Fishing remains to be very good even after the big rains that we experienced as the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred moved over North Georgia. Those rains brought the lake up 1.77 feet from last week to a Friday afternoon level of 1072.57. That is 1.57 feet over full pool. I would expect the Corp to begin try and pull the lake down in the near future, so be aware that we may have some enhanced water releases next week. Couple that with the August Full Moon on Sunday the 22nd, and the afternoon bite may be really good next week. The Surface temp was 81, which is about 6 or 7 degrees below average for this date.
Striper Fishing
The bite has really been unchanged with live bait and trolling techniques being very good producers. Down lines continue to produce, but the pitch baits/freelines may be the most effective. You can simply “pitch” a bait out behind the boat while you are spot locked, or slowly pull the pitch line on the trolling motor. A split shot will be a plus if you try the moving approach. Keep a power reeling rod handy, this method will also produce well if the fish bunch up densely under neath the boat. I have had several questions about power reeling, so I’ll try and answer them here. This technique is normally very productive during this time of year, but is more of a secondary technique this year. Why? Perhaps it is because many of the fish are staying shallower than they have in past summers, and I think they are more scattered. Fish density is often the key to the effectiveness of power reeling. Several anglers have told me that the bigger spoons are not as effective as the normally would be and I have experienced the same thing. Some alternates to the spoons are buck tails and Herring. A 2oz Chipmunk is extremely effective for power reeling, and a Herring on a Drop shot can also be very effective. If you elect to try using the Herring, try rigging them on a drop shot rig, just like a drop shot used by Bass Fishermen, only upsized. Use a 2 oz lead, or better yet, use the 2 oz Chipmunk as the lead and tie the hook off above that. An octopus hook, or a beak hook will do well to complete the drop shot rig.
Trolling has also been very productive, and anglers using lead core, down riggers, and flat lined umbrellas all reporting good catches. The umbrellas pulled over the humps or contour trolled over a 40 foot bottom have been have particularly effective. Pulling over the 30 to 40 foot humps has been a very good pattern, but is generally best in the afternoons. Trolling Spoons, Capt Macks Striper Spins, Super Shad Spins, Chipmunks, and Mini Macks are all very effective. You can use any of these baits on the down rigger or on the lead core. Fish the lead core 270 to 300 feet behind the boat, 270 to 300 on the line counter. This bite is also very good in the afternoon and evening hours. These techniques are effective over the creek channels and adjoining drains, or over the river channel from marker 17 to the dam. Typically, start out on the creeks and drains early, moving towards the creek mouths and river channel late in the day.
Bass Fishing
Bass Fishing remains very good, maybe not quite as good as the last few weeks but still very solid. The patterns are basically the same, and we still have a very good top water bite! Many top waters will produce, the Cast OG Herring, small Chug Bugs, and E Pops have been very consistent. Much of the activity centers around the brush, but fish are also being taken casting to points, seawalls, and humps. A Fluke cast over the brush remains an excellent choice, maybe slightly weighted to allow for longer cast and faster retrieve. Keep the Spy bait tied on, typical for this time of year that, Spy Baits are also very consistent.
The schooling fish are still showing up, some over brush, some over deep open water. I have not seen as much of that activity since Tropical storm Fred dumped all of that rain on us, so maybe that pattern will reenergize? I’ll keep you updated on that in next weeks report as well. When you do see the surfacing fish, there are several baits that should get the bite. A Steelshad, the 3/8 oz original size, is a great option for the schoolers as are he Flukes. Casting A Mini mack can be very effective, especially for fish that are on over humps and points.
You can’t talk about Bass Fishing in August and not mention the drop shot. Worms on the drop shot, or the shakey head around and in the brush have produced very good numbers with the occasional big fish mixed in. With the exception of dropping a Spot tail in the Brush, the worms are probably the best overall producers in terms of numbers. As a footnote, the Spot Tails are also producing very well. Brush in the 25 to 30 foot range is holding plenty of fish, main lake or in the creeks will both be productive!
Good Fishing!