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

Silver Lake PFA water temps are creeping down into the low 80s. Top water is still a favorite among anglers on the main lake. Frogs are fooling fish in the pads and jerk baits are working well on the weed lines.

Panic Pond is open and we're seeing some TOADS being caught and released at this trophy bass pond. Several hybrids over 4lbs have been caught on dry flies in the morning hours.

NORTH GEORGIA

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

RESERVOIR REPORT

Allatoona Bass (Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant via www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing is good. We are close to a fall feeding frenzy. Fishing has picked up over the past week with spots and largemouth being caught shallow at 1 to 12 feet of water. Fishing around baitfish is always a good idea if anglers want to find hungry bass but it becomes even more crucial this time of year. Start the morning with a black buzz bait and this will last for the first hour or so and work the bluff walls in the morning for a white skirt and silver blade buzz bait bite. After the sun comes up it's hard to beat a 1/8 jig head tipped with a Big Bite squirrel tail worm in green pumpkin and fish on 8-pound test Sunline fluorocarbon. Rocks and blow down trees are the targets to produce fish on soft plastic.

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.

Allatoona Crappie (Report courtesy of Red Rooster Custom Baits via http://www.redroosterbaits.com)-

• Lake Level: Approx. 837′
• Water Temp: 80-82
• Water Clarity: Clear to light stain
• Area Fished: Blockhouse, Tanyard & Clark Creek
• Jigs Used: UV Shad - Dagger, BlueGrass - Dagger, and 'Lectric Chicken - Dagger
• Technique: Spider Rigging & Casting Jigs

This past week was cut short due to Hurricane Francine bringing wind and rain to the area the latter part of the week! We got out on Monday and managed a few Lake Allatoona Crappie. Not much to report this week since the only two days you could be on the water without getting blown around was Monday & Tuesday. Wind is not your friend when spider rigging is the preferred technique. The temps are trending lower, but we are not in the fall pattern for another few weeks. We caught a few crappie spider rigging brush piles in 12′ - 16′ of water. Spider rigging was the key, but we did cast a few Red Rooster Daggers in UV Shad, BlueGrass and 'Lectric Chicken at the early morning crappie. Truth be told it was a very slow day compared to past weeks…the crappie were not very aggressive. It could be a combination of weather and Solunar conditions, sometimes it's hard to tell. With that said, any day on the water is a good day. We are looking forward to the coming weeks as the air temp, water temp and lake levels drop which is sure to fire these crappie up! We are ready to break out the trolling bars and chase the crappie. As we get closer to trolling season, we will start sharing tips and tricks to hopefully help you catch more crappie. Lord willing Team Red Rooster will bring you another report next week!

Hartwell Bass (Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant via www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing is good. Try a variety of baits from top water to bottom fishing. The smaller bass are chasing top water Skitter Pops and a variety of other surface baits on the back side of the points and in the small cuts and coves. Medium to deep diving crank baits like the Rapala DT6 and DT10 around the docks and between two main lake points are catching fish. Continue using the Carolina rigs and jigs around the docks. The fish are still feeding on the small shad along with the bream up in the shallows. Fishing around baitfish is always a good idea if anglers want to find hungry bass but it becomes even more crucial this time of year. Shallow running square bill crank baits around any form of structure is fair early and late. Use a variety of plastics on the Carolina rigs and use some Spike It on any soft bait. Now deep locations are artificial structures such as bridge pilings and dams. When fishing any of these deeper areas finesse fishing with a drop shot or Ned Rig works excellently. Beef up the gear and ply these areas with deep diving crankbaits like the Strike King 6XD football jigs and a Carolina Rig with creature bait like the Zoom Bush Hawg which are excellent summertime baits and works very well.

LanierBass(Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant via www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. The lake is currently two and a half feet below full pool and the water temperature Is running around eighty degrees. Overall, the lake is clear. The top water bite is still going good across the lake with the bass being located on long points, humps and ledges with structure on or around them in thirty to thirty-five feet of water. The Ima Skimmer, Lip Thrashin Riser TKO, Slickstick and small Gunfish have all been producing fish in the key areas. Chrome has been the main color on sunny days and white or bone has been the best color on the cloudy days. Look for these patterns to pick up even more as the rain comes in and the weather continues to cool. The drop shot or a jig around the structure have also produced bass this week. The bass may not be directly in the brush so be sure to cover the area around the structure. The bass are beginning to show up on the docks that are in the ten-to-twenty-foot range. A three sixteenths shakey head with a Zoom Trick worm in in green patterns or a quarter ounce green pumpkin jig will draw strikes. The bigger fish haven't gotten there yet but they are moving that way. Enjoy the calm lake and Go Catch 'Em!

Lake Lanier Crappie (Report courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton 770 530 6493) - The seasonal transition is in full swing. Water temperatures are dropping, the fish are moving up and are more active. The current water temperature is 78 degrees. You can find crappie suspended 5 to 10 feet deep over a 12-to-30-foot bottom. I always bring crappie minnows and set them in a rod holder over brush or structure while casting jigs with a slow retrieval. This week I had luck with black and chartreuse color jig and a white and chartreuse hair jig. The gear I recommend for crappie fishing is a Acc crappie stix 1 piece rod and reel with a 4- or 6-pound test K9 line, along with Garmin Live Scope and Power Pole.

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

West Point Bass (Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing has been slow. Recent cooler weather has scattered fish quit bit making the bite extremely tough. Fish have spent a year of being pressured so be sure and slow down with a 1/8-ounce shaky head and a Z Man green pumpkin floating worm. Once they bite catch a fish continue with several more casts to the end of the lay down. The best lay downs are on main channel banks stretching out toward deep water. Fish several lay downs to get bit. Soon the spinnerbait bite to turn on any day with the amount of bait showing up. The longer nights are cooling water temperatures making the shad pull up on the main river. A black and blue 3/8 ounce All Terrain jig tipped with a Z Man Chunkz will also produce but do not expect many bites. The jig bite will produce a kicker fish. If main lake fishing is slow move far up the river north of Ringer access. Use a Z Man hard legs Frogz with a 5/0 EWG Gamakatsu hooks. Use a slow to moderate retrieve working the bait in and around brush for reaction bites. If top water action is slow, flip a 1/4-ounce Texas rigged Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw in blackberry color. It only takes one hard rain for the river bite to really turn on.

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.

Northeast Georgia Mixed Bag(Report courtesy of Anthony Rabern Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division) - It was a great day of fishing for the brother-sister duo of Wyatt and Shelbey Cathey who were enjoying a family fishing trip to Lake Yonah. The duo each landed a largemouth bass weight 6 lb and 8 lb, respectively. The kids released their trophies back into the lake for others to enjoy another day.

A flurry of reports have come into the office over the last week from anglers catching Shoal Bass and Chattahoochee Bass. Though not large in size, there is a thrill in finding suitable river habitat where these species live and then actually catching one is like the icing on the cake.

Fisheries staff were on Lake Chatuge measuring the temperature/dissolved oxygen profile. The amount of dissolved oxygen in water deeper than 35-feet is currently not suitable for fish; therefore, anglers should target slightly shallower water. The ideal depth for bass, hybrids, and walleye ranged from 30 to 34-ft deep where the water temperature was 72oF and dissolved oxygen was suitable. We observed spotted bass chasing herring to the surface throughout the day, but we regularly charted schools on our depth finder from 30 to 34-feet over a 90-ft bottom near the dam.

Lake Weiss Mixed Bag (Report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing is good and a lot of largemouth are starting to show up in the back of the bays and coves in shallow water at 1 to 4 feet and they are following the shad as the water cools. Fishing around baitfish is always a good idea if anglers want to find hungry bass but it becomes even more crucial this time of year. Shallow running, flat side crank baits like the Rapala #5 and #7 Shad are working well on these fish, Rat L Traps and spinner baits are also catching some good fish. Most spotted bass are still out in the main lake on main lake humps, points and river channel ledges in 4 to 10 feet of water a Carolina rigged Senko worm is working well.

Crappie fishing is good and should get better over the next week as the water cools. Crappie are being caught on the drop offs of the old Coosa River channel ledges in 8 16 feet of water, Spider rigging with live minnows and Jiffy Jigs is the way to catch these fall Crappie, Look for structure on the edges of the old channel with schools of fish suspended around or above it, fish all baits very slowly at or near the depth they show up on the electronics. Shooting docks with a 1/24th ounce Jiffy Jig in color's JJ13 and JJ17 is also producing some good Crappie. Docks with 6 to 10 feet of water seem to be the most productive.

TROUT REPORT

To learn about Georgia's diverse trout fishing opportunities including the latest stocking information, check out Georgia DNR Trout Fishing page.

Don't Give Up! Georgia stocked trout anglers should not give up because the trucks haven't been running the last few weeks. I have heard multiple reports of "holdover" stockers in the weekly stocked streams. These trout are still out there waiting for the trout feed cart to come by so take a variety of baits to offer these shrewd trout and try not to spook them before making your presentation. If you only like to fish after the stocking trucks have run, I have a hint for you. Be ready next weekend and keep an eye for a fresh trout stocking report next week.

Trout Fishing Opportunities for Those with Disabilities: These sites are open to the public and offer specific amenities for anglers with disabilities.

Trout and More(This report courtesy of Unicoi Outfitters) - Check out Unicoi Outfitter's regular "Angler Management" fishing reports. Your weekend theme is "watch those gauges!" Right now, our region has received only a quarter-inch of rain and our streams remain low and clear. That can change instantly with one strong storm cell, so tune into the USGS river gauges (and the radar track on your weather app) for streamflows and sometimes water temps, too, before pointing your vehicle north. A little rain and stain will help the trout and bass bite. A lot of rain and muddy water will kill the river bass bite, but chocolate trout streams could kick off the squirmy worm bite, so be ready to match that storm hatch (earthworms). Higher, stained water can also awaken river stripers from their summer siestas. Stockers are scarcer due to harvest since the Labor Day stockings, but you can still find a decent bunch of trout by covering a longer stretch of stream. Our shop visitors have done fairly well this week on nymphs, Powerbait, and worms.

Chattahoochee Trout (This report courtesy of Polly Dean with On the Fly South) - Atlantans are fortunate that they have the Chattahoochee River running right through their city. Specifically, anglers can take advantage of the cold flow of the tailwater below Lake Sidney Lanier that is stocked with trout throughout the hot summer months. The Chattahoochee, considered a medium-sized river, provides a source of recreation including rafting and paddling in addition to the fishing. Various riverwalks and pathways along the river also provide Atlantans a scenic reprieve for escaping the bustling city.

Trout are heavily stocked into sections of the Chattahoochee upstream of Atlanta. Trout survive year-round and brown trout even reproduce there. Browns have not needed to be stocked in decades, and those fish are the main attraction on the river. But today, we learned a lesson about the rainbow trout action instead.

Jimmy Jacobs and I met Wes Bradley, our guide from Alpharetta Outfitters, at Abbots Bridge Boat Ramp in Duluth. He was finishing up backing his drift boat down to the water and getting everything ready for our float trip. The first thing I was aware of when climbing into the boat to begin our float down the river, was that I had forgotten how refreshingly cool the air is when sitting just inches above the cold water of the Chattahoochee, especially in the midst of the hottest days of summer in Georgia. Want to keep reading this report? Visit ontheflysouth.com/rainbows-on-the-hooch/.

Jones Creek Brown Trout: WRD staff sampled trout in Jones Creek this week and located several Brown Trout with the largest being 12 inches.

Trout Streams(Followingreport courtesy of Tad Murdock of Georgia Wild Trout) - September has arrived. The bug diversity is rising once again as small hatches have begun to increase. Caddis and midges continue to be the most abundant in the streams I have visited over the past few weeks with the occasional mayfly here and there. We have even seen a handful of the October caddis that can quickly get the trout looking to the surface. The trout have been going back and forth from incredibly active to temperamental at times but can be caught on just about any nymph or junk pattern in the box if it's presented correctly. We have seen most of these swings occur around rain. If you manage to catch the timing right, the dry fly bite can be excellent. Larger dry fly patters (caddis, stimulators, and hoppers) have done well at these times when the fish are looking up for a meal. A dry dropper has become a go to when sight fishing trout in skinny water with a stealthier presentation. The lower water levels on days without rainfall can be difficult as the trout become skittish. If you can get into position without spooking the fish, chances are you can get a good shot at the trout.

The Chattahoochee River tailwater has begun seeing the effluent from the Lake Lanier turnover. This means the water will be dirty and off colored through the end of December. Wading becomes less than ideal and even dangerous for those unfamiliar with the bottom contour. Further downstream may have more access until the rains of late fall open up better opportunities further north.

Blue Ridge Trout Fishing in September- The lower elevation sections of the Upper Toccoa, Boardtown, Hemptown, and Fightingtown are still a touch on the warm side and still low, even with the recent rains. The higher elevation streams are surprisingly cool considering the low water. The wild trout streams of the upper Toccoa have seen the best bite around Blue Ridge. Dry Flies will continue to be staples until the water levels begin to rise again. Look for the seasonal migrations to begin towards the end of the months. They will typically correspond with a heavier and cooler rains.

Ellijay Trout Fishing in September- Trout fishing around the Ellijay area continues to be slow but should pick up with additional rains towards the end of the month. Trout stocking in Ellijay will stay slow until the end of the month as we enter Fall.

Dahlonega Trout Fishing in September - Fly fishing in Dahlonega has been fair the past several weeks but should improve in coming weeks. The Stocked creeks around Dahlonega should be slow in September which will spread out the fishing pressure which causes the smaller trout streams to be less productive. Wild trout should begin congregating in their normal holes during this low water time of the year. Downsizing flies will yield more bites in the circumstances.

Helen Trout Fishing in September - Fly fishing in Helen will be similar to that of Dahlonega. The decrease in tubers on the Chattahoochee and trout stocking in Helen will alleviate some of the pressure on the upper Chattahoochee River where anglers should be able to find a few holdover stockers if they work hard enough. Skittish wild fish will begin to feed up with as rains raise the low water levels.

Parting Trout Note: Want to do more to support trout fishing in Georgia? Consider upgrading to a Trout Unlimited license plate this year. 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. Hatcheries and wild trout efforts both benefit from the trout tag.

CENTRAL GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Hunter Roop, Region Supervisor and 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 courtesy of Ken Sturdivant's Southern Fishing report and other contributions by WRD Fisheries staff, guides, and local anglers.

RIVER REPORT

Ocmulgee River (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologists Hunter Roop & Brandon Baker): The Fort Valley Fisheries crews were on the Ocmulgee once again this week to conduct fall electrofishing surveys for black bass and other centrarchids as a part of their semi-annual sampling of the Ocmulgee River fisheries. All sampling was conducted above Juliette Dam this week, so no dinosaur encounters to speak of. Flows and river gauges continue to decline from last week's rain and were still low and very clear above the Hwy 83 boat ramp. Water temperatures are in the upper 70's and will continue to sink with increasingly cooler nights. If it had a mouth, the lower unit of Fort Valley's river sampling boat might say the river was a little too low this week, especially near the boulder fields that went toe-to-toe with its aluminum prop on more than one occasion. However, the boulder fields were an inevitable target, as therein lie the prize of our scientific pursuits- shoalies, largemouth, and spotted bass, whose collective numbers were up compared to long-term monitoring data from this section of the river, according to Brandon. Most bass were between 10″ - 15″, but there were definitely a few lunkers in the mix that were holding tight to LWD (large woody debris) or patiently stalking downstream of shoals. We observed excellent numbers of redbreast and bluegill, while the section of rive just below Jackson Dam showcased some quality shellcracker weighing up to 1.75 lbs. My favorite challenge of the day was to attempt to grip a slippery American eel for a quick photo opp-this species goes down in my book as the all-time defending champion of photo-bombing fishes in the "slippery" sub-category, with brown trout as the close runner up. For tips and tactics for fishing the Ocmulgee River, check out WRD's Fishing Forecast for the Ocmulgee at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

Savannah River (courtesy of WRD Fisheries Biologist Aaron Gray and Fisheries Tech Greg Abercrombie): No fishing intel from river anglers this week, but anglers that use the DNR boat ramp below the Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam will be happy to know that we spent several days working on maintaining and upgrading the DNR ramp on the Savannah River below New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. We removed sediment from the ramp and adjacent areas, removed water hyacinth plants and accumulated debris next to the dock, and spent considerable time cleaning the dock and gangway. We also installed a new sign at the dock to advise boaters where the boat ramp slab ends in the water, which will be helpful to boaters when the Savannah River is at lower flows. You can find boat ramp information at GeorgiaWildlife.com/boating/boater-resources (look under "Places to Boat").

Fly Fishing (courtesy of UO's Jeff "Dredger" Durniak): Warm rivers are still low and clear due to a lack of rain. Just watch the river gauges before coming to make sure a stray storm hasn't blown that river out. The rivers are also a bit cooler since we ditched our 90-degree days, which should enhance the bass bite. Throw your streamers and poppers into heavy cover, where residents are hiding from the herons and otters. Have a stealthy approach and make longer casts so you don't spook them, and you should be rewarded.

RESERVOIR REPORT

LAKE RUSSELL IS DOWN 0.9 FEET, 70'S

Bass: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant,www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing is fair. Some early top baits are working a bone Zara Spook is working. The water is still warm and has been climbing into the afternoon. Ledges and deep rocky points with light jigs and spot stickers is going to be "bread and butter" baits; with maybe a Carolina rig thrown in around those submerged stumps south of the Highway 72 Bridge. A very light top water bite has occurred in the early morning hours in select areas of the lake but those spots are very tight lipped. There are a lot of hungry spotted bass are being caught. Rapala Shad Raps have been working and light 10-pound test Sufix Advantage line is the best line for this action. It may be a little cooler by week's end A few good bass will be caught on some crank baits. Anglers have been throwing them with scattered results but expect this action to pick up as fall approaches. It's hard to beat the Rapala DT series and shad colors in clear water and the Hot Mustard has been good.

Striped bass (courtesy of anglersheadquarters.com): Guide Wendell Wilson (706-283-3336) reports that fish have been have caught on both ends of the lake this summer, but particularly the lower end. However, with even a little cooling in September he expects more fish to move to mid-lake flats where they can be caught on down-lined herring.

Crappie (courtesy of anglersheadquarters.com): Guide Wendell Wilson reports that in the first part of September the crappie are likely to continue to hold around deeper brush and timber, where they have been biting well. Hopefully the good bite will continue, but with dropping temperatures they should soon move onto shallower brush where they can be caught on jigs and minnows.

Catfish (courtesy of anglersheadquarters.com): Guide Jerry Kotal reports that fish should move shallower this month where they can be caught on cut herring in less than 15 feet of water. At the end of August, they were still catching catfish in very deep water.

CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 6.4 FEET, 70'S

Bass: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant,www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing is fair. The water temperatures will be dropping and cooler waters up in the rivers especially near the Russell Dam is a good place to work this week. There is still a top water bite going on first thing in the morning. Flukes and floating worms are working in some areas around those brush piles and the heavier grass mats. Carolina Rigs and Jigs both seem to be the baits of choice among local anglers. Now we can fish a little deeper with a Rapala Clackin' Rap and a Rapala DT14 and catch some good bass in the timber and stumps. The deeper ditches are producing some bass but not the quality ones that we will see later in the fall. Windblown points are good areas and a spinner ait with all silver blades and white skirts like the Luck Craft redemption lures are a great option. Be sure to have the medium sized diving crank bait like the Rapala DT10 or the dependable Rapala Shad Raps like the #7 in shad patterns.

Bass 2 (courtesy of Clarks Hill angler Greg Courtwright): Greg had a blast on Clarks Hill this week tearing up spotted bass and largemouth. In one afternoon, he caught 23 bass, mostly spots in the 13″ - 16″ size range. Largemouth were caught on a pearly white fluke, with the largest going for 3.63 lbs.

Striper and hybrids: (courtesy of anglersheadquarters.com): Little River Guide Service reports that to start out the month fish were suspended over very deep water, but in September fish should progressively migrate out of the deeper channels. Bait will eventually move shallower into the top 10-15 feet of the water column, leading to more surface activity, and fish should also be related to the sides of humps in 25-35 feet of water.

Linesides 2 (courtesy of Clark Hill Striper Club angler Corey Martin): Although surface waters are beginning to cool into the low 80s and upper 70s, the lineside bite remains good on the south end of Clarks Hill. Power reeling big spoons produced two monster 23 lb and 25 lb striper for CHSC member Corey Martin over the last couple of weeks. Blue catfish are also abundant on Clarks Hill and have been caught by club members while fishing spoons and trolling Alabama rigs.

Crappie: (courtesy of anglersheadquarters.com): Little River Guide Service reports that at the beginning of September fish are generally still holding around deeper brush, but if the weather cools they should move shallower into the 12- to 15-foot range. At the end of August, the bite could be finicky, but with cooling that could also change.

Catfish: (courtesy of anglersheadquarters.com): Captain Chris Simpson reports that in September fish will be scattered everywhere. Some will be in the backs of creeks in shallow water feeding on threadfin and gizzard shad, while some fish will be staging out on main lake humps and points in deeper water feeding on blueback herring. This is the beginning of the prime time to catch big blue catfish on Lake Thurmond.

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 70'S

Bass: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant,www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing is poor to fair. Lake Oconee is down a couple more inches this week but last night's rain should help a little. The cooler nights and shorter days have also brought the surface water temperature down to 81 to 83 degrees. A few fish can now be caught moving into shallower water but anglers still need to be near deep water and the main lake. They have not migrated to the backs of the coves yet. Good fishing is just around the corner. The docks are still best bet. Fish them with a Texas rig or a shaky head jig. A small creature bait or finesse worm in June bug is producing fish. As the sun gets higher move out to the main lake points ledges and drop offs. Fish them with a ¼ ounce chrome Rat L Trap or a Carolina rig and also favorite fire tiger colored deep diving crank bait. With the cooler days Georgia Power has not been pulling as much water but it is still important to be on the lake when they are.

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.6 FEET, 70'S

Bass: (This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant,www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing is good. Water color varies from clear on the south end to stained in the Little River arm. The deeper structure bite for largemouth bass is starting to fall off as the fish have begun their seasonal movement to creeks shallow coves and pockets. A few largemouth bass can still be caught on Rapala DT 14 and DR 16. Also, the football jigs with Zoom swimming chunks but both size and numbers are down. In the Oconee arm fish Shoulderbone creek and north of the Highway 16 bridge with Rat L Traps Mann's Minus 1 crank baits and Rapala DT4's staying in one to four feet of water. For numbers of fish tie on a 1/8- or 3/16-ounce jig head with a Zoom U Tail worm in greens and fish the shallow docks in the Optimist Island area of Little River. For that kicker fish skip a Yum Vibra King 3.5-inch tube in a June bug or black color on those same docks. Spend ten minutes or more in an area and haven't seen shad it's probably time to look for more active water.

Crappie:Lake Country'sCrappie Ninja reports the crappie on Sinclair are fishing well on clear days following a cold front. This week, he filled the cooler on jigs, including Sugarbugs and Delta jigs. Use your electronics to locate schools of crappie orienting to shallow structure or underneath docks and pitch them subtly over the schools.

Linesides & More: Another Lake Country angler reported on other Sinclair species: "Well today was fun but not getting all the fish we hoped for. Caught two small bass, three catfish and 15 linesides. I wasn't targeting the linesides, but they sure were fun. Whites and hybrids were positioned on the ledge of a long point in 10-12. I was fishing 5-10' water with structure off ledges and outer pockets mid-lake.

LAKE JACKSON IS DOWN 0.4 FEET, 70'S

Bass:(This report courtesy of Ken Sturdivant,www.southernfishing.com) - Bass fishing is fair. While anglers should still find fish holding on main lake structure some quality fish have turned up way back in the pockets holding on wood cover as shallow as 4 feet. Should anglers find themselves fishing on a cooler overcast day keep an open mind and probe around docks blow downs and brush piles back in the coves. Throwing buzz baits or torpedo style prop baits are good choices. Drop shot rigs deep running cranks baits and Carolina rigged plastics should be fished on the main lake. Before the sun gets up stick to power fishing with buzz baits. Covering water will be the key to success. When fishing buzz baits landing bait close to deep sea walls will be important. Sammie's or Prop baits fish a little slower but try these baits in prime areas. Near wood or rock structure for instance. Fish should strike on or after a pause. Some mornings look for the fish prefer the slower suspending baits. Focus on main lake rock riprap and sea wall features. Focus on deep main lake seawalls. Spinner baits chatterbaits and shallow running crankbaits can work on shallow morning fish when they shy away from top water presentations. Fish the shaky rig on deep main lake docks. A run up the South or Yellow River can be worthwhile as the rivers will hold slightly cooler and more stained water. Target the older wood structure with a jig/craw trailer. Surface temperatures in the rivers may only decrease by a couple of degrees. It all depends on recent rainfall.

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

McDUFFIE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• McDuffie PFA Information
• Surface Temperature: 82°F
• Water Visibility: clear-to-stained
• Water Level: All lakes are full
• McDuffie PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: (courtesy of hatchery manager Chalisa Fabillar): The cooler temperatures of early September will improve bass fishing overall and spur a more aggressive bite as the fish become more active and vacate the depths of their late summer haunts. Angler Darryl Welch reports a steady topwater bite on frogs, with more natural patterns like the KVD Sexy Frog being the ticket this week. A few successful anglers were going for the tried-and-true Texas rig (midnight blue sparkle was a winning color this week) while fishing the edge of the vegetation in Bridge.

Bream: Bream fishing in September at McDuffie can be very rewarding. Many post-spawn bluegill and redear will now be putting more effort into feeding and growth ahead of the fall. Target shallows with woody brush or fish attractors that have been placed throughout the area lakes. Live crickets and red wigglers are a solid go-to for live bait, just fish a little deeper when targeting redear specifically. Bream are a great species to target when fishing with first-time or younger anglers.

Channel Catfish (courtesy of hatchery manager Chalisa Fabillar): Channel catfish remain a viable target in September. Chicken livers, hearts, nightcrawlers, and hotdogs weighted to the bottom will continue to put fish on the end of the line. Try a variety of depths to figure out where they are foraging. Anglers are also catching tasty bullheads on red wigglers fished on the bottom.

Striped Bass: The striper bite will begin to improve towards the end of the month as cooler air temperatures will bring water temperatures down into the upper-to-mid 70s. At this time, the best bet will to target striped bass by casting artificial swim baits or topwater presentations like a bomber or Gunfish. For bait anglers, striped bass also have a taste for chicken livers.

Reminder: Live fish/minnows are not allowed on our PFA's!

FLAT CREEK PUBLIC FISHING AREA (courtesy of Fisheries Technicians Amory Cook and Deven Thompson)

• Flat Creek PFA Information
• Water Level: 70.5" below full pool
• Water Clarity: 17"
• Flat Creek PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: With water temps dropping, the bass bite should be picking up as they fatten up for the cold months ahead. Your best bet will be spinner baits, softbodied jerk baits, square bills and medium to deep diving crank baits. Colors should resemble shad and shiners for your best chances of snagging a lunker. Anglers are reporting numerous catches of 1 pound bass caught on live minnows.

Bream: Right now is the best time to get on some good bream! The water has significantly dropped out of those dreaded 90-100-degree temps, making them very active! Your best bet would be to target coves and shelves where they're spawning, utilizing red wigglers, or chunks of nightcrawler fished on or near the bottom. Beetle spinners or small rooster tails slow rolled over these areas should also produce good fish.

Catfish: As in past reports catfish are still willing and able to bite! Cut bait and Chicken liver will always produce good eating sized fish. Live bluegill or shiners will give you a chance at some good sized catfish! Anglers are reporting numerous catches of small catfish on night crawlers. This indicates that the catfish stocked earlier this year have reached catchable size.

Crappie: Few Crappie have been reported but they are definitely still catchable, especially with the current water temps. Jigs that mimic shad will always produce fish, combine that with your favorite style of retrieval in deeper water and you will find some slabs!

ATTENTION ANGLERS: Flat Creek PFA staff are conducting an annual angler (creel) survey on the lake this year. If you are approached by a PFA staff member after your fishing trip, please take a moment to answer their questions and share information about your fishing success (or, lack of success, whichever may be the case). These surveys are a valuable management tool that can improve our understanding of the fishery and ultimately improve fishing quality on the reservoir.

Cast & Blast: Join us for Cast & Blast, a Family Fishing Event and Adult/Child Dove Hunt to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day) at Flat Creek PFA!

• The Cast: The fishing event is a free activity in which bait, tackle, and lunch will be provided, while supplies last. We encourage participants to bring their own rods/reels, bait, water/snacks, chairs, sunscreen/sunglasses, and excitement. Staff will be onsite to assist. Children must have adult supervision. Anglers are ONLY allowed to harvest from the pond during a scheduled WRD fishing event. Anglers may not exceed the daily harvest limits posted at Flat Creek PFA or the Fishing Event Pond. Sept. 28, 2024 is a Free Fishing Day - so you don't need a fishing license! Find out more about NHF Day at GeorgiaWildlife.com/get-involved/nhfday. Questions? Call (478) 825-6151 (M-F, 8-4:30pm)
• The Blast: Join in the Youth dove hunt on Sept. 28. During the hunt, one adult may supervise up to 2 children. Participants aged 16 or older must possess a valid Georgia Hunting License. For more info, please call 706-595-4222. Check out this photo of dove field prepping for this upcoming event!

MARBEN PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• Marben PFA Information
• Water Level: All ponds and lakes are full.
• Water Clarity: 18" to 40" on the smaller ponds. Fox Lake visibility is 4` or greater.
• Surface Temp: Mid 80s.
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide

Hybrid Bass (courtesy of PFA manager Jamie Dowd): The hybrid bite in Bennett will really turn on in September. Hybrids are constantly on the move chasing schools of threadfin shad, and they will be feeding more aggressively in September as surface temperatures dip below 80 F. A variety of presentations can be effective to catch hybrids including topwater plugs or a Whopper Plopper, jerkbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits and a small A-rig fished around schooling shad. This Bennett hybrid was landed on a diving crankbait fished among a hybrid feeding frenzy.

Bass: September bass fishing at Marben PFA stands to improve upon the typical August slump. Especially if fishing by boat, fish Fox, Bennett, or Shepard ponds. Fishing topwater early mornings along shorelines and around brush. In the late afternoon, fish deep-diving crankbaits in the flooded timber of fox or near Bennett Dam. A Texas-rigged or Ned-rigged worm is also a great go-to anytime of day when a more subtle presentation is required.

Crappie: Crappie fishing should start picking back up in September as the water clears and cooler temperatures spur more aggressive feeding tendencies. Select area lakes including Bennett, Dairy, Lower Raleigh, Fox, and Shepard have fishable crappie populations. Minnows and crappie jigs on 1/32 or 1/16 oz jig heads will be most effective.

Bream: All area lakes contain bream populations. Fishing brush, especially around the feeders will be productive for size, while small bream can typically be caught lakewide. September is still a a great month to grab a couple cricket tubes or tubs of red wigglers catch a mess of bluegill and redear.

Channel Catfish: The catfish bite will remain steady through the month of September. Most lakes have catfish populations and can be fished most effectively with cut bait, livers, and nightcrawlers fished patiently on the bottom.

HATCHERY REPORT

Walton Hatchery (courtesy of WRD Hatchery Manager Tony Beck): Walton Hatcheryproduced ~6,000 intermediate largemouth bass weighing almost 500 pounds and averaging 5.8 inches for stocking into Lake Allatoona. All of these were produced in circular tank systems that allow us to grow significantly more fish in a smaller volume of water compared to our hatchery ponds. This initial step was a great start to fall bass harvesting and will help our major reservoirs meet their fishery management stocking goals.

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